Welcome~
This time’s folktale is about Timun Mas, or translated as ‘The Golden Cucumber’.
In short, this story is about how a pair of mother and daughter, related by anything but blood, together deceived a giant who wanted to eat the daughter, Timun Mas. So Timun Mas is actually the daughter, or the protagonist’s, name. Even though the title is translated, I opt to keep Timun Mas as the daughter’s name because I feel kinda strange calling someone golden cucumber ≧◉◡◉≦
Anyway, this story is one of our classic (I think). I remember my sister having a customized picture book of this story when we were small, where the name of the daughter can be changed into our desired name.
Naturally, the setting is in a small village in Indonesia. I think this story is from Java, though I’m not sure which part precisely.
Note: This version of The Golden Cucumber is my own freely-translated version based on the popular Indonesian folklore called ‘Timun Mas’, so it is not an official one.
Note 2: The first one is in English, whilst the second one is the Bahasa Indonesia version. You can enjoy this simply as a story, or you can try to read aloud the one in Bahasa Indonesia to further improve your language and pronunciation skills.
Note 3: If you find any typo or bad grammar, don't hesitate to point it out~
Edit 15/9/20: The videos are up! Click here to watch the English version, and here to watch the one in Bahasa Indonesia.
Well, without further ado, let us proceed to the story!
The Golden Cucumber
(Timun Mas)
Once upon a time, in a small village, lived a middle-aged widow called Mother Srini. Ever since her husband died a few years ago, she lives alone because this couple never has any children. However, her husband’s death does not make Mother Srini’s dream of having a child went away. She prays all day long so that God gave her a miracle in the form of a child.
One night, Mother Srini dreamt. In her dream, a giant creature came and told her to go to the forest where she usually collects wood fire from. Under a big tree, she would find a package.
“Might God really answer my prayers?” asked Mother Srini to herself once she had woken up from her dream.
With feelings of doubt mixed with hope, Mother Srini hurried to the tree that was shown in her dream. It was true! Under one of the big trees, there was a package. But Mother Srini who hoped that the package contained a baby became disappointed. The package only contained one cucumber.
“Ha… ha… ha…!” A laughing sound broke the forest’s tranquility.
Hearing that booming laughter, Mother Srini flinched in startle and turned around towards the sound. How shocked she was once she saw the figure of the giant who appeared in her dream now stood right in front of her eyes!
“Forgive me, Lord Giant! Don’t eat me! I still want to live!” beg Mother Srini whose face was pale with extreme fear.
“Do not be afraid, old woman! I will not eat you. You are already too old, your meat is tough and doesn’t taste good! I am here to give you something. Didn’t you have a wish to have a child?” asked the giant.
“Tha... That’s correct, Lord Giant!” answered Mother Srini nervously.
“Then, plant that cucumber seed immediately! In the future, you will acquire a daughter. But remember! You have to give that child to me once she reached 17 of age. I will make that child into my meal,” said the giant.
Because of how big her desire to have a child was, Mother Srini spontaneously answered, “Alright, Giant! I shall give that child to you.”
Once Mother Srini expressed her willingness, the giant vanished. Mother Srini then immediately planted that cucumber seed in her field. With high hope, she tended to the plant well every day. And then two months later, that plant started to bear fruits. However, oddly, that cucumber plant only bear one fruit.
Day by day, the cucumber fruit grew bigger and bigger, surpassing the common cucumber. The color was also very different; not green, but golden-yellow. Once that cucumber became ripe, Mother Srini harvested it and brought it home to her hut using great effort. How heavy this cucumber was! And once Mother Srini split open the cucumber, she got very surprised! From inside that cucumber, a very beautiful female baby came out.
“Uwaa… uwaa… uwaa… !!!”
The baby’s cry made Mother Srini very happy. At last, she received the baby she dreamed of all this time. Mother Srini then named that baby Timun Mas.
“Cup… cup… cup..!!! Don’t cry my dear child… Timun Mas!”
