The Epic of Gesar of Ling

by Robin Kornman

  With my fine little eyes I will see who is fairest.

  My white snow mountain mind will see who I like best.

  Will you offer one to me?”

  Then the nāga queen became so embarrassed, her face could not contain it, and she broke out in a sweat, saying, “Yes, sir, yes, sir,” while she slowly backed away from him.

  Meanwhile all the other nāgas were saying, “Do you think there is any way to ask the nāga queen what offerings to begin making?” A dull-minded nāga from the untouchable caste replied, “If there is a way for the Guru to invite her, then why can’t we find a way to ask her?”

  Then she came outside, but she felt awkward saying what the Guru had commanded. She nervously paced back and forth, weaving among the ranks of nāgas. The rest of the nāgas, not knowing what to ask, just stared at each other like a person stunned when he suddenly sees a scarecrow. Then the dull-minded untouchable called Ngogüd [Wild Face] audaciously stepped out from the ranks and, looking back and forth, said: “Well, precious queen, has a decision been made about the offering?” And everybody burst into laughter.247

  Then the queen blushed and, not knowing how to say it, scribbled a note and placed it before the nāga king, who slapped his hands and thought, “Alas, how unfortunate! That stupid guru is intent on disgracing himself.” He then announced the contents of the note and that the offering to Padmasambhava would be the nāga maiden of his choice, and he said, “Bring the three girls here.”

  Some nāgas laughed in amazement, while others, not surprised at all, tried to hold back their laughter. As it is said:

  Outwardly approving; inwardly concealing your disgust.

  The nāgas all thought, “It’s not as if what we are offering is not great. After all, we haven’t gone back on our promise of the nine jewels of the nāgas. It’s not as if the consequence is insignificant. The eldest daughter, Gödchung Karmo [Little White Vulture], has already been promised to Garkhen [Dancer], the son of the queen of the Yākśas. The middle daughter is Khatsar Lumo-tso [Amazing Wondrous Appearance Nāginī Lake], who has promised to go to the Chinese Hamipaṭa. The youngest is Lenyu Khatam Do-to [Stupid Mute Stone Target],q and he certainly won’t choose her. In any case, the Guru has been very gracious to us, and without that there is no way we would have even considered giving a nāga princess to the inhabitants of Tibet. Now, against our will, we are forced to follow through on our promise and give him his choice of the three. Do you think we should first ask each one of them what they think? Or, if not, don’t you think we should at least tell them what is really going on?”

  Then the nāga king Tsugna Rinchen said to his three daughters, “Because of the great kindness of our Guru, we have already promised him whatever he asks for. Even though we have offered eighty mule packs of jewels and fifteen liters of gold dust, he has said that we must offer him one of you three. Now, as it turns out, the eldest and the middle of you have already been promised elsewhere. But,

  Just as one turns to the warmth of the sun,

  Whoever shows great kindness must be rewarded.

  We have no choice but to return his kindness, so the three of you must go to him.”

  Then the intelligent nāga ministers said, “Now, this Guru of ours:

  Has a long neck like that of the white vultures

  That will surely land upon the corpses of the dead animals.

  His arms are long like the limbs of the leopards

  That will surely snatch and devour a dead dog’s body.

  Why not ask him to choose not only from just these three nāga daughters but also from among those other girls, who are not only beautiful to look at but are from a good family?

  Although freshly cooked white rice is a popular dish,

  The wild sweet potato is sweeter than a chunk of brown sugar.

  Look at the way this pale-faced Guru treated precious stones and gold dust as though it was just pebbles and sand. The monk with the white face has the fault of being overly excited like:

  An arrogant girl is faulted for going crazy over men,

  A horse in a frenzy is faulted for being untamed.”

  “Who knows who he is going to choose,” they said.

