The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (152)

SERIAL STORY (152)

The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon

Prabu Arjunasasrabahu was surprised. It turned out that, as he wished, this sage was also looking for a way to death. Could this sage come to make way for his wish? Was it not that, after the disaster at the Gangga River, and the massive war against Rahwana of Alengka, the only thing he wanted was to find a way to death?

"High Rishi, like you, I am also looking at dalane pati (the way to my death). I think you are the path provided for me to find my death, "said Prabu Arjunasasrabahu steadfastly.

"It's not that easy, O king. Death is the end of life that must be defeated, only by defeating it, we glorify life. So, in the face of death, we must put up a fight. And for me, the weapon against death is honesty with life. I killed my mother for the sake of honesty. So, I want to die too at the hands of that honesty. Take hold of the gandewa (bow)of Bargawastra that I carry. Only honesty can break it. If you can break it, there's no need for me to fight you anymore, I give up. That means the time of my death has come. You could easily end my life," said Rishi Ramabargawa.

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"Begawan (Master), I certainly don’t think I can break it. I know, I'm not honest in my life. What is the use for me to try for?” Prabu Arjunasasrabahu confessed with all his heart. He felt very relieved, as his confession exposed his weakness. Indeed, the confession should not have come out of the mouth of a knight who was considered to be brave and noble. He felt that Rishi Ramabargawa had brought death closer to him. At a time like this, there was no point in maintaining all his valor and glory. He let go, and he felt freed from all the burdens of the falsehood of life that had been pressing him down. "You must try it, O king. Aren't you looking for a way to death? If I have to take you there, I will. But I can't just do it, because I can't be sure whether you're honest or not, even if you admit it yourself you are not honest. In short, if you can break it, you are the one who can find a way for me to die. Otherwise, I will be the one to help you to find your way to your death,” Rishi Ramawabarga insisted.

"Alright O priest, I'll do it. I'm ready if I have to die. I am relieved that I have admitted that I was dishonest in my life, at a time when I feel death os about to come for me. Thus, I feel honest in the face of death, and therefore I believe death will be willing to erase all dishonesty in my life. Give me your gandewa right now," asked Prabu Arjunasasrabahu steadfastly.

The wind was blowing hard when Prabu Arjunasasrabahu received the Gandewa Bargawastra from the hands of Rishi Ramabargawa. The ylang-ylang flowers fell in the wind, and Prabu Arjunasasrabahu felt he was inhaling the scent of death. With a steadfast heart, he withdrew the gandewa. It turned out he couldn't break it. He tried again, again the gandewa was not broken. He repeated several times, the Gandewa Bargawastra remained intact as before. The last time he pulled it up, it bounced to the ground. Suddenly, a ray of light like the figure of a noble god shot out from him, the figure of Batara Wisnu who had been residing in him. The figure was leaving him. This was when he succumbed to his death. He gave up, but did not feel defeated. In the face of death, it turns out that there is no winning or losing in words. There, right in that moment, death only gave him words that felt about his deliverance and liberation. He really felt liberated and relieved.

Watching Prabu Arjunasasrabahu fall in front of him, Ramabargawa looked sad. He believed, he would only die at the hands of honesty. Now, even Prabu Arjunasasrabahu, the incarnation of Wisnu, could not break his Gandewa Bargawastra, a sign of imperfect honesty. This meant, he had not found the path he was looking for. He still had to wait again to die.

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"Oh god, why hasn't my wait ended yet?” Rishi Ramabargawa said. He also turned to Prabu Arjunasasrabahu and expressed his sadness, "I thought you were the one who would end my path, it turns out that you yourself are now finding your way."

He turned to the King of Maespati for one last look, “I envy you, O king. It turns out you were allowed to get ahead of me. But, now I'm more aware, I can't be left to die. I cannot force my death if the time has not yet come for me. It's your time, and not mine."

The sky thundered with lightning. The clouds hardened, floating into black stones that lost their weeping. In the languishing sky, the longing like horses whose legs are broken was running. Rishi Ramabargawa swung his ax at Prabu Arjunasasrabahu's body with tired hands. And the King of Maespati breathed his last breath. Rishi Ramabargawa lamented why Prabu Arjunasasrabahu, who was expected to end his journey, had gone ahead of him. Until now he had not found the way to his death, even though he was very tired of carrying his life. He heard the sky thundering more and more, and in the sky flashes of light became sharp swords, making him ask even more, why hasn't his life been cut off yet? The rain was pouring down, turning into tears of longing that rebuked him. No matter how close he felt along the road there, death would not pick him up, as if the time had not come. He left again to continue his journey. From a distance he saw Maespati looking quiet and desolate. Maespati, once majestic and noble, had now become a country, as if it had never existed in this world.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.