Banta Berensyah

Banta Berensyah was a fatherless boy who lived with his poor mother. He was diligent and always patient in coping with his uncle’s scolding, Jakub. His hard work and forbearance took him to marry a beautiful princess and become a king. Here is the story.

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Once, in a remote village in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, there lived a widow and her son named Banta Berensyah. Banta Berensyah was a hardworker and a good flute player. Banta and his mother lived in a modest cogon grass-roofed and dry leaves-floored bamboo hut which looked wretched. When the rain fell, rain water flooded the hut. To tell the truth, the hut was uninhabitable. But there was not much they could do about it. They were too poor even to feed themselves, never mind fixing the hut.

For survival, Banta and her mother winnowed husk of rice at the rice mill owned by their wealthy relative, Jakub. Jakub is a wealthiest merchant in the village. However, he was very stingy, greedy and selfish. He is a calculating kind of person who always tried to benefit from everything he did. Often, Jakub paid Banta and his mother only a handful of rice. It only fed them for a day.

One day, Banta’s mother went to the rice mill alone because Banta was unwell. To her disappointment, there was nobody pounding rice that day. That meant that she could not winnow rice husk and there will be no rice for her and her son. She returned home in despair and sadness. She approached her son as soon as she arrived home. Banta lay weak, his face was pale and he shivered having not eaten anything all day.

“Mother … I am hungry,” said Banta.

His mother sat motionless looking gently at Banta. She felt the most pain in her heart to see her son starving. But again, there was nothing much she could do about it. They had no food at all, only a glass of water. She grabbed the glass and gently gave it to Banta to drink. Banta sipped it to ease his hunger. After drinking it, Banta felt like he got some energy to get up from his bed. He wiped his mother’s tears.

“Why are you crying, mother?” asked Banta gently.

The old woman’s mouth was sealed.  Her eyes misted over and she could only sigh. Banta stared deeper at his mother. He knew exactly why her mother cried.

“Mother, I know why you are crying. You did not get any rice today,” said Banta.

“Mother, I know you work very hard to feed us. It’s just .. perhaps today luck was not on our side,” Banta added.

Banta’s mother could hardly believe to what Banta said. She just realized that her only son was growing mature. She hugged him and cried in happiness. She felt a bit relieved to know that her son could understand their poor condition.

“Banta, my son, I am so proud of you. I love you so much, dear,” said Banta’s mother emotionally.

His mother’s affection and care gave a new spirit for Banta. His weak body was re-energized all of a sudden. He looked again at his mother’s pale face. He knew that she was starving. Therefore, he intended to go to Jakub’s house to ask for some rice. His mother prevented him however. She knew exactly how stingy Jakub was.

“Don’t do that, son. You know he is a stingy man. He won’t give you rice unless you work for him,” said Banta’s mother.

“I know, mother. But I think we should give a try. Perhaps he will pity us,” Banta insisted.

The harder her mother prevented him, the more strongly Banta insisted on going to his uncle’s house. Her mother let him go eventually. Jakub yelled at Banta when he just arrived at the house yard.

“Hey, pauper. Beggars are not allowed here!” rebuked the wealthy merchant.

“Uncle, have compassion for us. Please give us some rice, we haven’t eaten all day,” begged Banta.

“I don’t care! It’s not my business either you are alive or dead!” Jakub rebuked Banta with rude words.

Banta felt sad and offended. Instead of rice, he got scorned by his uncle. He walked home sadly. Tears were rolling down his cheeks.

On his way home, he could not help overhearing the news about a king from neighboring country who held a competition. The king had a beautiful daughter. Her skin was so white, soft and smooth that as if people could see through her. That was why she was called Putri Terus Mata, the transparent princess. Every young man who saw her beauty would surely want to marry her. Many princes had come to propose her, but none was accepted. Putri Terus Mata would only accept the proposal of someone who could get her a dress made of gold and pinchbeck.