  Then everyone agreed to show him the [rest of the] maidens: one from the royal caste of the nāgas named Dziden Drön [Lamp of Splendor], a maiden of the brahman caste called Metog-tso [Flower Lake], a maiden of the commoner’s caste called Lhadzei Kyid [Happy Lovely Goddess], and a nāga maiden of the untouchable caste called Yu-chung Men [Little Turquoise Maid]. All these seven girls were daughters of the nāga king or his ministers. On their heads they wore piled up the jewels that grant all wishes and needs, and on their backs they wore silken brocade robes. Their bodies were slim and straight like bamboo shoots in the spring, their faces as pretty as summer flowers, and their complexions fair as the youthful autumn moon. The youngest among them, Metog Lhadzei, stood out from the others. She was slightly darker248 and shorter than the rest.

  There was much commotion as the nāgas all said, “We must go and see what the guru will do now!” The girls arrived before the Guru, acting afraid and pretending to be scared, tilting and bobbing their heads. They couldn’t stand still, and one seemed to be scratching her head continually. The Guru rolled his head from one side to the other, his rooster eyes darting around. Finally he saw Metog Lhadzei and said, “Of the last two girls in the line, the final one is swarthy and meek, and even though she is not the most divine, she is lovely to my fine eyes and pleasing to the snow mountain of my mind. She is the one I like.” Then, just as the proverb says:

  If something’s outrageous, then even the monks in their rows will laugh;

  If you’re too full, you will vomit into your own bowl.

  Everybody doubled over in laughter; old women’s chests heaved, and babies almost passed out laughing. Their sides ached from belly laughs; their eyes stung with each giggle. As the proverb says:

  It’s not hard to make a choice;

  But it’s a shame to have made the wrong choice.

  And they all thought, “That’s for sure.” Then the Guru said, “Well, are you going to offer her to me or not?”

  And the king replied, “O yes, sir:

  The coracle’s in the water;

  The arrow’s in the bow;

  The foot’s in the stirrup.”

  Then the guru said to the girl, “Tell your father that you will need to prepare to bring the tent called Yudra Ting Gung-gu [Blue Turquoise Yak-Hair Tent in Nine Partitions], the sixteen-volume nāga’s One Hundred Thousand Verse Wisdom Sutra, the cattle of the nāgas, and the female yak, the dri, with three turquoise horns. You had better repeat this [to your father]. And also bring the Cintamaṇi That Dispels Poverty;r the Jewel That Quenches Thirst, which is the essence of the snow mountain; and the Small Maroon Golden Urn that is the quintessence of food. Do not ask for anything other than these.”

  Then everyone returned to their homes, and the nāga maiden Metog Lhadzei sang this song to her father, the nāga king Tsugna Rinchen.

  I have no choice but to sing this song,

  But whether it is melodious or not is up to me.

  You in the golden throne above,

  My dear father Tsugna Rinchen,

  There is no birth without a father and mother;

  Rarer than that is a father with a loving mind.

  In the next life it is difficult to find the sacred dharma;

  Rarer still is a dharma endowed with blessings.

  The idiot race of red-faced meat-eating Tibetans

  Do not clearly distinguish between dirty and clean.

  I fear going to such as a land as that

  More than death, but it is inscribed on my skull.

  Although my heart aches with despair, this is the command of my parents.

  Thinking this repays their gift of my body, I soothe my mind.

  According to the tradition of worldly proverbs:

  A traveler on a long journey should be bedecked
with goods.

  Without such wealth, one would be a beggar in borderlands.

  The arrow shot at long-range should be bedecked with feathers.

  Without feathers, it’s just a notched bamboo stick.

  The bride sent far away, should be bedecked with gifts.

  Without gifts, she’s just a lonely barefoot stray.249

  Since the land to which I must go is far from my father’s home,

  I need the tent called Yudra Ting Gung-gu.

  Since this guiding guru is very strict,

  I need the sixteen-volume nāga’s One Hundred Thousand Verse Wisdom Sutra.

  Because the borderland of the black-haired ones has declined in prosperity,

  I need the wealth of the nāgas, the dri with prosperity horns.

