Epic of King Gesar

The Fourth Branch

Gal Nurma Khan (Part 1)

In the heart of the golden earth,
A place of eternal peace,
In the center of the world,
A place of joy and prosperity,
Where a hundred thousand horses graze in the north
Where countless tens of thousands of cattle graze in the south,
Where people ate three satisfying meals a day,
Where people celebrated three festivals a year,
Was the kingdom of Ganga Bured Khan.

These fortunate people,
Who had never known the hostility of an evil enemy,
This bright land,
Which had never known the blast of a cold harsh wind,
Where the plants grew in the warmth of the sun,
Where clear water ran in streams like silk.

In that long ago time,
The plants grew dry from the roots,
Springs grow dry at their source,
The warm yellow sun was shrouded in darkness,
The nourishing gentle rain stopped falling.
Illness and disease spread among the people,
Plague and anthrax decimated the animals.
The people of the north started dying off,
The people of the south started disappearing.
Every day a thousand people were lost,
Every night a thousand animals passed away…

When this had happened,
The ruler of that land,
Ganga Bured Khan,
Became very surprised,
He was most astounded, and asked:
“Is this something willed by Father Heaven?
Is this something sent by Mother Earth?”
He thought with the full powers of his mind,
He spoke many words to himself.
Taking on the mind of a wolf,
Taking on a heart of stone,
He struck his golden drum,
Calling the people from the north,
He hit his silver drum,
Gathering the people from the south.
The blind came walking with someone to guide them,
The lame were brought in on stretchers.
Ganga Bured Khan,
Who had a nine-sided house with nine bright doors,
With ninety nine windows,
That was as white as the stars,
Opened his massive pearly door in a beautiful way,
He crossed his great granite threshold in a pure way,
Going down the silver steps that could be
run over by a mare with a foal,
Going down the silver walkway that could be
galloped on by a mare with a colt,
Walking without stumbling
He came to greet his people.
This having happened,
The people and animals said to him:
“Is this something willed by Father Heaven?
Is this something sent by Mother Earth?
From an ugly looking land,
From a poor and meager country,
Dried up, withered and full of grief,
From a place of three marshy rivers,
From a place of slippery slopes,
From a land of evil spirits and demons,
From a scorching hot land,
From a dark sunless land,
Came a being with a hundred thousand eyes on his back,
Countless tens of thousand of eyes on his chest,
With a huge round eye on his crown,
With a single fang in his mouth,
With the ability to change himself into two thousand forms,
With the ability to shift himself into a thousand and three shapes,
Burning like fire,
Blazing like flame,
Gal Nurman Khan began to yell and cry!
Setting the surface of the earth on fire!
Covering the lovely lands with poisonous fog,
People and animals are suffering from illness and disease.
This having happened what are we going to do?
How can we respond to this terrible enemy?”
When they looked up they were crying,
When they looked down there were crestfallen…
When they were talking about these things,
No prince or minister has any advice to give…
After this had happened,
A man who could walk under a person’s arm,
Short enough to walk between someone’s legs,
A dwarf only six spans high,
With a beard six spans long,
With a head of white hair,
With a hat of fluffy mink fur,
A brownish old man,
Came and stood before the princes and ministers,
He began to speak very meaningful words:
“O my people, my princes and ministers,
Listen to the words that I have to say!
This thing that has happened,
This thing we are talking about,
Is not from Father Heaven,
It is not from Mother Earth,
It comes from the forty four tenger of the east,
Who are enemies to the living things
Put here on earth by Esege Malaan Tenger,
By the destiny of Han Hormasta Tenger,
And by the fifty five tenger of the west!
Born from the neck of Atai Ulaan Tenger,
A poisonous and hateful being goes about!
This Gal Nurman Khan
Who has gone on the warpath,
Who has come to burn up the face of the earth,
Who wants to consume humans and animals,
He is born to kill young and old alike!
He who came down to restore order for the three Tugshen khans,
He who brought back their fortunes and happiness,
He who was sent on a mission from the fifty five tenger,
He who was sent by the destiny of the five wise gods,
He who came to suppress and kill evil enemies,
He who came to restore life and happiness,
The red middle son of Han Hormasta Tenger,
Bukhe Beligte Baatar,
Was incarnated as the hero Abai Geser!
Geser who lives by the eternal yellow lake,
Whose herds graze by the river Muren,
Who has a lofty mountain at the source of the Hatan River,
Who has three beautiful queens,
Three princes as uncles,
Thirty three warriors,
Three hundred leaders of his army,
And three thousand soldiers,
Such as man has come down to earth!”
Thus the old man explained his thoughts.
The princes, ministers, and peoples,
Thinking of the words of the brown old man,
Approved of them and said:
“Mountains are tall,
Rivers are long,
Whose able son,
Whose worthy hero,
Shall be sent
To meet Abai Geser?”

This dwarf six spans high,
With a beard six spans long,
This wizened old man said:
“By the warmth of the gulamta,
By the broadness of the rivers,
Among the living things,
There is a boy who is worthy,
Among the herds,
There is a steed to show the way.
You must have tests to find him,
You must have a way to select him.
Selecting a thousand from ten thousand,
Selecting a hundred from a thousand,
Selecting ten from a hundred,
Selecting one from ten,
You will find the warrior fit for the task!
In the same way select his steed
From among the herds!”
Thus he commanded,
The people following the words of the old man,
Selecting from among the many,
Picked Zoodoi Mergen Baatar.
From among the many herds,
They selected a bob-tailed dappled horse.

The lord of that land,
Ganga Bured Khan,
Preparing Zoodoi Mergen Baatar quickly,
Preparing the bob-tailed dappled horse well,
Preparing the horse for the long journey,
Gathering up food for the long road,
He prepared a hundred and twenty carts
Loaded with food and supplies.
Twelve men were to be his companions,
Thus the khan said:
“Let us call you Zoodoi Mergen Baatar
Of the hundred and twenty carts!”
Having been given this nickname,
Having gotten this reputation,
Zoodoi Mergen Baatar,
Who had been chosen by the people,
Had his mouth anointed with spider oil,
So he would not hunger for ten years,
His nose was anointed with worm oil,
So he would not hunger for twenty years.
Followed by his hundred and twenty carts,
Zoodoi Mergen Baatar rode off on his mission.

Zoodoi Mergen Baatar,
Pulling the right rein of the dappled bob-tail horse,
Galloping across thirteen hills,
Led the way.
Bending back twenty three hills,
He jumped ahead on the distant journey.
Coming to one muddy place in the road
The thrush was singing to the months of summer;
He opened up the breast of his fur-lined deel
As he trotted along on his journey.
Coming to a white snowy place in the road
The magpie was singing to the months of winter;
He pushed down his foxfur hat,
As he galloped along on his journey.
Turning the distance of three years’ travel
Into the journey of three months;
Turning the distance of three months’ travel
Into the journey of three days;
He went with all his might,
He sped toward his destination.

