Epic of King Gesar

Incarnate from the right arm
Of Atai Ulaan Tenger,
Endowed with great magical powers,
Having mighty sorcerous powers,
With a body forty haraa long,
A mouth four haraa wide,
This monstrous animal,
This demonic being,
The master of the Taiga
Orgoli the giant tiger,
Formed his body
In the virgin forests on the northern flank
Of the world mountain Humber Uula.
Having a body as massive as a cliff,
He lay there as enormous as a mountain.
His upper jaw knocking against the heavens,
His lower jaw biting the earth.
Munching and chewing the black trees
At the edge of the taiga,
Taking them into his massive mouth,
Gulping them down roots and all.
He gobbled up the people
Living within the distance of forty haraa,
He swallowed up the animals
Living within the distance of sixty haraa.
Devastating the surface of the earth
He started turning it into a wasteland,
Spreading suffering and danger
On the surface of the broad world.
Vowing to himself to make trouble
For the three Tugshen khans,
He began to overturn
Their happiness and fortune.
Growling to himself
He vowed to attack Abai Geser,
Snarling to himself
He vowed to battle Abai Geser.
Abai Geser knew very well what has happening,
He understood it very well, saying:
“Clouds and mist cannot be separated
From the summit of a tall mountain,
War and battle cannot be separated
From the time when there is an evil enemy.”
Calling all of his thirty three warriors
He said to them:
“When an enemy comes from afar,
He cannot be allowed to enter one’s homeland,
When an enemy invades from close by,
He cannot be allowed to enter one’s native land.
On the forested north side of Humber Uula,
A monstrous animal,
A demonic being,
The master of the taiga,
Orgoli the giant tiger
Has gone on the warpath,
He was gone on the road to battle!
Throwing into confusion the history and order
Of the three Tugshen khans,
He has gobbled up and swallowed
Ten thousand of their subjects.
Listen carefully for the enemy coming from afar,
Watch closely for the enemy coming from close by!
You who are like the cloudless sun,
You who are like an unbending reed,
My thirty three warriors,
We are born from the Milky Way
Of the great high heavens,
We are sent to this sacred earth
To protect its borders.
Mend what is torn,
Sew what is ripped,
Fix what is broken,
Weld what is cracked.
When the yellow sun of tomorrow’s morning is rising
Prepare your horses to ride to battle!”
Thus he commanded them.
Geser’s thirty three warriors said:
“We shall go to the intended place
With fortune and destiny,
We shall travel to battle
With good luck and prosperity.”
These famous warriors,
These skillful archers
Said this blessing,
Puffing out their mighty chests,
Strengthening their great sinews,
Hardening their mighty bodies,
They strengthened their white tendons!

This having happened
Thirty three warriors made swift preparations,
They made wise preparations.
Mending what was torn,
Sewing what was ripped,
Fixing what was broken,
Welding what was cracked.
When the next morning’s sun was rising
Thirty three warriors gathered together.

This having happened
The two princely uncles of Geser
Having prepared themselves at home
Came to the palace of Abai Geser.
Geser’s thirty three warriors
Called Beligen the bay horse
The steed with a mighty body,
Who was grazing among the
Thirteen Altai Mountains,
Who was strengthening himself among the
Twenty three Huhii Mountains,
Calling with the call of the meadowlark
They whistled for him and he came.
Leading him over gravel
They hardened up his black hooves,
Leading him over ice
They strengthened his round hooves,
Tying him in a windy place
They made him swallow the winds,
Tying him in an open place
They made him swallow a tornado.
Making him drink black water out of a cup,
Making him eat a handful of black hay,
Leading him into a mountainous place
They made him strong as an eagle,
Leading him out on the flatlands
They made him strong as a falcon.
Laying on a silk edged saddle blanket,
Laying on a chased silver saddle,
Laying on a fine silver crupper on his flanks,
Laying on blue silver breast straps over his shoulders,
Adjusting a girth of ten straps,
Tightening a girth of twenty straps,
Geser said: “I have put on my horse’s beautiful things!”
He brought Beligen the bay horse
To the silver hitching post,
Tethering him with his fine red reins.

This having happened
Abai Geser’s wife Alma Mergen
Opened up the trunks and chests,
Taking out the best of his clothing.
Abai Geser prepared himself,
Putting on his armor and weapons.
He pulled on his black pants
Sewn from the hides of seventy deer,
He tugged on his black boots
Sewn from sealskin.
He pulled on his silk deel
That he wore into battle,
Buttoning its seventy buttons
With the strength of his thumb.
He wound around his waist
A silver sash ten ells long
Winding it strongly and tightly.
He turned around in the light of the door as he dressed,
Dusting off dirt and garbage,
He turned around in the light of the smokehole,
Patting off dust and lint.
He put on a black cuirass
That would not be penetrated by seventy years’ rain,
That would not be penetrated by seventy arrows,
Hanging his silver decorated bowcase on his right side,
Hanging his silver decorated quiver on his left side,
Taking his silvery steel sword
That was never scratched by the hardest bone,
That was never softened by the hottest blood,
He hung it on his left side.
Putting his heroic yellow bow
Of seventy laminations in its bowcase,
He put seventy five arrows in his quiver,
He put ninety nine arrows in his quiver,
So that they would be like shade in the heat of the summer,
So that they would be a great help in the cold of winter.
He put on his fluffy mink hat
That was big as a haystack,
That was decorated with thick tassels;
He put on top of it a helmet
That was a white as a star.
Gleaming like the sun,
He rustled like the leaves of a tree.

This having happened
He melted spider oil in his mouth
So that he would not be hungry for ten years,
He anointed his nose with worm oil
So that he would not be hungry for twenty years.
Geser said:
“I have put on my equipment,
My time for preparation is finished,
It is time to ride!”
He opened his massive pearly door in a beautiful way,
He stepped over the granite threshold in a pure way,
Going down the silver steps
Over which a mare and her foal could run,
Walking without stumbling on the silver walkway
Over which a mare and her colt could run,
He came to the silver hitching post
And pulled loose his red reins.

The steed with a powerful body
With wisdom in his bones,
Beligen the bay horse,
Was blessed by Abai Geser:
Saying magic words upon his flanks
He became like a foal
Saying magic words on his shoulders
He became like a colt.
Taking his black handled quirt in his right hand,
Taking the red reins in his left hand,
Putting his foot in his massive silver stirrup
He swung into his chased silver saddle.

Turning around sunwise by the hitching post
He rode off toward the north side of Humber Uula.
His two princely uncles rode at his two sides,
So that their stirrups were almost touching,
The thirty three warriors followed three by three,
They rode off to fight and kill the master of the taiga–
Orgoli the giant tiger.

