In the midst of the endless admiration for the beauty of Dewi Citrawati, the ayak-ayakan music stops. It is then replaced with the tawang song that accompanies the Princess of Magada as she bids farewell to her beloved father.
She approaches the throne of Prabu Citragada and bows in respect. As she stands up again and embraces her younger brother Raden Citrasena, Sumantri smells her fragrance and looks closely at her. How charming the Princess of Magada is!
Without looking at Sumantri, the Princess of Magada turns to her father. “Father, I am being handed over to Maespati not as a tribute or as reparation for war. For the sake of the dignity of the kingdom of Magada, I wish to go there with honor."
Without thinking further, Prabu Citragada says, “Sumantri, you are the Maespati warlord who has managed to claim my daughter, Citrawati. Therefore you also have to take care that what she has asked for will be done." Again, Sumantri does not understand what it all means. He can only bow respectfully and nod.
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A light drizzle falls as Dewi Citrawati's entourage leaves Magada Square. The rain is like the tears of the people of Magada accompanying the departure of Dewi Citrawati. They are proud and happy because Dewi Citrawati is being brought to Maespati with great splendor and honor. But their grief is even greater because they had now lost Sang Kusuma Citrawati, the idol of every heart. The taru tree is drained in mourning. The kedasih chirp, their cries sounding like the mournful voice of the people of Magada. The dadali birds fly here and there, as if trying to prevent the departure of Sang Kusuma Dewi. The calls of the cucur birds seem to be saying that it is harder to lose the Princess of Magada than to endure the longing for rain that should have fallen. Indeed, it seems that the price of the pride of the people of Magada is the loss of their beloved princess. For them, the departure of the Princess of Magada is as if sesotya, the most beautiful jewel, is leaping up and disappearing from Magada.
Their loss is but a brief moment of sorrow. The people of Magada are restored of their pride and happiness as soon as they see the majestic departure of the Princess of Magada. They follow the beautiful procession, waving their hands as it passes. This will be the only time they will witness such an event. The Maespati soldiers mingle with the soldiers of other kingdoms who have submitted to Senapati Sumantri. They are the remaining troops of Widarba and Jonggarba, along with the soldiers of the kingdoms that had previously been subdued by Prabu Darmawasesa. In addition, the soldiers of the kingdoms of Pager Alun, Pasir Agung, Dwarangga, and Batawiya, along with their kings Kalinggapati, Kalinggaprana, Candrakestu, and Suryakestu, accompanies Sumantri as he departs from Maespati.
They are no longer soldiers of war, but the escorts of beauty. So they do not march under the banners of their kingdoms, but mingle together in the procession of beauty that leads the Magada bride to Maespati. Their blood and air of war have fallen out. Only peace and joy remains in them.
When they enter a battlefield, they form their lines, brandish their weapons, and dress by rank. Now, swords, spears, and arrows are waved about in joy, and the soldiers who tainted them with blood have forgotten that they were previously enemies on the battlefield. They can no longer see which kingdom they come from. The various colors of their accouterments blend like a meadow of all kinds of flowers. Under the sun, their shields become a great umbrella of angsana trees. The war elephants and horses become docile in the shining beauty that accompanies the Princess of Magada.
The soldiers’ joy flanks the procession of 800 chariots carrying the domas girls. Behind them is the majestic chariot that carries the Princess of Magada. The procession accompanying this beautiful princess is like a sudden beauty that has descended from the sky. The chariots are like a continuous procession of clouds. Birds seem to find the sky that calls them to flight, and they take flight to follow the convoy. Swallows and orioles, cranes and eagles flap their wings, a shimmering wave of beauty for the Princess of Magada's procession. Gemadhung leaves hasten to turn green, gadung tendrils spread, none of them wanting to be left behind in offering up their beauty for the convoy carrying the Princess of Magada. The campaka flowers do not want the breeze to subside so their fragrance will continue to spread. The pandan flower also doesn’t want to miss out on spreading its fragrant pollen. Even the asoka flowers fall, wanting to become decorations that add splendor to the grandeur of the procession for the Princess of Magada.
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Kusuma Ayu Dewi Citrawati, the Princess of Magada, feels all the beauty and splendor. But she remains silent, asking herself, “Am I really this great? If I really am this great, what does this majesty mean to me?” Asking this, she gazes at the purple flowers on the side of the road. The flowers fade, even though they are all in bloom. “Am I those purple flowers?” purple flowers move Dewi Citrawati's heart.
She looks to the side, where she sees Sumantri riding his horse beside her chariot. Sumantri remembers Prabu Citragada's instruction to take care of his daughter. So he tries to stay close to Dewi Citrawati to prevent any danger to the Princess of Magada. Every so often, Dewi Citrawati casts her eyes on Sumantri, riding his horse charmingly beside her carriage. Dewi Citrawati feels safe because Sumantri is nearby. However, it seems that she wants more than just to feel safe from Sumantri. She does not know why she tries to quash her feelings every time they flare up.
This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.