This having happened,
Zoodoi Mergen said to his companions:
“Having fed your animals on the best grass,
Having drank the clear water of the spring,
Go back to your homes,
Go back to your homeland!”
So he sent his party away
And he continued on alone.

So he traveled on by himself,
Even if the place was far he galloped on,
Even if the river was wide he crossed it.
Coming to the land of the eternal yellow lake,
He stopped at the place where the river Muren flowed.
He went on and ascended the sandy Manhan mountain.
Looking from the summit of the mountain
He could see the palace of Abai Geser,
Glittering white with the light of the stars,
Gleaming with the light of the moon.
Looking as if suspended from the heavens,
Looking as if supported by the earth,
Its lower parts shining with starlight,
Its upper part reflecting the constellations.

This having happened,
Zoodoi Mergen Baatar,
Who had been selected by the people,
Taking off the saddle from his bob-tailed dappled horse,
Dusting off his saddle blanket,
Kindled a great bonfire,
Bowing his lovely round head in worship,
Bending his handsome legs in prayer…

Geser got up in the middle of the night,
Looking three times around the earth,
Looking four times around the world,
He saw at the source of the Hatan river,
On the summit of the sandy mountain,
A great red bonfire was burning.
In the glow of the great fire
A single man was bowing again and again,
He was seen praying and worshipping.
When Geser had seen this,
He called the eldest white son of Buuluur Sagaan Tenger,
Buidan Ulaan Baatar,
Who was mindlessly snoring,
Who being roused from his sleep,
Came running to Abai Geser.

The hero Abai Geser said to Buidan Ulaan:
At the source of the Hatan River,
On the summit of the sandy Manhan mountain,
Who worships beside the great red fire?
If he is a bad and useless man,
Shoot him in the head
And bring him back on your horse!
If he is a good man,
And does not break down from fear,
Greet him warmly and invite him to come to me!”
With these words he sent Buidan Ulaan to the mountain,
The white eldest son of Buuluur Sagaan Tenger,
Buidan Ulaan Baatar,
Quickly preparing himself,
Wisely preparing his horse,
Girding on his silvery armor,
Putting on a helmet white as the stars,
Stepping into the stirrups
Of his fat yellow horse that was as brave as an eagle,
He swung into his fine silver saddle.

Climbing up to the source of the Hatan River,
Traveling swiftly and quickly,
Coming to the peak of the sandy Manhan mountain,
He trotted with the steps of a moose.
Soaring like an eagle,
Swooping down like a falcon,
He came to meet Zoodoi Mergen.

When he came to the summit of the mountain,
Zoodoi Mergen lay prostrate in worship:
“When the song of the arrowhead is whistling,
I follow the sound of the arrow.”
He was terribly afraid,
He was very terrified,
In his fear he forgot himself,
Bowing down and worshipping.
When Buidan Ulaan Baatar saw this
He was very surprised,
He was most astonished:
“I have not seen people that go below one’s foot,
I have not seen humans beneath one’s soles.
Who is your father,
Who is your mother?”
With his sleeve lined with sable he slapped his face,
With his sleeve lines with mink he hit his face.
Reviving Zoodoi Mergen Baatar to his true self,
His amin having returned he stood up and spoke.

Zoodoi Mergen Baatar who had been chosen
By the people of Ganga Bured Khan’s realm,
Recovering his courage and wits,
Spoke to the tall Buidan Ulaan Baatar:
“I am Zoodoi Mergen Baatar,
Who was selected from the subjects
Of Ganga Bured Khan.
Our people who had such good fortune,
Who never knew an evil or hateful enemy,
Who lived in a bright land
Never blasted by a harsh cold wind,
Where the plants grew in the warmth of the sun,
Where the streams ran clear like skeins of silk,
Suddenly the plants dried up from the roots,
The waters dried up at their source,
The bright yellow sun was obscured by darkness,
Illness and disease spread across the land,
The animals were decimated by plague and anthrax,
From the very beginning of the east,
From an ugly looking land,
From a poor and meager country,
Dried up, withered and full of grief,
From a place of three marshy rivers,
From a place of slippery slopes,
From a land of evil spirits and demons,
From a scorching hot land,
From a sunless land,
There came a monster with ten thousand eyes on his back,
With countless tens of thousands of eyes on his chest,
With a huge round eye on his crown,
With a single fang in his mouth,
With the ability to change himself into two thousand forms,
With the ability to shift himself into a thousand and three shapes,
Burning like fire,
Blazing like flame,
Gal Nurman Khan began yelling and crying.
Burning the surface of the earth,
Killing and consuming the people in the north,
He gathered up their horses and cattle,
Swallowing and eating the people in the south,
He stole their herds of horses and cattle.
I have come to speak with Abai Geser,
I am worshipping and begging
That he save us from this hateful evil enemy!”
Thus were the words of Zoodoi Mergen Baatar.

When he had heard this,
Buidan Ulaan Baatar said:
“For many years this hand has not fought an enemy,
For many days I have not defeated an enemy,
You come speaking fine and suitable words!”
He escorted Zoodoi Mergen Baatar
Back to Abai Geser’s home.
Zoodoi Mergen Baatar,
Who had been chosen by his people,
Entered into Abai Geser’s gate,
Tying the red reins of his steed
At the fine silver hitching post.

This having been done
He stripped off the saddle from his horse,
Spread out the saddle blanket on the ground
And was bowing and worshipping.
Buidan Ulaan Baatar went inside
To tell Abai Geser what had happened
Geser and his thirty three warriors,
Putting on their clothes,
Greeted and embraced Zoodoi Mergen Baatar.
Stretching out their long arms,
Speaking fine words,
Grasping the right arm they said strong words,
Grasping the left arm they said true words.
Bringing a golden table they served delicious food,
Bringing a silver table they served beautiful food.
Welcoming him as a guest
They served liquor and wine,
Taking him in a white ger
They killed and served a white sheep,
Taking him in a black ger
They killed and served a black sheep.

This having happened,
Geser opened his great book of fate with his thumb,
Reading it by the light of the moon;
He opened it with his fingers,
Reading it by the light of the sun…

Geser’s thirty three warriors,
All gathering together said:
“In the light of the day and night,
In the fortune of a year,
This opportunity coming into our hands,
This thing being opened up to us,
We have found a good cause,
We have found a way to distinguish ourselves!”
Thus building up the courage of Zoodoi Mergen
They brought him in to meet Abai Geser.

