书城传记聆听史诗丛书-格萨尔王传:英文
15925200000063

第63章 The Lion King and His...(4)

“I have heard a lot about you, King Gesar. Today I, Yuze Toinpa, confess to you piously! There are rare treasures in Moya and I am willing to present them to you. Of our three brothers, Yu’ong Toinpa is the most virtuous. I hope you will not hurt him. I am aware of the sinfulness and guilt I have committed all my life and I merely hope I will be free from suffering in hell. Please lead me to the Pure Land! I am forever in your debt.”

Gesar saw that he had come to true repentance and took compassion on him. Gesar then did what Yuze Toinpa had asked for and led him to the Pure Land.

Gesar and his ministers, altogether seven, rode their horses to the nine peaks in Moya for the treasures. They eventually came to the Moya Palace and were greeted by Yu’ong Toinpa and Mesa Poingyi at the gate.

After Gesar and his ministers had been seated, Yu’ong Toinpa offered a hada scarf and said to the Lion King:

“My brother commits sinfulness so I am ready to present everything in Moya to you and I am willing to be your subject. I beg your mercy, Lion King. Please do not put my brother into hell.”

Mesa also took out a long white silk hada scarf to present to the Lion King.

“Honourable Lion King, I was born in the Ling area. When I was young, I was a treasure to my father and mother. When I grew up, I was captured by Nortsam. It was thanks to you that I was saved and became your wife. Lion King, I will never remarry another man for the rest of my life, but I merely ask your permission for me to live in Moya. Please do not bring Yu’ong Toinpa to Ling. King Gesar, let my wish be fulfilled, please!”

Seeing Yu’ong Toinpa and Mesa kneeling before him, Gesar said:

“Mesa, you are the incarnation of Red Diamond Palmo, so you have to return to the State of Ling. Yu’ong Toinpa is the King of Moya, so he must stay in Moya to govern his people.”

Then Gesar told to Yu’ong Toinpa:

“I have come to Moya to subdue evils. I will not take any other treasures, don’t be scared.”

Yu’ong was grateful and took the Lion King to the storeroom for the magic tools. Gesar and his ministers got all the tools they needed and brought Mesa back to Ling.

So far they had gotten many of the things they needed for their magic, but they still needed to find the rest. Gesar suddenly remembered his aunt’s prophecy. She said Gesar and his men had to take a girl good at milking named Duozhen when they went to Gyayo. The girl had to be the one coming out of an egg hatched by the bird husband and wife living in a cave on Mt. Sumeru. However, they were sure it would be a good deal of trouble to capture the bird husband and wife.

In no time, Gesar told Dainma and Cholmo the only way in which they could find the girl Duozhen.

Cholmo dressed up in all her finery adorning herself with brilliant and beautiful jewellery. Well prepared, she and Dainma came to the cliff on Mt. Sumeru.

Dainma hid himself behind the cliff while Cholmo danced gracefully on the cliff. An antelope that had long lived on the cliff was captivated by Cholmo’s beauty and approached her slowly. All of a sudden, an arrow was fired by Dainma and down went the poor animal. At that time, the bird husband and wife were discussing having the antelope for a good meal. The husband said he dreamt last night that the antelope had been shot dead and the body was still lying on the cliff. He invited his wife to come with him so that they could enjoy a good meal, but she was afraid of falling into a trap and was unwilling to go. So, the male bird flew to the cliff and began to eat the antelope. He had almost finished half of the antelope when Dainma managed to tie a pearl rope round his neck. He had to implore to Dainma:

“Please don’t kill me, I will call my wife to come here at once,” with this the bird cried loudly. The voice was so sad and piteous that wild grasses dropped their heads and the snow mountains shed tears. The female bird heard the piteous cries and knew that something wrong had happened. She immediately put the only egg she had laid under her wings and traced the cries for her husband. When she flew to the cliff, she was also caught. The birds thus were brought to King Gesar.

Gesar said: “I have heard that you have a daughter named Dorzin. We have to take her along with us when we go to Gyayo. If you let us take her away I will take care of you for the rest of your lives.”

The birds begged for mercy again and again. They said that their daughter was still in the egg. Gesar let them hatch the egg in the palace. Seven days and nights later, a white-conch-like girl jumped out of the egg. She looked about seven years old and was very lovely.

The Lion King was very glad to see the lovely Duozhen. Now, the only thing they had not found was pigtails made of turquoise from the Yuri area in Ngawasa. But where did Raksasa hide it? Gesar called in all the headmen of the various tribes in Ling to discuss the affair.

The palace went silent. Zhaotoin, sat on the right with his eyes closed. He was delighted, but he couldn’t stand the silence. So he stood up and said to the Lion King:

“In the meeting place of the demon areas, there lies a copper-coloured mountain. This is the very source of the Raksasa. When Hor was at war with Ling, we swore to share weal and woe. Please select a lucky day and send me to find him. I will definitely get all the turquoise pieces back.”

Gesar was overjoyed. He ordered Zhaotoin to return to Darong and wait until the day was fixed.

The Lion King decided that on the 15th of the next month they would set out to seek the Raksasa, so he sent Dainma and Mychon to inform Zhaotoin to come to him.

After Zhaotoin’s return to Darong to find the Raksasa, he was overcome with regret. So he made up his mind to pretend he was ill at home. Dainma and Mychon couldn’t be bothered with Zhaotoin’s shameless act, so they broke into his room and put Zhaotoin, who held his breath to fake death, on his horse and headed him directly for the Sengzhub Darze Palace.

Seeing Zhaotoin all stiff, Gesar ordered his men to put him on the square rock in the stable and to cremate him after chanting Buddhist scriptures. A memorial ceremony was held and aromatic plants burnt for auspicious smoke.

The fire was lit and Zhaotoin was very anxious at this stage. He stretched out a hand and held up his thumb to beg for mercy,

“Don’t burn me alive! ”

“How can a dead person speak? What a bad omen!”