The Bitter Tongue

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A Bitter Tongue

A story from South Sumatra

Long time ago, in Sumidang, South Sumatra, there was a prince named Serunting who was a
descendant of a giant, Putri Tenggang. Serunting had a rather jealous disposition.
One day, Prince Serunting saw a beautiful girl from a peasant village. Her name was Sitti. She
was an orphan and lived alone with her younger brother, Aria Tebing. Serunting fell in love with Sitti
and wanted to marry her. At first, Sitti was reluctant because she did not want to leave her brother.

“We can invite your brother to live with us in the palace,” said Serunting.
“Good idea. Let’s talk to him,” said Sitti.

However, Aria Tebing refused. “I want the freedom of living in my own land, even though it is small.”

Finally Prince Serunting persuaded that Sitti could visit Aria Tebing whenever she wanted to.
Sitti agreed to marry Serunting. The small house that Sitti and Aria Tebing inherited from their
parents was shared equally. Now, it belonged to Serunting too.

“To avoid dispute, let’s divide the field into two parts with a long wooden log. This side belongs to
you, and this side belongs to us,” said Serunting to Aria Tebing.

Aria Tebing agreed.

Miraculously, the side of the log facing Aria Tebing’s part was grown with mushrooms that
turned into gold, while the side facing Serunting’s part was only grown with regular mushrooms. Aria
Tebing sold the gold from the mushrooms and became rich. Serunting became jealous of Aria
Tebing.

“You cheated me! You must have chosen the better part of the field so that your log is grown with
gold. I challenge you to a fight!” cried Serunting.

“No, no, I didn’t cheat you. I didn’t know the mushrooms could turn into gold,” pleaded Aria Tebing.

Serunting insisted to fight. At last, Aria Tebing reluctantly agreed. He knew Serunting was a
powerful man, so he asked his sister about Serunting’s weakness. Sitti hesitated, but she did not
want her brother to lose either.

“Please, sister. You know Prince Serunting. He has a terrible rage. He will kill me if I lose,” said Aria
Tebing.

“If I tell you, promise that you will not kill him,” said Sitti.

“I promise, sister,” said Aria Tebing.

Sitti told him that Serunting’s source of power was from a blade of grass that oscillated even
though there was no wind.
The day of the fight came. Before the fight, Aria Tebing pierced the blade of grass with his
spear. Therefore, after they fought for a long time, Serunting was badly injured and lost. As
promised, Aria Tebing did not kill him.
Serunting grew even angrier, especially at his wife who had just betrayed him. He went to
Mount Siguntang to meditate. Then he heard the voice of Sang Hyang Mahameru, the god of the
mountain.

“Do you want to have magical powers?” the voice asked.

“Yes, I do, Sang Hyang Mahameru,” replied Serunting.

“You must meditate under the bamboo trees until all the leaves cover your body. Then you will have
powers.”

Serunting meditated under bamboo trees for two years. Finall he had magical powers.
Whatever he commanded would come true. He was excited. He tried his powers on sugar cane
trees.

“Sugar cane trees, turn into stone!” he said.


The trees turned into stone.

Serunting decided to come home. On his way, he used his powers for his pleasure. His
arrogance made people call him “The Bitter Tongue” ( Si Pahit Lidah). Sometimes he even turned
people into stone. However, when he reached a barren hill, he was struck with pity. He used his
powers to grow lush vegetation on the hill. Then he also helped a childless old couple to have a
child by turning the old woman’s hair into a baby. The couple was overjoyed and thanked him
repeatedly.
Serunting realized that being kind to people was much more pleasant. Finally he returned
home, apologizing to his wife and brother-in-law. He had changed into a different man. He always
helped people with his powers. However, his title “The Bitter Tongue” stuck to him.

Terjemah:
Dahulu kala, di Sumidang, Sumatera Selatan, ada seorang pangeran bernama Serunting yang
merupakan keturunan dari raksasa, Putri Tenggang. Serunting memiliki sifat yang agak pencemburu. Suatu
hari, Pangeran Serunting melihat seorang gadis cantik dari desa petani. Namanya Sitti. Ia adalah seorang
yatim piatu dan tinggal berdua dengan adiknya, Aria Tebing. Serunting jatuh cinta pada Sitti dan ingin
menikahinya. Awalnya, Sitti enggan karena tidak ingin meninggalkan adiknya.

"Kita bisa ajak adikmu tinggal bersama kita di istana," kata Serunting.

"Ide yang bagus. Mari kita bicarakan dengannya," kata Sitti.

Namun, Aria Tebing menolak. "Saya ingin kebebasan hidup di tanah saya sendiri, meskipun kecil."