Zoodoi Mergen Baatar,
Who had been chosen by his people,
Coming to speak with Abai Geser,
Asking for a favor,
Expressing the wishes of his people,
Worshipping and praying,
Abai Geser said to him:
The people and animals living in your land
Are people and animals protected by my father’s destiny.”
Thus he promised to save them.

When Zoodoi Mergen Baatar
Was happy and rejoicing,
Geser continued to speak:
“According to the destiny dictated by my father,
The time to save you from Gal Nurman Khan is determined.
This time has not come,
I must do battle with him after nine years,
Before that time I am powerless to fight him,
If I go into battle with Gal Nurman Khan before then
My strength will not be enough to defeat him,
He has the ability to change himself into two thousand forms,
He has the ability to shift himself into a thousand and three shapes,
In his two hands he has the power of eight Nasarangi tenger,
In his feet he has the power of eight dragons,
In his chest he has the power of eight liquors.
He has sixty six warriors,
Six hundred leaders of his army,
Six thousand soldiers.
With these odds I cannot win,
Before the appointed time I cannot defeat him.
Compared to the mighty strength of Gal Nurman Khan
Before his power as a man
I am just a boy,
I will be mangled!
Before the power of his dappled grey,
My steed does not reach his tether,
In competing with him
My bay horse Beligen
Is like a colt,
It would be a bloodbath!
Until nine years have passed
Nothing can be done,
Before the proper time
I lack the power to fight him,
I lack the strength to battle him,
A connection cannot be made,
Rain is not allowed to fall,
Go back to the water you drink,
Go back to the land where you were born!”
Thus Abai Geser spoke to Zoodoi Mergen.

Abai Geser’s wife Alma Mergen,
Bringing out a gold table she served delicious food,
Bringing a silver table she honored him with beautiful food.
Pouring out liquor and wine
She entertained him as a guest.
Making him get drunk
She restored his confidence.
Zoodoi Mergen Baatar,
Who had been chosen by his people,
Being honored as a guest
At the home of Abai Geser,
Honored Geser as a khan,
Wished good health to his wife,
Saying that he wanted to go home,
Saying he wanted to go to his homeland,
Went outside to prepare to leave.

Geser’s thirty three warriors,
Gathering around him
Said to Zoodoi Mergen Baatar:
“Is our hero Abai Geser
Going to rescue your people?”
They asked him most urgently,
Zoodoi Mergen Baatar said to them:
“He says that the people and animals
Who live in my land
Are included in his father’s destiny.
The time to intervene
According to his father’s will
The time to do battle,
Has not yet come.
Before nine years have passed
He says he lacks the strength
To defeat our enemy.
So Abai Geser has sent me away.”
When they had heard these words,
Geser’s thirty three warriors’
Hearts began pounding in their chests,
Their mighty strong bodies
Were trembling and shaking,
They said: “If the people of his father’s will
Are being murdered and suppressed,
Abai Geser is obligated to rescue them!”
They brought him back inside,
Once more he left without success.

This poor disappointed man,
Leaving for the third time,
The thirty three warriors
Went in together, saying:
“Our hero Abai Geser,
You warrior with magic powers,
Will you not go to help
What Zoodoi Mergen has told you about?
Will you not restore the fortunes
Of the people and living things?
It is time to pick up spear and sword!
It is time to hang on bow and quiver!”
Thus they begged and bothered him.
Geser sent out his warriors,
They were grumbling and complaining,
Zoodoi Mergen Baatar,
Who was waiting outside,
Was sent back to his home.

This having happened,
Buidan Ulaan Baatar,
Went to the benevolent khan,
Who lived in a white valley,
Who rode a buckskin horse as big as an elephant,
Who had a head of whitish grey hair,
Whose path was in the white clouds,
Who had a white bow of rule,
Geser’s uncle Sargal Noyon Khan,
Making quick preparations,
Making wise preparations,
He went to him and spoke unhappily:
“Our hero Abai Geser,
Even if he dies and is tied
Onto the saddle straps of Gal Nurman Khan,
Even if when he goes into battle,
He cannot reach to his enemy’s stirrups,
Even if he is struck down
And is trampled under his foe’s boots,
Even if he falls in battle
And is not able to defeat this trash,
We are ready to die
Fighting an evil enemy,
We are ready to die
Rescuing the people and animals,
We are ready to die
Trying to kill this hateful trash,
We are ready to die
Saving the people according to our destiny,
We are ready to die
Defending the people according to fate,
If we are not allowed to do this,
We will go back to the upper world!
Go to Abai Geser and tell him!”

Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan
Making quick preparations,
Making wise preparations,
His horse’s hoofbeats
Making waves splash on the eternal lake,
The trotting of his steed
Making the earth tremble,
Riding to the house of Abai Geser,
Dismounting at his gate,
Tying his horse at the silver hitching post.

This having happened,
The uncle of Abai Geser,
Who lived in a white valley,
Who rode a buckskin horse as big as an elephant,
Who had a head of whitish grey hair,
Whose path was in the white clouds,
Who carried a manly white bow,
Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan,
With golden light burning on his fingers,
With silver light glowing on his fingers,
Coming to greet his nephew,
Reached out and doing zolgoh,
Geser brought him into a white ger
And honored him by killing a white sheep,
Bringing him into a black ger
He honored him by killing a black sheep.
Talking until foam forms on liquor,
The talked until plants grow on a flat stone.

Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan
Reminded his nephew of all that happened before,
He sat and explained things;
Making him remember things from the earliest times,
He spoke in a friendly way:
“You have come on a mission
From the western fifty five tenger,
You have been sent by the destiny
Of the five wise gods,
You have been sent down to earth
To kill and suppress the evil enemies,
You were sent down
To bring life and happiness to humans and animals.
You came to restore the fortunes
Of the land of the three Tugshen khans,
You came to restore the destiny and history
Of the people;
This monster that is incarnated
From the neck of Atai Ulaan Tenger,
This Gal Nurman Khan,
Cannot be fought after nine years,
The people and living things
Will all be destroyed and exterminated before then.
Gal Nurman Khan is swallowing the people from the feet up,
He is gobbling the animals from the head down,
My nephew Abai Geser
Will you not go to fix this,
Will you not rescue
The people and living things?”
When Sargal Noyon Khan spoke these words
Abai Geser was greatly moved,
His blood became hot.

Abai Geser then changed his mind,
And prepared to fight Gal Nurman Khan.
His thirty three warriors,
His three hundred leaders of the army,
His three thousand soldiers,
Were greatly rejoicing
And forgot what happened before;
Being greatly excited
They thought of what was at hand.

