Book Title: Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4
Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra
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94
CHAPTER EIGHT
crocodile. Seeing them screaming, Padma ran toward him from compassion and scolded him, “Oh! rogue-elephant, arrogant from ichor, look this way." The rogue-elephant turned facing the prince, angrily, shaking the earth as if hollow with blows from his feet. "To protect us some noble man has thrown himself in front of the elephant like Yama's face,” the women said. Just as soon as the rogue-elephant came near him, facing him, Padma tossed up a piece of cloth. A trick is advantageous sometimes. The elephant tore the clothing repeatedly with the idea that it was the prince. Anger alone (leads) to blindness. How much more when augmented by pride.80 ,
Then the people of the town collected because of the loud tumult and King Mahāsena with vassals and generals. Mahāsena said to Padma: “Go away quickly, brave man. What is the use of inopportune death from this enraged elephant?” Padma said: “That is a proper thing for you to say, O king, but it would be a source of shame to me if I abandoned something I had undertaken. Watch this rogue-elephant being checked by me, made submissive as if it had been tame from birth. Do not be timid from kindness." The elephant, whose head was lowered to tear up the garment, was struck by the prince with the thunderbolt of his fist. When the elephant rose up to seize the prince, he mounted him with a leap as quick as lightning. Moving about on the front and sides in different positions, the frog-position, et cetera, he harassed him. By slaps on the boss, blows on the neck, and kicks on the back he was bewildered by Padma. The people watched him in astonishment, saying “Well done!" and the king described his heroism like a brother. The first among elephant-drivers, the prince made the elephant walk about and made him furnish amusement, as he liked, as easily as if he were a young elephant. He turned the elephant over to another driver
80 76. With reference also to the rut-fluid.
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