Prabu Arjunasasrabahu was aware his people had denounced his move of compassion. He was resigned to the fact that no matter how he explained his reason behind pardoning Rahwana, the people of Maespati would not accept it. He became more aware his compassion was cornering him into forlornness, which stopped his majesty from radiating. And Maespati, which had once been lively and majestic, turned into a pathetic empire too. Maespati seemed like an empire being overshadowed by death.
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While the cloud of death was hanging over Maespati, there approached was a rishi who longed to die. He was Ramabargawa, son of Rishi Jamadagni. His mother Dewi Renuka committed spousal betrayal, even though she had five sons. She was caught committing adultery with a knight king, Prabu Citrarata. Jamadagni was furious having discovered Dewi Renuka's unchastity and could not accept his wife's behavior. And even though he was a priest, he could not forgive his wife. He gathered his sons and asked them to take an oath of honesty, during which they were made to vow to do anything for the sake of honesty. It turned out that for their oath of honesty, they had to kill their dishonest mother. One by one, they backed off and broke their oath. The only one who could do it was Ramabargawa. For him, honesty should prevail above all, including his love for his mother.
He became angry with his father, why, being a priest, had he not shown compassion and mercy on his mother, apart from her blatant guilt?
Ramabargawa went to find his mother. On the way, he doubted if he really had the heart to kill his mother. He was resolved he would carry out his oath only when he witnessed his mother's unchaste act. Moments later, he saw Prabu Citrarata indulging himself with his wives in a lake. His mother Dewi Renuka appeared to be waiting there. Prabu Citrarata slipped away from his wives and made out with Dewi Renuka. Ramabargawa’s blood boiled, and without delay, he immediately killed his mother with his axe. Seeing his mother die in his hands, he wept bitterly in remorse. Remembering how he had been in his mother's womb for nine months, he felt himself unforgivable for the fallacy. He apologized to his mother, but it was too late, his mother had already perished. He became angry with his father, why, being a priest, had he not shown compassion and mercy on his mother, apart from her blatant guilt?
He became awry, not knowing what to do. Why had he had an unfaithful mother and an unforgiving father? Why had he himself grown a heart evil enough to kill his own mother? He didn't know what to do. He only knew it was all due to a bastard knight who had had an affair with his mother. So, in confusion and desperation, he swore, "From today, all knights are my enemies."
He left the Sambiharja hermitage and became a roaming rishi, looking for a knight to kill. He carried the parashu (a large battle-axe) he had used to kill his mother, becoming known as Parashurama. He also brought with him the bargawastra (a large bow). He first went after Prabu Citrarata, who he murdered easily with his axe. He continued his roaming of the wilderness and overpowered every knight he came across to their death. He saw his journey as a dalan goleki pati (a way to submit to his death).
He was eager to see him and hopeful that Prabu Arjunasasrabahu could end his adventure and pave way to his mortality.
He found none were able to defeat him, with many knights perishing on the wayside, until he felt tired of his venture. He appealed to the gods when he was allowed die to bring his adventure to an end. He got an answer that he would meet his death when he encountered the incarnation of Batara Wishnu. That's when his destiny was sealed. He finally reached Maespati. How happy he was to learn that Prabu Arjunasasrabahu, the king of Maespati, was the incarnation of Batara Wishnu. He started finding out who Prabu Arjunasasrabahu was and what he had done in his life. He easily obtained the story and a life record about King Arjunasasrabahu. He was eager to see him and hopeful that Prabu Arjunasasrabahu could end his adventure and pave way to his mortality.
After releasing Rahwana and seeing Maespati grow pathetic, Prabu Arjunasasrabahu was also consumed by the thought that the only thing he had to do was to find a way to die. But he knew it would definitely not be through suicide. Neither would it be through another war. He threw away his temptation to look for opponents and start waging a war. After a total war against Rahwana, Maespati did not have enough mercenaries. Maespati was no longer a respected empire, no one was viewing it as an empire to be reckoned with anymore.
Then where was the path to death to be found? Being agitated by such a question, Prabu Arjunasasrabahu often walked into the forest alone, until one day he met Rishi Ramabargawa, or Parashurama.
“Prabu Arjunasasrabahu, I already know all about you. You are the incarnate king of Batara Wishnu. Fight me, and open my [mortality] path," said Rishi Ramabargawa without the briefest polite greeting. Prabu Arjunasasrabahu was startled to find a rishi suddenly challenging him to fight.
(This article was translated by Musthofid)