Abai Geser said to his thirty three warriors:
“Three days from now,
When the red sun of the morning is rising,
We ride off to do battle.
Sew up what is torn,
Fix what is broken!”

This having happened,
The thirty three warriors,
The three hundred leaders of the army,
The three thousand soldiers
Being too busy to pick up a fallen hat,
For the duration of three days
Making quick preparations,
Made wise preparations for war.

When Geser had decided on the way they would go,
When the red sun of the morning had risen,
He prepared Beligen the bay horse,
This steed with a mighty body,
With wisdom in his bones,
Laying on a silk edged saddle blanket,
Laying on a saddle of chased silver,
Laying on a silver crupper on his flanks
That would never let the saddle slide forward on the journey,
Laying on silver breast straps
That would never let the saddle slide backward on his travels,
Adjusting a girth of ten straps,
Tightening a girth of twenty straps,
Tying his beautiful reins on the saddle horn,
Hanging a quirt with a lovely handle from the saddle horn,
Tying him at the silver hitching post
With eighty rings he said:
“Now that my horse is ready,
I go to prepare myself.”
Geser opened his massive pearly door in a beautiful way,
He stepped over his massive granite threshold in a pure way,
Having done this he said to his thirty three warriors:
“Strengthen my bow of seventy layers
Stretch it and put on the string!”
Having said this he gave them
His heroic bow with seventy laminations.

Geser’s thirty three warriors,
Trying to bend his heroic yellow bow,
None had the strength to string it;
Their muscles bulging
Their sinews snapping,
Thirty three warriors were unable to string it;
They brought it back to Abai Geser.

The hero Abai Geser,
Supporting it on his two knees,
Was able to bend the great bow,
Was able to string the mighty bow;
Letting it go it snapped into shape:
“When I pick you up in the summertime,
You are my very fine bow,
When I hold you in the wintertime,
You are my very good bow!”
Thus he praised his bow,
Giving it his blessing.
Having done this,
He pulled on his black pants
Sown from the hides of seventy deer,
Tugging them up on his legs,
He pulled on his black boots,
Made of sealskin,
Tugging them over his feet,
Pulling on his thick silk deel
That he always wore in battle,
Buttoning up its seventy brass buttons
With the strength of his thumb,
Dressing and turning around
In the light from his door,
Preparing himself and pulling on his clothes
In the light from the smokehole,
Dusting off his garments,
Winding his silver sash around his waist,
Girding on his silvery steel sword on his left side,
Hanging on his yellow steel knife on his left side,
Pulling on a black armored shirt
That would not be penetrated by seven days of rain,
That would not be penetrated by seventy arrows,
Hanging his silver decorated bowcase on his right side,
Hanging his gleaming chased silver quiver on his left side,
Putting his heroic yellow bow
Made of seventy layers of wild goat horn into its case,
Putting seventy five arrows into his quiver,
So that it would be like his shadow in summer,
Putting ninety five arrows into his quiver,
So that it would be his help in winter,
Putting silver armor over his shoulders like wings,
Putting forged steel armor over his breast,
He was glittering like the sun,
He was like a tree in full bloom.
He put on his fluffy mink hat,
That was as big as a haystack,
That was decorated with thick tassels.
Putting on armor on his back that was never defeated,
Putting armor on this chest that was never subdued,
Melting spider oil in his mouth
So that he would not be hungry for ten years,
Anointing his nose with worm oil
So that he would not be hungry for twenty years.

This having been done
Geser’s wife Alma Mergen
Bringing a golden table with delicious food,
Bringing a silver table she honored him with beautiful food.
Pouring out liquor and wine
For Geser and his thirty three warriors
Until they were red faced and drunk,
She fed them until they were full.
They stood up to leave,
The got up to ride on their journey;
Opening the massive pearly door in a beautiful way,
They stepped over the granite threshold in a pure way.
Walking down the steps that a mare with her foal could run on
They did not stumble,
Going down the walkway that a mare with her colt could run on
They did not fall.
Loosening the red reins
Of Beligen the bay horse
From the silver hitching post,
Stepping into the massive silver stirrups
Geser swung into his chased silver saddle.
His thirty three warriors
Followed him three by three,
As they rode they left no trail,
The round hooves left no tracks,
Thus they sped on their way toward the east!

Geser traveled the distance of three days’ journey,
His horse’s hoofbeats on the khans’ straight road were like thunder;
Traveling this distance of four days’ journey,
The hoofbeats struck sparks on the people’s broad road,
Passing the border of the homeland that nourished him,
Geser entered a land that was cold for people.

This having happened
They came to a silvery hill
Where people had never come before,
They drank from a black spring,
From which no living thing had ever drank.

When this had happened
A stag and doe came running out before them…
Geser drew out his heroic yellow bow
And shot them both with a single arrow:
“If game comes out before thirty three warriors,
If we are unable to shoot them
We should turn around and go home.”
Thus Geser spoke as he shot his arrow.

Thirty three warriors gathered up the two deer,
They kindled a fire and roasted them.
Geser rested with his thirty three warriors;
They rode off in the following morning.

This having happened,
Geser’s uncle Sargal Noyon Khan,
Who lived in a white valley,
Who rode a buckskin horse as big as an elephant,
Who had a head of whitish grey hair,
Who had a path in the white clouds,
Who had a white manly bow,
Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan said:
“I cannot hear the war cries of my nephew Abai Geser,
I do not hear the hoofbeats of Beligen the bay horse!”
Thus he quickly mounted his great buckskin horse,
Following that path of his nephew Abai Geser.
Pulling on the reins on the right side,
Lashing the right flank with his quirt,
He kicked up red dust to cover the earth,
He kicked up yellow dust rising to the heavens,
Going with all his might,
Going as fast as he could.

This having happened
Geser heard hoofbeats from the distance
Of three days’ travel.
Bringing his horse to a halt
He was greatly surprised,
He was greatly amazed.
He said to his thirty three warriors:
“I hear the hoofbeats of a great buckskin horse,
I hear the cries of my uncle Sargal Noyon Khan!
My warriors look back on the trail,
Can you see him coming?”
When he had asked this
All of the warriors looked back;
Red dust was spreading over the earth;
Yellow dust was rising to the heavens.
The great buckskin horse thundered as it came,
The cries of Sargal Noyon could be heard as he approached.

Abai Geser got down from his horse,
Waiting to greet his uncle Sargal Noyon.
Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan
Catching up with them,
Coming up to Geser’s party,
He stopped next to Abai Geser,
He asked his nephew:
“Why did you leave me behind?”

