Long ago there was King Tapa Agung and he had many daughters.
When King Tapa Agung had aged he decided to crown one of his daughters as the queen after him.
King Tapa Agung's eldest daughter was Purbararang and the king's youngest daughter was Purabasari.
Though it was custom to appoint the eldest daughter as the queen after him, King Tapa Agung wanted to appoint his youngest daughter Purbasari as the Queen.
Purbasari was very kind and wise and loved by all the people in the kingdom.
When Purbararang learnt of her father's choice she was furious.
Purbararang had a fiance Indrajaya.
Purbararang and Indrajaya went looking for a witch. Purbararang and Indrajaya found one and the witch gave Purbararang an ointment.
Purbararang smeared the ointment on Purbasari's skin. A few days after that Purbasari's skin had black spots everywhere.
Purbararang managed to convince everybody that this was because Purbasari was cursed. Purbasari had to be exiled to the forests after that.
One of the ministers of the king accompanied Purbasari to the forests to leave her there. The minister even built a hut for Purbasari to live in. The minister encouraged Purbasari and advised her not to give up hope.
With those words the minister went back to the kingdom leaving Purbasari alone in the forests.
Purbasari was not lonely in the forest as all the animals in the forest became her friend. One specific animal which became Purbasari's friend was a black monkey. However this was not an ordinary monkey. This animal could speak like a human. Purbasari called this monkey Lutung Kasarung.
Once Lutung Kasarung went to a quiet place and meditated for a long time. After that Lutung Kasarung dug the mud and created a small lake.
Lutung Kasarung asked Purbasari herself in the waters of this lake.
Purbasari was shocked because her skin turned out as beautiful and clean without the spots as she had been before.
The news of Purbasari’s cure reached everyone in the palace.
Purbararang was very afraid that Purbasari would come back and take her throne.
So Purbararang created many difficult tasks for Purbasari so that if Purbasari could not fulfill the tasks, Purbararang could behead her.
Purbararang asked Purbasari to clear a huge field, tame a buffalo and even build a dam and drain a river.
Purbasari could finish all these tasks with Lutung Kasarung’s help.
Feeling desperate, Purbararang compared the length of her hair with Purbasari. Purbasari won that round too.
Finally, Purbararang challenged Purbasari about whose fiance was more handsome. Purbararang was sure she would win because Purbasari did not have a fiance.
However Purbasari did not even hesitate and she announced that Lutung Kasarung was her fiance. Lutung Kasarung had always been with Purbasari all throughout her troubles and Purbasari loved the black monkey.
Purbararang laughed and ridiculed Purbasari for her choice.
But it was shocking because at that time Lutung Kasarung transformed into a handsome strong man.
In reality Lutung Kasarang was Prince Guruminda from heaven who had come to the land of humans looking for a wife.
Prince Guruminda was naturally more handsome than Indrajaya and Purbararang had to admit defeat and she returned the throne to Purbasari.
Purbasari became the queen and she and her husband Prince Guruminda ruled the kingdom happily and well.
Adapted from folk tales of Indonesia
No comments:
Post a Comment