.jpg "The Golden Orange: An East Java Folktale of Honesty and Reward")
Chapter 1: The King's Wish
Long, long ago, there lived a wise and just king who ruled over a kingdom on the island of Java. He was loved by all his people, for he always cared for their happiness and safety.
"O King," the whisper said, "a plague has come upon your land. To drive it away, you must send your people to search for the Golden Orange, a fruit of great and sacred power. Only this fruit can be offered to cleanse the kingdom."
The king woke at once and called his ministers together.
"Hear me, my people!" the king declared the very next morning, standing before the great gates of the palace. "A magical Golden Orange must be found to save our kingdom from this plague. Whoever brings it to me shall receive a grand reward — riches beyond imagining!"
And so, word of the contest spread like wildfire across every village, every field, and every forest path in the land.
Chapter 2: The Search Begins
The people were overjoyed at the thought of the king's reward, and many set off at once into the deep forest to search for the Golden Orange. But the forest was vast and full of secrets, and few knew where to even begin.
Among the villagers was a man named Pak Sikir, who boasted to everyone that he possessed magical powers.
"I alone can find the Golden Orange!" Pak Sikir announced proudly to his neighbors. "Watch and see — I shall bring it to the king myself!"
He journeyed to the palace first to receive the king's blessing, then strode confidently into the forest. Using his strange magic, it did not take him long at all to find a shining Golden Orange, glowing like sunlight among the green leaves. He placed it carefully into his large basket and set off toward the palace, already dreaming of the riches he would receive.
But along the winding forest path, Pak Sikir met an old man with kind, watchful eyes.
Old Man: "Good traveler, what do you carry in your basket?"
Pak Sikir did not wish to share his good fortune, so he answered with a lie.
Pak Sikir: "Oh, this? It is nothing but sand, old man. Just plain sand."Old Man: "Ah, I see," said the old man, nodding slowly. "Very well. Continue on your journey, then."
Pak Sikir hurried on, his heart light with greedy excitement. But when he finally reached the palace and lifted the cloth from his basket to present his prize to the king — there was no Golden Orange at all. Only a basket full of sand.
The king's face darkened with anger. "You have deceived me!" he cried, and Pak Sikir was sent away in shame.
Chapter 3: More Failures
News of Pak Sikir's disgrace spread through the kingdom, yet still more villagers came forward, each one certain they could succeed where he had failed.
One man went into the forest and, after much searching, found a Golden Orange of his own. On his way home, he too met the same old man on the forest path.
Old Man: "Traveler, what is it you carry?"
Just as Pak Sikir had done, the man lied without hesitation.
Man: "Only some bricks, old man. Heavy, ordinary bricks."
The old man only nodded and said nothing more. But when the man arrived at the palace, he found — to his horror — that his Golden Orange had truly turned to bricks in his basket! Once again, the king's hopes were crushed, and once again, his anger grew.
Still another villager tried his luck. He, too, found a Golden Orange deep in the forest. But when the old man asked what he carried, he claimed it was nothing but a plain pebble.
And just as before, the fruit became exactly what he had claimed — a small, worthless pebble.
This strange pattern repeated itself again and again. Every person who found the Golden Orange and then lied about it watched their treasure crumble into whatever foolish thing they had claimed to carry. The king grew more and more despairing.
"Is there truly no one honest enough in my kingdom to complete this task?" the king sighed, sitting heavily upon his throne.
Chapter 4: The Honest Pitcher-Bearer
Just when all hope seemed lost, a humble young man came before the king. His name was Ki Jaka Meleng, the son of a poor widow named Randa Meleng. He worked as a pitcher-bearer, carrying water and goods for others to earn his living.
"Your Majesty," said Ki Jaka Meleng, bowing low, "please grant me your blessing. I wish to search for the Golden Orange."
The king, weary from disappointment, looked at the humble young man with doubt in his eyes.
King: "So many before you have failed and lied to me. Why should I believe you will be any different?"
But Ki Jaka Meleng did not waver. He begged and pleaded so earnestly that at last the king relented.
King: "Very well. I shall grant you my blessing — but hear this warning: if you fail to bring me the Golden Orange, you shall lose your head."Ki Jaka Meleng: "I accept these terms, Your Majesty. I promise I will not fail you."
Chapter 5: The Truth Prevails
With the king's blessing in hand, Ki Jaka Meleng ventured deep into the forest, searching tirelessly through thickets and groves until, at last, he found it — a Golden Orange, gleaming brightly like a small sun among the branches.
Overjoyed, he placed it gently in his basket and began the long walk home. Along the path, just as with all the others before him, he came upon the mysterious old man.
Old Man: "Young traveler, what do you carry so carefully in your basket?"
Ki Jaka Meleng looked the old man straight in the eye and answered without hesitation or fear.
Ki Jaka Meleng: "Grandfather, I carry the Golden Orange. The king himself has asked for it, to save our kingdom from the plague that troubles us."
The old man's eyes softened, and he smiled and nodded with approval.
Old Man: "You speak the truth, child. Go now, but travel carefully — take care that such a precious treasure is not stolen from you along the way."
Ki Jaka Meleng thanked the old man kindly and continued on his journey, his heart light with honesty and hope.
Chapter 6: The Reward
When Ki Jaka Meleng finally arrived at the palace, he knelt before the king and presented the Golden Orange, still glowing as bright and golden as when he had first found it.
The king's eyes widened with joy and relief. "At last!" he exclaimed. "You have truly succeeded where so many others failed! You alone were honest, and honesty has saved my kingdom!"
True to his word, the king rewarded Ki Jaka Meleng generously — showering him with riches beyond anything he had ever dreamed of. But the king did not stop there. So impressed was he by the young man's honesty and courage that he granted Ki Jaka Meleng the noble title of Regent, raising him from a humble pitcher-bearer to a man of great honor in the kingdom.
And so, the plague was lifted from the land, and peace returned to every village and field.
And that is the folklore of the Golden Orange, a tale from East Java that reminds us: honesty always brings the greatest reward, no matter how humble we may be.
Play the interactive version of The Golden Orange! Help Ki Jaka Meleng search the forest for the golden orange, then decide whether he tells the truth or lies to the mysterious old man he meets along the way — and see what happens!
Source: I.B. Mantra, Astrid S., Susanto, B. Susanto, & S. Wibisono. Cerita Rakyat Daerah Jawa Timur [Folk Tales of East Java]. Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan (Ministry of Education and Culture).
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