Geser and his two princely uncles beside him,
Their stirrups almost touching,
His warriors following three by three,
Thundered as they trotted down the khan’s straight road,
They glittered as the galloped down the people’s broad road.
Riding over the crests of mountains,
Riding over the treetops,
They rode so that the earth was shaking,
So that waves splashed on the shore of the Milk Sea,
So that the world mountain Humber Uula was trembling.
They flew across thirteen ridges,
They folded together twenty three ridges
Jumping across them all at once,
They trotted making what was distant near,
They galloped making two places one,
Trotting along the lower edge of the sky,
Galloping above the fluffy white clouds.
Flying along faster than the wind of the skies,
Racing faster than the stars,
Helped along by the black wind of the heavens
Racing faster than the round moon,
Looking dark as eagles they soared like eagles,
Whistling like arrows shot by hunters
They flew in a line like migrating geese.
Riding with all their might,
Going as fast as they could,
They left their nourishing homeland
Into a country cold to man.
Looking tremendous as they traveled,
Looking like a party riding to a celebration,
Riding a distance of hundred haraa
Without touching their reins,
Riding a distance of a thousand haraa
Without using their quirts,
Riding with all their might,
Going as fast as they could.
They came to a mighty tall snowy mountain
Which stood as an obstacle on their path.
When Geser looked up
It was so tall an eagle could not fly over it,
When he looked down
He could not see a pass by which he could cross.
He said:
“There is no way to travel over this mountain
An eagle cannot fly over this cliff.”
He was very angry,
His mouth gaped in fury.
He pulled out his mighty black arrow,
Nocking it on his heroic yellow bow,
He spoke over the arrow:
Saying magic words on the head red fire blazed on it,
Saying words of power on the fletching blue fire blazed on it.
Pulling the string until his muscles bulged
He loosed the arrow at the mountain.
When it hit the red mountain it tore and smashed;
When it hit the black cliff it exploded.
A road appeared that was wide enough
To let a large ox loaded with packs through,
A path opened up that was broad enough
To let a large fully loaded camel pass through.
When they had passed over the unconquerable mountain,
When they had crossed over the snowy cliffs that could not be scaled,
Geser found his great black arrow that never missed its mark
Lying out in a field.
He picked it up and said:
“You are my greatest treasure,
You are my most precious thing.”
The arrow had left a pile of rubble as big as a hill,
Debris was piled up like a mountain.
Traveling a distance of ninety years’ travel in nine days,
Traveling a distance of eighty years’ travel in eight days,
Flying like arrows leaving the bowstring,
Making a noise like rocks that had been thrown,
Even if their destination was far they kept on going,
Even if the rivers were broad they crossed them,
Riding with all their might,
Going as fast as they could,
They came to the north side of Humber Uula.

This having happened,
Geser tied his reins to the saddle horn,
Leaning on his saddle horn he stood,
Looking around him in all directions,
Looking with the sharpness of his eyes,
Listening with the keenness of his ears.

When he was looking and listening
He saw clouds of dust swirling
On the northeastern side of the mountain.
The plants were dry and withered,
The waters had all dried up,
The trees of the taiga were dried and falling down,
The cliffs and rocks lay broken and smashed.

When he had seen this
Geser was very surprised,
He was most astonished.
Looking even more carefully,
Listening even more carefully
Gazing as far as the edge of
The clouds in the blue sky,
Listening to things far away,
He heard a noise in the distance.
He asked his two princely uncles
And his thirty three warriors:
“What have you seen,
What have you heard?”
The two princely uncles had not seen anything,
The thirty three warriors had not heard anything.
Abai Geser said to his two princely uncles
He commanded his thirty three warriors:
“Do not lose my trail,
Do not be separated from me,
Think the thoughts of a wolf,
Make your hearts hard as stone!”
He spoke and commanded them well.

This having happened
Geser and his two princely uncles
Followed by his thirty three warriors
According to the custom of war,
Went on the warpath.
Riding with all their might,
Going as swiftly as they could,
They covered the distance of a thousand haraa.

This having happened,
On the forested northern side of Humber Uula
The master of the taiga–
Orgoli the giant tiger,
Was battling and trying to eat
A giant yellow snake.

When Orgoli the giant tiger
Was chewing and chewing
The black trees of the forest edge
Were being sucked into his mouth,
While he was biting the giant yellow snake
Mountains and rocks were being
Broken and smashed.
A cold dry wind was blowing,
A poisonous wind was blowing.
These two powerful magical creatures,
Being unable to kill each other from afar,
Locked together in battle,
The snake winding itself three times around the tiger,
Orgoli the giant tiger bit and clawed at him.
Ruining the trees of the forests,
Causing the plants in the open spaces to wither.
The giant yellow snake constricted around the tiger,
Trying to crush the body of its prey,
Orgoli the giant tiger
Scratched and clawed the giant yellow snake with his iron claws,
He bit him with his great jagged teeth.
The strength of the giant yellow snake was gone,
Being attacked again and again it was time for it to die.
Orgoli the giant tiger bit it again and again,
Ripping out its throat with his jagged teeth,
With four of his great iron claws
He tore open the snake’s stomach,
Flipping it into the air like a whip,
The giant yellow snake fell down dead.
Orgoli the giant tiger jumped away
And lay down licking his wounds.
Acting as if he were crazy
He gobbled up trees and rocks,
Acting as if he were mad
He made the earth tremble with his crunching.
Orgoli the giant tiger ate live tree and deadfalls alike
Swallowing them up roots and all,
Ripping up the forest,
He broke and smashed rocks and cliffs,
A black wind blew,
Yellow dust was swirling,
The breeze blew up the skirts of Geser’s deel.
When he had seen this happen
Malevolent Hara Zutan Noyon
Became very afraid,
He became very timid.
Calling Geser’s thirty three warriors
As if they were his friends he said:
“The master of the taiga,
Orgoli the giant tiger,
Is a being of great magical power.
If we trustingly follow Geser into battle,
We will become food for this demon.
I and you thirty three warriors,
Are weak compared to Abai Geser,
He is indifferent to our lives!
Let us flee up into the mountains and hide!”
When he was speaking these black thoughts,
When he was trying to confuse the warriors,
Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan said:
“If you die it will be with your nephew,
If you live it will be with your nephew!”
He rebuked Hara Zutan and made him stay.

While this was happening
Geser watched and observed his hateful enemy,
He adjusted his white steel helmet on his head,
Grabbed up his black steel spear in his right hand,
Gathering up the reins of Beligen the bay horse,
Flicking his quirt on his flanks
He shouted a war cry
Loud as the voice of a thousand stags,
He shouted his challenge
Loud as the voice of ten thousand stags,
Having done this Geser rode off
To battle the master of the taiga,
Orgoli the giant tiger.
As Geser guided his horse toward him
The tiger was ready to gobble him up,
Beligen the bay horse rushed up
Toward his mouth as if he was weightless,
When they flew into his giant mouth
It appeared they would get stuck in his jagged teeth,
Geser wanted to go straight in,
He grabbed a rock as big as a colt,
He snatched up a rock as big as a sheep,
The two rocks were unable to help him,
They were too big to carry.
They flew into the tiger’s mouth
Like an arrow shot from a bow,
Making noise like a stone flying through the air.
Caught up in a tornado,
Jostled by rocks and trees
As they were sucked into the mouth
Of the master of the taiga–
Orgoli the giant tiger,
When Geser flew in
They were able to pass his jagged teeth…

When Abai Geser was going into the tiger’s throat
He stuck his spear into the tiger’s tongue,
He hung on the spear that was swaying in the wind,
Taking his bow of seventy five laminations,
He stuck it into the tiger’s palate.
Orgoli the giant tiger,
Taking power from the heavens,
Tried to shake Abai Geser loose,
Taking power from the earth,
He roared but the hero was stuck in his mouth.
His growls made waves splash on the shore of the black lake,
His roars made the mountain forests tremble,
His gasps were like a cold dry wind,
A poisonous wind was blowing,
Stirring up black clouds of poisonous dust.
Far away plants wilted,
Nearby plants perished…

This having happened,
The two princely uncles of Geser
Argued among each other,
Divided in their opinions.
Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan said:
“If Geser has been defeated
I will go and be defeated with him!”
When he said he would follow Geser
Malevolent Hara Zutan Noyon said:
“When my nephew Abai Geser
Has been killed and eaten,
I will not go to do something futile,
I am going to run off and hide!”
He turned his horse away
Agitated and confused.

Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan
Seeing his younger brother Hara Zutan run away,
Became very angry,
His mouth gaped in fury.
Speaking many bad things,
Sargal Noyon Khan turned his horse around,
Ready to ride into battle.

When benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan
And the thirty three brave warriors
Rushed forward into battle
Orgoli the giant tiger,
Being powerless to spit Geser out
Unable to swallow him,
Lay down writhing and sick.
Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan
Drew and brandished his white steel sword,
Urging on his mighty buckskin horse
He jumped on the back of the tiger, saying:
“I shall cut and tear
Your fifteen arteries,
I will cut you until
Your amin and hulde have departed!”
Thus he shouted and challenged his enemy.
The white oldest son of Buuluur Sagaan Tenger,
Buidan Ulaan Baatar shouted:
“I will shoot arrows into your armpits
Until I have pierced your red heart!”
He pulled out his heroic yellow bow.

When Geser had heard these things
From inside the mouth of the tiger Orgoli,
He shouted to the two brave warriors
Rebuking them and forbidding them:
“My uncle Sargal Noyon,
Hold your hand!
My warrior Buidan Ulaan
Put away your bow!
You will cut me,
You will shoot me!”
After he had shouted to them
He drew his hard steel sword,
Chopping away with a ringing sound
At the hard white bones of the tiger,
Abai Geser severed the life
Of Orgoli the giant tiger,
The monster lay killed and destroyed.

The master of the taiga–
Orgoli the giant tiger,
His amin and gol being cut off,
Lay ready for the aranga.
Abai Geser crawled out
At a place thirty haraa distant,
The tiger’s huge body
Lay stretched out,
It would have taken three days’ travel
To go around it.

Malevolent Hara Zutan Noyon said:
“After Abai Geser had been killed and eaten
My older brother has certainly been eaten too!”
He had ridden off with three
Of Geser’s thirty three warriors,
They had gone off to hide.

Abai Geser knew this very well,
He understood this very well.
He shouted after them,
With the voice of a thousand stags,
He called them back
With the voice of ten thousand stags.
When Hara Zutan heard the shouts
He returned with the three warriors he had deceived.
When malevolent Hara Zutan Noyon
Arrived at the side of his nephew Abai Geser,
His face was red and burning,
He was unable to speak,
He was greatly embarrassed,
He was blushing to the roots of his hair.

Abai Geser and his men gathered
At the side of Orgoli the giant tiger,
Reaching out their arms and doing zolgoh
They spoke very fine words,
Grasping his right hand
They spoke strong words.

This having happened
Abai Geser said:
“I have defeated an indefatigable enemy,
I have conquered an unconquerable foe!”
He took out a silver pipe as big as a shin,
Taking out a tobacco pouch of velvety black sheepskin
As big as a sleeve,
He thoughtfully took out a bundle of red tobacco,
Striking sparks with flint and steel,
He lit a bunch of tobacco as big as a moose’s ear.

This having happened
Geser took out his yellow steel knife
And slit open the belly
Of Orgoli the giant tiger.
Out of the open stomach of the tiger
Many forest animals came running out,
Many people of the open steppe came out:
People riding horses,
People walking on foot,
People riding on carts,
People riding on sleighs,
Streaming out one after the other
They saw the broad earth once more.
These many people,
Ten thousand animals,
Were very excited,
They rejoiced greatly.
Ten golden lights blazed on their fingers,
Twenty silver lights glowed on their fingers,
They greeted Geser’s men with zolgoh,
Wishing them the happiness of the white moon,
Speaking blessing to them
They once more saw daylight.
The multitude of people,
The ten thousand animals
Said to Abai Geser:
“Wherever you want to go
May fortune and destiny follow you,
May prosperity and luck go with you!”
Speaking good blessings,
Saying beautiful words,
They set off for their homes,
They returned to their native lands…

When Abai Geser sent the
People and animals to their homes,
He said to his thirty three warriors
That the skin of Orgoli the tiger
Should be given to the people for clothing.
Geser and his two princely uncles
And his thirty three warriors
Worked together to skin the tiger.
Geser and his two princely uncles
And his thirty three warriors
Divided the skin among the many people.
When they had finished
There was nothing left for Geser,
There was not even enough
To make a pair of mittens.
Abai Geser laughed and said:
“There is not even enough left of this fine skin
For me to make a pair of mittens!”
Thus he laughed and talked:
“Men do what they intend,
Women cut out clothes!
If a man cannot do what he intends,
It is better that his breast flap be torn off,
If a woman runs out of material,
It is better that her thumb be cut off!”
He sent his uncle Sargal Noyon
And thirty good warriors back to their homes,
He asked his uncle Hara Zutan
And three strong warriors
To be his companions on the road:
“I go to defeat the four enemies of the world,
I go to find out about the four opponents of peace!”
Thus he rode to his wife’s father
Uha Loson to ask him about this.

Riding with all their might,
Going as swiftly as they could,
They approached the kingdom
Of Uha Loson Khan.
While they were traveling
The first snow of the winter
Had fallen upon the land.
They came to a place
Where the trails of a fox and wolverine
Went their separate ways.
Abai Geser followed the trail of the fox,
Hara Zutan followed the trail of the wolverine.

Nephew and uncle
Thinking of their own lives
Separated going their own ways,
While malevolent Hara Zutan Noyon
Hurried along on his way,
He stumbled into a hole in the road,
He fell and was swallowed up by the hole.
He lay inside lamenting and complaining.
He struggled to climb out,
His strength failing he shouted “Help me!”
Being helpless he yelled “Rescue me!”

Abai Geser’s three brave warriors,
Hearing the shouts of Hara Zutan Noyon,
Came and tried to pull him out
From the bottom of the hole.
Working together they could not do it,
They were very worried,
They were very embarrassed.
This having happened
Malevolent Hara Zutan Noyon
Became very angry,
His mouth gaped in fury:
“The three of you are incompetent,
You are not worthy to be warriors,
Quickly bring my nephew Abai Geser!”
He was yelling and shouting,
Grumbling and cursing.

