Walang Hindi Gagawin, Walang Hindi Kakayanin

(buod ni Eliza F. Benitez ng saknong 7-388, Ibong Adarna)

Ang kaharian ng Berbanya ay pinamumunuan ng isang haring makatarungan. Siya si Haring Fernando.
Kapiling niya sa kaharian ang kabiyak na si Reyna Valeriana at tatlong anak, sina Don Pedro, Don Diego at Don
Juan. Masaya sana ang lahat subalit dinalaw ng masamang panaginip ang hari na nagdulot dito ng matinding
pagkabahala at karamdaman. Ang tanging lunas ay ang awit ng mahiwagang Ibong Adarna na matatagpuan sa
bundok Tabor, nananahan sa puno ng Piedras Platas.

Naghanda agad si Don Pedro sa paglalakbay upang hanapin ang mahiwagang ibon. Sa kasamaang palad,
habang naglalakbay ay namatay ang kaniyang kabayo. Tiniis niya ang pagod at hirap hanggang narating niya ang
Bundok Tabor. Sa sobrang pagod ay di napigilang makatulog kaya’t di niya namalayan na dumating ang ibon.
Umawit ang ibon na lalong nagpalalim sa pagtulog ng don. May ugali ang ibon na nagbabawas matapos umawit.
Napatakan ng dumi ng ibon si Don Pedro at bigla itong naging batong buhay.

Natagalang ‘di nakabalik ang panganay, kaya’t si Don Diego naman ang sumubok. Katulad ng nauna, tinahak
niya ang gubat, ilog, kabundukan. Tiniis ang pagod at makalipas ang ilang buwan ay narating din ang Bundok Tabor.
Dito ay namalas niya ang isang punong makinang mula mga dahon hanggang ugat. Pinalad siyang makita ang
mahiwagang ibon at naghintay ng pagkakataon na mahuli ito, subalit nakatulog nang magsimula na itong umawit.
Dahil dito, ‘di niya naiwasan ang pagdumi ng ibon at siya ay naging bato.

Sa kaharian ay lalong lumala ang kalagayan ng hari. Hindi natiis ni Don Juan ang paghihirap ng ama. Hiningi
niya ang basbas ng mga magulang upang siya naman ang sumubok maghanap ng lunas at maiuwi ang mga kapatid.
Mabigat man ang loob ng hari at reyna ay iginawad nila ang bendisyon sa bunsong anak.

Hindi siya nagdala ng kabayo, inihanda niya ang sarili sa daranasing hirap sa paglalakbay. Habang
naglalakbay ay humingi ng gabay si Don Juan sa Mahal na Birhen. May natagpuan siyang matandang ketongin na
halos gumapang na sa damo. Humingi ito sa kaniya ng limos na pagkain. Isang tinapay na lamang ang natitira sa
kaniya, hindi pa niya alam kung saan ang sadyang pakay at gaano pa katagal maglalakbay. Magkagayunman,
ibinigay niya ang tinapay sa ketongin. Nagalak ang matanda sa kabutihan ni Don Juan kaya nang malaman niya ang
pakay nito, tinuruan niya ang don sa dapat gawin. Kabilin-bilinan ng matanda na huwag maakit sa gandang taglay ng
mahiwagang puno, bagkus ay pumunta siya sa bahay sa ibaba ng bundok, naroon ang ermitanyong makatutulong at
magtuturo sa kaniya kung paano mahuli ang Ibong Adarna.

Sumapit ang pagdating ng mahiwagang ibon. Inihanda ni Don Juan ang sarili. Umawit at nagpalit ng kulay
ang ibon. Sa bawat pag-awit ay hinihiwa ni Don Juan ng labaha ang kaniyang palad at pinapatakan ng dayap ang
sugat upang mapaglabanan ang antok. Pitong awit, pitong palit ng kulay, pitong sugat sa palad. Hindi nakatulog ang
don kaya nang magbawas ang ibon, naiwasan niya ang patak ng dumi nito. Nang mahimbing na ang ibon, gamit ang
gintong sintas ay itinali niya ito. Inutusan siya ng ermitanyo na punuin ng tubig ang banga at ibuhos ito sa mga batong
nasa ilalim ng Piedras Platas. Nagbalik sa dating anyo sina Don Pedro at Don Diego, labis ang katuwaan ng tatlo.
Nagpaalam na ang magkakapatid, nagbilin ang ermitanyo na wala sanang maglilo sa kanila.

Habang pabalik sa Berbanya, nagpahuli ng lakad si Don Pedro at kinausap si Don Diego. Ayon sa kaniya ay
malaking kabiguan iyon sa kanilang dalawa at tagumpay naman para kay Don Juan. Nagmanukala siya na patayin
ang bunsong kapatid at akuing sila ang nakahuli sa ibon. Hindi man sang-ayon si Don Diego, ‘di niya magawang
salungatin si Don Pedro. Ngunit hindi rin niya maatim na paslangin ang bunsong kapatid. Naisip na lang ni Don
Pedro na saktan at lumpuhin si Don Juan, iwan ito at silang dalawa ay uuwi sa kaharian bitbit ang Adarna. Pikit-mata
itong sinang-ayunan ni Don Diego.

Nagtagumpay ang dalawa sa kanilang balak. Iniuwi nila ang ibon at sinabi sa ama na sila ang nakahuli rito.
Ang ibong lunas sa karamdaman ay nawalan ganda, anumang pilit ay ayaw umawit, hinihintay niya ang totoong
nagmamay ari sa kaniya.

