LUTUNG KASARUNG

Written by : Linlin Herlina S.S.

Prabu Tapa Agung was an old king. He had two daughters, Purbararang and Purbasari. Prabu Tapa Agung planned to retire as a king. He wanted Purbasari to replace him as the leader of the kingdom. Purbararang was angry to hear this.

“You cannot ask her to be the queen, Father. I’m older than she is. It’s supposed to be me, not her!” said Purbararang. But the king still choose Purbasari to be the next queen.

Purbararang then set a bad plan with her fiancé, Indrajaya. Together they went to a witch and asked her to put a spell on Purbasari. “I want you to make her suffer.”

“All right. Now, you may go home and see what you want,” said the witch.

Then, something happened to Purbasari. Her skin became full of black dots. “You are not as beautiful as I am. You cannot be the queen. Instead, you have to leave this palace and stay in a jungle,” said Purbararang.

Purbasari was very sad. Now, she had to stay in the jungle. Everyday she spent her time playing with some animals there. There was one monkey that always tried to cheer her up. It was not just an ordinary monkey, he had magical power. And he also could talk with humans. The monkey’s name was Lutung Kasarung. He was actually a god. His name was Sanghyang Gurumina. Lutung Kasarung planned to help Purbasari. He made a small lake and asked her to take a bath there.

“You have to take a bath in the lake, Purbasari,” said Lutung.

“What is it for ? asked Purbasari.

“Just get into the water and you will see,” said Lutung.

Purbasari obeyed Lutung Kasarung. She jumped into the water. Amazingly, her bad skin was cured. Now, she got her beautiful skin back.

After that, she asked Lutung Kasarung to accompany her to go back to the palace. Purbararang was very shocked. She knew she had to come up with another bad idea. She then said, “Those who have longer hair will be the queen.”

The king then measured his daughters’ hair. Purbasari had longer hair. But Purbararang did not give up. “A queen must have a handsome husband. If my fiancé is more handsome than yours, then I will be the queen,” said Purbararang.

Purbasari was sad. She knew Purbararang’s fiancé, Indrajaya, was handsome. And she did not have a fiancé yet. “Here is my fiancé, Indrajaya. Where is yours?” asked Purbararang. Lutung Kasarung came forward. Purbararang was laughing very hard. “Your fiancé is a monkey, ha ha ha…”

Suddenly, Lutung Kasarung changed into a very handsome man. He was even more handsome than Indrajaya. Purbasari then became the queen. She forgave Purbararang and her fiancé and let them stay in the palace.

The moral value of the story is don’t be arrogant and don’t be jealous !