Abai Geser said to his uncle:
“I left you to watch over the people and animals,
To guard the gulamta,
Coming here to meet me
You are neglecting our homeland.”
Thus he tried to persuade his uncle.
Sargal Noyon Khan was insistent,
Wanting to ride with him on the road to war.

Thus Abai Geser said to him:
“I cannot trust my uncle Hara Zutan,
Go back to your house,
Do dallaga for the benefit of the people.”
He then took off the white silk shirt
That he wore next to his body,
Giving it to Sargal Noyon he said:
“If I am defeated in battle
This will turn brown and be ruined;
If I defeat my enemy
This will be even cleaner than before.”
Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan
Pulled the shirt onto his own body,
Then he said to his nephew:
“Go and defeat your enemy,
Return when you have caught the colt!
Go on the way you intend to go,
Return with health and good fortune!
When you go to fight your enemy
I will help you in one way.”
Having said these words
He turned around to go home.
Sargal Noyon Khan had given his blessing;
He had the power that if the thirty three warriors were killed
He could resurrect them on the following day.
By his magical power, if their bows had been broken
He could restore them so they could shoot arrows again.

The Second Branch
Geser Comes Down to Earth (Part 3)

After this had happened,
Nyuhata Nyurgai rode his mousy brown colt,
Strapping on his tiny bow and quiver
He rode about randomly,
Riding fast,
Riding mightily,
Going at a quick pace,
He galloped about his homeland.

When he came to one valley
He saw his brother Altan Shagai.
He was picking up a hammer
Weighing 1400 pounds,
Hoisting it up toward the sky.

Nyuhata Nyurgai came and stood by his side,
He asked Altan Shagai:
“What are you doing in such a far-away place?”
His brother replied:
“I did not come here to be far away.
I am practicing my strength
For the contest of Shaazgai Bayan Khan,
So I may win Urmai Goohon for my wife!”
Such was the answer of Altan Shagai.

Nyuhata Nyurgai traveled on further.
He came to another valley–
He saw that his brother Mungun Shagai
Was taking the mountain in the south,
And putting it in the north.
He was taking a mountain from the north,
And putting it in the south.

Nyuhata Nyurgai came and stood by his side,
He asked Mungun Shagai:
“Why are you making yourself powerful,
Why are you preparing your strength?”
Mungun Shagai answered:
“I have to make myself powerful,
I have to build up my strength!
I am thinking of going to the contest of Shaazgai Bayan Khan,
So that I may win his daughter Urmai Goohon for my wife!”
Such was the answer of Mungun Shagai.

Nyuhata Nyurgai traveled on to a third valley–
In that place Tengeriin Teneg (fool of the sky)
And Gazarai Gani (crazy man of the earth)
Were wrestling to test their strength.
When they went toward the north,
They tore away at a yellow mountain,
When they went toward the south,
They gouged a mountain in the south.
Goring each other like bulls,
Butting each other like camels,
Flying at each other like hawks,
Tearing each other like eagles.

Nyuhata Nyurgai came and stood next to them and asked:
“Are you fighting to break a black thing?
Are you wrestling to defeat a white thing?”
They replied to him:
“You loathsome thing of the earth,
Get out of here!”
They ignored him and continued wrestling.

Nyuhata Nyurgai left them behind,
Trotting on the khan’s straight road,
Galloping on the people’s broad road,
When he traveled further he saw the white palace of Shaazgai Bayan Khan:
Appearing from afar its glittering dazzled the eyes,
On its upper part countless windows reflected the sun,
On its lower part seven thousand windows reflected the moon.

At the gate of the khan’s palace many heroes waited:
Having necks as strong as axles,
Chests as hairy as a bull’s
Having bowcases made of silver,
Heroic yellow bows,
Quivers of gold and silver,
Yellow horn tipped arrows–
They talked loudly among one another,
They were making a great hubbub.

When the boy Nyuhata Nyurgai went among them,
They counted him as nothing,
He watched and observed them.

In order to win Urmai Goohon,
The daughter of Shaazgai Bayan Khan
As a wife,
Three contests had been declared:
The first contest was to lift a 1400 pound hammer toward the sky,
Holding it in the hand it could not be let to fall to the ground.
In this first contest the competitors were
Altan Shagai and Mungun Shagai,
Tengeriin Teneg and Gazarai Gani,
The boy Nyuhata Nyurgai,
And the prince Hara Zutan.
Six distinguished warriors
Were able to lift the hammer
.

The second contest:
To take a mountain from the north
And put it in the south,
To take a mountain from the south
And put it in the north.

Six powerful men,
Six capable warriors,
Tried themselves at this test.
Malevolent Hara Zutan Noyon,
His strength failing,
Dropped out of the contest.

The third contest:
“The man who wins the wrestling competition
Will become my daughter’s husband!”
Was the declaration of Shaazgai Bayan Khan.

Five powerful men
Prepared for the contest.
Their red hearts pounded in their chests.
The first match started:
Altan Shagai and Mungun Shagai
Wrestled each other.
Altan Shagai threw Mungun Shagai on the ground.

The second match:
Tengeriin Teneg and Gazarai Gani
Wrestled each other.
Gazarai Gani defeated Tengeriin Teneg.

The third match:
The boy Nyuhata Nyurgai
Wrestled with Altan Shagai.
Nyuhata Nyurgai threw down Altan Shagai.

The fourth match:
Nyuhata Nyurgai wrestled with Gazarai Gani.
Gazarai Gani spread out his wide chest,
He flexed his white tendons,
Nyuhata Nyurgai circled around him,
He locked in battle with Gazarai Gani.
Goring each other like bulls,
Butting each other like camels,
Flying at each other like hawks,
Slashing at each other like eagles,
They were as evenly matched as the two sides of a camel.
They were as evenly matched as the two sides of a horse.
As they leaned against each other,
As they competed with each other,
Not being able to budge the other,
Not being able to move the other,
Red hearts were pounding,
Their eight short ribs were straining,
They pushed one another backwards
Until each almost sat down,
Yet neither could throw the other,
Jerking each other it was as if they were bucking.
Nyuhata Nyurgai began to prevail over Gazarai Gani–
Folding him like felt,
Gathering him up like clothing,
Stretching him like a string,
Coiling him up like a rope,
Gazarai Gani could not hold Nyuhata Nyurgai,
He lost the strength to wrestle him,
He lost the ability to stand,
Being picked up off the ground he felt weak,
His power departing he lost his place,
Being hoisted up in the air his legs were kicking,
Nyuhata Nyurgai grabbed him under the knee,
With a jerk he brought him under his feet.
Having done this he swung him westward,
Striking the trees of the western taiga.
He swung him eastward,
Striking the trees of the eastern taiga.
Trees were uprooted,
Trees were scattered,
Green trees fell down,
Torn from the ground with their roots,
Lying scattered here and there.
Living trees were bent,
Dead trees were broken.
Gazarai Gani’s cheeks were bulging,
His toes were sticking out,
Nyuhata Nyurgai threw him
So that he landed beyond three mountain ranges.

