Musang Berjanggut

The king commands Tun Nila to find a worthy bride for the realm, insisting that he must marry someone with true honor. Tun Nila refuses to marry any woman in the kingdom, declaring they lack the noble qualities he seeks. The king then decrees that if such a woman exists, Tun Nila must find her, and he vows not to return to Pura Cendana or shave until the quest is fulfilled.

To test worthiness, Tun Nila devises a challenge: a bag containing rice, salt, chili, onions, garlic, and spices. He travels across the country, seeking shelter in homes and offering the task to each young woman. In every place, the women dismiss the idea as impossible or leave the bag untouched. The quest drags on and his beard thickens as time passes.

Months pass on the road, and his quest stretches on. His beard thickens as he remains away from the palace, becoming a visible sign of his vow. He remains resolute, determined to find a worthy partner regardless of the delays.

He finally meets Puspawangi's family and presents the bag, asking for her hand. Puspawangi's mother calls the task absurd, but the daughter sees it as a test of wit. She decides to prove the practicality by turning the ingredients into a meal for her family.

Puspawangi separates the ingredients, cooks them, and serves a meal to her family that night. Her father is astonished when she reveals the dishes were made from the bag’s contents. Impressed by her wit, Tun Nila shaves his beard the next morning, revealing his handsome face and asking for Puspawangi's hand.

Tun Nila and Puspawangi return to the royal court with their betrothal. Tun Nila's parents are overjoyed by the match, while the king and ministers are captivated by Puspawangi’s beauty. Their union is celebrated, but jealousy begins to simmer among the palace elites.

The king feigns illness and declares that only the mystical bearded civet can cure him. He quietly arranges that Tun Nila must go in search of the civet, leaving Puspawangi behind. The plan is simple: isolate the couple to remove Tun Nila from the throne of favors.

While Tun Nila is away, the king and ministers visit Puspawangi one by one to win her affections. Puspawangi cleverly deceives them, pretending to reciprocate while stalling for time. She humiliates each man by urging them to prove their love through ridiculous tasks and instructs them to hide when the next suitor arrives.

The king is the last visitor, but their encounter is interrupted by a ghost at the window. Terrified, the king and most ministers flee, while one minister hides in a chest. The 'ghost' is revealed to be Tun Nila in disguise, who overhears everything from beneath the house.

Tun Nila reveals himself to the audience and supports Puspawangi for her loyalty and wit in rebuffing the men’s advances. The next day, they present the chest to the king, claiming it contains the bearded civet. When the king opens the chest, the trapped minister is exposed and the bearded civet fails to appear as promised.

The hidden minister is revealed and the other guilty men realize their wrongdoing. They beg for forgiveness, and the king's plan to discredit Tun Nila collapses. Order is restored within the palace, and the couple's integrity is proven beyond the scheming of jealous courtiers.

With the conspiracy exposed, Tun Nila and Puspawangi seal their union and the kingdom resumes its harmony. The bearded test and the ruse become legends of loyalty, wit, and rightful leadership. The king learns to respect the couple, and prosperity returns to Pura Cendana.