NEGARA KERTAGAMA CANTO 8-12

NEGARA KERTAGAMA

CANTO 8-12

[Canto 8]

1. To be described is the order of that Royal compound, wonderful, its wall is red brick, going round, thick, high. West at the gate's mouth it faces a large field, in the centre there is a ring, deep. Brahmasthana-trees (Ficus religiosa) have a terrace each; bodhitrees (Ficus Rumphii) are in rows, well cared for; equally crowded are the cara-caras (festoons). There, to be sure, is the place of the common tandas (headmen), without interruption by turns mounting guard at the karaksan (redoubt) of the purasabha (Royal compound's durbar-place).
2. North then is the main gate, splendid, extraordinary, the doors are iron, ornamented with figures, unmeasured. East the contiguous building is fine, a panggung (watch-tower), high, its parapet is diamond-plastered, white. Situated north, south of the market-place, elose by, is that building, extremely long, wonderful to the utmost, every month Caitra (March-April) it is the meeting-place of the Royal servants' assembly. South, that is the cross-roads, sacred, imposing.
3. Wide, spacious is the wanguntur (main courtyard), to the sides those watangans (pavilions), with a witana (hall) in the centre. North then: the houses for the waiting of the common bhujanggas (ecelesiastical officers) together with the common mantris (mandarins), sitting in company. East: the places of the common Shiwaites and Buddhists, competing with eachother in the uttering of holy texts; with accessories, plentiful, crowded; (that are) the purification (ceremonies) at the time of Shrawana (July-August) and Phalguna (February-March), having for fruit, the future well-being of all the world.
4. Situated east are the homa(fire-offering)-places in a row, three by three, in the centre the Shiwaites' places, high. The places of the honoured wipras (brahmins) are south, all of them excellent, with storeys. West from that yard, with a base, is a place for tawur (chthonic spirits) offerings. The places of the honoured Buddhists are north, three storeys. These structures are at the tops beautiful, with carved work. Equally spread are their ornaments: puspa(flower)-offerings; they are visited by the Princes regularly when they (the puspas) are offered up in the fire, in company.
5. There, inside, south from the wanguntur (main courtyard), with a gate-building between, there are places of serving-men, well ordered, houses, beautiful, in rows, on both sides of a road leading west; in the centre there are tanjung trees (Mimusops Elengi), scattered, with flowers. Then, west, it has again a partition. South from the panggung (tower) there are several balés (small pavilions) with a circular (canal) at the border. Very wide it is, in the centre: a yard; there are mandapas (small halls) for the changing of clothes, innumerable, without interruption confusedly noisy.
6. At the inside of this there are again places of serving-men, to the south extending to the Second Wijil-gate in the Interior. Their arrangement is here in terraces, with gate-buildings between, there group by group is ordered according to rank. Equally are the houses weil built, the skirtings, also, on the other hand, their pillars, boards and rafters, without defect. Crowded they are because of the Royal servants in waiting, by turns mounting guard, biding their day, mindful.

[Canto 9]

1. Such is their appearance: those who are in waiting are called pangalasans (guardsmen), their number is immeasurable: Tanpalwir, Nyu-Gading, Janggala, Kadiri, Sedah, Panglarang, Rajadewi, Waishangka, Wwang-Panewwan, Kertapura, Sinelir and Jayeng- prang, Jayagong, Angreyok, Kaywapu, Wwang-Jaladhi, Pasuruhan-Samaja, et cetera, of all sorts.
2. Such, to be sure, are the most excellent of them, having their places in the watangans (guard-houses) of the alun-alun (outer court yard), without interruption assiduously taking their turns: tandas (headmen) and gustis (yeomen), wado-haji (common soldiers), and further those among-tuhan (camp-followers) on the yawa (front-yard), numerous. The principal ones are those who have their places at the Second Wijil-gate, the most excellent: the Bhayangkaris, doorkeepers, in company, crowded, North from the door into the Interior is their place; south, those are common kshatriyas (noblemen) and bhujanggas (ecclesiastical officers).
3. There in the north-west, in the west, going round in the direction of Death's Country (south): it has many buildings, dense, crowded because of the honoured sumantris (eminent mandarins) vested with authority, considered as elders by the Wira (bhumi) retinue, being in waiting. Different, situated south, between there is a gate: there are: mandapas (small halls) and many Houses, dense, crowded because of the retinue of the honoured Illustrious Prince in Paguhan, everlastingly serving.
4. There, inside the Second Wijil-gate it is beautiful, its yard is smooth and wide, utterly splendid, crowded: houses and a witana (great hall), extraordinary, the meeting-place of the honoured ones, who are in waiting, going into the Interior. East, to be sure, are those Houses, peerless, the structures glorious, high, with dignity. The place of the Illustrious Protectors giving audience to those who enter into the Presence is: they have their places in the witana (great hall), immeasurable.