Banta was so excited about the competition. He hoped to marry the princess and make his life better. He wished fortune would be with him. He rushed home to inform her mother about his intention in taking part in the competition. He pleaded her mother to give permission.

“Mother, you know how much I love you and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. You have given the best to me. Now I am a grown-up, it’s high time I worked to give you my best. I am going abroad to find a better living for us. All I am asking is your blessing, mother,” asked Banta.

The old woman could not hide her pride to her only son. She hugged Banta affectionalety.

“Banta, my son, you are such a good son. If you mean it, I will let you go,” said Banta’s mother.

“But, how will you go abroad? What will you carry for your journey? We have no money to pay the ship and get some food for you,” she added.

“Don’t worry about that, mother. Your blessing is the only thing that matters,” Banta answered.

Banta then went to a quiet place to ask God for guidance. In his prayer, he got a clue that told him to bring a piece of taro leaf and a flute in his journey. The taro leaf was supposed to be used to sail across the sea to his destination. As for the flute, he would use it to entertain the weavers as the payment for the gold-pinchbeck cloth he needed.

Next day, Banta took leave for Jakub’s house. He intended to sail abroad with his uncle. As usual, he got scolded again.

“What do you want now, lazybones?” his uncle shouted.

“Uncle, please allow me to sail along with you to the high seas,” asked Banta.

Jakub was surprised to hear Banta’s unusual request. He thought that his nephew wanted to commit a suicide in the middle of the ocean. So he gladly welcomed Banta aboard. He believed that his life would be much more comfortable if Banta died, because there would be nobody ever beg him for food. There they were, Banta sailed along with Jakub and his men. As the ship reached the middle of the ocean, Banta asked Jakub to drop him down the ship.

“Uncle, I guess this is the end of our journey. Please drop me down the ship,” asked Banta.

The stingy merchant ordered his men to drop Banta to the sea. Before Jakub’s men did it, Banta took out the taro leaf he kept inside his suit. He unfolded it and then sat on it. Jakub laughed to see what he did.

“Ha... ha… ha…! You fool!” Jakub scolded.

“Guards! Drop this kid from the ship. Let him die eaten by shark!” he ordered.

To their surprise, the taro leaf floated Banta on the ocean. The wind pushed it and took Banta westwards, while Jakub’s ship went northwards.

After days floating on the ocean, Banta arrived in an island. When he first set foot in the island, he was amazed by the scenic view. Colorful woven clothes of various motifs spread in almost all people’s house yard. Apparently, everyone in the island was weaver.

Banta stopped by at a house to ask about the gold-pinchbeck cloth he was looking for. Unfortunetaly, the host did not know anything about that kind of cloth. So he moved to the next house but he got the same answer. He wandered around the kampong for days but he still did not find the cloth. There was one house left, it belonged to the kampong chief, who was also a weaver.

(Knock! Knock!) “Excuse me, sir,” said Banta to the chief.

“How can I help you, young man?” replied the chief.

Then Banta introduced himself and explained the intention of his coming.

“Sir, I’ve come along the way here to find a woven cloth made of gold and pinchbeck. If you have it, would you sell it to me?” asked Banta.

The chief was surprised to her Banta’s request moreover when he stared at Banta’s look.

“How will you pay for the cloth? Do you have the money with you?”

“Forgive me, sir. I am indeed incapable of paying it with money. But, if you don’t mind, I will pay it with songs,” asked Banta while taking out his flute.

Looking at his determination on having the cloth, the chief questioned Banta again.

“Banta, do you mind telling me why you want that cloth?”

Banta then told the reason why he struggled for the cloth. The chief was so touched by Banta’s story that he finally granted his wish. With his expertise, Banta played beautiful songs with his flute. The chief swayed with the songs. After enjoying the songs, the chief gave the cloth to Banta.

“You are indeed a very good flute player, Banta. You deserve this cloth,” said the chief.

“My gratitude, sir. I am beholden to you. I will never forget your kindness, sir,” said Banta.

