Sukrosono saw that there were animals that used to accompany him in the Jatirasa forest. Lions, snakes, rhinos, wild boars and monkeys ran around. It was like being with them again, as in Jatirasa. He played with them. Bathed with them in the lake there. He recognized one by one the fish swimming in it. Time seemed to no longer exist. He had fun all day long. He even met again with a tiger who nursed him like a mother. He was happy there. It was the same as when he was in Jatirasa and didn't know the world. Only, there was a difference too. In Jatirasa, he felt solitude and loneliness in the midst of the animals and the crowds of the forest that accompanied him. But in this new place on the other side, he felt that loneliness was gone. In fact, he could not see the place where he had been laid alone, when he was thrown away at night on the edge of the Jatirasa forest. The new place was like Jatirasa, only the difference was that loneliness and sadness were gone.
Also read:
The Bajang Child Swinging the Moon (155)
Sumantri also felt familiar with the place. There grew various fruit trees that he used to pick. Mangosteen, mango, durian, Java plum, kepundung, guava and other fruits. A clear river flowed where, he remembered, he often played. There were also bunds, where he jumped up and down. Herons flew and the sky was yellow with the wings of a kepodang bird (black-naped oriole). He remembered the time when he sang the song “Look at that kepodang bird”, stroking his younger brother who was sleeping soundly in his lap. The bamboo trees creaked in the wind and he heard the splash of water. He recognized the sound and saw there the bamboo reed shower where he had first met his younger brother. It was a very happy time. That moment was gone and now it was coming back. Yes, he felt all of this was like he had experienced when he used to live happily in Jatisrana. The place he was seeing after his death was really like Jatisrana. It was no wonder, when he was nearing his death, he always longed to return to Jatisrana. His wish had come true. This place was really the Jatisrana that he missed. But it was different from the Jatisrana where he used to live, in this place there was no need to be exhausted by ideals. He would no longer be deceived by his desires that led him to futility.
Under the bridge they saw there was a very wide river, its water flowed very hard.
On the other side stretched the lake that was dappled by the many colors of the lotus flower. The yellow, blue and red strands glimmered beautifully. The rain fell, its water splashed like a golden shower, a tinge of gold adorning the universe. Elsewhere radiated brilliant stars like a brooding swan, and in the clear lake white swans drifted about, their wings were like floating clouds. The flowers of tanjong (Spanish cherry), campaka (magnolia) and nagasari (Ceylon ironwood) spread their fragrance. The tadahasih bird no longer made a sad sound because the raindrops had fallen to their lover. Such a beautiful view from the other side reminded Dewi Sokawati and Begawan Swandagni of the mangsa kalima (the fifth period of the season) in Jatisrana. Back in Jatisrana, whenever the mangsa kalima came, they knitted dreams of endless love. It turned out that love was so fragile, and they had to separate in sorrow and regret. Only now, having passed this, when they looked upon their children who had been freed from suffering, could they feel love as happiness. What was on the other side would not only be seen – they wanted to cross as soon as possible. So they immediately left the edge of the cloud, where they were standing. The road to their waiting place was very long, they had to fight through a life full of burdens and experiments. When they had met each other at the waiting place, the way to the other side seemed light and without obstacles. A rainbow suddenly stretched and provided itself as a bridge. On the rainbow bridge they crossed to the other side. Under the bridge they saw there was a very wide river, its water flowed very hard.
Sumantri looked down, he felt like he was crossing the Gangga river, in its mouth he died as a hero of Maespati. Now, on this rainbow bridge, he felt how incorrect the image the people had of him. He did die, but not as a hero who died on the battlefield, instead as a soul that longed to return to eternity. Now eternity was so close. One step and he would arrive there. As he stared across, he was very surprised. There he saw Darmawati was standing, waiting. Darmawati waved her hand. Her face was beaming. Indeed Darmawati had long waited on the other side. Throughout life until her death, she sincerely loved Sumantri. Her sincere love was what allowed her to arrive across this early, waiting for Sumantri. Across from Sumantri, Darmawati looked very beautiful. Tanjung flowers were slipped behind her ears and her head was decorated with fallen katangga flowers. Her lips flushed beautifully, resembling the passion of katirah flowers that were willing to be sucked by the bees. Her chest was as if it was hiding a pair of full moons, and who didn't want to hug her waist that was flexing like an asana flower stalk?
Indeed, on this other side, Sumantri did not hesitate anymore, he would be able to return the endless love of Widarba's daughter.
Sumantri felt very happy, it turned out he could meet again with Darmawati on this other side. He was so sure he was hoped for and expected by Darmawati. He felt the love of Darmawati herself, which gave him what he could not get when he lived in the world. What Darmawati obtained after death turned out to be much more beautiful than what he wanted when he lived. Indeed, on this other side, Sumantri did not hesitate anymore, he would be able to return the endless love of Widarba's daughter. Eternal love could only be obtained here.
Thus they arrived at the other side, which was so very beautiful. Had they arrived in heaven? If so, why did heaven turn out to be so close to the world, almost the same as the world? Maybe that was why when they were part of the world, they imagined heaven was Jatisrana. So heaven was none other than Jatisrana they had in the past. Only the difference was, in Jatisrana they experienced how love was easily broken and they were prone to separation. Here, across here, in this paradise, they really experienced it. Love would no longer separate them. It turns out in this eternal Jatisrana, love is divine.
(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)
