The season is on the verge of entering mangsa destha (paddy harvest season in the Javanese agricultural calendar). It is the fifth mangsa destha since Sukrosono arrived at the Jatisrana hermitage. The rains have stopped and the dry season is in sight. The sky is always bright, the dark clouds are gone. Garengpung (cicada) are crying in their melodious wail, calling out that it is time for the arrival of the dry season. On the ground, undur-undur (ant lions) are wandering back and forth in a sign that the rains will recede. The birds have hatched their eggs and are lovingly feeding their newborn chicks. Lightning crosses the sky briefly, but its sound is no longer a raging roar.
The paddies are in genjah (early stage of ripening), the coconut trees bear fruit, the kapok pods are starting to break open. Cassava and other tubers are harvested easily. Drops of rain fall on the leaves of the lumbu (caladium), but they dry in an instant, signifying the arrival of the dry season. When night falls, the lumbung (barn) star appears in the sky as a sign that rice grains will fill the barns and farmers will be blessed with fortune. Indeed, the farmers around the Jatisrana hermitage are rejoicing as they feel the wind rustling the leaves of pandan payung.
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> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (48)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (47)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (46)
Sukrosono really enjoys the arrival of mangsa destha. It is not just that nature’s gloom is leaving now, but more because the light during this mangsa (season) gives him the impression, as told in its candra (description): Nature now seems as sotya sinarawedi, all its elements are like friends, like kin who will never be separated. Indeed, this is a time when all animals seem friendly, compassionate, and close to each other. This state of nature reflects Sukrosono's heart every time he feels his closeness to his older brother Sumantri.
But this natural state will disappear when the seasons change again. Nothing in nature lasts forever. So after the mangsa destha arrives, Sukrosono can no longer delay in keeping his promise. As his mother Dewi Sokawati told him in Jatirasa Forest, one day he must go to Mount Taranggana Sekar, the place of the golden banana his mother dreamed of during her pregnancy. In fact, it is very difficult for him to leave the Jatisrana hermitage and his brother Sumantri, even if only for a short time. But he has postponed his promised trip several times. The arrival of the fifth mangsa destha has compelled him to immediately fulfill his promise. Therefore, on one very bright morning, Sukrosono goes to see his father. Sumantri is also with him.
"Father, I ask for your blessing for me to go to Mount Taranggana Sekar," he pleaded as he said his farewell.
Sukrosono had told all the tales of how his mother came to him when he was alone in Jatirasa Forest. So Begawan Swandagni is not surprised to hear his son's request. But because he loves Sukrosono very much, he also does not like to be separated from the son who has returned to his bosom.
"Must you leave me and your older brother, Sukrosono?" Begawan Swandagni said, trying to forestall his son’s departure.
"Father, I will not leave you or my older brother. I will only be gone for a time. I will soon return to this place, which I will never leave again,” Sukrosono said with a very heavy heart.
"The golden banana is gone. What else do you seek there?” Begawan Swandagni said, again trying to forestall his son.
"Here, I have all, father. I don't seek anything else. I will go to Mount Taranggana Sekar only because I of my prior promise to my mother in Jatirasa Forest."
“You want to go alone, Sukrosono? Why don't you invite your older brother Sumantri to go with you?"
Sukrosono did not expect these words from his father's lips. Of course, he accepted happily. “Father, I do not want to be separated from my older brother. I will be happy if he wants to come with me."
"Sumantri, do you want to go with your younger brother?" asked Begawan Swandagni.
"No, father, let me stay here," replied Sumantri, who had been silent all along. Neither Begawan Swandagni nor Sukrosono had expected Sumantri to answer like this.
“Older brother, why don't you want to come with me? Who knows that mother has been waiting there for a long time. Don't you want to meet mother?" asked Sukrosono, full of hope.
"Mother is no longer in the world. There is no way we can see her," said Sumantri.
"But I once met our mother, older brother."
"Mother wanted to meet you, but not necessarily me."
"Maybe our mother won't meet with me again, either. But I am not going there to see her, I just want to fulfill my promise to her."
"That’s enough, Sukrosono, don't force your older brother if he doesn't want to go," Begawan Swandagni interrupted.
Also read:
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (45)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (43)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (42)
"Yes, father, I will go alone. I'm not worried or sad, because this time I will be coming back. Before, I used to go forth without knowing where my journey will end. Now I can go and know that I will reunite with you and my older brother again. I go with a light heart,” Sukrosono smiled, at peace.
Go with the certainty that your older brother and I want you to return as soon as possible.
"That is right, my son. Your older brother and I will be waiting for you at this hermitage. Go with the certainty that your older brother and I want you to return as soon as possible,” said Begawan Swandagni.
"I won't be long, father. I just don’t want mother to be disappointed, because she will see that I have fulfilled my promise. Afterwards, I will quickly return to my happiness at Jatisrana hermitage."
"When will you leave, my son?"
"It is not easy to get there. You have to go with patience.” Begawan Swandagni stops. He realizes that the journey to Mount Taranggana Sekar will not be very difficult for Sukrosono. It was much harder and more difficult for him to make the long pilgrimage to return to the Jatisrana hermitage. Sukrosono is far more knowledgeable than he was when he left for the hills, seeking the golden banana his wife had craved at that time. However, he shows the way he had previously traveled to Mount Taranggana Sekar. Sukrosono listens with delight. Certainly, his father's directions will make it easier for him to immediately keep the promise he made to his mother.
(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).