Mother Srini proceed to raise and nurture Timun Mas lovingly. Timun Mas grew into a young girl who was not only beautiful, but also clever and well-mannered. Mother Srini’s life with Timun Mas made her heart extremely happy, even making Mother Srini forgot her promise to the Giant.
Until one night, Mother Srini was once again visited by the Giant in her dream. The Giant then told her that he will take Timun Mas away in one-week time.
For a week, Mother Srini contemplated her fate. She has to be separated from her daughter whom she loved dearly. The evil Giant would even make Timun Mas his meal!
Timun Mas who saw her mother’s condition wondered to herself. Until one afternoon, Timun Mas steeled herself to confront her mother.
“Mom, why does Mom look so sad lately?” asked Timun Mas.
At the beginning, Mother Srini only fell silent and refused to answer her daughter’s question. However, Timun Mas kept pursuing her mother, and eventually Mother Srini confessed.
“Forgive Mom, Timun Mas! Actually, you are not my biological child.”
Mother Srini then told everything that happened starting from 17 years ago until her dream a week ago, and that a giant would come to make Timun Mas his meal. Hearing that story, Timun Mas was shocked.
“Timun doesn’t want to follow that giant. Timun very much loves Mom who has nurtured and raised Timun,” said Timun Mas.
Hearing Timun Mas’ words, Mother Srini racked her brain once again, looking for a way so that her daughter can be saved from being that giant’s meal. In order to deceive the Giant, various tricks were done by that mother and daughter pair.
“Hey, old woman! Where is that child? I will take her now,” said that giant.
“She is bathing in the river, Lord Giant. Her body is very smelly. You surely won’t find her good to eat,” said Mother Srini.
“Alright. I will come back again in one week. Make sure when I got here, she is ready to be taken to the forest,” replied the giant.
“Of course, Sir. I shall not disappoint you,” promised Mother Srini.
On week later….
“Hey old woman, I have come to collect your promise! Hurry up and hand over your daughter!” shouted the Giant.
“I apologize, Lord Giant. Timun Mas is currently selling firewood to the village. If you just came earlier, you would surely meet her,” said Mother Srini.
Half-angry, the Giant shouted, “Alright, I give you another week!”
After one week….
“Hey old woman! Where is your daughter whom you have promised to me?” shouted the giant. “This is the third time I’ve come here, but I’ve never seen even one strand of that child’s hair!”
“Pardon me, Lord Giant! That child is seriously ill. If you eat her now, of course her meat won’t taste good. What if, in another three days, you come here again? I will cure her illness first,” persuaded Mother Srini.
“Alright, let it be so! However, you have to swear to hand over that child to me. This is your last chance! If you don’t hand over your daughter to me, I will destroy your house and also this village!” threatened the Giant.
After Mother Srini promised, that giant vanished. Mother Srini once again became distraught in looking for another way. After thinking hard, she finally found a way she thought could save her daughter from being that giant’s meal. She will ask the help of a sage who lives in the mountain.
“My daughter! Early tomorrow morning Mom will go to the mountain to see a sage. He is a friend of Mom’s late husband. He might be able to help us stop that giant’s evil plan,” said Mother Srini.
“That’s right, Mom! We have to exterminate that giant. Timun doesn’t want to be his meal,” said Timun Mas.
Very early the next morning, Mother Srini went to the mountain. After arriving there, she went to meet the sage and told him the purpose of her visit straight away.
“I’m sorry, Lord Sage! I have come here in hope of asking for your help,” said Mother Srini.
“How can I help you, Mother Srini?” asked the sage.
Mother Srini then explained the problems that has befallen her daughter. Hearing Mother Srini’s story, that sage agreed to help.
“Alright, wait here for a moment!” said the sage as he walked into his secret lair.
Not long after, the sage reappeared with four small pouches, which he then gave to Mother Srini.
