Unknown
At first, the advisers took people from the countries they had conquered, but eventually they had to look for victims from among their own people. The people of Medangkamulan were terrified of the king and his army.
One day, a young traveler arrived in the kingdom. He was kind and clever and was well–received by the villagers. He was called Ajisaka.
Ajisaka took shelter in the house of a widow who quickly came to look upon the young man as her own son. Ajisaka began to teach the villagers. He also listened to the villagers' problems and often helped them find solutions.
When he heard of the king's strange appetite, Ajisaka sympathized with their plight and immediately volunteered to become the king's next meal.
Ajisaka went directly to the king's palace. He boldly announced to the king that he was willing to sacrifice himself.
“I am willing to be your next meal. Your Highnees. However, I have a request.“
“Whatever you please, young man, I will grant your request,“ the king replied.
“Before you eat me, grant me some land. Just enough for my own grave.“ “Ha ha ha!
Your own grave? I will give you enough land for many graves!“
“Oh no, Your Majesty. I just need land that is the length of my own headcloth.“
“This you shall have. Come, let us measure your headcloth so that I can have my meal and you can have your grave!“
With this, Ajisaka began to unwrap the cloth tied around his head. The king got down from his throne and took hold of one end. He stepped backward, thingking that the cloth would unravel to the usual length of one meter. What he didn't know was that this headcloth was much longer than usual!
The king kept going backward, step by step, as the cloth kept unraveling. He stepped backward through the palace square, backward across the village marketplace, backward down the length of the village and backward through the countryside.People gathered, amazed at the sight of their king walking backward through the kingdom, holding the end of Ajisaka's headcloth. He kept stepping backward the length of his kingdom until finally he reached the sea cliftts of the Southern Seas.
By now, a great crowd had gathered. They held their breath as their king took his final step backward over the cliff's edge and plunged into the waves crashing againts the rocks at the foot of the sea wall. A victorious roar rose up as they watched their greedy king disappear under the waves.
The crowd returned to the palace with Ajisaka and thanked him for his courage, cunning, and magical powers. They made him their new king. To this day, Ajisaka is remembered as the wise ruler who later brought the knowledge of letters to the Javanese.
Posted in: Folktales,Stories
0 komentar:
Post a Comment