In a traditional culture of the Javane of Indonesia, there is an ancient story commonly presented to the audience through a shadow puppet show, which is well known as “Wayang”.
There was a handsome, vibrant young man living in a rural hermitage. His name was Sumantri. He was the son the local hermit. Kneeling down before his father, asking his father’s permit to go away to search for his own identity. He wanted to find a job in the city to meet the king.
With so much effort, he finally managed to reach the kingdom, the Mahespati Kingdom, where he was ushered right before the King, Sri Harjuna Sasrabahu.
Upon arriving before the king, he openly said his wish to serve his life for the king no matter what it would take.
The king would accept his service and provide him with a decent post any moment provided that he would make Him marry a beatiful lady named Citrawati, the princess of the Magada Kingdom, neighboring kingdom of Maheapati. This beautiful lady was at that moment competed by many kings who wanted her also to be their Consort or wife. Many kings fought with great strength to win Citrawati, the princess of Magada.
To make a long story short, Sumantri fought to the last strenght he had, and finally he won and defeated all other kings who participated in the great competition.
Going back home to the kingdom of Mahespati, Sumantri was taking Citrawati with him, but he looked as if he changed his mind.
In the town-square of the kingdom, he was greatly welcome by the bodyguard of the king. Instead of submitting Cintrawati to the king, he had a letter for the bodyguard to submit to the king; it was a challange letter. Sumantri would only let Citrawati to the hand of the king unless the king had the courage to fight with him through a battle in the town-aquare openly and to be witnessed by all the people of the kingdom.
The King, Sri Harjuna Sasrabahu, would not get angry with the letter of challenge, for he thought that he would meet the most suitable guy that he had been searching all his life to protect his kingdom saved from enemy’s attact.
Soon, the King ordered his bodyguard to provide Sumantri with royal attires. The king wanted to fight man-by-man with Sumantri in a royal dress so that it would create such a magnificent look before the eyes of his citizents.
In the town-square, thousands of citizents were waiting to see the great fight between Sumantri and Harjuna Sasrabahu, the wise King.
Before the fight began, Sumantri knelled down and kissed the king’s feet with such a great respect. The king knew what it was meant.
The fight, then, was finally begun with a thundering thrill. Both of them were great fighters. They hit each other but none of them got wounded; both of them were equally experienced and agile.
During the fight, the king realized that Sumantri could actually have used his bigger strength to fight him, but he would not used it – why. Instead, Sumantri acted as if he losed and surrended totally under his king’s attact. The king would think it was such a politeness hidenly shown by Sumantri – what a wonderful young man the king thought of him.
Finally, Sumantri acted that he was losed and totally surendered under the king’s feet. Then, Sumantri said that he would give his life and ready to accept any punishment the king would decide upon him.
The king was fully stricken with amazement and admiration by that look from a young and vibrant fighter. Smiling deep inside his feeling that he finally found such a great escort that would protect his kingdom from any enemy’s attact.
Soon, Sumantri was appointed and crowned to be his PM (prime minister), the highest ever position given to any one with such a great achievement in history.
Morals of the story:
You would only work for someone who can respect you fully based on what you can contribute.