“Give these pouches to you daughter. These four pouches each has cucumber seeds, needles, salt, and shrimp paste. If that giant chase after her, tell your daughter to spread the content of these pouches!” explained the sage.
After thanking that sage, Mother Srini went home carrying those four pouches and handed them over to Timun Mas whilst conveying the explanation given by the sage. Now, Mother Srini’s heart started to calm down, because her daughter already has weapons to fight that giant.
Two days later, the Giant came again. He can no longer wait to take and eat Timun Mas’ meat.
“Hey, old woman! This time you have to fulfill your promise. If not, you will also be my meal!” threatened the giant.
Mother Srini no longer fear this threat. Calmly, she called Timun Mas to come out from the hut. Not long after, Timun Mas came out and stood beside her mother.
“Don’t be afraid, my child! If that giant is about to catch you, ran at once and follow the instructions I’ve told you,” ordered Mother Srini.
“Yes, Mom!” replied Timun Mas.
Seeing Timun Mas who has matured, that giant felt even more impatient to instantly eat her. When he was about to catch her, Timun Mas took off running as fast as she could. That Giant then chased after her. A game of cat and mouse happened between the Giant and Timun Mas. After running for a long time, Timun Mas started to feel tired, whilst the Giant kept coming even closer. Finally, she took out the pouches which were given to her.
First, Timun Mas spread the cucumber seed. How miraculous! The forest around her changed into cucumber field. In a flash, the cucumber vines crept and coiled all around that giant’s body. However, that giant successfully escape by eating those cucumbers. Even though his stomach was so full, the Giant started to chase after Timun Mas once again.
Timun Mas then hurriedly threw the second pouch that contained needles. In a flash, those needles changed into a high bamboo forest with sharp ends. However, that giant was able to pass through and kept chasing after Timun Mas, even though his feet were bloody from those bamboos.
Noticing that her efforts were not yet successful, Timun Mas opened the third pouch that contained salt and then spread it. Instantaneously, the forest she just passed changed into a wide and deep sea, but that giant still succeeded in swimming to cross it. Even though he’s exhausted, the Giant kept on chasing after Timun Mas.
Timun Mas started to feel anxious, for merely one of her weapons was left. If this weapon failed to incapacitated that giant, then her life was forfeit. Full of conviction, she threw the last pouch which contained shrimp paste. In that moment, the places where the shrimp paste landed on changed into a sea of volcanic quicksand. Because of that, the Giant, who was already full of wounds and exhausted, got sucked in and died instantly.
Timun Mas was at last saved from being chased by that Giant.
With all her strength, Timun Mas walked back home to meet her Mother. Seeing her daughter survived, Mother Srini gave thanks to God the Almighty. From then on, Mother Srini and Timun Mas lived together happily and peacefully.
Timun Mas
(The Golden Cucumber)
Pada zaman dahulu kala, di sebuah desa kecil, hiduplah seorang janda paruh baya bernama Mbok Srini. Sejak suaminya meninggal beberapa tahun sebelumnya, ia hidup sendirian karena pasangan tersebut tidak pernah memiliki anak. Namun kematian sang suami tidak membuat mimpi Mbok Srini untuk memiliki anak sirna. Dia berdoa sepanjang hari agar Tuhan memberinya keajaiban berupa seorang anak.
Pada suatu malam, Mbok Srini bermimpi. Dalam mimpinya, sesosok mahluk raksasa datang dan menyuruhnya pergi ke hutan tempat dia biasa mencari kayu bakar. Di bawah sebuah pohon besar, dia akan menemukan sebuah bungkusan.
“Mungkinkah Tuhan benar-benar mengabulkan doaku?” tanya Mbok Srini pada dirinya sendiri ketika ia terbangun dari mimpinya.
Dengan perasaan ragu sekaligus penuh harap, Mbok Srini pun bergegas menuju pohon yang muncul dalam mimpinya. Ternyata benar! Di bawah salah satu pohon besar, terdapat sebuah bungkusan. Namun Mbok Srini yang berharap bungkusan tersebut berisi seorang bayi menjadi kecewa. Bungkusan itu hanya berisi sebuah timun.
