Narasoma - (Wayang Kulit)

Narasoma - son of Prabu Mandratpati

Title	Narasoma - (Raden) - Mahabharata
Other names	Salya, Salyapati, Artayani
Size	50 cm
Personal data	Raden Narasoma son of Prabu Mandratpati from Mandraka country. After growing up, Raden Narasoma was to be married by his father, but he refused and left his country, followed by his sister, named Dewi Madrim.
Appearance	Raden Narasoma has a pointed nose and slanted eyes. Untied in a bun in the shape of a gemel with a garuda on its back, waderan besungt. Stretching necklace. Ringing, popping and curling. Clothed ass.
Collection	Private collection

Narasoma - (Raden) - Mahabharata

The king of Mandaraka kingdom named Mandratpati has two children named Narasoma and Madrim. Narasoma then succeeded his father as the king of Mandaraka and was named Salya. He is also often referred as Prabu Salyapati.

The story of Salya and Setyawati 's marriage is told when Narasoma (Salya when she was young) went traveling because she refused to marry her father. On the way he met a giant brahmin named Resi Bagaspati who wanted to be his son-in-law. Bagaspati admitted that he had a beautiful daughter named Pujawati who dreamed of meeting Narasoma and fell in love with her. Narasoma immediately rejected Bagaspati's proposal because he was sure that Pujawati must also have a giant face. The two of them fought, and Narasoma was defeated, he was then taken to Bagaspati's residence to the Argabelah Hermitage. Arriving at Argabelah, Narasoma was surprised to find out that Pujawati was really beautiful, and he changed his mind and was willing to marry Pujawati.

Narasoma felt disgusted having a giant in-law. Pujawati, the innocent wife, immediately conveyed this to her father. Bagaspati then told his daughter to choose between father and husband. It turned out that Pujawati chose her husband. Bagaspati was not angry with her daughter's answer, she was actually proud and changed Pujawati's name to Setyawati. Setyawati then told Narasoma that her father was ready to die rather than disturb their harmony. Bagaspati was willing to be killed as long as Setyawati was not married to him. Narasoma agreed to the conditions requested by her in-laws. He then stabbed Bagaspati but it didn't work. Bagaspati realized that he had a supernatural power called Candabirawa, so he passed this knowledge on to Narasoma first. Narasoma then pierced Bagaspati's elbow, which is his weak point. Bagaspati died instantly. Narasoma then took Setyawati back to Mandaraka.
Narasoma and Setyawati's arrival was greeted happily by their father, Mandratpati. However, he became sad when he heard that Bagaspati had died at the hands of his son. It turned out that Bagaspati was Mandratpati's good friend, so he was angry and immediately threw Narasoma out of the palace. Madrim finally caught up with the departure of her older brother, whom she still missed very much.

Narasoma and Madrim arrived at the kingdom of Mandura, where a competition was being held to get the princess of the state, who was named Kunti. Salya participated in the competition and by deploying Candabirawa he succeeded in defeating all the participants who participated in the competition. Meanwhile Pandu, the prince of Hastina, arrived late and decided to go home. However, Narasoma prevented and challenged him. Actually, Pandu didn't want to accept the challenge, because Narasoma had already been declared the winner. Narasoma continued to force Pandu, and he even promised to hand over Kunti and Madrim at once, if Pandu was able to defeat him.
Finally, Pandu had to accept Narasoma's challenge. Narasoma immediately mobilized the knowledge of Candabirawa. From his fingers appeared a small, ferocious monster, and when he was injured, his number would actually increase. Pandu was desperate, and on the advice of his assistant named Semar , he remained silent and surrendered to God. In that way, Candabirawa became paralyzed by himself.
Narasoma finally gave up and handed Kunti and Madrim over to Pandu. Indeed, Narasoma's goal in taking part in the competition was not to want Kunti, but she just wanted to try the potency of Candrabirawa.
Narasoma then returned to Mandaraka, when he arrived there he was shocked by the death of his father. That said, Mandrapati was very sad about the death of his friend, Bagaspati. He felt that he failed to be a good father so he decided to commit suicide.

