Prabu Arjunasasrabahu remained silent and contemplated. He was astounded by Begawan Pulastya’s affection for his great grandson despite his disobedience. His affection went way beyond his great grandson's disobedience. How could he have such boundless affection? Was it because he had a great grandson as disobedient and wrathful as Rahwana? Had disobedience not been part of him, he would probably not have had that abundant compassion. The king of Maespati was evidently thrown into deep thought. As a powerful king, held in high esteem, respected for his majesty and wisdom, all this had kept him away from iniquity, disobedience and wrath. Anything evil and bad did not belong to him. No wonder, he thought, he had never sensed how evil and bad behavior demanded his extension of compassion.
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His kindness, wisdom and nobility did not seem a suitable land for compassion to grow lushly. Was this evil and disobedient Rahwana deliberately exposed to him so that he could realize that he was not a dry and barren land for compassion? He drifted into self-reflection, that he might not be as noble, good and wise as he had seen himself to be, because of this lack of compassion.
"Your Highness, my great grandson Rahwana is no doubt evil. But I hope Your Highness may contemplate that vileness will remain living even if the time has come for it to die. On the other hand, any goodness will go when time comes for it to die, "said Begawan Pulastya.
Had death really excluded him? The recollection about death led Prabu Arjunasasrabahu to an unexpected decision.
His warning intrigued Prabu Arjunasasrabahu, who thought about time’s supremacy over evil and good. Who could know certainly when a bad guy would die, if not time? Who could guarantee that goodness would not die, if time willed it to die? It could be that time still allowed Rahwana a chance to live, apart from his vileness. Likewise, time could have willed him to die, even if he had been a good person. The Maespati king suddenly felt death was calling him. Sumantri whom he loved had gone forever. So had his consort Dewi Citrawati, along with his bridesmaids-turned-concubines. Even his loyal aide Patih Suroto had also passed away. Had death really excluded him? The recollection about death led Prabu Arjunasasrabahu to an unexpected decision.
"Begawan, I let your great grandson go right now!" said Prabu Arjunasasrabahu.
"Your Highness, do you mean it? If so, then what should my great grandson do to repay Your Highness' immeasurable mercy?” asked Begawan Pulastya in disbelief.
"I do, Begawan. And I will release him without any conditions," answered Prabu Arjunasasrabahu.
“Your Highness, may the gods repay your generosity and mercy. That's all I can say as a token of my immeasurable gratitude,” said Begawan Pulastya. He turned to Rahwana. “My great grandson, you actually do not deserve this kind of compassion. Thank the king and make a promise you will get rid of your wrath and will not do evil again."
"Begawan, I am not demanding his promise. I sincerely let him go. He is not bound to me, and it is not up to me whether he wants to be evil or be good. As you say, time will determine what is the limit for his crime if he insists on doing it. For me, let the compassion I give him be an open path for me in facing my death when it comes to pick me up," said Prabu Arjunasasrabahu. And he took off the chain of Nagarante that bound and tortured Rahwana.
"Bow to Prabu Arjunasasrabahu as your lord, Rahwana. And thank him for all his immeasurable compassion," ordered Begawan Pulastya to his great grandson. Rahwana had not thought at all his suffering would have ended by virtue of such generosity. Relieved, he dropped himself to his knees and kneeled down in front of Prabu Arjunasasrabahu.
"Let me be thankful for the grace of Your Highness, the noble king of the kings. Believe me, I truly promise to do good, in return I offer myself to Your Highness who is so merciful to me," said Rahwana, circling and kissing the Maespati king’s feet. The giant king turned to Begawan Pulastya, "My great grandfather, without your help, I would not receive such generosity and forgiveness from the Prabu Arjunasasrabahu. I ask for your blessing, may I be able to eradicate all evil that has pilloried me into disgrace."
Who could guarantee he would rectify himself into goodness upon receiving such immeasurable mercy?
Rahwana flew right away and disappeared. No one knew where he went off to. He might have returned to the dark cloud of evil and wrath. Who could guarantee he would rectify himself into goodness upon receiving such immeasurable mercy?
Prabu Arjunasasrabahu knew it was not in his hands. What he knew was that even compassion could be fruitless. He also knew that compassion would lead him to nggoleki dalaning pati (submission to mortality). He was awaiting a time-destined death.
"Begawan, thank you for reminding me of what I should do with my life," Prabu Arjunasasrabahu said to Begawan Pulastya. The holy priest returned to his hermitage in Girimukti, leaving Prabu Arjunasasrabahu in solitude. In silence he saw the Mandira tree, where Rahwana had been tied and tormented. He recalled the vision of Rahwana being released.
The people of could not understand how it was possible for Prabu Arjunasasrabahu to release Rahwana, the king of Alengka. Rahwana had killed so many of the Maespati and had caused so much chaos. In their eyes, Rahwana was an evil giant, a source of calamity, for which he deserved to have been exterminated. The giant's life had been on the line when he was tied as a helpless prisoner to the Mandira tree in the Maespati square. Why was such an evil being finally let go? No wonder the people of Mespati were left distraught.
(This article was translated by Musthofid)