Sa kabilang banda, si Don Juan ay nag-iisa, maga at bugbog ang buong katawan. Tumawag siya sa Diyos at
sa halip na humiling para sa kaniyang kaligtasan ay kagalingan pa rin ng ama ang kaniyang idinasal. May isang
matandang dumating at dumulog kay Don Juan. Parang isang panaginip, biglang nawala ang mga sugat at sakit ng
katawan, nagbalik ang kaniyang lakas at sigla. Nagpasalamat at nagpaalam na siya sa matandang kumalinga sa
kaniya.

Nagmamadaling bumalik ng Berbanya si Don Juan, umaasang madaratnan pang buhay ang amang hari.
Pagsapit sa kaharian ay biglang namayagpag ang Adarna at nagsimulang umawit. Ang laman ng kaniyang awit ay
salaysay ng lahat ng paghihirap na dinanas ni Don Juan pati na ang pagtataksil ng dalawang kapatid.

Walang ano-ano’y gumaling ang hari, nilapitan ang Adarna at si Don Juan, pagkatapos ay bumaling kina
Don Pedro at Don Diego na namumutla sa takot. Ipinatawag ng hari lahat ng kagawad at ipinataw ang parusa sa
dalawa… (itutuloy)
 ENGLISH VERSION
The Kingdom of Berbanya is ruled by a just king named King Fernando. He is accompanied in the
kingdom by his queen, Queen Valeriana, and their three children, Don Pedro, Don Diego, and Don Juan.
Everyone was happy until the king had a disturbing dream, which caused him great concern and illness. The
only solution was the song of the magical Adarna Bird, which could be found on Mount Tabor, residing in the
Piedras Platas tree.

Don Pedro immediately prepared for the journey to find the magical bird. Unfortunately, his horse died
while traveling. He endured fatigue and hardship until he reached Mount Tabor. Exhausted, he fell asleep and
missed the arrival of the bird. The bird sang, deepening his sleep. The bird had a habit of defecating after singing,
and Don Pedro was accidentally soiled by the bird's droppings, turning him into a living stone.

The eldest son took a long time to return, so Don Diego decided to try his luck. Following the same path,
he endured fatigue and after several months, he reached Mount Tabor. There, he noticed a glowing tree from the
leaves to the roots. He was fortunate to see the magical bird and waited for an opportunity to catch it, but he fell
asleep as soon as the bird started singing. Consequently, he couldn't avoid the bird's droppings and turned into a
stone.

The condition of the king worsened in the kingdom. Don Juan couldn't bear to see his father suffer, so he
asked for his parents' blessing to be the one to find the cure and bring back his siblings. Reluctantly, the king and
queen granted their blessing to their youngest son.

Without bringing a horse, Don Juan prepared himself for the hardships of the journey. While traveling, he
sought guidance from the Blessed Virgin Mary. He encountered an old beggar who was crawling in the grass. The
beggar asked him for some food. Don Juan had only one loaf of bread left, not knowing the purpose of his journey
or how long he would travel. Nevertheless, he gave the loaf to the beggar. The old man rejoiced at Don Juan's
kindness and, upon learning his purpose, taught him what he should do. The old man advised Don Juan not to be
tempted by the beauty of the magical tree but instead to go to the house below the mountain, where a hermit
would help and teach him how to catch the Adarna Bird.

The Adarna Bird finally arrived. Don Juan prepared himself, sang, and the bird changed its color. With
each song, Don Juan sliced his palm with a blade and rubbed lime juice on the wound to fight sleepiness. Seven
songs, seven color changes, and seven wounds on his palm. Don Juan managed to stay awake, avoiding the
bird's droppings. When the bird fell into a deep sleep, he tied it up with a golden ribbon. The hermit instructed him
to fill a jar with water and pour it over the stones under the Piedras Platas tree. Don Pedro and Don Diego
returned to their original forms, and the three brothers rejoiced. They bid farewell to the hermit, who advised them
to beware of deceit.

While returning to Berbanya, Don Pedro slowed his pace and spoke to Don Diego. He considered their
previous failure and Don Juan's success as a great disappointment. He suggested killing their youngest brother
and claiming that they caught the bird themselves. Though Don Diego disagreed, he couldn't bring himself to
contradict Don Pedro. Instead, Don Pedro decided to harm and disable Don Juan, leaving him behind while they
returned to the kingdom with the Adarna Bird. Don Diego reluctantly agreed to this plan.

Their plan succeeded, and they brought the bird home, claiming that they were the ones who caught it.
The bird lost its beauty and refused to sing no matter how much they tried. It awaited its true owner.

On the other hand, Don Juan was alone, battered and bruised. He called upon God, and instead of asking
for his own safety, he prayed for his father's recovery. An old man arrived and approached Don Juan. Like a
dream, his wounds and pains suddenly disappeared, and his strength and vitality returned. He thanked and bid
farewell to the old man who had taken care of him.

Don Juan hurried back to Berbanya, hoping to find his father alive. Upon his arrival, the Adarna Bird
suddenly burst into song. The song narrated all the hardships Don Juan endured, including the betrayal of his two
brothers.

Miraculously, the king recovered, approached the Adarna Bird and Don Juan, and then turned to Don
Pedro and Don Diego, who were pale with fear. The king summoned all the officials and imposed punishment on
the two... (to be continued)