Read the passage and answer the question that follow.
Hakka and Bukka were brothers as well as warriors. The brothers wanted to build
their own kingdom where people could live without fear. They collected a band
of young men and trained them in warfare. They lived in a forest hideout on the
banks of the river Tungabhadra in South India.
One day, the brothers were out on a hunt with ferocious dogs accompanying
them. They crossed the river and rode on. A couple of frightened rabbits ran out
of the bushes. The dogs gave them chase with the two brothers following closely
behind on their horses.
It was a long chase. The rabbits kept on running for their lives and the dogs were
catching up. Suddenly, in a swift move, the rabbits turned and faced the dogs head
on. Taken aback by the show of defiance, the barking dogs stepped back. Hakka
called back the dogs. As the dogs turned back, the rabbits walked away calmly.
Hakka looked around. They were on the other side of the Tungabhadra. It was a
rocky land. The sun was blazing in the sky.
“Strange! I’ve never seen rabbits challenging dogs before!” said Bukka.
“That’s the quality of this land,” said a quiet voice. “Even rabbits face their fears
and fight.”
Startled to hear a stranger speak, the two brothers turned.
They saw a holy man walking towards them. He was a picture of peace and
tranquillity. At the same time, his eyes were blazing bright.
The brothers fell at his feet.
“You must be Vidyaranya, the famous sage of Sringeri,” said Hakka.
“And you are the brothers struggling to build a kingdom–Hakka and Bukka,” said
the saint with a smile.
The brothers had heard that Vidyaranya was doing penance on the banks of the
Tungabhadra. Nobody knew of his exact whereabouts. And here he was, giving
them his blessings!
“There are hundreds of kingdoms. Tell me, in what way will your kingdom be
different?” asked Vidyaranya.
“Our kingdom will have a strong foundation,” said Hakka, speaking slowly, weighing
every word. “The foundation of Dharma–truth and justice.”
Vidyaranya smiled, “I’m satisfied with your response. Truth and justice. Peace
and prosperity. You will build an empire that will stand for the victory of truth and
justice. Its name shall be Vijayanagara. Build your capital at the very place that
knows no fear, where even rabbits become courageous!”
The brothers bowed. Soon Vijayanagara emerged as a powerful empire on the
banks of the Tungabhadra, with Hampi as its capital.
