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119
"If you arrest me and take me there, what is your gain? I am only a child, an unbloomed rose. If you take me away, my colourful dreams will be shattered. I do not require property, power or sovereignty. I seek only freedom! I want to be at the feet of my invaluable Shri Adinath and my life-like Mahamantra of Shri Namaskara!"
Virat stopped. He was firm; he did not beg freedom. The sepoy was simply stunned. He just wondered.
"Was such heroism, fearlessness, enthusiasm, firmness possible in a child! Would I not invite my own downfall by arresting this boy? Why should I do this ? Let him go. I do not desire to arrest this boy. I shall find some excuse and tell him that I could not trace him."
The sepoy observed his face, the expression thereon intently. He saw that some chanting of a mantra was on his face. He told him :
"Well boy! proceed on your path. I shall go back and tell the leader that I have not been able to trace him.” The sepoy returned.
Virat was overcome with joy. He spoke out loudly.
"When the Mahamantra acts as the defender, no element on the earth can inflict tortures!"
Now his destination was not far away. He walked on and the signals of the Songadh station were visible. When he stepped on the station, the train for Palitana was waiting for him.
He boarded the train, he was lost in the experience of the grand power of the Mahamantra.
"The Mahamantra acts as the defender when a man lost in darkness and deep valleys, person gone astray, comes across his goal!