[Canto 10]

1. To be described is the appearance of the honoured ones, in waiting there in the witana (hall) regularly: elder mantris (mandarins), common aryas (Honourables), also on the other hand, the honoured bearers of t~e exalted title sakaparek (King' s familiar): and the honoured Fellows in Wilwa Tikta (Majapahit): the mapatih (grand-vizir), the demung (chamberlain), the kanuruhan (chancellor), unseparated the rangga (aide-de-camp) and the tumenggung (commander-in-chief), the most excellent of the honoured ones who enter into the Presence, numerous, packed.
2. The number of weshapuris (gentlemen's compounds), mantris' (mandarins') places of amatyas (weIl-born people) in the whole of the town is the subject of the talk of the common apatihs (vizits) and the common demungs (chamberlains), every time they are meeting. Only the honoured chiefs of those who belong to the pangalasans (guard) have a limit, fixed, five is Their number, mantris (mandarins) blameless, taking care of concerns in the Interior.
3. Then, the honoured kshatriyas (noblemen), on the other hand the bhujanggas (ecclesiastical officers), the reshis (friars), the wipras (brahmins), any time they are entering into the Presence, there in the shadow of the ashoka-trees (Ixora coccinea), having their places beside the witana (hall) they are standing. The dharmadhyaksas (bishops), two, with the honoured upapattis (assessors-at-law), seven, in succession, the honoured true aryas (Honourables): Their conduct, having the title arya (Honourable), is worthy to be imitated.

[Canto 11]

1. Such is the appearance of the honoured ones who enter into the Presence in the witana (great hall), used as "in the Interior", well cared for, ornamented, splendid Inside, east of the First Wijil-gate are distant, secluded, those who have to enter into the Interior. Then, the honoured Illustrious Prince Singhawardhana is south, with spouse, with son and daughters. North is the honoured Illustrious Kertawardhana-Master. In shape divine dwellings, three, to be sure, are the compounds, together.
2. All the Houses are not without pillars with various woodcarvings, well-arranged, so they are described, and, to be sure, the bases are stone-brick, red, fitted with raised work, select, ornamented with figures. Spread, to be sure, are the products of the potters, used as tops of the roofs of those Houses, superior. Tanjungs (Mimusops elengi), kesharas (either nagasari: Mesua ferrea, or tapèn: Mallotus floribunda), campakas (Michelia champaka) are the most excellent of the flowers there. Cara-caras (festoons) are scattered over the yards.

[Canto 12]

1. To be described is the order of the adjacent wards, arranged according to the shape of the town. East are the honoured Shiwaite dwijas (priests). The principal is the worshipful the holy Brahmaraja, the eminent. There in the south are the Buddhists. The principal is he who practises nawang-worship, the honoured Father Monsignor of Nadi. West are kshatriyas (noblemen), mantris (mandarins), punggawas (distinguished servingmen), all kinsmen of the Illustrious Prince-Overlord.
2.  East, then, with a field between, is the compound of the Prince of Wengker, utterly wonderful. Manifestly Indra with Shaci is the Prince with the Princess of Daha. The honoured Protector of Matahun, the Princess of Lasem, they have their place in the Interior, unseparated. Situated south, not far away, is the kamegetan (country residence) of the honoured Protectors, splendid, imposing.
3. There, in the north, north from the great market-place is a manor, imposing, splendid. The honoured one who manifestly is younger brother to the Prince in Wengker is the honoured lord of the manor, firm. Faithful, loving the Princes, steadfast, versed in management is the apatih (vizir) in Daha. Celebrated in the world by the name Lord Narapati, he brings about the imposing aspeet of the realm.
4. North-east is the manor of the honoured Gajah Mada, patih (vizir) in Wilwa Tikta (Majapahit), eminent, a mantri (mandarin), manful, discerning in management, reliable, faithful, submissive towards the Prabhu, eloquent, sharp of speech, upright, sober-minded, steadfastly exerting hirnself, not lingering, superintendent of the Royal residence, taking eare of the stableness of the Prince as supreme Ruler of the world.
5. Then, there in the (region) south of the Royal compound are the manors, places of the dharmadhyaksas (bishops), very imposing. East is the Shiwaite's place, the most excellent, so it is said. The Buddhist's place is west, glorious, well arranged. Not to be described are the manors of the honoured sumantris (superior mandarins), eminent, with those of the honoured common kshatriyas (noblemen), because of Their number. The differences of one manor in respect to another one bring out the imposing aspect of the Royal compounds.
6. Of the aspect of Moon and Sun, to be sure, are the Royal compounds in Tikta Shriphala (Majapahit) there, peerless. The halos stand (to Sun and Moon) in the relation of the groves there (encircling) from one manor to another, numerous, differing in imposing aspect. Of the aspect of Stars and Planets, to be sure, is the rest of the towns there, being in great numbers, the principal is Daha, and the other islands, all ring-kingdoms, looking for support, numerous, entering into the Presence.