“Ha… ha… ha…!” Sebuah suara tawa memecah keheningan hutan itu.
Mendengar suara tawa yang menggelegar, Mbok Srini pun tersentak kaget dan berbalik menghadap suara tersebut. Betapa terkejutnya dia ketika melihat sosok raksasa yang hadir dalam mimpinya kini berada tepat di depan matanya!
“Ampun, Tuan Raksasa! Jangan memakanku! Aku masih ingin hidup!” mohon Mbok Srini dengan muka pucat penuh rasa takut.
“Jangan takut, hai perempuan tua! Aku tidak akan memakanmu. Kamu sudah terlalu tua, dagingmu keras dan tidak enak! Aku ke sini untuk memberimu sesuatu. Bukankah kamu menginginkan seorang anak?” tanya raksasa itu.
“Be… benar, Tuan Raksasa!” jawab Mbok Srini dengan gugup.
“Kalau begitu, segera tanam biji timun itu! Kelak kamu akan mendapatkan seorang anak perempuan. Tapi, ingat! Kamu harus menyerahkan anak itu kepadaku saat ia berumur 17 tahun. Anak itu akan kujadikan santapanku,” ujar raksasa itu.
Karena begitu besar keinginannya untuk memiliki anak, tanpa sadar Mbok Srini menjawab, “Baiklah, Raksasa! Aku bersedia menyerahkan anak itu kepadamu.”
Begitu Mbok Srini selesai menyatakan kesediaannya, raksasa itu pun menghilang. Mbok Srini pun segera menanam biji timun itu di ladangnya. Dengan penuh harapan, setiap hari ia merawat tanaman itu dengan baik. Hingga dua bulan kemudian, tanaman itu pun mulai berbuah. Namun anehnya, tanaman timun itu hanya berbuah satu.
Semakin hari buah timun tersebut bertumbuh semakin besar, melebihi buah timun pada umumnya. Warnanya pun sangat berbeda; bukan hijau, melainkan kuning keemasan. Ketika timun tersebut akhirnya matang, Mbok Srini pun memetiknya dan membawanya pulang ke gubuknya dengan susah payah. Betapa beratnya timun ini! Dan ketika Mbok Srini membelah buah timun tersebut, dia pun sangat terkejut! Dari dalam timun tersebut, keluarlah seorang bayi perempuan yang sangat cantik.
“Ngoa… ngoa… ngoa… !!!”
Tangisan sang bayi membuat Mbok Srini merasa sangat bahagia. Akhirnya dia mendapatkan bayi yang selama ini dia inginkan. Mbok Srini pun menamai bayi tersebut Timun Mas.
“Cup… cup… cup..!!! Jangan menangis anakku sayang… Timun Mas!”
Mbok Srini pun membesarkan dan mendidik Timun Mas dengan penuh kasih sayang. Timun Mas pun tumbuh menjadi gadis yang tidak hanya cantik, tetapi juga cerdas dan bertata krama. Kehidupan Mbok Srini bersama Timun Mas sangatlah membahagiakan hatinya, sampai-sampai Mbok Srini lupa akan janjinya pada sang Raksasa.
Hingga suatu malam, Mbok Srini kembali didatangi oleh sang Raksasa dalam mimpi. Sang Raksasa pun berkata bahwa dia akan mengambil Timun Mas dalam waktu satu minggu.
Selama seminggu, Mbok Srini termenung memikirkan nasibnya. Dia harus berpisah dengn anak yang sangat disayanginya. Raksasa jahat itu bahkan akan menjadikan Timun Mas santapannya!
Timun Mas yang melihat kondisi ibunya ini pun bertanya-tanya dalam hati. Hingga suatu sore, Timun Mas memberanikan diri untuk bertanya pada sang Ibu.
