Dursilawati - (Wayang Kulit)

Title	Dursilawati - (Dewi) - Mahabharata
Other names
Size	45 cm
Personal data	Dewi Dursilawati is the only woman out of 100 (one hundred) children of Prabu Drestarasta, king of the country of Astina with his consort Dewi Gandari, daughter of Prabu Gandara with Dewi Gandini from the country of Gandaradesa. Among the 100 people, the Kurawa family known in puppetry are; Duryudana (king of the Astina State), Bogadatta (king of the Turilaya State), Bomawikata, Citraksa, Citraksi, Carucitra, Citrayuda, Citraboma, Dursasana (Duke of Banjar Jumut), Durmuka, Durmagati, Durgempo, Gardapati (king of the Bukasapta State), Gardapura, Kartamarma (king of the Banyutinalang State), Kartadenta, Surtayu, Surtayuda, Wikataboma, and Widandini (king of the Purantara State). Dewi Dursilawati married Arya Sinduraja/Arya Tirtanata or better known as Arya Jayadrata, the king of the Sindu State. Unlike the Mahabharata story from India , the marriage of Jayadrata and Dursilawati—according to Javanese puppetry—produced two sons named Kartiwindu and Antisura. Kartiwindu was adopted as the adopted son of Sangkuni since childhood. In the Mahabharata story from India Dewi Dursilawati’s sons were named Arya Wiruta and Arya Surata.
Appearance	Dewi Dursilawati has a humble nature, is charming, her style and words are very interesting. However, her nature is sometimes used for bad things. Dursilawati is very spoiled by her parents and siblings. Her life is luxurious and what she wants always comes true. Dewi Dursilawati rarely left the palace environment.
Collection	Private collection

Dursilawati – (Dewi) – Mahabharata

It is said that Jayadrata came to the Hastina Kingdom to study government from Pandu. However, because Pandu had died, Sangkuni tried to attract Jayadrata to become an ally of the Kauravas. Sangkuni used Dursilawati’s beauty to charm Jayadrata.

With Dursilawati's style and words that always attract the hearts of the people she talks to, Jayadrata was attracted and fell in love with Dursilawati. Jayadrata was willing to marry Jayadrata. However, before the wedding, she was kidnapped by a white elephant. The Pandadwa mediator, Arjuna, helped Jayadrata find Dursilawati and kill the elephant.

When the Bharatayudha war occurred, Kartiwindu fled when the number of forces of the Kauravas was dwindling. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Antisura, was still a child when the war broke out. During the reign of Parikesit, Arjuna's grandson, Antisura received amnesty and was accepted as an officer of the Hastina Kingdom. Antisura was known to be arrogant and liked to brag. As a result, his relationships with other officers who were descendants of the Pandavas were not good.

According to the Javanese puppet story, Dursilawati's two children, Kartiwindu and Antisura, became troublemakers in Parikesit's government. Kartiwindu destroyed the peace of Hastina from the outside, while Antisura from within the palace.

Dursilawati herself died when the Baratayuda war occurred because her life was taken by Batara Kala as a sacrifice for the victory of the Korawa side, especially Jayadrata. As proof is the success of the Korawa on the 13th day in killing Abimanyu, son of Janaka.

In Sanggit Ki Seno, not only Wisakusuma was the victim of Janoko's anger, Jayadrata's wife, Dursilawatai also died on the same day, she was shot by Janoko's arrow.

However in another sanggit, Dursilawati died in self-defense because her son and her husband died in the Baratayudha War.

It’s also said that after the end of the Bharatayuda war with the death of her husband, Arya Jayadrata and all her brothers on the Kurusetra battlefield, Dewi Dursilawati lived in the country of Sindu with her son, Arya Surata who was enthroned as king of the country of Sindu replacing his father. Occasionally she came to the country of Astina to build and perpetuate close family relationships with the Pandawa family and their descendants.

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Source: History of Wayang Purwa - Hardjowirogo - PN Balai Pustaka – 1982
Blog: Hadisukirno – Yogyakarta - 2012