The three brave warriors called Abai Geser,
Bringing him back from his path
He came to the big black hole.
Geser looked into the hole
And said to his uncle Hara Zutan:
“Is this something willed by Father Heaven,
Is this something done by Mother Earth?
What kind of man would put you in this hole?
What kind of man will get you out?”
When he had said this
He unsheathed the hard steel sword
That he wore on his left side.
Gripping the hilt in his hand
He extended the sharp blade to him.
Malevolent Hara Zutan Noyon
Grabbed the hard steel blade
And was able to come out,
His ten white fingers were gashed by the sword.
This having happened
Hara Zutan complained to his nephew Abai Geser:
“What a bad and terrible thing this is,
An insult to order and honor!…
My ten white fingers
Have been cut by my own nephew.
You are obligated to restore them,
Using the healing power of your thumb!
You are obligated to heal them,
Using the magic in your fingers!
When an uncle is offended
The mountains will shake,
When an elder is insulted
The sea will dry up!
When I tell everyone of what you did
They will wonder what kind of person is Abai Geser
To treat his uncle in this way!”
Thus he begged and bothered him
Crying and shouting.

Abai Geser spoke of how his uncle abandoned the battlefield,
Accused him of running away and hiding,
He made him know what he thought about what happened.
When he had done this
He used the healing power of his thumb,
He used the magic of his fingers
To restore his uncle’s ten white fingers.

When Hara Zutan’s fingers became as before,
When they were restored to their original condition,
Abai Geser left his uncle and three warriors at that place,
Riding off on his journey alone.
He headed for the home of his wife’s father Uha Loson Khan.
Abai Geser entered the gate of the home of Uha Loson Khan,
He stood at the golden hitching post
Of the great square palace the reached for the sky.
Opening the great pearly door in a beautiful way,
Stepping over the granite threshold in a pure way,
He greeted his father in law Uha Loson Khan,
Wished good health to his queen.
Uha Loson Khan entertained him
As befitted a son in law,
Seating him at his right side;
A golden table was brought,
Delicious food was served;
A silver table was brought,
He was honored with beautiful food.
Meat was served in portions as big as a hill,
Liquor was poured out in portions as big as a lake.
Abai Geser drank liquor and talked,
He told Uha Loson of the matter about which he came:
“I want to defeat the four enemies of the world,
I need to know how to fight the four opponents of peace.
I have come to ask my father in law,
I have come to ask you
If you will help your young son in law.”
Thus Abai Geser spoke to him.

His father in law Uha Loson Khan said:
“My daughter’s husband Abai Geser
Will never fail at what he intends,
You warrior with magical powers
Will never have an enemy escape you.”
Remembering things from the earliest times
They sat and spoke in a friendly way,
Reminding each other things from the past
They sat and spoke meaningfully:
“The four enemies of the world,
The four opponents of peace,
Are powerful in magic,
They have great sorcerous power.
If you intend to defeat them,
If you are dedicated to doing this,
Go on your journey
Carrying my golden horiboo!”
Saying this he opened a golden chest,
Bringing out a golden horiboo.
When Abai Geser took it
From the hands of his wife’s father
Uha Loson Khan said to him:
“The oldest of the four opponents of peace
Flows from the summit of a snowy mountain like a river!
People who come to the black water are killed!
When you come to that place say:
‘From this time onward,
Two times becoming as one,
You will become arshaan
To cure illness and suffering!’
When you say this brandish the golden horiboo.
The next oldest enemy of peace
Is a dog with silver fangs living on a silver mountain,
Circling around the south side barking and growling.
When you come to that place say:
‘From this time onward,
Two times becoming as one,
You will become valuable to man,
To be carried in his pockets and purses!’
When you say this brandish the golden horiboo.
The next enemy of peace
Is a dog with a golden mouth living on a golden mountain,
Circling around the north and south sides jumping and plunging.
When you come to that place say:
‘From this time onward,
Two times becoming as one,
You will become treasure to mankind!’
When you say this brandish the golden horiboo.
The youngest enemy of peace
Lies hidden under three layers of the earth,
Always hiding itself from men’s sight.
When you have found it say:
‘From this time onward,
Two times becoming as one,
You will be riches and happiness for mankind!’
When you say this brandish the golden horiboo!”
These were the instructions of Uha Loson Khan.

Abai Geser was very excited,
He rejoiced greatly.
Greeting his wife’s father Uha Loson
As befitted a khan,
Wishing health to his queen,
Hanging the horiboo on his back,
He prepared to ride back to the earth.

Uha Loson Khan thought good thoughts,
He spoke good words to his daughter’s husband,
He accompanied him to the entrance to his kingdom.
Abai Geser said to Uha Loson Khan:
“May you accomplish all that you intend,
May all that you want be completed as you intend!”
He then went to greet his two princely uncles,
Meeting with his thirty three warriors
They met and talked about what they had done.
This having happened
The two princely uncles,
And the thirty three warriors,
Following him in a line,
Rode to defeat
The four enemies of the world,
They went to find
The four opponents of peace.
Riding with all their might,
Going as swiftly as they could,
Even if their destination was far they rode on,
Even if the river was wide they crossed it.

When this was happening,
The four enemies of the world knew what was happening,
The four opponents of peace understood very well.
The oldest of the enemies
Who flowed from the summit of a snowy mountain,
Stopped its flowing,
When Abai Geser came to it,
It appeared to be blocked!
Geser stood before it and said:
“From this time onward,
Two times becoming as one,
You will become arshaan,
To cure the illness and suffering of mankind!”
When he raised the golden horiboo
Arshaan started to flow.
When this had happened
Geser went to the second oldest enemy,
The dog with the silver fangs on the silver mountain,
Who circled about its southern side barking and growling.
Asking Abai Geser to leave him be
Geser answered him bravely:
“From this time onward,
Two times becoming as one,
You will become valuable to man,
To be carried in his pockets and purses!”
When Geser raised the golden horiboo
He turned into silver.
When this had happened
Geser went to the third oldest enemy,
The dog with the golden mouth on the golden mountain,
Who circled about the north and south sides jumping and plunging,
He approached Geser threatening to trample him,
Abai Geser said to him fearlessly:
“From this time onwards,
Two times becoming as one,
You will be treasure for mankind!”
When he brandished the golden horiboo
He turned into gold.
When this had happened
Geser went to find the youngest enemy,
Which hid itself under three layers of the earth,
Rolling its eyes when it saw Geser from three haraa away,
Running away and trying to trick and upset Geser,
Abai Geser searched for him and found him:
“From this time onwards,
Two times becoming as one,
You will be wealth and happiness for mankind!”
He brandished the golden horiboo,
Making it remain in the ground as gemstones.

This having happened Abai Geser said:
“We have come to our intended place
With fortune and destiny,
We have gone together
With luck and prosperity!”
When he had said this
He rejoiced greatly,
He was very excited.
When they trotted toward home
They trod lightly upon the earth,
Leaving tracks as big as cups,
When they started hurrying along,
They kicked up tracks like a trench.
Even if their destination was far they rode on,
Even if the river was wide they jumped across.
Coming to the Muren River,
To the shores of the eternal lake,
Coming to the Hatan River,
By the shores of the black lake,
Geser tied his horse at the golden hitching post
Of his wife Alma Mergen,
Dismounting at her house!