After getting the cloth, Banta left the island. He sailed back home with his taro leaf. He was overjoyed. He could not wait to tell the good news to his mother and to present the cloth to Putri Terus Mata.

However, bad fortune befell him. When he arrived in the middle of the ocean he met Jakub’s ship and he decided to join their sailing. That was when Jakub arrogated the cloth. After that, Banta was thrown away to the ocean. Jakub then took home the cloth in pride. He wanted to use it to propose Putri Terus Mata later on.

Banta, meanwhile, was drifted ashore and found by husband and wife who were looking for cockle shells. The couple took Banta home and adopted him. After living with them for quite awhile, Banta took leave to his hometown with his magical taro leaf. Arriving at his hut, he was welcomed by his mother in joy. Then Banta told everything he had while he was away.

“Forgive me mother, I did not bring the golden cloth, Uncle Jakub took it away from me,” Banta told his mother in disappointment.

“Let it go, son. I understand your feeling. Perhaps it is not your fate to marry the princess,” his mother answered.

“But, mother … I have to take it back. The cloth is mine,” said Banta, showing his determination.

“It’s too late, son,” his mother replied.

“What do you mean, mother?” asked Banta, curious.

“Listen, son. The royal castle is now holding the wedding between the princess and your uncle,” said his mother.

Banta rushed to the castle immediately. It was a merry crowd and there was nothing he could do to tell everyone that the golden cloth was his. He had no evidence to prove it. For a moment, he lifted his hands upward asking for help to God. As soon as he finished praying, an eagle flew around above the crowd and making sounds as if telling something.

“Klik … klik … klik … the golden cloth belongs to Banta Berensyah ! Klik … klik … klik … the golden cloth belongs to Banta Berensyah !” the eagle kept saying it again and again.

The people were surprised to hear it. They became quiet. The sound of the eagle became clearer. The king and the princess then realized that Jakub was a greedy merchant who had taken away the golden cloth from Banta. Jakub’s face turned pale white and he began to panic. He could not bear his embarassement and he was too afraid to the king’s punishment. He escaped through the window. But when he prepared himself to jump, he stumbled and fell to the ground and died.

Finally, Banta Berensyah married to Putri Terus Mata. The wedding lasted merrily for seven days and nights. Soon afterwards, the king retreated and he was replaced by Banta Berensyah. Banta then took his mother to live with him in the castle. They lived happily ever after.

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That is the story of Banta Berensyah from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Indonesia. There are at least two moral values contained in the story. First, people must always work hard to achieve success. This is shown in Banta Berensyah’s personality who, with his tireless effort, patience and determination, finally marries the princess. This characteristic is in accordance with Malay wisdom that says:

Wahai anada cahaya mata,
Rajin dan tekun dalam bekerja
Penat dan letih usah dikira
Supaya kelak hidupmu sejahtera
(Listen to this dear child
To work you shall be diligent and determined
Weariness and tiredness should be disregarded
So your life will always be prosperous)

The second moral value conveyed in the story is that stingy and greedy people such as Jakub will get something in return to their evil deeds. As it is exemplified, Jakub died due to his greed. It is said in Malay wisdom:

Apa tanda orang tamak,
Karena harta marwah tercampak
(What is the sign of greedy person
For wealth, self-esteem he will abandon)

As retold by Samsuni (sas/150/06-09)

Translation by Apri Widiastuti (trns/78/06-10)

Source:

• The story is an adaptation of L.K. Ara. 1999. “Banta Berensyah” in Cerita Rakyat dari Aceh. Jakarta: Grasindo.
• Anonymous. “Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. http://id.wikipedia.org.  June 23, 2000.
• Effendy, Tenas. 2006. Tunjuk Ajar Melayu. Yogyakarta. Center for Research and development of Malay Culture in corporation with AdiCita Karya Nusa Publisher.
• Effendy, Tenas. 1994/1995. “Ejekan” terhdap Orang Melayu Riau dan Pantangan Orang Melayu Riau. Pekanbaru: Bappeda Tingkat 1 Riau

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