Indonesian Folklore Homepage
Folklore from West Java
Nyai Bagendit was a wealthy widow who lived in a prosperous village. Among the villagers, she was known as the richest person around. Her grand house stood like a palace, filled with fine jewelry, luxurious fabrics, and priceless ornaments. Dozens of servants bustled about, tending to her every need. Despite her riches, Nyai Bagendit was infamous for her arrogance and cruelty. She had no compassion for others and rarely offered help, even when people were in desperate need.
Whenever villagers found themselves in financial trouble, they often had no choice but to borrow money from her. But Nyai Bagendit charged them with steep interest—demanding double the amount upon repayment. If they failed to repay her on time, she would send her servants to seize their belongings, showing no mercy. Her heart was especially cold toward beggars. Believing they were lazy and worthless, she refused to give them food or shelter and never once showed pity when they knocked on her door.
One day, an old beggar woman came to Nyai Bagendit’s house. Her clothes were tattered, her body thin and frail from hunger. With trembling hands, she stood at the gate, hoping for a little kindness. But as soon as Nyai Bagendit saw her, she scowled with disgust and shouted harshly.
"Go away, you lazy old woman! Get off my property!" she snapped.
"Please, Nyai," the beggar pleaded weakly, her voice shaking. "Just a little food… or a few coins. I haven’t eaten in days."
"Food? Coins? Who do you think I am—a charity? This is my home, not a restaurant!" Nyai Bagendit sneered. Without a second thought, she grabbed a stone from the ground and hurled it at the poor woman.
The beggar staggered back, hurt more by the cruelty than the stone. Her eyes filled with sorrow, and she said in a calm yet powerful voice, "Nyai Bagendit, you may be the wealthiest person in this village, but your heart is empty. You never share your blessings or show gratitude to the Almighty. Your greed and pride will not go unpunished. Remember my words—the day of judgment is near."
With that, the old beggar slowly turned and walked away, leaving behind a heavy silence that even Nyai Bagendit could not ignore.
“Ha ha ha!” Nyai Bagendit laughed mockingly. “You’re right—I am the richest person in this village! No one can touch me. Not even God can punish me!”
With a proud toss of her head, she turned and walked back into her grand house, still echoing with cruel laughter. But her arrogance would not last long.
Moments later, the ground beneath her home began to tremble. A strange, deep rumble filled the air, unlike anything the villagers had ever heard. Nyai Bagendit froze. Her golden chandeliers swayed wildly, her shelves of treasure clattered to the floor.
Suddenly, the earth split open with a thunderous crack—right beneath her house.
The mansion crumbled like a sandcastle, swallowed by the widening chasm. Nyai Bagendit screamed in terror. "Help me! Please! Somebody help me!" she cried out, her voice full of fear and regret.
But no one came. No one dared to go near.
What shocked the villagers most was that the earthquake only struck Nyai Bagendit’s house. The rest of the village remained still and unharmed. They watched in silence as the greedy woman and all her riches disappeared into the earth.
And then, just as suddenly, calm returned. From the deep hole left behind, water began to rise. It flowed steadily, filling the space where Nyai Bagendit’s home once stood. In time, a beautiful lake formed in its place.
The villagers stood around it in awe. They understood then: it was a divine punishment—a reminder that wealth without kindness leads only to ruin.
Since that day, the lake has been known as Situ Bagendit, the Lake of Bagendit, a name that carries the tale of greed, cruelty, and the justice that followed.
✨ Moral Messages ✨
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Wealth is meaningless without compassion.
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Arrogance leads to downfall.
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Kindness to others brings lasting blessings.
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What you give to others reflects what you receive from life.
