Macapat Dhandhanggula Semut Ireng

Back when I was a child, my father used to sing me this song. In my youth, I simply enjoyed the melody, leaving it to fade into my dreams. I had no idea about the song’s meaning.

Though I’ve grown, the song still feels peculiar in its verses. Even until a few months ago, I hadn’t grasped that the song he sang carried reflections applicable in today’s era.

Lirik lagu dan artinya#

The lyrics I’ve transcribed below are the most accurate, following the rules of “gatra” (number of stanzas), “wilangan” (syllables per line in each stanza), and “lagu” (rhyme or vowel sound at the end of each line) of Macapat Dhandhanggula.

꧋ꦱꦼ​ꦩꦸꦠ꧀ꦲꦶ​ꦉꦁ​꧈ ꦲ​ꦤꦏ꧀ꧏꦱ​ꦥꦶ​#

Semut ireng, anak-anak sapi (10i)#

Jarwanipun bilih semut ireng punika pralambangipun karingkihan, kosok wangsulipun pralambang kekiyatan. Punika satunggalipun pralambang panjangka utawi gegayuhan, utawi kawontenan samangké ingkang sampun kelampahan.

Bilih ingkang rumiyin kaanggep barang mokal dados kasunyatan. Ingkang mboten tinemu nalar ing jaman rumuyin, nanging samangké wonten lan kelampahan.

Black ant, calves; a metaphor of the black ant signifies weakness, while the calves symbolize strength. It is a symbol of longing or the present state that has occurred.

What was once considered impossible has become a reality. It was irrational in the past, but now it exists and is happening.

꧋ꦏꦼ​ꦧꦺꦴ​ꦧꦸꦁ​ꦏꦁ​ꦚ​ꦧꦿꦁ​ꦧꦼ​ꦔ​ꦮꦤ꧀#

Kebo bung kang nyabrang bengawan (9a)#

Jarwanipun Kebo ingkang sungunipun kados bung, punika kasebat banthéng utawi ing Basa Kawi kasebat Andaka, kang nyabrang bengawan. Ateges nglampahi pakaryan ingkang awrat sanget, mboten sabaéné.

Bud buffalo cross the river; Kebo bung, a buffalo with horns resembling a bud, called a banteng or Andaka in the Kawi language, crossing the river. It implies working very hard, yet not proportional.

꧋ꦏꦺ​ꦪꦺꦴꦁ​ꦏꦁ​ꦗ​ꦫꦏ꧀ꦱꦸ​ꦔꦸ​ꦠꦺ#

Kéyong kang jarak sunguté (8e)#

Jarwanipun kathah laré alit utawi para nom-noman ingkang kagungan kawruh mumpuni samangké.

Snail with long antennae; signifies many children or adolescents with profound knowledge nowadays.

꧋ꦠꦶ​ꦩꦸꦤ꧀ꦮꦸ​ꦏꦸ​ꦫꦺꦴꦤ꧀ꦮꦺꦴ​ꦭꦸ#

Timun wuku ron wolu (7u),#

Jarwanipun timun wuku punika timun damel lalapan, ron wolu utawi godhong wolu. Bilih Bandha jagad punika cacahipun wonten wolu ingkang sanget piguna utawi paédah, ingkang sampun sinebat ing Astha Brata, inggih punika : Surya (Srengéngé), Candra (Rembulan), Kartika (Lintang), Himanda (Gunung), Bumi, Agni (Geni), Tirta (Banyu), lan Bayu (Angin). Kikiyatan wolu punika saged ngangkat barang ingkang ringkih kanthi pralambang awujud timun wuku (lalapan) punika.

Timun wuku, cucumber for salad; eight ron or eight leaves. There are eight treasures of the world, very useful or beneficial, mentioned in the Astha Brata: Surya (Sun), Candra (Moon), Kartika (Star), Himanda (Mountain), Earth, Agni (Fire), Tirta (Water), and Bayu (Wind). The eight powers are symbolized by the salad cucumber.

꧋ꦱꦸ​ꦫ​ꦧ​ꦪ​ꦒꦺ​ꦒꦺꦂ​ꦏꦼ​ꦥ​ꦠꦶ​#

Sura baya gégér kepati (9i)#

Jarwanipun surabaya punika sayekti sanés kutha Surabaya, ananging sanepa ingkang ateges wani ing pakewuh utawi wani ing bebaya. Sanajan ana gégér dikaya ngapa para satriyaning praja mboten mingkuh ing pakewuh utawi wani ing pakewuh, wani ngadhapi bebaya punapa kemawon. Pramila wani mrantasi bebaya.

