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A thunderstorm evoked by Arjuna, magic darkness by Ravana, gave fresh food to the fantasy of the clowns, till Arjuna with a splendid gesture restored light, and the two rakshasas disappeared in a whirl wind of motion up the ground and in a moment the audience has dispersed.

A favourite theme of the drama which generally follows the old style of Djanger is the ascesis of Arjuna, the most famous of the five Pandava brothers, whose adventures form the main theme of the Mahabharata. Like all Balinese versions of the Hindu epics it is drawn from a medieval Javanese source. The story is similar to Smaradahana in the sense that here also we have some one wrapped in meditation on a mountain at the very moment when his help is needed to destroy a ravaging demon. In this case the demon-king Nivatakavaca had received from ~iva the boo~ &at he should be invincible by gods, demi-gods, demons, and rishis. In their dilemma the gods turn to the mortal Arjuna.

Indra sends a bevy of divine courtesans to beguile him, with Suprabha and Tilottama at the head. They are rejoiced at the failure of the nymphs, and submit him to various other tests, all of which he passes successfully, and is recognized by the gods as their appointed saviour. Meanwhile the demon-king, hearing of the powerful magic which is being set in action against him by Arjuna's yoga, sends the giant Simoerka in the form of a-boar to kill him. Arjuna is at last aroused, and shoots the boar dead with his bow. The sequel does not concern us here, as this is the point at which the Djanger drama ends.

This is the story always given in the abbreviated and very elegant Djanser which is arranged for tourists by the Bali Hotel. After the usual Djanger prelude, Arjuna's coming is announced by the dancer who has been sitting in the centre and acting as Daag.

Arjuna enters the square of seated dancers and after some winding about with his penasar, seats himself on a stool and goes into ascesis. Two of the Djanger girls rise and dance before him, caressing him and trying to attract his attention, while the penasar hovers reciting in the background, and the seated square of dancers continue their rhythmic movements. At last the two nymphs retire discomfited and resume their place in the square, and a supernatural voice is heard approaching with harsh, raucous cries. Simoerka bursts into the square, half boar, half Garuda-bird, with a strong spice of the witch Rangda. His vehement chattering rage wakes Arjuna, who at once advances to the attack, and -,after a series of rushing encounters and beautiful posturing with his bow, the demon is slain and the dance is over.

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