Sumitra - Bambang - (Wayang Kulit)

Sumitra - son of Arjuna

Title	Sumitra - (Raden) - Mahabharata
Other names
Size	50 cm
Personal data	Raden Sumitra was the son of Arjuna, one of the five Pandawa knights, with Dewi Rarasati/Larasati, daughter of Arya Prabu Rukma/Prabu Bismaka, king of the Kumbina country with Ken Sagupi from the Widarakandang hermitage. Sumitra had 13 other siblings, namely: Abimanyu, Bratalaras, Bambang Irawan, Kumaladewa, Kumalasakti, Wilugangga, Endang Pregiwa, Endang Pregiwati, Prabakusuma, Wijarnaka, Antakadewa, and Bambang Sumbada. Sumitra married Dewi Vishnuwati (Wisnuwati), one of Prabu Kresna’s daughters. In addition, some books also say that Bambang Sumitra's wife was not Dewi Wisnuwati but Dewi Asmarawati.
Appearance	In the world of puppetry, the name Bambang Sumitra is not as prominent as Arjuna's other sons.
Collection	Private collection

Sumitra – (Raden) – Mahabharata

Bambang Sumitra served as Abimanyu's chariot driver. Some wayang books say that Bambang Sumitra was not Abimanyu's chariot driver but worked as his horse groomer. While other wayang books say that Brantalaras was the horse groomer.

The marriage between Bambang Sumitra and Dewi Asmarawati did not receive the attention it deserved from Arjuna. Therefore, Semar and his children then took over the organization of the marriage. The marriage between Bambang Sumantri and Dewi Asmarawati was the most luxurious and most festive wedding celebration ever in the puppet world.
In his capacity as Batara Ismaya, Semar asked for help from several gods as the wedding committee. Semar also brought dozens of nymphs to be assigned as servants to the invited guests. The food and drinks served were all brought from Heaven . In that way, Semar was able to convince Arjuna that a father should not differentiate between his children in terms of affection.

Bambang Sumitra also joined the Bharatayuda battlefield. On the thirteenth day of the Baratayuda war Raden Sumitra died together with Prabakusuma, Wilungangga, Wijanarka and Antakadewa. He died on the battlefield against Resi Bhishma after being hit by Lesmana Mandrakumara’s arrow.
Another version says that Sumitra died at the hands of Karna. This was done by Karna so that Abimanyu, who was with Sumitra, would be afraid and leave the battlefield.

With the death of Bambang Sumitra, Abimanyu's chariot became uncontrollable and the chariot overturned. Meanwhile, Abimanyu managed to jump from the chariot and shoot an arrow at Lesmana Mandrakumara who had killed Bambang Sumitra, his brother. The death of Bambang Sumitra and his two other brothers made Abimanyu's anger flare. Arjuna's beloved son then went on a rampage to hunt down Begawan Drona. However, he was not alert enough so that he was trapped in the encirclement of the Kurawa soldiers. He died together with Raden Abimanyu in the encirclement of the Cakrabyuha line. In this play, many of Arjuna's children died.
Another version, there is one that tells that many of Arjuna's children died in the Gatutkaca Gugur play.

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Source: History of Wayang Purwa - Hardjowirogo - PN Balai Pustaka – 1982
Source: albumkisahwayang.blogspot.com - 2018