The legend of Ketimun Mas is a well-known folk tale widely recognized in Indonesia, particularly in Bali. This story tells the struggle of a young girl named Ketimun Mas as she tries to escape from the pursuit of an evil giant. In this tale, readers will find important values such as courage, cleverness, and sacrifice. This folk tale is often told as a bedtime story, teaching children about morality and the importance of quick thinking in difficult situations.
The Legend of Cucumber Mas: The Struggle Against the Giant. (source: Personal collection)
In a remote village located at the foot of a tall mountain in Bali, lived an old widow named Mbok Srini. This village was surrounded by fertile rice fields and dense forests, but despite the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding nature, Mbok Srini's life was not easy. She lived alone, relying on the small harvests from her garden to survive. Every day, Mbok Srini would gaze toward the mountain with hope and prayer, wishing that one day she would be blessed with a child who could accompany her in her old age. Since her husband's death, Mbok Srini felt lonely and often prayed to the gods, asking for a child. One night, in her dream, a god appeared and promised that her wish would be granted. The next morning, Mbok Srini awoke with a heart full of hope. However, days passed without any sign of change. Until one day, while Mbok Srini was collecting firewood in the forest, something strange and unexpected happened.While Mbok Srini was picking up dry branches in the forest, the ground around her suddenly shook, and a loud rumbling sound was heard. Mbok Srini turned around and saw a huge creature with a hairy body and sharp fangs. The creature was a giant. With a deep and terrifying voice, the giant said, "Old woman, I can give you what you desire, but you must fulfill my condition." Though Mbok Srini was terrified, her longing for a child outweighed her fear.
Deal with the giant. (source: personal collection)
The giant gave Mbok Srini a magical cucumber seed, with the condition that when the child born from the cucumber grew up, Mbok Srini had to give her back to the giant. Without much thought, Mbok Srini agreed to the deal, even though her heart was full of doubt and anxiety. She took the cucumber seed and immediately planted it in her garden. Every day, she nurtured the plant with hope, though deep down, she feared the day the giant would come to claim his promise.A few weeks after Mbok Srini planted the seed, a large, glowing cucumber grew from the ground. The plant grew quickly, and soon a large, shiny cucumber appeared. Mbok Srini was both surprised and delighted by this miracle. Carefully, she picked the cucumber and brought it into her home. When she cut it open, she was astonished to find a beautiful baby girl inside. Mbok Srini named her Ketimun Mas due to her extraordinary origin.Ketimun Mas grew up to be a beautiful and intelligent child. She always helped Mbok Srini in the fields and never complained. Mbok Srini loved Ketimun Mas as if she were her own daughter. Every day was filled with happiness for them, and Ketimun Mas grew into a kind-hearted girl. However, despite their happiness, Mbok Srini could never forget the promise she made to the giant. Each time she looked at Ketimun Mas, her heart raced, knowing that one day she would have to give the girl to the terrifying giant.Time passed quickly, and Ketimun Mas grew into a beautiful young woman. Her beauty spread throughout the village, attracting many young men. However, Ketimun Mas always chose to stay close to Mbok Srini, as she deeply loved her adoptive mother. Despite their simple life, they loved and respected each other. But as Ketimun Mas neared adulthood, Mbok Srini's fear grew stronger that the giant would come to claim his promise.
At night, while Ketimun Mas slept soundly, Mbok Srini often stayed awake in worry. She would sit by her door, anxiously gazing toward the forest. Each time the wind howled or a distant rumble was heard, Mbok Srini feared that the giant was approaching. In her heart, she prayed to the gods to protect Ketimun Mas. But she knew she could not escape the deal she had made. Morning after morning passed with unease until one day, her worst fear came true.One bright morning, the usually peaceful village was suddenly shaken by the heavy footsteps of a giant. The trees swayed, and birds fled their nests. All the villagers hid in their homes, terrified. From afar, the figure of the giant approached, with glowing eyes and a terrifying face. Mbok Srini knew that this was the day she had dreaded. The giant had come to claim his promise, and Mbok Srini had no choice but to face this harsh reality.With a heavy heart, Mbok Srini called Ketimun Mas and told her the entire story behind her birth. Ketimun Mas listened carefully, and though shocked and saddened, she did not blame Mbok Srini. Ketimun Mas understood that her mother had done this out of a deep desire for a child. With tears in her eyes, Mbok Srini handed Ketimun Mas a magical pouch containing the items given by the wise sage: cucumber seeds, salt, thorns, and shrimp paste. Mbok Srini asked Ketimun Mas to run away and use the items to protect herself from the giant. With a brave heart, Ketimun Mas left her home and ran into the forest. The dense Balinese forest, full of the sounds of night creatures, became the backdrop for her escape. She ran as fast as she could, crossing rivers and climbing hills. Meanwhile, the giant, realizing that Ketimun Mas had fled, began to chase her. The giant's massive footsteps shook the earth, and the sound of his approach filled Ketimun Mas with fear. But she continued running, relying on her courage and the magical items her mother had given her.
