Episode 020: Anak Pertama Batara Guru Dan Penjaga Gunung Latimojong

Story DNA

Genre
folk tale
Tone
melancholic
Themes
loss and renewal, divine intervention, the cycle of life and death, the origins of agriculture
Plot Summary
Batara Guru finds happiness with We Nyili' Timo, and together they heal a blind River Guardian. To secure his lineage, Batara Guru takes consorts, but the land remains barren. After the appearance of Tomanurung, Batara Guru's first child, We Odangdriuk, is born but tragically dies after seven days. In his grief, Batara Guru discovers his daughter's grave has miraculously transformed into a field of colorful rice, signifying renewal and the origin of this vital crop.

In the ancient lands, where gods walked among mortals, Batara Guru, a powerful deity, found profound happiness with his beloved consort, We Nyili' Timo. His anxieties faded, replaced by constant joy, as they remained inseparable.

One bright morning, Batara Guru declared, "We must visit the River Guardian, Timo." At the river, they were startled by the Guardian’s strangely blind eyes. The great crocodile wept, "Batara Guru, I deeply regret my past mistakes; karma has afflicted me."

"We Nyili' Timo, let us offer our help," Batara Guru urged, his heart filled with empathy. With a gentle touch, We Nyili' Timo began to heal the River Guardian’s sight. Batara Guru then bestowed a gift upon him, saying, "This is a token of gratitude for your enduring loyalty."

Meanwhile, the establishment of Batara Guru’s kingdom required an heir. "I do not need consorts, Timo!" he protested. We Nyili' Timo insisted, "You need descendants for the future." Reluctantly, Batara Guru took five consorts, accepting their counsel.

Despite the consorts, a strange predicament plagued the land: the rice crops refused to grow, threatening the kingdom's prosperity. We Nyili' Timo, though usually serene, felt an unsettling imbalance. She observed trees that appeared fruitful but yielded nothing, a mystery her guards could not explain, deepening her concern.

As the kingdom grappled with barrenness, dark clouds gathered, and lightning rent the sky. Suddenly, Tomanurung, the formidable guardian of Mount Latimojong, materialized. His voice boomed, "I am here to help preserve peace and restore balance."

Whispers of an impending heir soon spread, with many speculating about We Nyili' Timo’s pregnancy. However, the joyful truth was revealed: it was We Saung, one of the consorts, who was pregnant.

After seven months, the kingdom rejoiced as Batara Guru’s first child was born—a beautiful daughter named We Odangdriuk. Batara Guru’s heart swelled with paternal love and immense hope, declaring, "This child represents the future of our kingdom, my deepest desire."

Yet, this profound happiness proved tragically fleeting, lasting merely seven days. Batara Guru’s world shattered when his beloved infant daughter, We Odangdriuk, passed away. "My child…!" he cried, his voice a raw lament as he gazed upon her small grave, his heart utterly broken by such an unbearable loss.

Overwhelmed by grief, Batara Guru visited his daughter’s resting place. To his astonishment, the grave was not barren earth but adorned with vibrant, multi-colored rice plants, their hues brilliant beyond imagination. "How can this be?" he whispered, utterly captivated by the miraculous sight.

A mystical presence enveloped him, and Batara Guru understood. From his profound sorrow, a divine gift had emerged: the sacred, colorful rice. His daughter’s brief life had brought forth renewal and sustenance, proving that even from loss, new beginnings flourish.

English translation — 450 words — Canon score: 100/100

Characters in this Episode

Batara Guru (protagonist) We Nyili' Timo (supporting) Penjaga Sungai (minor) Tomanurung (supporting) We Saung (minor) We Odangdriuk (minor)