BAGUS DIARSA

    

 A long time ago there lived a Balinese prince who loved to le at cockfights. Although his people feared him, most of them also enjoyed cockfights. A large crowd always gathered when a cockfight was held. People came from near and far if they knew that the prince was holding a fight, for then the gambling stakes were high.

Among the people who attended the cockfights was a man called Bagus Diarsa. He liked to gamble, but he was very poor. Each time he went to a cockfight he brought only a little money, some to gamble with, and the rest to buy food.

               One day Diarsa lost almost all of his gambling money at cock­fight. He went to the food stalls and bought a plate of rice with some of the money he had left. While he was eating, he noticed a poor old man, going from stall to stall, asking for left-over. For Every­one turned the old man away, he was dirty and smelled bad.

When the old  man came to Diarsa Diarsa said, 'Why do you ask for left-overs, If that is all I give you I will feel very unkind. It's better that I buy you your own plate of food.' Diarsa bought the old man a full plate of rice, and waited while he ate every grain.

After his meal the old man asked if he could spend the night at Diarsa's house. Diarsa promptly agreed, and when they reached his home, Diarsa asked his wife and son Wira to swiftly prepare a sleeping place for their guest.

As they sat talking late into the night, the old man asked Diarsa if he often went to the cockfights, and whether he won or lost. Diarsa told him that he always went, but always lost.

Then the old man asked, 'Do you keep many cocks?' Diarsa replied, 'Grandfather, I don't have any cocks now. They were all defeated and killed. So now I can bet only on other people's cocks.'

Then the old man said, 'Come to my home and I will give you a strong fighting cock. I have three, and you may take whichever one you like.' Diarsa thanked the old man for his of­fer. The old man asked Diarsa if his son Wira could accompany him home. 'I am old and alone.' he said. 'I need someone to look after me.'

Diarsa felt sympathetic towards the poor old man. 'Cer­tainly, you can take Wira,' he replied, 'if the boy has no objec­tions.' Diarsa and his wife called Wira, and Wira immediately agreed to go with the kind old man.

The next morning Wira and the old man prepared for their journey. Before they went, the old man asked Diarsa to get three chicken feathers. Then he told Diarsa, 'Take good are of thew three feathers. Whenever you want to see Wira or me, just free the feathers. They will fly into the air. Follow them whenever they go, and you will reach my little house.

Then the old man and Wira said goodbye and set off to­wards the east. After they had walked for many hours, the old man said to Wira, 'Listen, my son, let me tell you who I really am. I am the God Siwa.' Just then, he changed into the God Siwa, and soon he and Wira arrived in heaven, and lived in Siwa's palace.

Meanwhile, Diarsa and his wife lived on as usual. Diarsa continued to attend cockfights, and as usual, he always lost. His son had been away for so long that he and his wife had for­gotten him. It was Siwa's wish that this be so.

One day the prince ordered a cockfight to be held outside his palace, and commanded everyone in the village to enter a cock, or else pay a large fine. Diarsa was worried. But suddenly he remembered the old man's promise to give biro a cock. Diarsa told his wife that he must go to look for Wira and the old man.

Diarsa took the three chicken feathers, walked outside his house and looked them. They flew off, and he followed them. After many days Diarsa found himself in front of a beautiful palace. The feathers flew right in, but Diarsa did not dare to follow.

When Siwa saw the feathers enter his palace, he told Wira, 'Your father is outside. Go and bring him in, for he is too afraid to enter alone.' So Wira brought Diarsa in, and explained to him who the old man really was.

Siwa already knew what Diarsa wanted, and he led him to his cocks. Diarsa chose the largest cock. Then he thanked Siwa and said goodbye to his son. But before he lift, Siwa gave him flowers from the garden in his temple. 'Use these when you bet on your cock,' he said.

On the day of the cockfight, people crowded the village square and chose opponents for their cocks. Unfortunately for Diarsa, his cock scared all the others, so he could not find an opponent.

News of Diarsa's strong cock reached the prince, who im­mediately ordered Diarsa to fight his cock against the prince's own. Sharp blades were attached to the legs of both cocks. A huge crowd had gathered to watch the battle between the prince's cock and Diarsa's. How much money do you want to bet on your cock?' The prince asked Diarsa. Diarsa remem­bered Siwa's advice. He reached into his pocket for the temple flowers. But when he pulled his hand out, it was filled with gold, silver, and precious stones. He told the prince that he would bet these on his cock.

Then the two cocks were released. But Diarsa's cock flew up into the air, swooped down on the prince, and killed him. There was a great uproar Diarsa ran home, chased by the prince's soldiers.

Once he was inside, many eagles surrounded his house. His cock perched on the roof, and suddenly turned into a huge Garuda. With the help of the Garuda and the eagles, Diarsa soon subdued the prince's followers. The people, who had hated and feared the strict prince, rejoiced and called Diarsa their new prince.

Diarsa was much loved, for he ruled justly. The princedom became prosperous and happy. Siwa watched all this happen­ing, and one day he called Wira and said to him, 'Wira, it is now time for you to return to earth, for your father has become a prince, and will soon need your help.' So Wira returned to earth amidst great rejoicing by Prince Bagus Diarsa and his Princess. They made Wira the prime minister, and Diarsa's family and his descendants ruled that princedom of Bali for many generations.