Golden Cucumber Blocking Using Cucumber Seeds. (source: Personal collection)
When Ketimun Mas heard the giant getting closer, she quickly took the cucumber seeds from the magical pouch and scattered them on the ground. In an instant, the seeds grew into a thick cucumber garden. The plants quickly filled the forest, with strong vines and thick leaves trapping the giant. However, with his great strength, the giant tore through the plants and continued his pursuit.Seeing the giant break through the cucumber garden, Ketimun Mas quickly opened the magical pouch again and scattered the thorns on the ground. In an instant, the thorns turned into a dense, thorny forest. The sharp thorns grew as tall as trees, making the giant's path even more difficult. The giant was trapped in the thorny forest, his body torn apart by the sharp thorns, but he continued to struggle forward.The giant eventually managed to escape the thorny forest, though badly wounded, but he was still determined to catch Ketimun Mas. When Ketimun Mas saw the giant getting closer, she quickly took the salt from the magical pouch and scattered it on the ground. Miraculously.The salt magically transformed into a vast, deep sea, blocking the giant's path. The salty water stung the giant's wounds, weakening him even further, but his determination to capture Ketimun Mas pushed him to continue. The giant struggled to swim through the salt sea, his enormous size making it difficult for him to move quickly. Ketimun Mas, standing on the other side of the sea, watched anxiously as the giant made slow progress, knowing that she only had a little more time before he reached her agaiDespite his fatigue and pain, the giant eventually reached the edge of the salt sea. Ketimun Mas knew this was her last chance to stop him. She quickly took the shrimp paste from the magical pouch and threw it onto the ground. The shrimp paste transformed into a thick, boiling swamp of mud. As the giant stepped into the swamp, he found himself sinking deeper with each step. The sticky mud clung to his legs, pulling him down and making it impossible for him to move.
The giant roared in frustration and agony as he struggled to free himself from the swamp, but the more he fought, the deeper he sank. The mud was relentless, dragging the giant down until only his head remained visible. With one final, desperate roar, the giant disappeared beneath the surface, swallowed by the thick, bubbling mud. Ketimun Mas watched in relief as the giant finally met his end. She had succeeded in escaping the terrible fate that had loomed over her since birthWith the giant defeated, Ketimun Mas made her way back to the village. Along the way, she was greeted by the villagers, who had heard about her brave escape and the giant's demise. They welcomed her with open arms, praising her cleverness and bravery. Ketimun Mas was filled with joy and gratitude as she returned to her home, where Mbok Srini was waiting anxiously for her. The two embraced, tears of relief and happiness streaming down their faces.After the giant's defeat, Ketimun Mas and Mbok Srini lived peacefully in their village. The story of Ketimun Mas spread far and wide, and she became known as a hero throughout the land. Villagers often came to visit her, seeking her wisdom and guidance. Life in the village returned to normal, but it was filled with a newfound sense of security and happiness. Mbok Srini felt blessed to have such a brave and clever daughter, and they both lived the rest of their lives in peace and contentment.
Kehidupan baru Ketimun Mas. (sumber : koleksi Pribadi)
The story of Ketimun Mas teaches us many valuable lessons. First, it emphasizes the importance of courage and cleverness when facing challenges. Second, it shows that sincerity and prayer can help a person overcome difficult trials. Finally, the story teaches that evil, no matter how large and frightening, can always be defeated by goodness and intelligence. The legend of Ketimun Mas remains an important part of Balinese cultural heritage, reminding us of the noble values contained within it.
