Raden Wijaya selamat dari kejaran tentara Jayakatwang dari Kerajaan Kediri. Ia awalnya diminta oleh mertuanya yang juga Raja Singasari bernama Kertanagara melakukan perlawanan ke Jayakatwang.
Raden Wijaya narrowly escaped assassination by Kediri forces led by Jayakatwang. After fleeing Singasari, he traveled north to Mameling, influenced by refugees fleeing Kediri's attacks. Despite a pretended northern offensive, Kediri's main assault from the south overwhelmed defenses, leading to the palace's capture and the deaths of Kertanagara and his family. Raden Wijaya, though victorious in a battle, faced retreat due to being outnumbered. He cleverly escaped capture by using muddy rice field soil to blind his pursuer, Kebo Mundarang, ensuring his survival.
