Folklore from Central Java
In a quiet village, there lived a man named Pak Dungu and his wife. His name, “Dungu,” meaning foolish, was given by the villagers, who often ridiculed him for being slow and gullible. No matter what he did, they laughed at him, convinced he lacked any wisdom.
One morning, as the sun cast golden rays over their modest home, Pak Dungu’s wife handed him the rope tied to their prized cow.
“Take this to the market,” she instructed. “But remember, don’t sell it for less than 250 rupiahs.”
Pak Dungu nodded and set off, leading the cow along the dusty road.
A Wicked Scheme
Unbeknownst to him, Pak Busuk, a notorious trickster, had overheard their conversation. A man who thrived on deceiving others, Pak Busuk grinned slyly and rushed to find his equally cunning friends, Pak Cokel and Pak Colek.
“I have a scheme,” Pak Busuk whispered to them. “Let’s make that fool believe his cow is nothing more than a goat. If we succeed, we can buy it for far less than it’s worth!”
The three tricksters laughed and set their plan in motion.
As Pak Dungu walked toward the market, Pak Busuk approached him first.
“Where are you headed, Pak Dungu?” he asked, feigning friendliness.
“To the market, to sell my cow,” Pak Dungu replied proudly.
Pak Busuk let out an exaggerated laugh. “A cow? Are you joking? This isn’t a cow—it’s a goat!”
Pak Dungu frowned but shook his head. “No, it’s a cow. My wife said so.”
Pak Busuk smirked but let him go.
Moments later, Pak Dungu encountered Pak Cokel, who repeated the same trick.
“How much for your goat, Pak Dungu?” he asked.
“It’s not a goat! It’s a cow!” Pak Dungu insisted, though doubt crept into his mind.
Pak Cokel sighed and shook his head. “Pak Dungu, you should see a doctor. No one would pay 250 rupiahs for a goat!”
Confused, Pak Dungu continued walking. Then, he met Pak Colek, who once again told him, “That’s a goat, not a cow.”
Three different people had told him the same thing. Could they all be wrong? Or was he truly mistaken?
Fearing that no one would buy a “goat” for 250 rupiahs, Pak Dungu hesitated. In the end, he sold his precious cow to Pak Colek for a measly sum.
A Clever Revenge
When Pak Dungu returned home and told his wife what had happened, her face turned red with anger.
“You fool! You’ve been tricked!” she scolded. “Go and get our cow back, now!”
Pak Dungu felt miserable. He sat outside their house, staring at the sky. “Why am I so easily fooled?” he muttered. Then, an idea sparked in his mind.
The next morning, he went to the market—not to retrieve his cow, but to prepare a clever trick of his own.
He purchased a small brass bell and then spoke with the market sellers, asking for their help. Because the villagers knew Pak Dungu was kind-hearted, they agreed.
Later that day, Pak Dungu invited Pak Busuk, Pak Cokel, and Pak Colek for a feast.
“Come, my friends,” he said cheerfully. “Let me treat you to a meal!”
Greedy and unsuspecting, the three tricksters eagerly accepted.
At the food stall, they ate without hesitation, piling their plates high with delicious rice, meats, and sweets.
When they had finished, Pak Dungu rang his small bell.
The moment the bell chimed, the stall owner nodded. “Alright, your bill is paid.”
The tricksters exchanged glances. They had seen Pak Dungu hand over no money, yet the owner let him go!
At the next stall, the same thing happened—Pak Dungu rang the bell, and the seller announced that his food was already paid for.
Pak Busuk, Pak Cokel, and Pak Colek could hardly believe their eyes.
“This bell must be magical!” Pak Busuk whispered excitedly.
“We must have it!” said Pak Cokel.
Finally, Pak Colek turned to Pak Dungu. “Sell us that bell, Pak Dungu! Name your price!”
Pak Dungu pretended to hesitate. Then, as if reluctant, he said, “I suppose I could part with it... for 250 rupiahs.”
Without thinking, the tricksters handed over the money and grabbed the bell, grinning with satisfaction.
The Tricksters Get Tricked
Eager to test their newfound “magic”, Pak Busuk, Pak Cokel, and Pak Colek marched into a fancy restaurant and ordered the most expensive food. They ate until they were full, certain that the bell would pay for everything.
Then, with great confidence, they rang the bell.
The restaurant owner crossed his arms and glared at them.
“What’s this nonsense? Where’s my payment?” he demanded.
Pak Busuk rang the bell again. Nothing happened.
By now, the owner was furious. He called the police, who arrived within minutes.
“These men ate without paying!” the owner shouted.
The police arrested the three tricksters, and they were dragged off to jail, begging for mercy.
Meanwhile, Pak Dungu walked home with a smile on his face, having outsmarted the very men who called him foolish.
Moral Message
📌 Cleverness can outsmart deception, but true wisdom lies in using intelligence for good, not just for revenge.
📌 Dishonesty will always backfire. Those who deceive others will eventually fall into their own traps.
📌 Don’t believe everything blindly—think critically. Pak Dungu was tricked because he trusted words without questioning the evidence.
📌 Revenge is not the best solution. Instead of seeking payback, it’s wiser to handle injustice in a way that upholds fairness, such as seeking help from respected figures or finding a just resolution.