Gazarai Gani Bukhe lay stuck in the ground.
Shaazgai Bayan Khan’s strong warriors,
Strong as iron,
Had to dig him out with shovels and picks.
They said to him:
“You may be of help to us sometime!”

After he had won the match,
The boy Nyuhata Nyurgai,
Taking the right hand of Urmai Goohon,
Daughter of Shaazgai Bayan Khan,
Saying, “Have I not won three contests?”
He asked for the khan’s approval.

Shaazgai Bayan Khan
Was repelled by the boy Nyuhata Nyurgai.
He declared a fourth contest:
There would be a horse race.
He gave his yellow horse,
Who could chase the sun
To a strong warrior to ride in the race.
Carrying with him the khan’s hopes for a favorable outcome
The warrior rode off to join the race.

The horses were quickly prepared for the race.
Ten khans from the north joined in the race.
Nyuhata Nyurgai prepared his mousy brown colt for the race.
He went off to a place so distant
It required three days journey to reach it.
When the race horses took off,
They raised a cloud of reddish dust.
The boy Nyuhata Nyurgai
Entered the race with his brownish colt.
Urging on the mousy brown horse,
He reached the other horses and left many behind.
In the middle of the galloping horses
He saw the malevolent prince Hara Zutan.
In front of him was the warrior Erhe Monsog,
Riding the yellow horse of Shaazgai Bayan Khan.
All at once Nyuhata Nyurgai’s brown colt,
Sprinting ahead of three other horses,
Leaping ahead of the others,
Took the lead in the race.

Nyuhata Nyurgai cried out,
Loud enough to shake eight heavens,
Shouting loud enough to make eight lands tremble.
Thus they trotted on the khan’s straight road,
They galloped on the people’s broad road,
The pounding of their hooves
Making the high heavens shake,
Making the broad earth quake,
Galloping and galloping,
Running out in the front,
The black dust kicked up by his horse
Burying the spotted horse of the khan who rode behind him.

The boy Nyuhata Nyurgai,
Returning ahead of the others,
Arriving in the first place,
Said to the khan and his princes:
“I have returned from the race!”
Their cheating having been revealed
They muttered among each other.

This having happened,
The other race horses came in far behind.
The riders asked:
“Did the boy Nyuhata Nyurgai return from the race?”
The khan and his princes talked among each other,
“The one who had left last came in first,”
Confirming the boy’s victory to the other riders.

This having happened,
The boy Nyuhata Nyurgai
Came and stood next to Urmai Goohon:
“Now that I have won four contests,
Have you not become mine now?”
He stroked the right cheek of the khan’s daughter,
He kissed her on the left cheek.

The maiden Urmai Goohon,
When she was kissed and fondled by Nyuhata Nyurgai,
Was filled with embarrassment and revulsion.
Thinking he was no better than slime,
Thinking he was inferior to her,
Tears flowed from her eyes like two creeks,
She wiped her face again and again
With the yellow silk sleeves of her dress.
Her father Shaazgai Bayan Khan,
Feeling sad at his fate,
Trying to make good out of bad, said:
“This filthy boy,
This disgusting creature,
Becoming my son-in-law
Will be my entire life’s sorrow!”
He looked down and cried,
He looked up and his heart was broken.

Shaazgai Bayan Khan,
Seeing the crying and sorrow
Of his daughter Urmai Goohon,
Declared yet another contest:
“To win my Urmai Goohon,
You must shoot down the golden gem that captures the sun
From the top of the mountain!
This will be the fifth contest!”

Many powerful men,
Many men with strong thumbs,
Shooting their arrows,
Lacked the skill to hit the target.
After they were finished,
Nyuhata Nyurgai brought down the stone with one shot.

This having happened
Nyuhata Nyurgai said to Shaazgai Bayan Khan:
“Have I not won the fifth contest?!”
Shaazgai Bayan Khan,
Seeing that the boy Nyuhata Nyurgai had won,
Was filled with despair.
When he looked at the boy
Something strange appeared:
Sometimes he appeared to be handsome,
Then he would be ugly again.
Sometimes he rose up and appeared as a man,
Then he would shrink down and become a child again.

When he had seen this
Shaazgai Bayan Khan was very surprised,
He was filled with astonishment.
Remembering what he saw he was afraid,
His body felt weak.
Seeing the boy as a man his fears were calmed,
He felt proud in his heart.

After this had happened,
Shaazgai Bayan Khan beat his golden drum,
Summoning his subjects from the north,
Striking his silver drum,
He called his subjects from the south.
Serving portions of meat as big as a hill,
Serving liquor in portions as big as a lake,
The wedding party lasted eight days,
On the ninth day there was great discussion.
On the tenth day when people had sobered up,
Nyuhata Nyurgai said to his wife’s father:
“A guest cannot be detained in his visit,
A moose’s leg cannot be contained in a kettle.
Water must return to water,
I want to go back to my homeland.
I will be taking Urmai Goohon with me.”

Shaazgai Bayan Khan did not like what he heard,
He did not want to listen,
Yet he gave his daughter Urmai Goohon,
A dappled horse with a blaze,
Laying on a silk edged saddle blanket,
Putting on a saddle decorated with silver,
Giving her husband a gift of weapons,
A heroic yellow bow,
Fiery swift arrows,
And a bow case decorated with silver,
He sent them on their way.

Nyuhata Nyurgai and Urmai Goohon,
Walked their horses on the way home,
They galloped on the road to his homeland.

When Nyuhata Nyurgai returned to his home,
Even though he was congratulated by his uncle Sargal Noyon,
Even though he was given a party by his father Sengelen Noyon,
He did not sleep with his two pretty wives.
When yellow leaves fell in the dark of the evening,
He would bed himself between two stiff hides,
Thus he would go to sleep.
His two pretty wives were surprised every evening,
They were filled with wonder,
They were astonished,
Saying, “What kind of creature is this,
What thing takes on the form of our husband,
Bringing us here to suffer?
What kind of person is he
To keep two wives?”
Thus these two pretty women talked among themselves,
They tried sleeping in different beds.
Nyuhata Nyurgai made his wives sleep in his parent’s house,
He would go out in the dark of night,
Wandering about until morning.