  I need the Cintamaṇi as my portion of our wealth.

  I need the Small Maroon Golden Urn, my portion of our victuals.s

  Since those dry mountains are far from the moisture of our ocean,

  I need the Jewel That Quenches Thirst, the essence of the snow mountain.

  Warm clothing and pleasing speech,

  Loving counsels and kind advice; all these things I need from you.

  Although this maiden girl’s mind is grieving,

  I do not dare to oppose the command of my kind parents.

  In the territory of Tibet in Jambudvīpa,

  If there is happiness, it is due to the kindness of the Rare and Precious Three Jewels;

  If there is suffering, it is through the power of previously accumulated karma.

  I will never forget the kindness of you, my parents; I will keep you in my heart.

  Do not forget me, your daughter; please hold me close in your heart.

  If I am in need, there is a root family, there is a lord.

  If I am not in need, then my happiness is my own merit.

  You, my parents, please keep this in your hearts.

  Thus she sang, and the nāga king Tsugna Rinchen said, “Our nāga kingdom has been reestablished in well-being. To repay your kindness in having cured all the nāgas of illness, we have no choice but to offer you, our daughter, to Guru Lotus Born. As the proverb says:

  The maiden girl doesn’t stay in her family home.

  The vulture doesn’t stay in his nest to die.

  It’s a woman’s fate to abandon her [father’s] home.

  It’s a young tiger’s honor to fall and die in battle.

  You are my own flesh and bones and beloved to me, but I would cut off my own head and ears before being shamefully disloyal. Of course you must go laden with your dowry of jewels and clothing. The common treasures and wealth of the nāgas are not just handed over to others, but since you are my cherished daughter and your groom’s home is so far away, I must give you everything you have asked for.”

  For this reason, on the following morning the king offered his daughter Metog Lhadzei to Uḍḍiyāṇa Padma and made ready her dowry of the sixteen volume nāga’s One Hundred Thousand Verse Wisdom Sutra, the tent called Yudra Ting Gung-gu, the wealth of the nāgas, the dri with prosperity horns, the Small Maroon Golden Urn for her share of victuals, the Jewel That Quenches Thirst as the essence of the snow mountains, and many valuables including the jewel of the nāgas that fulfills all needs and desires. Then he sang this song:

  I, the nāga king Tsugna Rinchen,

  Am the crest jewel of all the nāga castes,

  The great sovereign of the underworld of Jambudvīpa.

  No one else governs here.

  Listen Uḍḍiyāṇa Padmasambhava,

  The initial reason for your coming here

  Was because our nāga kingdom was afflicted with impossible illnesses.

  First, delusion in the minds of the nāgas,

  Second, due to terrible fierce wrath and aggression,

  In the end we were brought down by our own imperial passion and desire.

  On the brink of being motivated by jealousy

  And in the clutches of the demonic forces of pride,

  We invited your skillful means to cure us.

  Knowing in your heart the benefit of beings, you came gladly

  And looked upon our entire nāga kingdom with your compassion.

  With the supreme medicine of the five wisdoms,

  You cured us of the illnesses of the five poisons.

  With clouds of smoke from the five types of trees

  You utterly cleansed our impure corruptions and obscurations.

  I supplicate you, Lord of Great Kindness.

  In particular, in order to repay your kindness,

  Although I offered an abundance of five varieties of jewels,

  You were not pleased with illusory wealth.

  Since you see the nāga girl as a disciple who will benefit beings,

  I offer her to you in accordance with your wishes.

  This dowry portion of precious wealth,

  The nāga tent called Yudra Ting Gung-gu,

  The wealth of the nāgas, the dri with wealth-energy horns,

  And the nāga’s sixteen-volume One Hundred Thousand Verse Wisdom Sutrat

  Are indispensable to me; nevertheless I will send them with her as her dowry.

  How can this offering be the end?