“Bu, mengapa akhir-akhir ini Ibu selalu tampak sedih?” tanya Timun Mas.
Mbok Srini awalnya hanya diam dan menolak menjawab pertanyaan sang anak. Namun Timun Mas terus mendesak sang Ibu, dan akhirnya Mbok Srini pun mengaku.
“Maafkan Ibu, Timun Mas! Sebenarnya, kamu bukanlah anak kandungku.”
Mbok Srini pun menceritakan semua kejadian yang terjadi mulai 17 tahun yang lalu hingga mimpinya seminggu yang lalu, dan bahwa sesosok raksasa akan datang untuk menjadikan Timus Mas santapannya. Mendengar cerita itu, Timun Mas sangat terkejut.
“Timun tidak mau ikut bersama raksasa itu. Timun sangat sayang kepada Ibu yang telah mendidik dan membesarkan Timun,” kata Timun Mas.
Mendengar perkataan Timun Mas, Mbok Srini kembali berpikir keras, mencari cara agar anaknya selamat dari santapan raksasa itu. Demi mengelabui si Raksasa, berbagai cara ditempuh oleh pasangan ibu dan anak itu.
“Hai, perempuan tua! Di mana anak itu? Aku akan membawanya sekarang,” kata raksasa itu.
“Ia sedang mandi di kali, Tuan Raksasa. Tubuhnya sangat bau. Kamu pasti tidak akan suka memakannya,” ujar Mbok Srini.
“Baiklah. Aku akan kembali seminggu lagi. Pastikan ketika aku kembali, dia sudah siap untuk kubawa ke hutan,” balas raksasa.
“Tentu saja. Tuan. Aku tak akan mengecewakanmu,” janji Mbok Srini.
Seminggu kemudian….
“Hai perempuan tua, aku kembali untuk menagih janjimu! Cepat serahkan anak perempuanmu!” teriak si Raksasa.
“Maaf, Tuan Raksasa. Timun Mas sedang menjual kayu ke kampung. Bila saja engkau datang lebih pagi, engkau pasti bertemu dengan dia,” kata Mbok Srini.
Dengan setengah marah, raksasa itu berteriak, “Baiklah, kuberi waktu satu minggu lagi!”
Setelah satu minggu….
“Hai perempuan tua! Mana anak perempuanmu yang telah kamu janjikan untukku?” teriak raksasa itu. “Sudah ketiga kalinya aku datang ke sini, tetapi aku belum pernah melihat bahkan sehelai rambut anak itu!”
“Maaf, Tuan Raksasa! Anak itu sedang sakit keras. Jika kamu menyantapnya sekarang, tentu dagingnya tidak enak. Bagaimana kalau tiga hari lagi kamu datang kemari? Saya akan menyembuhkan penyakitnya terlebih dahulu,” bujuk Mbok Srini.
“Baiklah, kalau begitu! Tetapi, kamu harus bersumpah akan menyerahkan anak itu kepadaku, Ini kesempatan terakhirmu! Kalau kamu tidak menyerahkan anakmu padaku, akan kuhancurkan rumahmu dan juga desa ini!” ancam Raksasa itu.
Setelah Mbok Srini menyatakan berjanji, raksasa itu pun menghilang. Mbok Srini kembali bingung mencari cara lain. Setelah berpikir keras, akhirnya ia menemukan cara yang menurutnya dapat menyelamatkan anaknya dari santapan raksasa itu. Ia akan meminta bantuan kepada seorang pertapa yang tinggal di sebuah gunung.
“Anakku! Besok pagi-pagi sekali Ibu akan pergi ke gunung untuk menemui seorang pertapa. Dia adalah teman almarhum suami Ibu. Barangkali dia bisa membantu kita untuk menghentikan niat jahat raksasa itu,” ungkap Mbok Srini.
“Benar, Bu! Kita harus membinasakan raksasa itu. Timun tidak mau menjadi santapannya,” kata Timun Mas.
