书城传记聆听史诗丛书-格萨尔王传:英文
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第78章 Prince Zhalha Ascends the...(3)

“The Lion King is going back to the Pure Land and I will go with him. You should be the Warriors’ Eyes. You must spill the enemy’s blood and protect the Ling people. If the enemies dare to invade our border, you must fight against them with your sharp teeth.”

After that, the holy sword flew around all the weapons and disappeared into the sky as a red light.

Gesar, the Lion King, while sitting on his gold throne, he told Cholmo: “Go quickly to check if my Heavenly horse, sword and flame arrow are there.”

Cholmo jumped onto the back of the Jade Bristle Horse and arrived at the Palace at top speed. There, she found the horse, sword and arrow had gone. She hurried back and reported this to Gesar. King Gesar said immediately: “My weapons and horse have returned to Heaven. Therefore, I have to leave Ling tomorrow morning.”

Although the Ling people were unwilling to accept the fact, they had no way out.

Early the next morning, Gesar’s father—King Dechoi Ongya, his deity aunt, his elder brother Tungchong Garpo, his younger brother Lungsho Waychon, his younger sister Talay Waygar, his sister-in-law Gogya Garmo and 100,000 deities and goddesses came to welcome Toipa Garwa, the son of the deities, back to Heaven. There was some very pleasant music lingering in the sky while an aromatic fragrance perfumed the air. The deities were dancing lightly and singing happily. The goddesses built a colourful bridge with rainbows down to the Earth with silk paving all the way. King Dechoi Ongya offered a white hada scarf to Gesar. He sang:

“The eagle-like star, please bring the Sky-Goer here quickly.

You should revere it with happiness.

Numerous deities themselves come to meet you.

I present a white hada scarf to welcome you back to Heaven.”

The Lion King was touched by his father’s hada scarf and to see that so many deities came to welcome him back. He said:

“My great father, I love you so much that I wish to be with you forever. However, I can’t bear to leave the common people and the Ling area.”

Dechoi Ongya said: “My child, you are the son of deities. You came down to the Earth to subdue the demons, punish the evil and promote good, restrain the strong and aid the weak for the benefit of the people. Now, you’ve completed your mission successfully, so you should return to Heaven.”

“The lion should go to the snow mountain for it is the most appropriate place for it. The roc should fly up to the mountain for it is the most appropriate place for it. The tiger should go to the rosewood forest for it is the most appropriate place for it. The goshawk should fly up to the rocky mountain for it is the most appropriate place for it. The son of deities should go to Heaven for it is the most appropriate place for him.”

“The old Tibetan legend has it that when a hero becomes old, even if he possesses great capability, nobody is convinced by him; when a fine horse becomes old, even if it can run fast, nobody is willing to buy it. So the hero should leave his home as early as possible and the fine horse should find a buyer as soon as possible. Since you have succeeded in your lifetime task, you should leave the Ling area at once. Come back to Heaven with me without any hesitation.”

Gesar had to tear himself away from the Ling people. He sang a song for the people for the last time:

“I am very sad to leave the Ling area

but it’s my destiny.

I, the Lion King, must return to Heaven.

Peace and happiness will be with all the people in the tribes of the Ling area.

Don’t be sad and cry.

I hope we can meet again in the future.”

With those words, Gesar slowly rose into the air. His two wives, Cholmo and Mesa, one on each side, also said goodbye to the Ling people.

Immediately, the sky was covered with rainbows, the air was perfumed with a wonderful fragrance, and flowers rained down to the Earth. King Gesar and his two wives were surrounded and greeted by deities on their return to Heaven.