Narasoma succeeded his father as king in Mandaraka and took the title Salya, accompanied by Tuhayata as patih. His arrogant nature never disappeared. He immediately accepted Doryudana king Hastina's proposal to marry Erawati. However, Erawati was kidnapped and lost, but was rescued by Baladewa . According to the agreement, Erawati should have been immediately handed over to Baladewa, but this was postponed because Salya preferred to have a king as a son-in-law. However, after he found out that Baladewa was actually the king of the Mandura Kingdom, Erawati was handed over to him.
Then Doryudana proposed to Surtikanti, his second daughter, but again, his second daughter was kidnapped and finally married Karna. Doryudana gave up Surtikanti because Karna had contributed a lot to him and was also his good friend. Doryudana then married Banowati, Salya's third daughter.

In the fifth part of the Mahabharata or Udyogaparwa, it is told that Salya brought a large army to Upaplawya to express support for the Pandavas. However, on the way, Salya's group stopped to rest at a campsite complete with all kinds of food. Salya enjoyed the dishes available, because he thought it was the Pandavas who prepared them. But suddenly the Korawa under the leadership of Doryudana appeared and claimed to be the owners of the camp. Finally, Doryudana asked Salya to join the Korawa as compensation. Salya was forced to accept Doryudana's request. Salya then continued to meet his nephews, namely the Five Pandavas, he told them that in the future war, he would be on the enemy's side. The Pandavas were clearly surprised and surprised to hear this. However, Salya comforted them and gave them the blessing of victory.
During the great war in Kurukhsetra Salya was trapped by the Kauravas, so he had to fight against the Pandavas. On the first day he succeeded in defeating Utara, the prince of Virata, who was one of the main allies of the Pandavas. Utara's brother named Sweta tried hard to attack Salya, until Salya was desperate. But he was saved by Kretawarma.

On the 17th day, when Karna was appointed as the commander of the Kaurava army and confronted Arjuna. Salya became his son-in-law's coachman. Actually, he half-heartedly complied with Duke Karna's request. This was seen when Karna aimed at Arjuna's neck with his heirloom arrow. Salya hit his car and also at the same time signaled Krishna to move his car. Karna's arrow missed the main target.
After Karna died at the hands of Arjuna, Salya was appointed the new commander of the Korawa side. Aswatama actually objected to Salya's appointment as war commander. Because Ashwatama thought that Salya had betrayed him, namely secretly helping Arjuna. However, Doryudana accused Aswatama of being presumptuous and expelled him.

As Salya went to war using the Rudrarohastra (Candabirawa) weapon, small but very ferocious giants appeared who, when injured, actually increased in number. Krishna then sent Nakula to ask Salya to be killed right then and there. Nakula obeyed Krishna's orders and arrived in front of Salya. Of course Salya couldn't bear to kill his own nephew. He actually knew that it was just Kresna's remains. Finally, Salya honestly told Nakula that Rudrarohastra could only be conquered with a pure soul. Krishna then asked Yudhistira , who was known to have a pure heart, to face Salya. At first Yudhistira didn't want to do that, but in the end he obeyed what Krishna had ordered, always the advisor to the Pandavas. Rudrarohastra was successfully paralyzed, Yudhistira then released the Kalimahisaddha Heritage towards Salya. The book relic turned into a spear and pierced Salya's chest. After Salya died, Setyawati followed her beloved husband to the battlefield. Discovering that her husband had died, Setyawati finally defended Setyawati and her maid, Sugandika, and then committed suicide using a keris.

---

Source: History of Wayang Purwa - Hardjowirogo - PN Balai Pustaka – 1982
Blog: Hidisukirno – Yogyakarta - 2011