Madali is the elder brother of Bantugen and the reigning sultan of Bembaran. Envious of the younger man's fame and favour, he forbids the court to speak with him, precipitating Bantugen's departure and death. When Bantugen's soul is carried into the sky, Madali repents and, as a master strategist, leads the kinsmen's armed ascent to the sky-kingdom to win it back. Singers differ in the name and rank they give the jealous brother, but in many renderings he is Madali.