The holy fireplace continues to burn. On its top, Begawan Swandagni sprinkles ground pepper, nutmeg and red ginger. "This is the trikatuka concoction, Sumantri, that will remind you of your trikaya (the concept of three bodies) and darma (religious and moral duties) as a knight. The following is your three darma as a knight: Always beware of your lust, control your lust within yourself and, by doing so, you will make submissive the selfish greed of lust, which occurs because of its power. Controlling the lust in silence far away from the world’s crowds may be easier than controlling the lust in magnificent power in the middle of the world's pleasure, Sumantri. That is why you must always remember the words 'a priest meditates on the top of the silence, the knight meditates on the tip of the sword'. In Jatisrana, you have graduated in silence. In Maespati, you will just learn how difficult it is to meditate in power. Don't you ever feel that you have become a knight before you manage to execute your darma as a knight. Be careful, power can always make you right, but the power will also make you wrong and lead you to your true fall. Indeed, power always cheats if it is covered by lust. So, remember my message, if you're not careful about your lust, without realizing it, the sword of power will stab you from behind, my son."
Sumantri is silent, listening and absorbing all his father's advice.
"Sumantri, make yourself quiet deeply, until you feel your mind is clear like a lake, where the moon can reflect on it. Empty your mind so that there is no speck of stain that can blur the spell that I will give you," says Begawan Swandagni.
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> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (56)
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> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (52)
He gazes outside, from the shrine window he sees the moon shining. He pours incense on the fireplace again, and sprinkles jasmine flowers over Sumantri's head. Then he murmurs the spell: "If the danger comes, from the east, west, north, south, ride a male snake, accompanied by ilu-ilu, banaspati and bajobarat spirits, don’t ever, my son Sumantri, be touched – even for just a moment. On the road flowers will blossom, and he will walk under the grand umbrella of budi luhur (nobility), turning him into a shelter for those who ask for protection. The poison on his lips will fade, his anger will melt, his arrogance will be destroyed, he will become a hill, from afar people will see him and rise to approach him, in everything he will be respected, his body will be holy, and his soul will be pure."
He says this spell repeatedly, until he no longer feels the night is getting late. He only stops when in the sky he sees that the moon has disappeared, swallowed by clouds.
"Sumantri, open your eyes, and come out from your meditation," says Begawan Sumantri. When Sumantri opens his eyes, he sees his father holding a gandewa (bow) complete with its arrow.
"This is a Cakrabaskara heirloom, the heritage of the Ngayodyapala Kingdom, that I could bring for as we say goodbye. This heirloom is inherited from generation to generation to the sons of the Ngayodyapala Kingdom. This sacred heirloom, a grace from Batara Surya, melts its opponents after they are stung by a thousand rays of sunshine. Accept this, Sumantri. With this Cakrabaskara heirloom, you will be a valuable knight who serves in the Maespati Kingdom," says Begawan Swandagni.
Begawan Swandagni surrenders in the heart, and becomes immersed in silence.
He hands over the Cakrabaskara with trembling hands, as though this is the time where he has to wholly give up his soul and his body. When the sacred heirloom is in the hands of Sumantri, Begawan Swandagni sees the moon glowing again, and its beautiful light enters the shrine. His trembling increases as behind the moon he sees his beloved wife, Dewi Sokawati, who waves her hand, inviting him to leave. If he wants to, it seems, that night he could fly away to the moon, going after her. Of course, not with his body’s wings, but with his soul’s wings. Is it time for him to be called to die? Begawan Swandagni surrenders in the heart, and becomes immersed in silence.
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> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (51)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (50)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (49)
> The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (48)
"Father, thank you, I will always keep all your messages in my heart, and bring them wherever I go. Thank you for gracing me with your heirloom, this Cakrabaskara, I'm sure I will be a true knight," Sumantri says as he bows deeply.
"Tomorrow I will depart, to start my journey to Maespati, father," he says again.
"Sumantri, tonight is a farewell night, I never wait. Therefore, there is no need for you to wait for the morning to say goodbye. Go away, Sumantri, suppose that tonight is morning, when you want to depart," says Begawan Swandagni holding back his sobs.
From those words, Sumantri knows, his father does not want the sadness to be repeated. That night is enough to be the fullest of his sadness. If he waits until tomorrow just to say goodbye, it will only add to his sadness again. So, Sumantri bows, then performs a symbol of respectful at his father's feet. Begawan Swandagni strokes his son’s head without words. Slowly he tries again to meditate. And Sumantri sneaks away in silence. That night he leaves, and in an instant he disappears, like the moon when it is suddenly swallowed by dark clouds.
(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).
