Wa Lancar

Wa Lancar and the Three Wise Lessons: Overcoming Envy and Danger in the Quest for Knowledge and Justice

Wa lancar >> Edisi Indonesia

Folklore from North Sumatra

Wa Lancar was a poor young man from a small village. Though he didn’t have much, he had a heart full of ambition and a deep desire to learn. Every day, he would look out at the mountains and the fields and dream of becoming wise and educated, even though he knew he couldn't afford a teacher.

One day, his luck changed. While working near a rice field, Wa Lancar met an older man with a kind face and wise eyes. The man was a teacher who, seeing Wa Lancar’s earnest desire to learn, offered to teach him in exchange for help in the rice fields. Overjoyed, Wa Lancar agreed without hesitation.

The teacher taught Wa Lancar about the world, people, and nature. Every lesson was like a precious gift, and Wa Lancar absorbed everything he could. After years of hard work and learning, the teacher told him, “You have learned much, Wa Lancar, and I can teach you no more. Before you leave, I have one piece of advice to offer: If you are hungry, don’t eat immediately. Just wait.” 

Wa Lancar puzzled over this advice, but he thanked his teacher deeply and continued on his journey.

Eager to learn more, he eventually met a second teacher. Like the first, this teacher was willing to take him as a student, asking only for his help in the fields. For several more years, Wa Lancar studied, working beside the teacher and taking in every lesson. One day, the teacher told him it was time to leave. “Wa Lancar,” he said with a gentle smile, “you are ready to continue on your own. But remember this advice: When you are tired of walking, stop and get some rest.”

Again, Wa Lancar thanked his teacher, carrying this advice in his heart as he continued on his path.

Years later, Wa Lancar came across a third teacher. As before, Wa Lancar worked tirelessly in exchange for knowledge. After many years of study, the teacher told him it was time to part ways. “Wa Lancar,” he said, “you have gained much wisdom, but remember this: Get a stone and a knife, and grind the knife.”

Wa Lancar was grateful for the wisdom and advice each teacher had given him. Inspired, he decided to share what he had learned with others, especially those who, like him, couldn’t afford to pay for lessons. He began teaching children in his village, helping them grow their own wisdom.

At first, he had only a few students, but soon, more children came. Wa Lancar’s name spread, and people admired his generosity and wisdom. However, his success stirred jealousy in another teacher, who saw Wa Lancar’s growing reputation as a threat.

The jealous teacher decided to act. One day, he went to the palace and told the king, “Your Majesty, Wa Lancar is teaching dangerous things to the children, filling their minds with ideas that could turn them against you.”

The king, alarmed, summoned Wa Lancar to the palace. But instead of imprisoning him, the king issued an unusual punishment: “Wa Lancar, you shall marry my daughter as punishment for your teachings.”

The entire court was silent, and Wa Lancar felt his heart sink. Rumor had it that all men who married the king’s daughter mysteriously died shortly after the wedding. But Wa Lancar couldn’t refuse.

The wedding day arrived, and the reception was filled with delicious foods and fine wines. As he sat with the other guests, the jealous teacher, hiding a sinister smile, offered him a plate of food. Wa Lancar was hungry but remembered his first teacher’s advice: If you are hungry, don’t eat immediately. Just wait.

Following this wisdom, he politely refused. Moments later, the man sitting next to him ate the food instead—and soon collapsed, suffering from terrible pain. The guests gasped, and within minutes, the man had tragically died. The food had been poisoned.

The next morning, the jealous teacher tried another trick. He approached Wa Lancar with a message from the king: “Wa Lancar, His Majesty has requested a black stone from the distant hill. You must retrieve it.”

Wa Lancar set out with a group of soldiers. After hours of difficult walking, he grew tired. Remembering his second teacher’s advice, he told the soldiers to go on ahead while he stopped to rest under the shade of a tree. Suddenly, he heard shouts and cries. Rushing ahead, he saw that the soldiers had fallen into a deep hole hidden by grass. Wa Lancar, still safe, continued up the hill and found the black stone. 

When he returned to the palace, the king was impressed by his resilience and bravery.

That night, exhausted, Wa Lancar prepared to sleep in his new quarters. But he remembered his third teacher’s advice: Get a stone and a knife, and grind the knife. He took the black stone he had retrieved and began sharpening a knife. Afterward, he climbed into bed, only to feel something cold and scaly beside him. Startled, he leaped out of bed and found a large centipede lying there, its fangs glistening in the moonlight. Wa Lancar quickly grabbed the knife and killed the centipede. His wife woke up, frightened but grateful, realizing he had just saved her life.

The next day, Wa Lancar told his wife everything—the poison at the wedding, the trap on the hill, and the centipede in his bed. He concluded, “I have no doubt that all these were the works of the jealous teacher.”

The princess went to her father and recounted everything Wa Lancar had told her. Outraged, the king summoned the jealous teacher, demanding the truth. Trembling, the teacher confessed his lies and schemes. The king ordered a fitting punishment, and the jealous teacher was banished from the kingdom.

Wa Lancar became widely known for his wisdom and kindness. The people admired him not only as a teacher but as a hero who used his knowledge to protect others. He continued to teach, sharing the valuable advice he had received from his three teachers, helping the children grow wise and resilient.

And from that day on, Wa Lancar lived happily, always remembering the lessons of patience, rest, and readiness that had guided him through his life’s most difficult trials.

Moral Message

The story of Wa Lancar conveys that wisdom often comes from simple lessons taught by the wise. Advice on patience, resilience, and preparation not only serves as guidance but also protects against unforeseen dangers. By valuing and applying the wisdom he has gained, Wa Lancar overcomes life's challenges and becomes a role model for others. The tale also teaches that good intentions and perseverance lead to success, despite obstacles along the way.

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