Prabu Tapa Agung had led a kingdom in West Java for a long
time. He was getting old and therefore wanted to choose a successor. But
unfortunately, he had no son. He thought of choosing one of his daughters,
Purbararang and Purbasari. But it wasn’t an easy choice. They were both very
pretty and smart. The only difference was their temperament. Purbararang was
rude and dishonest, while Purbasari was kind and caring. With those considerations,
Prabu Tapa Agung finally chose Purbasari to be his successor.
Purbararang didn’t agree with her father’s decision. “It’s
supposed to be me, Father. I’m the eldest daughter!” Purbararang said. Prabu
Tapa Agung smiled. “Purbararang, to be a queen takes more than age. There are
many other qualities that one must possess,” explained Prabu Tapa Agung wisely.
“What does Purbasari have that I don’t?” Purbararang pouted. “You’ll find out
when Purbasari has replaced me,” Prabu Tapa Agung answered.
After the discussion, Purbararang went back to her room. “Is
there something wrong?” asked Indrajaya. Indrajaya is Purbararang’s future
husband. “I’m upset! Father chose Purbasari as his successor and not me! I have
to do something!” Purbararang said. Driven mad by her anger, she came to a
witch and asked her to send rash all over Purbasari’s body. Before going to
bed, Purbasari started to feel itch all over her body. She tried applying
powder to her body, but it’s no use. Instead, the itching grew even worse. She
didn’t want to scratch it, but she just couldn’t help it. In the next morning,
there were scratch mark all over Purbasari’s body. “What happened to you?”
asked Purbararang, pretending to be concerned. “I don’t know, sis. Last night,
my body suddenly felt very itchy. I scratched and scratched, and this is what
happened,” Purbasari answered. Purbararang shook her head. “You must have done
something really awful. You’ve been punished by the gods!”
That day, the whole kingdom was scandalized. “What have you
done, Purbasari?” demanded Prabu Tapa Agung. Purbasari shook her head. “I
didn’t do anything that would upset the gods, Father,” she answered. “Then how
can you explain what happened to your body?” Prabu Tapa Agung asked again. “If
you don’t confess, I’ll banish you to the woods.” Purbasari took a deep breath.
“Like I said before, I didn’t do anything wrong. And I’d rather be thrown into
the woods than to confess to a deed I didn’t commit.”
After a short discussion with his advisor, Prabu Tapa Agung ordered
Purbasari to be moved to the woods. Purbasari was very sad, but she couldn’t do
anything to defy her father’s order. She was accompanied to the woods by a
messenger. He built a simple hut for Purbasari. After the messenger left,
suddenly a black monkey came to Purbasari’s hut. He carried a bunch of bananas.
From behind him, some animals looked on. “Are the bananas for me?’ Purbasari
asked. The black monkey nodded, as if he understood what Purbasari said.
Purbasari took the bananas with pleasure. She also said thanks. The other
animals that were looking on also seemed to smile. “Are you willing to be my
friend?” Purbasari asked them. All the animals nodded happily. Although she was
living by herself in the woods, Purbasari never lacked of supplies. Everyday,
there were always animals bringing her fruits and fish to eat.
A long time had passed since Purbasari was banished to the
woods, but her body still itched. At some places, her skin was even ulcerating.
What am I supposed to do?” Purbasari sighed. The monkey who was sitting next to
her stayed still, there were tears in his eyes. He hoped Purbasari would remain
patient and strong.
One night, on a full moon, the monkey took Purbasari to a
valley. There is a pond with hot spring water. The monkey suddenly spoke, “The
water of this pond will heal your skin,” he said. Purbasari was surprised, ”You
can talk? Who are you?” she asked. “You’ll find out, in time,” the monkey said.
Purbasari didn’t want to force the monkey. She then walked to the pond. She bathed
there. After a few hours, Purbasari walked out of the pond. She was shocked to
see her face reflected on the clear pond water. Her face was beautiful again,
with smooth and clean skin. Purbasari observed her entire body. There were no
traces of any skin ailments. “I’m cured! I’m cured!” Purbasari shouted in joy.
She quickly offered thanks to the gods and also to the monkey.
The news of Purbasari’s condition quickly spread to the
kingdom, irritating Purbararang. She then accompanied by Indrajaya go to the
woods to see Purbasari. Purbasari asked if she would be allowed to go home.
Purbararang said she would let Purbasari return to the palace if Purbasari’s
hair were longer than hers. Purbararang then let her hair down. It was so long,
it almost touched the ground. But it turned out that Purbasari’s hair was twice
longer than Purbararang’s hair.
“Fine, so your hair is longer than mine.” Purbararang
admitted. “But there is one more condition you must fulfill, do you have a
future husband who is handsomer than mine?” said Purbararang as she walked
toward Indrajaya. Purbasari felt miserable. She didn’t have a future husband
yet. So, without much thought, she pulled the black monkey beside her.
Purbararang and Indrajaya burst out, but their laughter
didn’t last long. The monkey meditates and suddenly transformed into a very
handsome young man, a lot more handsome than Indrajaya. “I’m a prince from a
kingdom far away. I was cursed to be a monkey because of a mistake I committed.
I could regain my true form only if there’s a girl who would be willing to be
my wife,” said the young man.
Finally, Purbararang gave up. She accepted Purbasari as the
queen, and also confessed everything she had done. “Please forgive me. Please
don’t punish me,” Purbararang said, asking for forgiveness. Instead of being
angry, Purbasari smiled. “I forgive you, sis,” she said. Soon after, Purbasari
become queen. Beside her was the handsome prince, the former monkey known as
Lutung Kasarung.
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