Keesokan harinya, pagi-pagi sekali, berangkatlah Mbok Srini ke gunung itu. Sesampainya di sana, ia langsung menemui sang pertapa dan menyampaikan maksud kedatangannya.
“Maaf, Tuan Pertapa! Maksud kedatangan saya kemari ingin meminta bantuan kepada Tuan,” kata Mbok Srini.
“Apa yang bisa kubantu, Mbok Srini?” tanya pertapa itu.
Mbok Srini pun menceritakan masalah yang sedang dihadapi anaknya. Mendengar cerita Mbok Srini, pertapa itu pun bersedia membantu.
“Baiklah, kamu tunggu di sini sebentar!” seru pertapa itu seraya berjalan masuk ke dalam ruang rahasianya.
Tak berapa lama, pertapa itu kembali sambil membawa empat buah bungkusan kecil, lalu menyerahkannya kepada Mbok Srini.
“Berikanlah bungkusan ini kepada anakmu. Keempat bungkusan ini masing-masing berisi biji timun, jarum, garam dan terasi. Jika raksasa itu mengejarnya, suruh anakmu menyebarkan isi bungkusan ini!” jelas pertapa itu.
Setelah berterima kasih pada sang pertapa, Mbok Srini pulang membawa keempat bungkusan tersebut dan menyerahkannya pada Timun Mas seraya menceritakan penjelasan dari sang pertapa. Kini, hati Mbok Srini mulai agak tenang, karena anaknya sudah mempunyai senjata untuk melawan raksasa itu.
Dua hari kemudian, Raksasa itu datang kembali. Dia sudah tidak sabar lagi ingin membawa dan menyantap daging Timun Mas.
“Hai, perempuan tua! Kali ini kamu harus menepati janjimu. Jika tidak, kamu juga akan kujadikan santapanku!” ancam raksasa itu.
Mbok Srini tidak gentar lagi menghadapi ancaman itu. Dengan tenang, ia memanggil Timun Mas agar keluar dari dalam gubuk. Tak berapa lama, Timun Mas pun keluar lalu berdiri di samping ibunya.
“Jangan takut, Anakku! Jika raksasa itu akan menangkapmu, segera lari dan ikuti petunjuk yang telah kusamapaikan kepadamu,” pesan Mbok Srini pada Timun Mas.
“Baik, Bu!” jawab Timun Mas.
Melihat Timun Mas yang benar-benar sudah dewasa, rakasasa itu semakin tidak sabar ingin segera menyantapnya. Ketika ia hendak menangkapnya, Timun Mas segera berlari sekencang-kencangnya. Raksasa itu pun mengejarnya. Terjadilah kejar-kejaran antara Raksasa itu dengan Timun Mas. Setelah berlari lama, Timun Mas mulai merasa lelah, sementara Raksasa itu semakin mendekat. Akhirnya, ia pun mengeluarkan bungkusan yang diberikan padanya.
Pertama-tama Timun Mas menebar biji timun. Sungguh ajaib! Hutan di sekelilingnya berubah menjadi ladang timun. Dalam sekejap, batang timun tersebut menjalar dan melilit seluruh tubuh raksasa itu. Namun, raksasa itu mampu melepaskan diri dengan cara memakan mentimun-mentimun itu. Meski kekenyangan, si Raksasa kembali mengejar Timun Mas.
Timun Mas pun segera melemparkan bungkusan kedua yang berisi jarum. Dalam sekejap, jarum-jarum tersebut berubah menjadi hutan bambu yang tinggi dengan ujung-ujung yang runcing. Namun, raksasa itu mampu melewatinya dan terus mengejar Timun Mas, walaupun kakinya berdarah-darah karena tertusuk bambu tersebut.
Melihat usahanya belum berhasil, Timun Mas membuka bungkusan ketiga yang berisi garam lalu menebarkannya. Seketika itu pula, hutan yang telah dilewatinya tiba-tiba berubah menjadi laut yang luas dan dalam, tetapi raksasa itu tetap berhasil berenang menyeberanginya. Meski kelelahan, si Raksasa tetap terus mengejar Timun Mas.
