The sadness has also disappeared because of the death of Maespati's powerful and loyal warlord, Patih Suwondo. Now they have a substitute, a warlord who is stronger, handsome, mighty and havs supernatural powers, Sumantri, whom their king has also given the title of Patih Suwondo. What's lacking in them? Their life is prosperous, their land is fertile because of the rainfall. Peace and glory in the palace make the whole Maespati ijo royo-royo, lohjinawi, panjang punjung kang sarwa tinandur (seek to create peace, fertility, justice and prosperity). It is the reason for the party to take place for a long time, until their excitement has run out. Indeed, their party is over already. And they go back to their normal daily lives. A life that cannot be separated from burdens and suffering.
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All creations in the world must live with suffering – everyone, including Dewi Citrawati. In the eyes of the world, there is nothing lacking in her. She is an incomparably beautiful princess. Now she has become the empress of Prabu Arjunasasrabahu, a king, who is handsome, has supernatural powers, is wise and is respected by all kings. She has the beautiful Sriwedari Garden, the garden of the gods allowed to exist in the world. It is understandable that she is the incarnation of Dewi Sri, who in this world is destined to meet her soul mate, the incarnation of Batara Wisnu, who is now the king of Maespati. This meeting further glorifies her because she is not just a princess but a goddess who is incarnated in the world. No wonder her beauty exceeds any other princess, because she radiates the glory of a goddess who is not of the world.
Dewi Citrawati knows all about it. However, she honestly feels, all the attention, love and lust of the ruler of Maespati have really been poured out on her, as if she is the only woman for him.
So what is the reason that her heart is sad and upset? What affliction befalls her so that her face seems to lose its light, fading like an asana flower, longing for the raindrops in the middle of the full moon? Sometimes she can no longer hide her sadness, until it seems that the elegance of her charming waist has disappeared, like a limp tendril of gadung desperate for the arrival of the rain. She knows that now she is the wife of Prabu Arjunasasrabahu. She should be proud and happy to be the empress of a king of kings who is famous, wise and has supernatural powers.
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Moreover, she cannot deny, her husband loves her very much. Whatever she wants is always met. Her husband even granted her request to move Sriwedari Garden to Maespati. A seemingly impossible request that might not have been obeyed. However, in reality, it happened, her request was met. Her husband is a handsome and charming ruler. In him radiates the light of divinity because he is the incarnation of Batara Wisnu. If he wants, he can vent his male desire for other women. Indeed, many of the king's daughters want him. Many women also become his concubines. What women would not want a king as handsome and noble as him? Dewi Citrawati knows all about it. However, she honestly feels, all the attention, love and lust of the ruler of Maespati have really been poured out on her, as if she is the only woman for him.
If so, why can't she fully love her husband? That is the feeling that penetrates her heart. She feels guilty because actually there is no reason for her not to love her husband. And that feeling of guilt corners her into her sorrow. The sadness is invisible, hidden in her beauty and splendor like an angel. However, sometimes that sadness also slips on her face, like the late afternoon star that falls from the sky that is brightly lit. In such a situation, she really feels that love is really torture. She feels she can no longer endure the torment of love. No one knows her sadness, except for the flowers around her. Indeed, only the flowers know how to honestly express their suppressed longing. So the wungu flowers with their purple bunches, the asana flowers with their dark yellow strands and the campaka flowers with their fragrant aroma simultaneously say to her, “Why do you keep lying to yourself, if in reality you really love Sumantri?”
Falling in love lifted her to fly toward the moon but at the same time immersed her in darkness.
Indeed, Dewi Citrawati can no longer lie to herself about her love for Sumantri. Since the first time she saw Sumantri at the Magada palace, she had loved him. Once the love fell on her, she felt strange about herself. She was eager to accept him, but at the same time was adamant about rejecting it. She wanted to give up but also desperately defended herself. She felt like a flower bud that wanted to open but forced itself to keep closing, precisely because of the soft caress that rubbed it. Beautiful song was at the corner of her lips, but she suppressed it into a hum that was stuck in her heart. Falling in love lifted her to fly toward the moon but at the same time immersed her in darkness. She came alive but at the same time felt like she was dead. Only then did she know that love had both made her happy and caused her to suffer. She was torn apart by love, and that was what tormented her life.
Sumantri is a very handsome warrior. But Dewi Citrawati feels that it is not only because of his good looks that he is charming. Is it because Sumantri also so powerful? Sumantri has been hailed as a sakti mandraguna (powerful) hero because he has defeated the king of giants, Prabu Darmawasesa of Widarba. However, Dewi Citrawati feels that even if he did not have such supernatural powers, Sumantri would still be attractive to her. In the fight with Prabu Arjunasasrabahu, Dewi Citrawati hoped that Sumantri would come out to be the winner. If Sumantri won, the princess of Magada would have more reason to surrender to him. It turned out that Sumantri lost. However, his defeat did not disappoint Dewi Citrawati. Whatever the situation, she still loves Sumantri, even though he is not as strong as she had imagined.
(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).
