Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 79

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CHAPTER ONE Summoning it shining with a hundred flames like one hundred intervals between spokes, as if it had been brought from the chariot of Mārtanda, like an ear-ring that had been taken by force from Vama, like the serpent Taksaka made into a circle, having a multitude of tinkling bells, terrifying the Khecaras, presenting itself merely from being recalled, he took it and said:
"You are a stripling, boy. Slaughtering you is like killing an embryo,72 nothing else. Now go away. Today I am embarrassed before you. Verily, this weapon of mine, the cakra, never stumbles and never becomes dull, like Indra's thunderbolt. If it is discharged, you are deprived of life. There is no alternative. Do not show a warrior's pride. Obey my command. You are a boy. Therefore I endured your bad behavior in the past, because it was only boyish impetuosity. Go! Save your life unexpectedly.”
Astonished, Triprstha said: “You are an old man, Hayakandhara. Otherwise, who would make such a foolish speech, like a crazy man? Even a young lion does not flee from elephants though large. Does a young garuda run from even a large serpent? Does the sun, though newly risen, tremble at the Rakşases of twilight? 78 Why should I, though a boy, run from you on the battlefield? You have seen how much force these weapons had which you have already used. When you have discharged it (the cakra), observe its force. Before you have seen it, why do you thunder ?"
When he heard this, Hayagrīva whirled his very terrifying cakra around his head, like the submarine fire of the ocean of the sky. After whirling it for a very long time, he hurled the cakra with all his strength and it gave at once the impression of the sun falling. The cakra felt
72 716. Bhrūņa may also mean 'child,' L., but I think the exaggerated comparison is intended here.
78 722. The Rakşas is believed to be especially active at twilight. Crooke, p. 210.
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