Geser Comes Down to Earth Part 1

Geser Comes Down to Earth Part 2

Geser Comes Down to Earth Part 3

Abai Geser the First Branch

Conclusion of the First Branch

The Third Branch Arhan Hara Shutger

Gal Nurma Khan Part 1

Gal Nurma Khan (Part 2) The Fourth Branch

Orgoli the Giant Tiger The Fifth Branch

When Sargal Noyon Khan had left to go home,
Geser led his thirty three warriors,
Making a straight road in a land with no roads,
Making a pass where mountains blocked their way,
Even if the road was far they rode on,
Even if a river was wide they crossed it,
In the places where the road was white with snow,
Where the magpie cried to mark the winter months,
They put on their foxfur hats and trotted on,
In the places where the road was muddy,
Where the thrush sang to mark the summer months,
They unbottoned their silk deels and rode on.
Going with all their might,
Riding as fast as they could,
Coming to the very beginning of the east,
An ugly looking land,
A poor and meager country,
Dried up, withered, and full of grief,
A place of three marshy rivers,
A place of slippery slopes,
A land of evil spirits and demons,
A scorching hot land,
A dark sunless land,
A dry place devoid of plants,
They came to the twin peaks
The home of Gal Nurman Khan.
Climbing to the summit of the twin peaks,
Looking down on his land,
The herds of Gal Nurman Khan
Were like dust scattered over the land;
His subjects were as numerous
As the trees of the forest.

When they had seen this
Abai Geser said to his thirty three warriors:
“Gal Nurman Khan has not given us any sign,
He has not yet come out.
He is a very powerful demon.
We have come to his land to make war,
In what way shall I attack him,
How shall we come before the enemy?”
Asking these things of them
The thirty three warriors had no ideas.
At that very time Gal Nurman Khan,
Knowing that Geser had come to the twin peaks,
Knew what was happening very well,
He understood very well.
He therefore opened his great book with his thumb,
He opened his old book with his bloody fingers,
When he was looking and reading
He sat and said to himself:
“He who came to restore order
To the land of the Tugshen khans,
He who came to turn around
Their history and good fortune,
He who came to bring life and happiness
To the people and living things,
Abai Geser who has a body as massive as a ger,
Has come to the twin peaks with his thirty three warriors.”
Understanding as he read aloud,
Thinking and making judgment,
He compared the powers of Geser with his own.
Geser had the power of four Nasarangi tenger in his two hands,
He had the power of four dragons in his feet,
In his deep chest he has the strength of four liquors.
He had the ability to change himself into two hundred forms,
He had the ability to shift himself into a hundred and three shapes,
Gal Nurman Khan compared his powers with Geser’s:
He had the power of eight Nasarangi tenger in his two hands,
He had the power of eight dragons in his feet,
In his deep chest he had the strength of eight liquors,
He had the ability to change himself into two thousand forms,
He had the ability to shift himself into a thousand and three shapes.
Compared with the manly abilities of Gal Nurman Khan
Abai Geser was merely a little boy;
He was destined to be defeated;
Compared with the strength of his dappled grey horse
Beligen the bay horse was like a colt;
It was destined to be a bloodbath.

This having happened
Gal Nurman Khan summoned Manzan Shuumar Baatar to come,
He called him to come into his house.
When Manzan Shuumar Baatar came to him
Gal Nurman Khan said to him:
“He who came from the eternal yellow lake,
He who lives on the shores of the Muren River,
Abai Geser with a body as massive as a ger,
Comes with his thirty three warriors
Scheming with his red hot hatred,
He has come to my twin peaks.
My warrior Manzan Shuumar
Throw the golden divination bone!
If it falls facing up
I will defeat Abai Geser,
If it falls facing down
Geser will defeat me.”
When Manzan Shuumar Baatar threw the bone
It fell down facing up.
When he explained its meaning
The magic of benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan
Turned his tongue around,
Making him say the opposite of what he saw.
Manzan Shuumar Baatar said to the khan:
“My Gal Nurman Khan
If you are to defeat Abai Geser
The bone has fallen the wrong way,
It fell facing down.”
Gal Nurman Khan became very angry,
His mouth gaping in his fury,
He demanded that Manzan Shuumar
Throw the bone one more time.
When it was thrown the second time
It once more lay facing up.
When Manzan Shuumar Baatar spoke
The magic of benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan
Once more confused his tongue.
Saying the wrong thing
His thoughts being confused,
He spoke to Gal Nurman Khan:
“My Gal Nurman Khan
If you are to defeat Abai Geser
The bone has once more fallen the wrong way,
It fell facing down.”
The white hairs on Gal Nurman Khan’s head stood up,
He gnashed the white teeth in his mouth:
“You are an offensive man,
Throw it a third time!”
Manzan Shuumar Baatar threw the bone a third time;
Once again it fell facing up.
When Manzan Shuumar tried to speak
The magic of benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan
Turned his tongue around,
Making him speak the opposite of what he saw.
Manzan Shuumar said to Gal Nurman Khan:
“My Gal Nurman Khan,
If you are to defeat Abai Geser
When I threw the bone a third time
It still fell the wrong way, facing down.”
When he said this Gal Nurman Khan
Was crying, complaining, and yelling.
His fury set the earth on fire.
Grabbing up Manzan Shuumar as if he were a pine needle,
He beat the earth with his head,
He thrashed the heavens with his feet,
He was very greatly offended,
Throwing him out of his iron palace,
Manzan Shuumar fell lying face down.
Gal Nurman Khan’s wife Galtai Goohon
Quickly came to his side,
She spoke persuasively:
“My Gal Nurman Khan
You have been offended too easily,
You are certainly more powerful than Abai Geser!”
When his wife’s words had cheered him
He jumped up from his throne,
Breaking the ceiling of the chamber with his head.
This having happened he made quick preparations,
He made wise preparations.
He prepared himself for battle with Abai Geser.
Looking down from the summit of the twin peaks,
He saw Abai Geser doing frightful things.
When Gal Nurman Khan saw this
His black eyes turned dark,
His black hot blood became thick,
In Gal Nurman Khan’s bald head
He was thinking many thoughts,
In his black motley heart
He spoke many words to himself,
Thinking that his power was not enough
Thinking his strength was too little he was blue.

This having happened
Abai Geser made a shaman ritual,
Worshipping and making a tailgan
He asked the tenger to make his body sensitive,
He asked the gods to make his blood hot,
He sacrificed many horses and cattle,
He offered up the best of liquors,
He worshipped at the twin peaks.

At the skirts of the twin peaks
He erected a young tree as tuurge,
Scattering white grains to the spirits,
Offering flour mixed with butter
So that the spirits would be completely satisfied,
His bones and flesh became sensitive,
His blood became hot.

This having happened
Gal Nurman Khan rode out with his sixty six warriors,
Coming out on the flank of the twin peaks,
Meeting Geser and his thirty three warriors,
As the two khans talked they stood stirrup to stirrup,
As they made parley their steel spears were crossed.
Greeting each other as khans,
Wishing good health to their wives,
The two sitting next to each other on their horses:
Reaching out their long arms they spoke fine words,
Recalling things from long ago they explained things,
Remembering things from long ago they spoke in a friendly way.
They talked until foam would form on liquor,
The talked until plants would grow on a flat stone.