Two pretty wives,
Seeing that he had this habit,
Became filled with jealousy,
Saying to each other:
“With what kind of creature
Have we come here to suffer?
The boy who brought us here
Is such a strange person.
Where does he go to in the dark of night?
Let us tie a thread to the back of his deel,
Then we can follow his trail.”
Thus the two wives schemed behind their husband’s back.

In the dark of the evening,
When the yellow leaves were falling,
Nyuhata Nyurgai once more crept between his hides.
His two wives tied a string to the back of his robe,
Then lay down as if sleeping.

The boy Nyuhata Nyurgai,
In the late evening,
When it was darker than a fox fur,
Quietly pulled on his clothes.
Going outside he went quickly,
He sped along on his way.

His two pretty wives,
Following his trail,
Arrived at the foot
Of the world mountain Humber Uula.
When he had come to the mountain
Nyuhata Nyurgai turned into an eagle,
Flying straight up in the air,
He landed on the summit of Humber Uula.

The two pretty women
Were unable to ascend the mountain,
Trying to scale the cliffs
They slid back down.
When they gazed up at the summit,
An awesome thing was happening:
A man was standing there–
Seeing him from behind,
He was as massive as a yellow mountain,
He had the face of a real man,
Seeing him from the front,
He was as huge as a lofty mountain,
Having a dark red face,
White teeth like spades,
A strong broad chest,
A powerful back,
Bright eyes of many colors,
Black hair an ell long,
He was not a boy but a powerful being!
On an altar on the top of the mountain
He was doing a shaman ritual
Honoring Esege Malaan Tenger,
Praying to receive a suitable steed,
Begging for the instruments to do his work.

When they had seen this
The two pretty wives
Ran away toward home,
They were filled with wonder,
They will filled with astonishment,
They said, “This boy Nyuhata Nyurgai
This slimy faced child,
Is a being of great magical power.
Until now he has not revealed this to us.
Such an entity of great power
Is certainly come down from the upper world.
Why has he let us suffer so?
Why has he deceived us?
Why did he deceive us?”
Thus they wept and complained.

On the summit of Humber Uula,
Having sacrificed a white faced ram,
Nyuhata Nyurgai did his ritual.
Worshipping and sacrificing to the fifty five tenger,
To the white Zayaasha,
To the white god of fate,
To the father of his father,
Esege Malaan Tenger,
He was praying and worshipping:
The smell of the meat of the white faced ram,
Drifted up from the earth to the heavens.
The father and lord of the tenger,
Father Esege Malaan Tenger,
Smelling the odor of the sacrifice,
Knew its meaning without a doubt.
“What person on the earth
Is making this worship?”
With this thought he looked down to the earth from the upper world.

In the center of the earth,
The red middle son of Han Hormasta Tenger,
Bukhe Beligte Baatar,
Making his sacrifice,
Praying for his steed,
Calling for his equipment,
Asking for his thirty three warriors,
Summoning and worshipping the gods,
Offering the white faced ram,
He was making his ritual.

Father Esege Malaan Tenger,
Calling the ten thousand gods of the skies,
Calling the many tenger of the heavens,
Summoning them to the moon,
He made a beautiful gathering.
Calling the gods to the stars,
They made a wise assembly.
When they had met he commanded:
“The red middle son of Han Hormasta Tenger,
Bukhe Beligte Baatar,
Is ready to receive his steed,
He is ready to use his equipment,
He is ready to ride with his thirty three warriors.
Let us now send these down to the earth!”

When Nyuhata Nyurgai worshipped on the summit of Humber Uula,
A breeze started blowing,
A wind started blowing.

When this happened,
A horse came down from the sky,
Having a powerful body,
With a body full of wisdom,
Having hooves that never slip,
Having a spine that could not be broken,
With a body thirty ells long,
With teeth three spans long,
With a tail thirty cubits long,
With ears three spans long,
The bay horse Beligen.
Having a mane of three armfuls of hair
Spilling over his withers,
With a tail thirty cubits long
Lashing on his flanks,
A very fine steed,
Carrying all the equipment a hero needed to live,
His four fine black hooves
Striking sparks when he walked,
His two spirited black eyes
Full of fire and lightning.

Bukhe Beligte Baatar
Grabbed the red reins of
Beligen the bay horse.
Putting his foot in the massive silver stirrups,
With a single motion
He swung into the saddle decorated with Yakut silver.
Beligen the bay horse,
Taking his power from the sky,
Stood strong and straight,
Taking his power from the earth,
He stood bravely and proudly.
Thus the horse spoke to Bukhe Beligte Baatar:
“What power do you have to sit on my back?”
Thus Beligen the bay horse asked of Bukhe Beligte.
The warrior replied:
“If the world had a handle,
I could turn it around myself.
What kinds of powers do you have
To not be afraid of this?”
Beligen the bay horse replied:
“If I eat three handfuls of hay without finishing,
I can ride three times around the world!”
Bukhe Beligte said:
“If that is so,
Let us use our powers together!”
Bukhe Beligte started riding toward his home,
Galloping toward the earth below.

Beligen the bay horse
Traveled between heaven and earth,
Flying like an eagle,
Soaring like an eagle,
The sky trembled to the highest heaven,
The earth quaked to its roots,
Breaking off the tops of black mountains
Black dust was raised,
Treading against the summits of red peaks,
Red dust was raised.

Riding down toward a notch in the mountains,
Riding down to the sloped covered with red pines,
Thirty three warriors,
Bringing the joy of the people,
Bringing happiness and rejoicing,
Cried, “Our hero Abai Geser,
The mighty hero has come!”
They cheered as they came to him.
Smiling as they looked up,
Overcome with emotion as they looked down,
They came to greet him.

The blessing of the western fifty five tenger
Had come down to earth.
By the fate of the five wise gods,
The red middle son of Han Hormasta Tenger,
Bukhe Beligte Baatar,
Had come down to the earth,
Coming to kill the evil enemies
Of men and living things,
Coming to bring peace and happiness
To the inhabitants of the earth.
Coming to restore order in the land of the Tugshen khans,
Coming to restore their good fortune,
The elders of the land honored him,
Giving him the name Abai Geser!

When Geser came down to earth
With his fiery steed,
He had all the things he needed
For war and battle.
Followed by his warriors,
He had taken on his true form!

This having happened,
Geser came to the golden hitching post
Of his uncle Sargal Noyon Khan.
Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan,
Meeting the mighty hero Abai Geser,
Honored him by doing dallaga
With a plate of milk foods.
He beat his golden drum,
Summoning his subjects from the northern lands,
He beat his silver drum,
Calling his subjects from the southern lands.
Serving portions of meat as big as a hill,
Serving liquor in portions as big as a lake,
He threw a feast that lasted eight days.
On the ninth day there was great discussion.
On the tenth day
People and animals alike
Honored him according to his greatness as a hero!