Timun Mas pun mulai cemas, karena senjatanya hanya tersisa satu. Jika senjata tersebut tidak berhasil melumpuhkan raksasa itu, maka tamatlah riwayatnya. Dengan penuh keyakinan, ia pun melemparkan bungkusan terakhir yang berisi terasi. Seketika itu pula, tempat jatuhnya terasi itu tiba-tiba menjelma menjadi lautan lumpur hisap yang mendidih. Alhasil, raksasa yang sudah penuh luka dan kelalahan itu pun tercebur ke dalamnya dan tewas seketika.
Timun Mas pun selamat dari kejaran raksasa itu.
Dengan sekuat tenaga, Timun Mas berjalan kembali pulang untuk menemui ibunya. Melihat anaknya selamat, Mbok Srini pun langsung memanjatkan syukur kepada Tuhan Yang Mahakuasa. Sejak saat itu, Mbok Srini dan Timun Mas hidup bersama dengan bahagia dan damai.
Phew…. This story is quite long.
So, how was it?
There actually exist other versions of this story. In one version, Mother Srini’s husband was still alive, and he was the one who gave those pouches to their daughter. Admittedly, this version is shorter than the one I used, since Mother Srini doesn’t have to climb up a mountain to get the pouches. It can be thought of as an AU of the one I used, since it did say that the sage is the friend of Mother Srini’s late husband.
Another version, or rather a continuation, also exist. In this one, after successfully vanquishing the giant, Timun Mas met the prince of a neighbouring kingdom. The prince fell in love with Timun Mas and married her. Afterwards, the prince will bring Timun Mas and her mother to his palace and they lived happily ever after.
For those familiar with Japanese folktales, you might realize that there are stories with very similar concept there. For example, the story of Momotaro who was born from a peach or the story of Uriko-hime who was born from a melon. Though the life adventure they experience differs greatly, not counting how all of them encounter and clash with evil beings (demon or giant or oni) during their lifetime, the way they were born is the same: from inside a fruit. Admittedly, cucumber is not a fruit, but a vegetable instead….
Well, whatever the case, the main story of Timun Mas is about how they successfully escape the giant’s clutches. It is said that the moral of this story are:
1. Those with evil intention, like the giant, will meet their own demise in the end (like the concept of karma I suppose)
2. With great effort and hard work, any hurdles and problems in this life can be conquered (like how, thanks to their effort, Timun Mas and Mother Srini were able to kill the evil giant).
I personally think that the one at most fault is Mother Srini, though. In the first place, these all happened because of her dream to have a child blinded her. She chose the momentary solution without looking at the bigger picture in the long term. And in the end, even though Mother Srini did went up to the mountain, the one who has to run away and ‘fight’ was Timun Mas. It’s like if you have a female dog and you want puppies, so you mate your dog with another dog, whose owner asked for the puppies after they are old enough to be separated from their mother. And you agree to this condition at that time, but by the time they are old enough, you don’t want to give them over and try to deceive the other dog’s owner. Then you train your dog to attack the other dog’s owner until they, I don’t know, got injured or even meet death (…gruesome, I know) while you sat there ‘enjoying’ the show (X_X)
Well, it’s just my opinion, and this story is a work of fiction, so none of the characters are real.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this folktale! I’ll put some more words often used in this story and their English translation under this.
Thank you and see you ~(^_^)~
Vocabulary Time!
Bahasa Indonesia [English]
Mbok [not actually mother, more like a way to address an old lady in Java]
Anak [Child]
Anak perempuan [Daughter]
Raksasa [Giant]
Timun/mentimun [Cucumber]
Janji [Promise]
Pertapa [Sage (kind of)]
Biji [Seed]
Jarum [Needle]
Terasi [Shrimp paste]
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