Hurriedly night arrives, when the army of Maespati and that of Widarba stay face to face. The moon moves lazily as though jumping over the clouds. The light is not too bright, but it is already authoritative and mighty to prevent the soldiers from fighting when the light does not allow it. The soldiers seem to agree with the moon's invitation. They stop and set up their tents to spend the night. In the distance, the peak of Mount Sulendra looks dim. The moon gives out its light there, and turns the eyes of the soldiers to see the beauty that is covering the top of the beloved mountain peak of the kingdom of Magada. There they see the asoka branches dancing in the night breeze, and the asana and campaka flowers are strewn with beauty. Among the flowers there is a goddess who has descended from the sky. The soldiers ask whether the beautiful goddess is Dewi Citrawati, the Princess of Magada, whom they want to fight over each other, so that now they have to be on the battlefield again?
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While imagining this, not a few soldiers shed tears. Because, in reality, it is not Dewi Citrawati that they see but women, their own lovers, whom they have to leave because they have to go to the battlefield. Who is Dewi Citrawati that they have to sacrifice their lives for, and leave their loved ones behind?
The moon disappears behind the clouds, being immersed in their sorrow. Morning should not come quickly, so that they can feel the love of their lovers for a long time, maybe it will be the last time, because it is not impossible that they will die on the battlefield. In the trees the engkuk birds make a hoarse sound, like a restless and anxious cry.
The slower it is expected, the faster time goes by. The dawn has already broken. And the sun does not delay to give its bright light. It spreads out arrays of red light. This is no longer the time to be complacent with the beautiful thing. The soldiers of Maespati and Widarba wake up to immediately go to the field of bloodshed.
The sound of trumpets is heard as though the battlefield extends its welcome. Senapati (Commander) Sumantri assembles Maespati's army with the garuda-byuha strategy. King Suryakestu and King Candrakestu with their troops become the wings on the right and left. Kalinggaprana and Kalinggapati and their troops become a pair of claws. And he himself leads the army as the beak. Meanwhile from Widarba's side, demon soldiers and humans advance together, led by the kings of Sinduloba, Darmapati, Kodrabanu and Rodrapaksa. Prabu Darmawasesa dances on his chariot, leading them all to the battlefield. Beside him Patih Dendawasesa rides an elephant, marching into the war heroically. Despite their irregular movements, Widarba's troops roar like a flood, which continues to flood into the spilling out battlefield.
The wind blows down from Mount Sulendra, wanting to carry the fragrance of the flowers of the gods, but the excitement of war furiously makes the flowering wind turn into a violent air that invites Lord Yamadipati to immediately descend to take lives.
The battlefield of Magada is like being hit by an earthquake because of their bloodthirsty steps. The war flags are hoisted, waved, while the soldiers boost their courage with cheers. The war elephants advance bravely, striking the opponents by swaying their trunks. The horses neigh loudly, raising their feet highly, and kicking the enemies on the right and left sides. Various weapons clash with each other, causing flashes of lightning in the daytime. The arrows flow by, filling the sky like flying fish. Maces are hit against each other, causing a loud clanging sound, as loud as the mournful screams of those who are picked up by death. The wind blows down from Mount Sulendra, wanting to carry the fragrance of the flowers of the gods, but the excitement of war furiously makes the flowering wind turn into a violent air that invites Lord Yamadipati to immediately descend to take lives.
The birds leave their nests, flying in fear, away in the heights, which makes the descending clouds offer themselves as hiding places. Behind the clouds the birds sing sadly, their voices are like the terrified screams of the nymphs, who cannot stand the cruelty of war. Because of the roar of war, the Asokawana, the forest of asoka flowers on the edge of Magada, trembles, causing the asoka flowers to fall before the time comes for the women of Magada to pick up them into necklaces on their chests. Ashokawana suddenly becomes red, not with the red of the asoka flower, but with the splattered blood.
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Magada's armies rage, like thousands of giant elephants, their troops storming and devastating their foes. They brandish their swords, thrust their spears, and toss to the left and right, like the trunks of elephants, sweeping down their foes. The battlefield is like the arrival of Batara Gana, who leads the elephant armies, and makes Maespati's troops fall to the ground. And Prabu Darmawasesa laughs, seeing Maespati's troops lying on the ground, and while sitting on the back of his elephant, he dances bravely.
Sumantri does not want to waste time any more. He cries out, now is the time for the armies to retaliate against the attacks. So Kalinggapati and Kalinggaprana with all their troops advances like the flapping wings of an eagle. They are followed by Suryakestu and Candrakestu with their troops who simultaneously attack like the claws of an eagle that savagely pounces on its prey. And under the leadership of Senapati Sumantri, Maespati's troops crush their opponents like an eagle pecking its beak wildly. The war stops a moment or two, when the soldiers are amazed to see Maespati's troops like a giant eagle flying low over the battlefield of Magada. They are fascinated by the line of soldiers who flap like the wings of an eagle, until they forget, the eagle's claws in an instant have torn apart those who have not awakened from their awe. When they are getting conscious, they are immediately shocked, because their commander, Darmapati, has fallen in the grip of his enemy, Suryakestu. If he wants to, Suryakestu just swings his sword to cut off his neck. But Suryakestu remembers Sumantri's message, not to destroy the enemy commander, but let him be taken as a prisoner.
(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).