This having happened Gal Nurman Khan said:
“I do not have enough milk and lambs for you,
I do not have enough meat and herds for you,
Have you come here with a father’s jealousy,
Have you come here with a mother’s hatred?”
When he was asking these things
Geser answered him at once:
“I do not have a father’s jealousy,
I do not have a mother’s hatred,
Why do you eat up the people on your borders,
Who do you attack and torment the people and animals?
Why did you plunder and steal the herds,
Why do you scoff at my father’s will?”
Gal Nurman Khan replied:
“I will send the people and animals home,
The herds of cattle and horses I will give back,
These living things will certainly prosper,
These animals will have offspring to fill your land,
After nine years have passed
We will fight to determine who will own them.”
When Gal Nurman Khan said these words he was lying.
When he had heard these words
Abai Geser met with his thirty three warriors,
Asking for them to make a decision
They expressed their own opinion,
They sent Neejer Emshen Baatar with their message:
“When two enemy khans have met,
Let two of the best warriors wrestle before they part.”

When the two rival khans
Had listened to these words they said:
“What they have said is suitable,
Let it be done.”
They agreed to have their two best warriors wrestle.
Abai Geser selected from his thirty three warriors
The white oldest son of Buuluur Sagaan Tenger,
Buidan Ulaan Baatar.
When Buidan Ulaan prepared for the match he said:
“In the time suitable for shooting arrows
Let my hands be ready to wrestle.”
Buidan Ulaan Baatar
And the champion of Gal Nurman Khan
Gani Galzuu Baatar
Fought in a place a day’s travel distant,
Flying at each other,
Bending each other,
As equally matched as the two sides of a horse,
As equally matched as the two sides of a camel,
They battle together for three days.
Gal Nurman Khan’s champion
Gani Galzuu Baatar
Was ready to be defeated by Buidan Ulaan,
He became very angry,
His mouth gaped in fury,
This having happened,
Buidan Ulaan Baatar,
Drawing out his sword,
Slashed him from his right shoulder to his feet,
Cutting deep enough to hurt his red heart.
Buidan Ulaan Baatar stood strongly in the grass
In the light of the morning’s yellow sun,
He stood as straight as the reeds
In the light of the afternoon’s yellow sun,
Drawing out the steel sword sheathed at his left side,
He struck off the head of Gani Galzuu Baatar,
Leaving his body lying on the ground
He threw the head at the feet of Gal Nurman Khan,
Gani Galzuu Baatar’s eyes were rolling in agony,
His black hair an ell long was twisted and tangled.

When he had seen what had happened
Gal Nurman Khan was very angry,
His face turning red in fury,
Losing his mind in his madness he jumped up,
Spewing fire at Abai Geser he said:
“If you do not punish your warrior
I will punish him myself!”
Thus he shouted and cried,
Setting the ground on fire in his fury,
When Geser answered him
He tried to calm him down.
The white hairs on Gal Nurman Khan’s head
Were bristling on his crown,
The great round eye on the top of his head
Was spinning around.
Two powerful beings began fighting,
Feeding off each other’s hatred,
Going around each other like a spindle,
Circling each other like the petals of a flower,
Charging at each other like stags,
Butting each other like bulls,
Flying at each other like hawks,
Slashing each other like eagles,
As equally matched as the two sides of a camel,
As equally matched as the two sides of a horse,
Biting off the flesh of each other’s chests with their teeth,
Ravens came from the north to take food for the night
Tearing off the flesh of each other’s backs with their fingers,
Magpies came to take meat for their evening meal.
They praised the two warriors:
“May neither of you defeat the other,
May neither of you overcome the other,
May you scatter meat forever,
May you fight for a thousand ages!”
Having blessed them they flew away.
It became a fight to make history,
It was a battle for the ages.
The sky of the day was dark as night,
The night sky became even darker.
There was no more meat on the chest
To bite off with their pale blue teeth,
There was no more meat on their backs
To tear off with their white fingers.
Red blood was flowing,
Black blood was gushing,
There was a heap of flesh,
Bones piled up like a hill.
Gal Nurman Khan drew his yellow steel sword,
Slashing Geser from his right shoulder to his feet,
Cutting almost deep enough to hurt his heart,
Geser remained whole like a white stone,
He remained stuck together like a black stone.
Drawing his hard steel sword
Geser slashed Gal Nurman Khan
From his left shoulder to his feet,
Cutting almost deep enough to injure his black heart,
Gal Nurman Khan remained whole like a white stone,
He remained stuck together like a black stone.

When Geser’s thirty three warriors
Fought Gal Nurman Khan’s sixty six warriors,
A heap of bones piled up,
Blood was gushing in streams.
Geser and Gal Nurman Khan
Fought each other for nine days,
Day and night without rests,
They finally parted agreeing
To take food and drink.
When Abai Geser went up on the twin peaks,
He looked at his thirty three warriors,
He saw that one was missing:
“Which warrior has passed away,
Who is left lying on the white steppe?”
When he was asking this,
The white oldest son of Oyodol Sagaan Tenger,
Erjen Shuumar Baatar
Returned at a gallop from the battlefield.
His bluish gray horse was red with blood,
His red saddle was black with blood,
When he rode up to meet them
A broken off spear was stuck in his horse’s back,
Burning and festering.
He said to the thirty three warriors
Being in a great hurry:
“My warriors, my warriors, hurry along with me!
If we are lagging and delaying
We will not be able to quickly defeat the sixty six warriors!”
Being in war and battle,
They forgot about sleeping,
Going to meet the hateful enemy
They forgot their thirst,
Hearing the words of Erjen Shuumar Baatar
They turned around and rode into battle,
They went back to fight the sixty six warriors.

This having happened,
The dapple grey of Gal Nurman Khan
Shook the mountain with the hoofbeats of a moose,
He rode to fight again with Abai Geser.
When the two rival khans were fighting,
There was no more food to give to the ravens,
There was no flesh to give to the magpies,
When they tore each other no flesh fell down,
When they injured each other no blood flowed.
Geser’s thirty three warriors
Defeated Gal Nurman Khan’s sixty six warriors,
Cutting off their lives,
This trash became like dust.

This having happened,
Gal Nurman Khan pulled at Geser,
Bringing him under his arm,
Jerking him mightily
He brought him under his foot.
Swinging him toward the north
He broke off the northern mountains,
Swinging him toward the south
He gashed the southern mountains.
Jerking and yanking him
He trod on the front of his deel,
Shoving and hitting him
He stomped on the back of his deel,
When Gal Nurman Khan jerked Geser to the north
When he pulled him to the south,
His organs loosened themselves from his body,
His bones separated from his tendons,
His strength was finished,
His powers were depleted.

This having happened,
The white oldest son of Buuluur Sagaan Tenger,
Buidan Ulaan Baatar,
Trying to help Abai Geser,
Grabbing on Gal Nurman Khan’s legs with his legs,
Grabbing on his arms with his arms,
Jumping into the fight,
Grabbing onto Gal Nurman Khan’s right knee,
Gal Nurman Khan cursed at him,
Kicking backward with his right leg,
Buidan Ulaan Baatar was flung backwards,
Left lying face down at a distance of three days’ travel.
He attacked Geser again and again,
He began to defeat him.
Geser’s white teeth began to turn black,
His eyes began to turn dark.

This having happened,
The two grandsons of the head of the
Fifty five tenger of the western skies,
Han Hormasta Tenger,
The boys Aizai and Muuzai,
Crossing the Milky Way,
While they played and talked,
Opened up the door of the sky,
Looking at the earth below:
Looking at the beginning of the east,
At an ugly looking land,
A poor and meager country,
Dried up, withered and full of grief,
A place of three marshy rivers,
A place of slippery slopes,
A land of evil spirits and demons,
A scorching hot land,
A dark sunless land,
A dry land devoid of plants,
They saw their uncle Abai Geser
Being defeated in battle.

