I KETUT GEDÉ, SINGARAJA, STORY FROM THE BHARATAYUDDHA, SALYA
LOr. 3390-307
Drawing on Dutch paper, watermark Pro Patria, countermark VdL., 34 x 42 cm
Yudistira (left) and Kresna (right) are standing and discussing something. Nakula, bottom right, and in front of him the servant Twalèn kneel and honour Yudistira with a sembah. Mredah, holding a bag made of basketry for sirih utensils, watches on the right. There is a tree between the two groups of men with a bird in it. A text in Balinese script in the centre says: “waringin misi clepuk”, a waringin tree with an owl. Such a bird is a bad omen. Close to the standing man on the left is written: “yudistira”, and to the figure kneeling at his feet: “twalèn”. At the top on the right is written: “késawwa”. Késawa is an epithet for Kresna. He is an incarnation of the god Wisnu. In the Bharatayuddha he is an ally of the Pandawa. On the far right in the centre is written: “mredah”, the second servant of the Pandawa party, and close to the man kneeling in front of him: “nakule”, Nakula.
This scene refers to an episode described in the Old Javanese Bharatayuddha (XXXVI: 1-2).The Pandawa have heard that Salya is to be appointed commander-in-chief of the Korawa party. They want to know whether this is true and they discuss how to defeat him. It is Kresna’s idea to have Nakula sent to Salya in order to find out what is going to happen. Nakula is chosen, because he is very close to Salya.
