Yudistira and the dog
| Title | Yudistira and the dog |
|---|---|
| Artist | Unknown |
| Date | |
| Size | 43 cm |
| Material | Suar wood |
| Remarks | |
| Signature | |
| Published | |
| Collection | Private collection |
Yudistira (Dharmawangsa) and the dog
Dharmawangsa is a figure from the Mahabharata, and in other countries, including India, his name is also Yudishtira. He is also called Yudishtira in Javanese wayang play. Balinese mythology can sometimes be complex, as it is interwoven with its own beliefs, myths, and legends. This is one of the reasons why some stories differ from the Indian version of the Ramayana or Mahabharata.
King Dharmawangsa was a legendary king who ruled over the powerful kingdom of Mataram. The early kingdom of Mataram extended over a large area of Indonesia. Much of Java, as well as Bali, belonged to this kingdom. This is likely why the influence of Dharmawangsa's story on Bali became intertwined with that of Yudishtira, but it is also possible that this happened earlier, during the Hindu Javanese period. Dharmawangsa was a legendary king. He was known for his honest nature, sincerity, and strong sense of justice. Dharmawangsa had four brothers, and together they formed the famous Pandawa brothers. The Pandawa brothers ruled over a beautiful kingdom but were banished after losing a war. Fortunately, they later managed to reclaim their kingdom during the great war on Kurukshetra.
As leader of the Pandawa brothers, Dharmawangsa was primarily responsible for this success and was subsequently crowned king. During his reign, he was very successful; he was known as a great leader and brought prosperity, peace, and wealth to the entire kingdom. After many years of prosperity, Dharmawangsa and his brothers decided that their task here on earth was fulfilled and the time had come for them to finally ascend to heaven in peace. In their eyes, through their great successes and the bringing of prosperity and wealth, they had finally earned this place.
In this story, heaven was located on the summit of the sacred mountain Indrakila. To reach this point, the brothers had to climb the mountain: a long and dangerous journey. Nevertheless, all the brothers decided to make the journey, and so, at the foot of the mountain, they began this final adventure. During this arduous journey, a wretched dog suddenly appeared. The dog stayed close to the brothers the entire time, following them wherever they went. The brothers let the dog do its thing, and the dog accompanied them throughout the entire journey.
However, the journey proved so arduous that one by one, Dharmawangsa's brothers perished during the arduous journey. They remained behind on the mountain. The dog seemed to have less difficulty with the journey and faithfully followed Dharmawangsa throughout the arduous journey. Dharmawangsa drew support and encouragement from the dog's company, which gave him the strength to continue. When Dharmawangsa finally reached the top of the mountain, still accompanied by this dog, he arrived at the gates of heaven.
There, the god Indra stood waiting for him, guarding the gates. Indra asked Dharmawangsa to leave the dog behind. Indra said that heaven was no place for such a filthy and inferior animal. Dharmawangsa asked if this faithful dog could come along, but Indra refused. Indra then tried to persuade Dharmawangsa to choose his own happiness and go to heaven with him, where his brothers were waiting for him. All he had to do was leave the dog behind.
To this, Dharmawangsa replied that he would rather go to hell than send this faithful dog away. After all, the dog had supported him on his arduous journey to heaven, had stayed with him as his brothers died one by one, and had become his loyal friend. Without this dog, he probably would never have made the journey. To leave this friend behind would be a sin.
After this brave speech, a great and bright light suddenly radiated from the dog, and the dog transformed into none other than Dharmawangsa's father, the god Dharma. Indra's refusal of the dog proved to be a test, a test that Dharmawangsa passed with flying colors. Dharma then welcomed Dharmawangsa to heaven with the words: "Dharmawangsa, you are the most righteous of the righteous, welcome to heaven."
And thus ended this chapter in the story of Dharmawangsa.
The story is full of wise lessons, the most important of which is that justice should never be set aside for personal gain. It is a beautiful, timeless story. It teaches us that honesty and fairness pay. It also teaches us to look beyond appearance and status, whether it concerns people or animals. It also teaches us that people and animals can surprise us and have more potential than we initially realize. It teaches us to be kind to our fellow human beings and animals, even if it concerns a poor stray dog.
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