When the yellow sun arose one morning
Geser spoke these words:
“I grow tired of eating beef,
I miss the taste of wild game.
I will go hunting in the Altai Mountains!”
He prepared his mighty bodied steed,
His horse full of wisdom,
Beligen the bay horse.
Putting on his weapons,
He rode off to the hunt.
Geser hunted in the northern part of the Altai Mountains,
He hunted in the southern part of the Huhii Mountains,
Hunting and tracking for three days
In the Altai and Huhii Mountains,
He was unable to even bloody the nose of a black mouse.
Geser was surprised:
“It is said that the Altai Mountains are rich with deer,
Have they become empty of animals?”
He was most astonished.

This having happened,
In a clearing in the taiga,
A spotted deer was grazing peacefully.
When Geser had seen the deer,
When he spoke in a quiet voice,
It continued to crop grass,
When he spoke in a loud voice,
I continued to bend down and ignore him.

At this very time,
Another young warrior appeared:
Riding a blood-red horse,
With a vermilion colored saddle,
With a dark red face,
With white teeth like spades,
With bright many-colored eyes,
With black hair an ell long,
With a heroic yellow bow,
Armor made of steel,
The warrior came riding beside Geser,
Loosing an arrow the warrior killed the deer,
Grabbed it and rode off,
Picking it up while the horse was trotting.
When Geser saw this happen,
He became very angry,
His mouth gaped in fury,
“Whose father’s son is this,
Who would shoot a deer in front of another,
Who would grab it and take off?
Whose mother’s son is this,
Who would kill another person’s deer,
Who would steal it and run away?”
Saying this he started chasing the other hunter,
Yelling and yelling in a thin voice,
Shouting and shouting in a deep voice,
Urging on Beligen the bay horse
To the limits of his strength,
He was unable to catch up,
He was unable to reach the other rider.

This having happened,
Geser took out his red zadai stone,
Biting on it with his forty teeth,
He spat toward the sky,
Loosing a thousand storms.
It became hot enough for horse dung to catch fire.
The rider of the red horse with the red saddle said:
“How cold it is!”
And put on a hat of fox fur
And a coat of wolf skins.

Geser was still unable to overtake the warrior.
Gathering up the cold of three winter days,
It became cold enough to crack a cow’s horns,
It became cold enough for a fox’s tail to fall off.
A bitterly cold wind was blowing.
The red-faced youth said:
“How hot it is!”
Unbuttoned his silk deel
And went on riding.

Geser became even more angry,
His mouth gaping in fury,
Riding his horse that could circle the earth
Being fed only three handfuls of hay,
Chased the young warrior
Three times around the word,
But could not catch up.
Chasing the hunter around the world a fourth time,
He still could not get close.

This having happened,
Geser pulled the reins of his steed on the right side,
Striking Beligen the bay horse on the right flank,
This horse full of wisdom
Leaped fiercely into the air,
Flying between heaven and earth.
Taking power from heaven and earth
The horse soared between heaven and earth.
Jumping from the mountain range behind him,
Coming down on the mountains before him,
Springing across thirteen valleys,
He started to come closer to the warrior.
Jumping across twenty three valleys,
He was dashing mightily after the hunter,
Jumping from the peaks of mountains,
He rushed past the treetops.

Thus by going through the air
He was gaining on the other rider.
He was getting closer and closer,
On the shore of the yellow lake,
He was able to crowd the rider against the shore,
He had the warrior cornered.

This having happened,
The red faced warrior riding the red horse
Rode into the yellow lake without stopping.
The rider entered the water and disappeared.
Thus the warrior had escaped from Geser’s grasp.

This having happened,
Geser tied Beligen the bay horse
On the edge of the yellow lake.
Tucking the skirts of his deel above his buttocks,
Rolling his sleeves up to his elbows,
He waded into the water and folded back the edge of the lake.
Taking his black iron spear he propped the edge so he could enter
.

Abai Geser entered the land of Uha Loson Khan.
It was sunny and full of plants–a beautiful place.
Having mountains and hills–it was immense.
It was another world,
Like the earth of long ago,
The one who had come from the world above,
The warrior who rode into the lake on the red horse,
The world becoming dark before her eyes,
Rode to and entered the palace of Uha Loson Khan.

The palace of Uha Loson Khan,
Which stood tall reaching toward the sky,
Was gilt with gold on the north,
Reflecting light on the northern lands,
On the south it was gilt with silver,
Reflecting light on the southern lands.

Geser gathered thirteen magicks on his palm,
He let twenty three magicks dance on his fingers,
Rolling up the broadness of Uha Loson’s land,
Like rolling up felt,
In the blinking of an eye,
He stood before the gate of the palace.
The blood red horse was tied at a silver hitching post.

Geser opened the pearly massive door of Uha Loson Khan’s palace in a beautiful way,
He stepped over the massive granite threshold in a pure way.
He quickly entered into the palace.

When he had entered the palace
He heard a conversation going on behind several curtains.
When he came close to the curtains,
When he watched closely,
By a table placed in the hoimor
There was a white haired old man,
Sitting holding a white cane.
Sitting next to the old man was a woman,
He recognized her as being the one he had chased,
She was crying.
The two were talking affectionately to one another:
“There was no horse that could catch up with my horse,
There was no man who could overtake me,
Father, who was this?
Going up to the world above,
Hunting in the Altai Mountains,
Killing fat game,
Taking lean game,
Seen from the front he looked like a mountain,
Seen from the back he was like a yellow mountain,
Looking at him he was a real man,
With a dark red face,
Teeth like spades,
Bright eyes of many colors,
Hair an ell long.
A very yellow brave man
Was hunting and tracking game.
What kind of man was this,
Who hunted for three days,
Who could not find any deer,
Who could not even bloody a mouse’s nose,
Was this something come down from the sky,
Or a thing of the earth?
Traveling and not saying a word,
Coming to a clearing in the taiga,
He was hunting after a spotted deer.
I shot the deer first,
I took the deer first.
This heroic young man
Bringing down great heat,
Was unable to get close to me,
Bring down great cold,
He was unable to catch me.”
When she had said these things
Uha Loson Khan was very surprised,
He was very astonished.

Taking out a large shaman mirror
He looked at what was happening in the world.
When he had done this he said:
“The red middle son of Han Hormasta Tenger,
Bukhe Beligte Baatar,
Has been born on earth.
Long ago, at the ta