The shark and crocodile are making a commotion until death; Sura baya, it is said, refers not to Surabaya city but as a metaphor for courage within norms or bravery in danger. Despite controversies, true knights don’t deviate from norms but bravely face any danger. Thus, they bravely eradicate threats.

꧋ꦲ​ꦤ​ꦮꦺꦴꦁ​ꦔꦺꦴ​ꦪꦏ꧀ꦩ​ꦕꦤ꧀#

Ana wong ngoyak macan (7a)#

꧋ꦢꦺꦤ꧀ꦮ​ꦣ​ꦲꦶ​ꦧꦸꦩ꧀ꦧꦸꦁ​#

Dén wadhahi bumbung (6u)#

Macan pralambang galak, sipat angkara, galak, kejem, menangé dhéwé, lsp. Bumbung pralambang papan kang primpen. Sipat-sipat kang angkara, galak, kejem, wengis, menangé dhewé kadya kéwan galak kang kasalira déning manungsa pakédah dipun simpen kanthi primpen. Dipun kendhaléni, supados mboten mekdak, saéngga saged nuwuhaken karisakanan.

Someone is chasing a tiger; Tiger, a fierce symbol with characteristics of anger, aggression, fierceness, cruelty, self-victory, etc. Bumbung represents a well-preserved storage place made of bamboo. The traits of evil, cruelty, ruthlessness, ferocity, self-victory, similar to wild animals possessed by humans, must be stored well. It must be controlled so as not to swell, causing unrest.

꧋ꦲ​ꦭꦸꦤ꧀ꧏꦑꦂ​ꦠ​ꦱꦸ​ꦫ​꧈ ꦒ​ꦗꦃ​ꦩꦺ​ꦠ#

Alun-alun Kartasura, gajah méta (12a)#

Jarwanipun bilih rikala rumiyin belih Alun-Alun Kraton Kartasura punika wiyar sanget menawi kabandhingaken kaliyan alun-alun ing wonten samangké (umpaminipun Alun-Alun Kraton Ngayogyakarta, utawi Alun-Alun Surakarta). Ing alun-alun mriku wonten Gajah Méta utawi gajah ngamuk, pralambang sipat angkara murka, asring ngamukan, ngrisak punapa mawon.

Kartasura square, raging elephant; Alun-Alun Kartasura was significantly larger than the present city squares (such as Alun-Alun Keraton Jogja or Alun-Alun Solo). In that square, there was a raging elephant, a symbol of wrathful anger destroying everything.

꧋ꦕꦶ​ꦤꦚ꧀ꦕꦁ​ꦮꦶꦠ꧀ꦱꦶ​ꦢ​ꦒꦸ​ꦫꦶ#

Cinancang wit sida guri (8i)#

Artosipun cinancang suket.

The rampaging elephant is tied to grass.

꧋ꦥ​ꦠꦶ​ꦤꦺ​ꦠꦶ​ꦤꦺꦴ​ꦛꦺꦴꦭ꧀ꦲ​ꦪꦩ꧀#

Patiné tinothol ayam (8a)#

Jarwanipun bilih ayam punika pralambang kéwan alit lan ringkih. Bilih saéstunipun tiyang-tiyang ingkang asipat angkara murka, ngamukan utawi émosional ingkang damel kerisakan sinaosa kagungan daya pangaribawa ingkang ageng lan wiyar tebanipun. Wonten punapa-napanipun, tartamtu ing satunggaling wekdal bakal saged rinangket lan saged dipun pidana pati dening ingkang kawogan.

Sura dira jayaningrat, lebur déning pangastuti. Sipat angkara murka lan damel karisakan badhé saged dumugine sirna déning tumindak ingkang becik.

death (due to) being pecked by a rooster; The meaning is that a rooster symbolizes a small and weak animal. In fact, someone who is angry, irritable, or emotionally destructive may have a significant and wide-ranging influence. However, it is certain that at some point, they will be apprehended and sentenced to death by the authorities.

“Sura dira jayaningrat, lebur dening pangastuti” signifies that the nature of crime, anger, and destruction can disappear through good deeds.

This is not random#

I wrote this based on an audio excerpt from a YouTube video featuring a performance by Dalang Ki Narto Sabdho.

This macapat song can be considered similar to the current situation, where the younger generation already possesses more abilities than their predecessors. Things that make it easier are now present and possible.

Courage is required to continue following rules and norms of behavior, as there is much intimidation from groups or even netizens.

It illustrates how the behavior of wrongdoing has started to be revealed and is receiving consequences lately, such as corruption and terrorism.

In the end,

All qualities of stubbornness and wrath can be overcome by wisdom, patience, and a gentle attitude.

Please correct me if there are any mistakes. Thank you.