  According to the worldly proverbs:

  The guru who is the guide of beings,

  If he does not continuously care for his students,

  Conferring a few empowerments alone will not deliver them buddhahood.

  The chieftain who rules over a vast area,

  If he does not continuously advise his subjects,

  Hearing just a few of his words will not please their minds and is not something they can depend on.

  The day that the kind parents give their daughter away,

  If the paternal family she leaves behind does not always watch out for her,

  Just giving her a few material possessions will not bring her satisfaction.

  The first stroke of good fortune came from the nāgas

  When we of the nāga kingdom were freed from disease.

  May the prosperity and good fortune of the nāgas be given to the humans.

  The second stroke of good fortune will come from the nyen

  When the drala nyen is born in the family of humans in Tibet.250

  May there be the auspiciousness of reversing the army of barbarians.

  The third stroke of good fortune will come from Ling.

  When bliss and happiness are established and spread in Multicolored Ling.

  May there be the auspiciousness of the happiness of holding the celestial cord.251

  May the sun of auspiciousness shine;

  May the white moon of auspiciousness dawn;

  May the auspicious banner cover the peak of existence.

  May the white conch of auspiciousness resound

  In the land of snow in the southern region of Jambudvīpa.

  May the auspiciousness of happiness commence.

  May the covering sky continue to cover;

  May the supporting earth continue to support;

  May it come about that Tibet is a source of hope.

  May all aspirations be fulfilled!

  If you understand the song, keep it in the core of your heart.

  If you don’t understand it, there is no way to explain it.

  May you keep this in your heart just as it is.

  Thus he sang, and the special connection was made. Guru Uḍḍiyāṇa Padma expressed his pleasure as the proverb says:

  If the guru is pleased by the offering, the blessings will be all the greater;

  If the girl is happy with the dowry, then her father’s repute is all the greater;

  If the servant is happy with his food, his “Yes sirs” will be all the more.

  Just like that, Padma had blessed them by putting an end to the illness of the nāgas so that it would not recur. There would no longer be any droughts or sandstorms, nor harm derived through delusion. Although it was di
fficult for the patron and guru to separate, nevertheless, the king escorted Padma off on his way and through his miraculous powers Padma took the nāga wealth and the king’s daughter along with him out of the ocean.

  Then after a while, he thought to himself, “I had better find a lord for this maiden,” and he burst forth with this song:

  NAMO BUDDHA BODHISATT VA

  From the Akaniṣṭha great bliss dharmadhātu pure land,

  Is the unerring refuge dharmakāya Samantabhadra.

  I supplicate you to reveal the unobstructed display of awareness.

  I am the glorious Lotus Born.

  Nāga woman Yelga Dzeiden

  Listen, here is my question.

  Although I arise, I arise from within the unborn,

  Although I go, I go back into the unborn

  I have no reason to remain here.

  So now, for a while you may choose which land to inhabit,

  Which king, which leader, which family and master;

  Whatever you want, choose, and I’ll ask for you.

  Meanwhile I will make the arrangements for your future family,

  You will stay there for three years.

  At that time I will send the keeper of the prophesy to you.

  Whatever you wish now, speak up clearly.

  Thus he sang the song, and she had no idea how to respond. Then the Guru went on to say, “I will receive an indication of the auspicious connection that you have with your future country.” He removed his hat and flung it up into the sky, and it landed on the roof of the tent of Tönpa Gyaltsen of the Gog Ralo paternal clan, encircled by masses of rainbow light rays. Tönpa Gyaltsen saw this and thought, “Could this be a good sign?” He picked up the hat and placed it on his shrine as an object of devotion. Through his miraculous powers the Guru then arrived at the door of Gog Ralo Tönpa Gyaltsen. That very night, Tönpa Gyaltsen had a prophetic dream in which a white man surrounded by rays of light gave him a vase filled with nectar and said, “Early tomorrow morning, go and see who has arrived at your doorstep and whatever is told to you, promise to do it. If so there will be great siddhi.” Then he vanished from sight.