When they had seen this
Aizai and Muuzai ran home,
Telling their grandfather Han Hormasta,
Speaking together as one:
“When we were crossing the Milky Way,
When we were going and playing,
We opened the door of the sky,
Looking at the world below,
Looking at the beginning of the east,
At an ugly looking land,
A poor and meager country,
Dried up, withered and full of grief,
A place of three marshy rivers,
A place of slippery slopes,
A land of evil spirits and demons,
A scorching hot land,
A dark sunless land,
A dry land devoid of plants,
Our uncle Abai Geser,
Fighting with Gal Nurman Khan
Was being defeated!”
Thus the two little boys
Gave the news to their grandfather.

When he had heard the words of his grandsons
Han Hormasta hurried to his grandmother
Manzan Gurme Toodei and said:
“Your great grandson Abai Geser,
Fighting with Gal Nurman Khan
Before the destined time,
Being as weak as a little boy
He his come into disaster,
His steed Beligen the bay horse
, Being as weak as a colt,
Has come into a bloodbath!”
When he had said this
Manzan Gurme Toodei of the silver cup
Called her great grandson
Zasa Mergen with the hawk-brown horse,
Telling him of what was happening.

When her great-grandson Zasa Mergen came to her,
Manzan Gurme Toodei told him true words:
“My grandson Zasa Mergen,
When can you save him?
Your younger brother Abai Geser
Needs you to rescue him.”
Looking at the beginning of the east,
At an ugly looking land,
A poor and meager country,
Dried up, withered and full of grief,
A place of three marshy rivers,
A place of slippery slopes,
A land of evil spirits and demons,
A scorching hot land,
A dark sunless land,
A dry land devoid of plants,
He saw that Geser’s heart was ready to fail,
That his spirit was about to depart.

If Zasa Mergen had run to the place of battle
He would have been too late to save Geser,
Thinking in his dark strong chest,
Speaking words in his great heart,
Thinking he may be too late,
He grasped the piece of smoky quartz,
Speaking these words on it:
“If it is your destiny to save Geser
Go into the eye on the crown of Gal Nurman Khan,
Cutting off his ami and hulde
Enter with great force!
If it is your fate to kill him,
Hit him without missing,
Shattering into a thousand fragments,
Breaking up into ten thousand pieces,
Go down into the empty white land
With a great noise!”
Thus he threw the smoky quartz
As large as a horse’s head…
The smoky quartz left his thumb with great force,
It left his fingers with a great noise,
Bellowing like a bull in the summertime,
Roaring like a stag on the mountainside,
Whistling like an arrowhead,
Making an noise like a flying arrow,
Making a noise as it went after his head,
Thundering as it went after his body,
Making the heavens above tremble,
Making the earth below shake!

When this was happening
Gal Nurman Khan was shoving Geser forward,
Crushing his face into the ground,
When he pulled him backward and stuck him
He fell down, pillowed by his hair,
Rejoicing because he thought he had defeated his enemy,
He was excited thinking he had caught the colt by the tail.
When he heard the roar of the smoky quartz rock
He looked up at it and said:
“You thing sent by the will of the sky,
You have come to strike the earth,
Who have you come for, you powerful demon?”
He was greatly afraid,
He was very terrified.
This having happened
He quickly climbed on his dapple grey horse,
Trying to put three obstacles between himself and the stone,
He tried to run away from it…
Zasa Mergen’s smoky quartz
Said to Gal Nurman Khan
“Is the arrow that was been shot fast,
Or is the horse I am chasing faster?”
Coming down toward the earth,
Speeding toward its target,
Catching up with him,
Chasing after him,
The stone smashed into his eye and exploded,
It struck the head of Gal Nurman Khan,
He fell down dead by a white birch,
Laid out for the aranga.
He lay with his feet kicked up on the southern mountain,
He lay with his head pillowed on the northern mountain.
When Zasa Mergen Baatar knew Gal Nurman Khan was dead
He sped to the side of his brother Abai Geser.
When he came to him
His bones were separated from his tendons,
His muscles were separated from his sinews,
He lay there like a piece of red rope.
Abai Geser greeted his brother and said:
“He who has an older brother must save his older brother,
He who has a younger brother must rescue his younger brother,
My older brother has saved me,
I owe you my life!”
When Zasa Mergen saw his brother Abai Geser
He felt very sorry for him,
He felt great pity for him,
Looking down he was crying,
Looking up he was greatly moved.
This having happened
He took eight fat sheep from Gal Nurman Khan’s herds,
He killed a fawn colored mare,
Feeding their meat to Abai Geser
He came back to his former self.
Beligen the bay horse
Became wise in his body.
This having happened
Abai Geser and his older brother Zasa Mergen
Came with the thirty three warriors to the side of Gal Nurman Khan.
He said, “We have killed you, you evil demon,
We have come and defeated you!”
The thirty three warriors rejoiced,
They were most excited.
This having happened Geser said:
“When we have slain a powerful enemy
We must also kill his horse.”
He struck the horse as massive as a mountain,
He struck the dapple grey down to the ground.

This having happened,
They gathered together dry wood,
They dragged in moist wood,
On the place where they had killed
Gal Nurman Khan and his dapple grey horse
They burned their two bodies
Cleansing the land.
Making shovels of aspen wood
They scattered the ashes
In the south wind,
Making them fly to the north,
Making shovels of birch wood
They scattered the ashes
In the north wind,
The dust flying to the south.

Abai Geser and his brother Zasa Mergen
His warriors following him three by three,
Abai Geser said to them:
“Let us go into the house of this evil demon.”
So they entered the home of Gal Nurman Khan.
Gal Nurman Khan’s wife Galtai Goohon
Greeted them and praised them,
Inviting them into her house,
When he had seen this beautiful woman
Zasa Mergen began to love her…

This having happened,
Abai Geser feasted with this thirty three warriors,
Drinking liquor they became drunk,
Smoking their pipes they were intoxicated,
When this was happening
Zasa Mergen and Buidan Ulaan
Fought over who would possess
The woman Galtai Goohon.
Watching the two warriors fight over her
She was excited and happy.

When he saw this happening
Abai Geser was very angry,
His mouth gaping in fury he said:
“The white oldest son of Han Hormasta Tenger
Will not be married to a demon’s wife,
Geser’s Buidan Ulaan Baatar
Will not be joined to an enemy’s wife!”
When he was saying this
He pulled out his hard steel sword,
It flew out of his hand and stuck in the ground.
Abai Geser was greatly surprised,
He was greatly astonished.
Opening his great book with his thumb,
Opening his old book with his fingers,
He read these words:
“If this woman is allowed to live,
In the times to follow,
Two times becoming as one,
She will live to do you harm.”
When he had read these things
Abai Geser went to the home of Galtai Goohon.
Where Gal Nurman Khan’s wife Galtai Goohon
Would go walking,
Flowers would grow,
In the path where she walked
New lambs would be born.
When she greeted Abai Geser
She showed her charms and powers.

