Jaka Tarub

In ancient times, in the mystical land of Java, there lived a man named Jaka Tarub. One morning,
while he was hunting in the Wanawasa Forest, he felt bored because he hadn't caught any animals.
Feeling thirsty and tired, he headed towards a lake called Toyawening. As he approached, he heard
the voices of women talking and softly laughing, but he thought it might be his imagination. After all,
there were no women playing in the forest, right?

However, the voices became clearer and louder as Jaka Tarub neared the lake. It turned out there
were seven beautiful girls bathing in the lake. Jaka Tarub was astounded, and his heart raced. He
observed each of the girls at the lake, all of them extraordinarily beautiful. From their conversation,
he learned that these seven girls were celestial nymphs who had descended from the heavens. "Is
this the meaning of my dream from before?" he thought with great joy.

Jaka Tarub noticed a pile of clothing belonging to the nymphs on a large rock. Each piece of clothing
had a different color. Jaka Tarub thought that if he took one of these clothes, he would not be able to
return to the heavenly realm. Eventually, he quietly took one of the red garments.

As the sun was setting, the nymphs wanted to return to the heavens. However, one of the nymphs
couldn't find her clothing. The other six nymphs tried to help her find it, but to no avail. From this,
Jaka Tarub overheard that the nymph whose clothes he had taken was named Nawangwulan.
Nawangwulan was in a panic, as without her clothing and shawl, she couldn't return to the heavens.
Reluctantly, the other nymphs had to leave Nawangwulan behind because it was getting dark.

Nawangwulan appeared desperate. Without realizing it, she said,

Nawangwulan: Whoever can give me clothing, I will make them my sibling if they are a woman, but if
they are a man, I will make them my husband.

Jaka Tarub hurried home to hide Nawangwulan's clothing and borrowed his late mother's clothes to
lend to Jaka Tarub.

After returning to the lake, Jaka Tarub approached Nawangwulan and gave her the clothing.

Jaka: I have a clothes for you, now fulfill your promise.

Once Nawangwulan was dressed, she fulfilled her promise and married Jaka Tarub. Their marriage
lasted a long time.

Since their marriage, Jaka Tarub finally found his happiness again, but there was one thing that still
puzzled him. He wondered why the rice in their granary never seemed to diminish, even though they
cooked it every day. Their harvest was so regular that the granary was nearly overflowing.

One morning, when Nawangwulan was going to wash by the river, she left Jaka Tarub and reminded
him not to open the steamed rice pot.

Nawangwulan: My husband, please don’t open the this pot.

Jaka: Of course my dear

Feeling it had been a while, Jaka Tarub wanted to see if the rice was cooked, so he opened it and
forgot Nawangwulan's warning. To his shock, he found only a single stalk of rice inside the steamer.
He suddenly remembered the growing abundance of their rice supply, and his question was
answered.

When Nawangwulan returned home, she saw her husband, angered because he had forgotten her
instructions.

Nawang wulan: what have you done, now I have lost my power to turn a single stalk of rice into a
bowl of rice

Nawangwulan said in frustration. From that day on, Nawangwulan had to pound rice for cooking, and
her husband had to provide a mortar for her.

Since that day, their rice supply began to diminish slo

wly. Now, there was only a little rice left at the bottom of the granary. As usual, the next morning,
Nawangwulan went to the granary in the backyard to fetch the rice. While pulling the remaining
stalks of rice, Nawangwulan felt something soft in her hand. Out of curiosity, she continued to pull
the object. Nawangwulan's face turned pale with shock when she realized what she had just
retrieved was the celestial clothing and the red shawl.

Nawangwulan felt disappointed and angry with Jaka Tarub because she felt she had been deceived
all this time. When she met Jaka Tarub, she decided to return to the heavenly realm and leave her
husband behind.

Nawang wulan: After all this years. To think you are the who took it from me.
Jaka: Please my dear i can explain.

Nawang wulan; No., enough, I am done with your cunning act.

Jaka Tarub could only lament his actions. He knew it was his fault, and he had to bear the
consequences.