Bharat and Bahubali - A Moral Story

Bharat and Bahubali - A Moral Story

The story of Bharat and Bahubali, showing the importance of humility, ego, and the spiritual journey towards enlightenment.

Introduction

Lord Rushabhdev, the first Jain Tirthankar, had two wives. His eldest wife had 99 sons and a daughter, with Bharat being the eldest son. His second wife, Sundari, had Bahubali and Sundari as children. Bharat and Bahubali were strong and mighty.

The Division of the Kingdom

As time passed, Lord Rushabhdev decided to renounce his kingdom and follow the spiritual path. He handed over different parts of his kingdom to his sons: Ayodhya to Bharat, Takshshila to Bahubali, and smaller regions to his other sons. His daughter, Brahmi, and Sundari chose the spiritual path along with their father.

The Conflict

Bharat, being ambitious, wanted to extend his kingdom. He prepared a large army and created the powerful Chakraratna (a wheel of fortune). He easily conquered several kingdoms, but for his conquest to be complete, he needed his brothers to surrender. All his brothers did, except Bahubali, who refused to bow down to Bharat's authority.

The Duel

A large-scale war was on the brink. Both armies stood face-to-face, ready for a fight. However, advisors suggested that the two brothers resolve the issue with a duel instead of involving their armies. Bharat and Bahubali agreed, and a battle ensued. Bharat tried all he could to defeat Bahubali, but was unsuccessful. Desperately, he tried to hurl the Chakraratna at Bahubali, but it didn’t even touch him.

The Change of Heart

In his anger, Bahubali was about to crush Bharat, but then something changed within him. He realized that his father had renounced all wealth and prosperity to pursue spiritual liberation. So had his brothers and sisters. He could not bring himself to harm his beloved brother.

Bahubali’s Renunciation

Bahubali decided to renounce his kingdom and worldly possessions. He chose to follow the spiritual path just like his father and siblings. However, he did not want to bow down to his brothers who had renounced first. Instead, he decided to meditate and achieve enlightenment on his own. He began to meditate intensely, and after a year of unwavering focus, creepers started to grow on his feet, but he had still not attained enlightenment.

The Guidance from Brahmi and Sundari

Seeing this, Lord Rushabhdev sent Brahmi and Sundari to guide Bahubali. They approached him and said, “Brother, get off the elephant.”

Pearls of Wisdom

1. Where was the elephant?

Bahubali was perched on the elephant called 'Ego'. It was his ego which had not allowed him to go to his father and brothers when he had decided to renounce the world. Even now, his ego was the barrier between him and enlightenment.

2. What can we learn from this story?

Just like the shackles of ego had bound Bahubali and would not let him proceed on the path to enlightenment, our ego too binds us to various possessions, feelings, emotions, and the past. Once we overcome this ego, we become humble and can progress on the path to enlightenment.

🌟 Moral: To attain enlightenment, we must overcome the shackles of ego. Only by renouncing our attachments and worldly desires can we progress on the spiritual path. 🌟

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