Akhirnya Pangeran Serunting membujuk agar Sitti dapat mengunjungi Aria Tebing kapan pun ia mau. Sitti
pun setuju untuk menikah dengan Serunting. Rumah kecil yang diwarisi Sitti dan Aria Tebing dari orang tua
mereka dibagi rata. Kini, rumah itu menjadi milik Serunting juga.

"Agar tidak terjadi perselisihan, mari kita bagi ladang ini menjadi dua bagian dengan sebatang kayu panjang.
Sebelah sini milikmu, dan sebelah sini milik kami," kata Serunting kepada Aria Tebing.

Aria Tebing pun setuju.


Ajaibnya, sisi batang kayu yang menghadap ke arah Aria Tebing ditumbuhi jamur yang berubah menjadi
emas, sedangkan sisi yang menghadap ke arah Serunting hanya ditumbuhi jamur biasa. Aria Tebing menjual
emas dari jamur tersebut dan menjadi kaya raya. Serunting menjadi iri pada Aria Tebing.

"Kamu telah menipuku! Kamu pasti memilih bagian ladang yang lebih baik sehingga batang kayu yang kamu
tanam ditumbuhi emas. Aku tantang kamu berkelahi!" teriak Serunting.

"Tidak, tidak, aku tidak menipumu. Aku tidak tahu kalau jamur itu bisa berubah menjadi emas," sanggah Aria
Tebing.

Serunting tetap bersikeras untuk berkelahi. Akhirnya, dengan berat hati Aria Tebing mengiyakan. Ia tahu
Serunting adalah orang yang sakti, maka ia bertanya kepada adiknya tentang kelemahan Serunting. Sitti
ragu-ragu, tapi ia juga tidak ingin kakaknya kalah.

"Tolonglah, adik. Kamu tahu Pangeran Serunting. Dia memiliki amarah yang sangat besar. Dia akan
membunuhku jika aku kalah," kata Aria Tebing.

"Kalau aku suruh, berjanjilah kamu tidak akan membunuhnya," kata Sitti.
"Aku janji, kakak," kata Aria Tebing.

Sitti memberitahunya bahwa sumber kekuatan Serunting berasal dari sehelai rumput yang berayun-ayun
meskipun tidak ada angin. Hari pertarungan pun tiba. Sebelum bertarung, Aria Tebing menusuk helai rumput
tersebut dengan tombaknya. Oleh karena itu, setelah mereka bertarung cukup lama, Serunting terluka parah
dan kalah. Sesuai janjinya, Aria Tebing tidak membunuhnya. Serunting semakin marah, terutama pada
istrinya yang baru saja mengkhianatinya. Ia pergi ke Gunung Siguntang untuk bersemedi. Kemudian ia
mendengar suara Sang Hyang Mahameru, sang dewa gunung.

"Apakah kamu ingin memiliki kekuatan magis?" tanya suara itu.


"Ya, saya ingin, Sang Hyang Mahameru," jawab Serunting.
"Kamu harus bermeditasi di bawah pohon bambu sampai semua daunnya menutupi tubuhmu. Maka kamu
akan memiliki kekuatan."
Serunting bermeditasi di bawah pohon bambu selama dua tahun. Akhirnya dia memiliki kekuatan magis.
Apapun yang ia perintahkan akan menjadi kenyataan. Dia sangat gembira. Dia mencoba kekuatannya pada
pohon tebu.

"Pohon tebu, ubahlah menjadi batu!" katanya.


Pohon-pohon itu berubah menjadi batu.

Serunting memutuskan untuk pulang. Dalam perjalanannya, dia menggunakan kekuatannya untuk
kesenangannya. Kesombongannya membuat orang-orang menjulukinya "Si Pahit Lidah". Terkadang ia
bahkan mengubah orang menjadi batu. Namun, ketika dia sampai di sebuah bukit yang tandus, dia merasa
iba. Dia menggunakan kekuatannya untuk menumbuhkan tanaman yang subur di bukit tersebut. Kemudian
dia juga membantu pasangan tua yang tidak memiliki anak untuk memiliki anak dengan mengubah rambut
wanita tua itu menjadi bayi. Pasangan itu sangat senang dan mengucapkan terima kasih berulang kali.

Serunting menyadari bahwa berbuat baik kepada orang lain jauh lebih menyenangkan. Akhirnya dia kembali
ke rumah, meminta maaf kepada istri dan iparnya. Dia telah berubah menjadi pria yang berbeda. Dia selalu
menolong orang dengan kekuatannya. Namun, julukan "Si Pahit Lidah" tetap melekat pada dirinya.

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