Abai Geser showed the bravery of a man,
When Galtai Goohon turned away from her
Rushing after her like a tiger,
He drew his hard steel sword
And cut her in half.
When he had done this
A child fell out of her womb,
Three months before it was due,
A boy made of iron.
Crying and complaining it said:
“It does not matter that
I come out before my birth,
It does not matter that
My father dies before I was born!
If I would have been born
After being in the womb ten months,
If I grasped Abai Geser’s hand
I would have been able to crush it!
In the times to come,
Two times becoming as one,
Until I can break off a stirrup,
I will propagate evil and hate!
Until this baby becomes an old man
He will live for jealousy and revenge!
Abai Geser is the enemy at my back,
He is the demon in front of me!”
Thus the baby spoke as he lay there.

This having happened
Zasa Mergen accused Geser of being willful,
Saying that he had been selfish
When he had killed Galtai Goohon said:
“Think of your power from the gods of the heavens,
Think of the help you had from your older brother!
I will go on my own way!”
Feeling greatly offended
He declared he would go home.

Geser quickly went to him,
Bringing his brother in
And showing him what had happened he said:
“What kind of thing came from inside this woman?
If you can shoot and kill this thing
I will resurrect her so you can enjoy her as your wife!”

Zasa Mergen Baatar,
Recovering his courage,
Tried to cut the iron boy with his sword,
The silvery steel blade,
Cracking along its edge,
Broke off at its hilt.
When he tried to plunge
His steel spear into its chest
It bent up to its grip.
When he tried to shoot it with a great black arrow
Its head glanced off its body.
When Zasa Mergen could not kill it
Geser’s thirty three warriors
Attacked it all at once,
All of their weapons broke.

This having happened,
Abai Geser tried to attack it himself,
He also failed to defeat it.
His hard steel sword was broken,
His steel spear lay bent,
His great black arrow
Had glanced off and fallen,
All of his weapons were broken.
Abai Geser consulted with his brother Zasa Mergen,
He wanted a decision from his thirty three warriors,
When they had come to an agreement
They asked the fifty five tenger of the west
To send their seventy seven smiths
Down to earth to help them.
Seventy seven smiths
Put the seven month old baby
In a box made of iron.
Blowing on the box with seven bellows,
Heating it up until it was bright red
The boy lay talking and babbling.
When the seventy seven smiths
Made the box hot enough to temper steel
The black iron boy was molten.
The seventy seven smiths said:
“We will defeat the indefatigable enemy,
We will injure the enemy that cannot be overcome!”
They grabbed him with seventy seven tongs,
They pounded him with seventy seven hammers.
They hammered on him until he was as small as a louse egg,
The pulverized him until his fragments were like nits,
This was a battle for all time,
This was a fight to make history,
Waves splashed on the shore of the Milk Sea,
The world mountain Humber Uula was shaking.
The animals on the steppe ran into the forest,
The animals of the taiga ran out onto the steppe.
Red fire was burning,
Dust rose like fog,
Hot fire was blazing,
Black mist was swirling.
When they had done this
They were able to see
A blue umbilical cord,
A red womb,
Made by the forty four tenger of the east,
Which was joined to the belly button
Of Gal Nurman Khan’s iron boy.
When Abai Geser had seen this
He took out a great black arrow,
Pulling his string back
He spoke magic words on the arrowhead,
Making red flames burn on the arrow,
He spoke words of power on the fletching,
Making the arrow glow with blue flames,
Pulling back until the muscles bulged on his arms,
Pulling the string with all of his intentions,
When he was doing this he said:
“If it is your destiny to kill,
Fly over the white steppe,
Striking and tearing!
If it is your fate to kill,
Go breaking and ripping
The blue cord and red womb! ”
When he made his shot
The arrowhead whistled with the arrow’s song,
The arrow roared with the arrow’s song.
It broke and brought down the blue cord,
It tore and broke the red womb.
This having been done the iron baby said:
“From this time onwards,
Two times becoming as one,
Until I can break off a stirrup,
I will propagate evil and hate!
Until this baby becomes an old man
He will live for jealousy and revenge!”
Having said those words he died,
He lay ready for the aranga.

Zasa Mergen Baatar
Forgave his brother Abai Geser,
He sent the seventy seven smiths
Back to the land of the fifty five tenger of the west!
Having defeated the indefatigable enemy,
Having conquered the unconquerable,
Geser sent his brother back up to the heavens,
He sent his thirty three warriors home.
Traveling upon the earth
He went to visit Ganga Bured Khan,
Meeting with his princes and ministers,
They greeted Abai Geser saying:
“You have defeated the indefatigable enemy,
You have conquered the unconquerable!”
They rejoiced greatly,
They were very excited.
Throwing a feast for eight days,
They talked about many things on the ninth day,
On the tenth day,
When they had become sober,
Abai Geser returned their gold and treasure,
He returned their horses and cattle,
He gave back the people and animals,
Everything that had been stolen from them.

When this had happened,
Abai Geser rode away,
Followed by thirty three warriors,
Going back toward his home,
Ganga Bured Khan gave him his blessing,
Sending him on his way.
Abai Geser hurried back toward the water he drank,
Going quickly toward the land where he was born,
Trotting quickly on the road.
Even if the land was far they rode on,
Even if the rivers were broad they crossed.

When they were coming to the shores of the eternal yellow lake,
When they came to the valley of the Muren River,
Alma Mergen knew that they were coming,
Understanding what had happened,
She struck the golden drum,
Calling the people of the northern lands,
She hit the silver drum,
Summoning the people of the southern lands,
Calling the other two wives,
Calling her father in law Sengelen Noyon,
Calling her mother in law Naran Goohon,
Calling Geser’s uncle Sargal Noyon,
They came to the shore of the eternal yellow lake,
Waiting at the beginning of the valley of the Muren River,
They greeted Geser and his thirty three warriors.

Abai Geser and his thirty three warriors,
Coming back from defeating the enemy,
Met with their elders and young relatives,
Meeting with the members of their families,
They greeted the people
Embracing them and showing great emotion,
Honoring them from the depths of their souls.
Benevolent Sargal Noyon Khan,
Hugging and kissing Abai Geser,
Said these words to him:
“We greet our son and hero
With the greetings of the people!
We greet the horse you rode
And all you took with you!
Now that you have brought a good time
You can put away bow and quiver,
Now that it is a time of peace
You can put away your weapons.
We greet the warriors and heroes,
We will put your steeds out to pasture!”
When he had said this
He brought a golden table and served delicious food,
Bringing a silver table he served beautiful food,
Serving meat in portions like a hill,
Pouring out liquor and wine
In portions like a lake.

They put their horses out to pasture in the Altai Mountains,
They put them in the Huhii Mountains to regain their strength.
They feasted for the duration of eight days,
On the ninth day they discussed important things,
Having become sober on the tenth day
Abai Geser went home and put his affairs in order,
Eating three satisfying meals a day,
Celebrating three festivals in a year!

Geser Comes Down to Earth Part 1

Geser Comes Down to Earth Part 2

Geser Comes Down to Earth Part 3

Abai Geser the First Branch

Conclusion of the First Branch

The Third Branch Arhan Hara Shutger

Gal Nurma Khan Part 1

Gal Nurma Khan (Part 2) The Fourth Branch

Orgoli the Giant Tiger The Fifth Branch