The Epic of Gesar of Ling

by Robin Kornman

  Whether you say that his retinue of disciples is many or few

  Depends on the greatness of the divine guru’s compassion.

  Whether you can say that the saṃsāric homestead is prosperous or not

  Depends on the degree of merit of the girl herself.

  Have you understood this, divine baby of Gogmo?

  According to the famous proverbs of the ancients:

  When the geese fly north

  If the strength of their fully developed wings does not become exhausted,

  Then the boundless northern lakes won’t turn anyone away.

  If the golden-eyed fish are swimming happily,

  If the strength of their supple undulating bodies does not become exhausted,

  There will be no end to the depths of the bottomless ocean.

  When the cuckoo bird comes to Tibet

  If its stomach has the power to digest the essence,

  The berries of the juniper tree are inexhaustible.

  If you have indeed been sent by the gods to be our sovereign chieftain,

  Then the ministers and subjects will be as numerous as blades of grass on the earth.

  If the authentic presence of your actions is vast enough to cover this,

  Then there is no limit to the number of your subjects in the southern continent.

  Those words sang it like it is.

  If I were to inform you about the place where you will reside:

  It is the karmic land of southern Jambudvīpa.

  To the east is the country of China as though reflected in a mirror.

  To the south is the country of India arranged like a ledger.

  To the west is the country of Persia, resembling a stack of scriptures.

  To the north is the country of Gesar, resembling an arrangement of offerings.

  In the center of these four countries lies Tibet.

  In the upper region there are the three districts of Ngari,

  In the middle are the four tribes of Ü-Tsang

  And below are the six districts of Dokham.

  There are four great rivers in the six districts.

  Between the River Da and the River Dri

  Is the center of Dokham.

  The mountain behind is Gödpo Lhatsei [Haughty Mountain Peak],

  The mountain in front is Rizhi Ta-nag [Four-Peaked Black Horse],

  The mountain to the right is Dragngön Yutsei [Blue Crag Turquoise Peak],

  The mountain to the left is Dzadong Ngurpa [Jagged Mountain Ridge].

  The sky is pitched above, like an eight-spoked wheel,

  The land is elegantly arranged, like an eight-petaled lotus,

  And encircled by auspicious symbols.

  For your ministers, who will accomplish your every desire,

  There will be the Thirty Mighty Warriors of White Ling

  Who are emanations of the Thirty Mahāsiddhas of India,

  And the Seven Super Warriors,

  Who are emanations of the Seven Paṇḍits of India.

  And the Three Ultimate Warriors,

  Falcon, Eagle, and Wolf,

  Who are emanations of Three Holy Men of India.

  Now to explain the population:

  In Upper Ling there will be the eight brothers of Serpa,

  In Middle Ling there will be the people of the six districts of Ombu,

  And in Lower Ling those of the four districts of Muchang.

  There are also the six tribes of Gapa Rinchen,d

  Minister Denmae on both the sunny and shady sides of the river,

  The red tribe of Ta’u,

  And to the right will be the wealthy subjects of both Dru and Kyalo.

  All together there are some twelve myriarchies of Ling.

  Now concerning your family and relatives:

  Your paternal uncle will be King Chipön,

  Your older brother, Gyatsha Zhalkar,

  Your worldly father, King Senglön

  And your maternal uncle, Tsugna Rinchen.

  For the wealth treasury of prosperity:

  First, there will be the tea treasure of China in the east.

  Second the silk treasure of Mi-nub in the south.

  Third, the jewel treasure of Persia in the west,

  And fourth, the coral treasure in the wilderness of the north.

  They are called the great fortresses in the four directions of Tibet.

  There are four minor subsidiary fortresses,

  Along with four independent small fortresses.

  If you know how to open the doors to these twelve fortresses, you will find they are filled with treasures.

  Your mother will have the wealth that fills the mountains and valleys,

  A source of wealth like an overflowing treasury,

  This jewel given by Nāga Tsugna

  Is called the Powerful King of Wish-Fulfilling Jewels.

  When you’re in the market for a fine, mature horse

  Don’t give a price until you’ve looked it in the mouth.

  Once you’ve decided and it’s all saddled up,

  Even if the horse is toothless, you’ll nevertheless have to say “All right.”

  When the bride departs for her new home,

  Make sure to decide if the destination is good or bad before she goes.

  Once bedecked and across the threshold,

  Even if there were a choice, it would be too late.

  Therefore, divine son, magical child,

  When you came to accomplish the benefit of beings in the middle land of humans

  I personally hadn’t intended to be your mother; you were able to choose.

  But after nine months in my belly,

  It will be too late to question your choice.

  Oops, I didn’t mean that, just teasing!

  My throat, my heart, my navel, these three

  Are the immovable chakras and channels.

  Both the chakras of the crown and the secret place

  Are the entrance ways for coming and going.

  Come through the crown down to the bliss-holding chakra

  And there will be the auspicious connection of good fortune.

  The five chakra channels are neither good nor bad.

  The guru’s blessings are all-pervasive.

  The dralas are massing like cloud banks.

  Werma are pouring down like rain.

  The dharmapālas are flashing like lightning bolts.

  The ḍākinīs dance, swaying to and fro.

  Stay no more; prepare to come, divine child.

  The long-life water of the Lotus Born of Uḍḍiyāṇa

  And the amṛta of Drubpa’i Gyalmo await you.

  May the four māras be bound by oath,

  May the people of the four borderlands become your subjects.

  May your life reach its limit,

  May you overcome the three realms,

  May you suppress with your splendor the three worlds,

  May the imperial gods accomplish the benefit of beings,

  May the motherly ḍākinīs accomplish their words of truth,

  May whatever prayers you make be accomplished.

  If this song has caused confusion, I openly confess it.

  If it has been but idle talk, please forgive me.

  Godling, please keep this in your mind.

  When she finished offering that song, a child who seemed to be three years old, who was so bewitching that you could not have your fill of gazing at him, appeared from her secret place. His eyes were wide open, and she made not the slightest moan of pain.

  He got into her lap, and at that very moment Guru Rinpoche gave him empowerment. Then he gave him long-life water, just as a newborn colt is given its first butter for the palate. He clothed his body in indestructible vajra armor. As symbolic food and drink, Nāga Tsugna then presented him the amṛta of long life, and Magyal Pomra offered him a ritual cake of one hundred tastes. Lord of Nyen Gedzo offered him colorful silk and clothing that completely cov
ered his body.

  And after that, from Gogmo’s heart center within an egglike orb of blue light, appeared an infant with a human body and a snake’s head. Presently, he said these words, “I am the third-born son destined for kindness. I am without a corporeal body to accomplish the benefit of beings, but I will be the guardian on his white armor. I am the younger brother Ludrül Ödchungf [Nāga Serpent Little Light]. My retinue is the silken cape that drapes over the armor. When you are offering to me, offer the selection portion of the three whites. I am the body god who never leaves the great being’s side.” Saying this, he remained in space as a radiant colorful light.

  Then from Gogmo’s navel, led by rainbow light rays, a beautiful girl of white emerged wearing clothing of vulture feathers. [She said], “Mother, I am your fourth child. I do not have a body of flesh and blood. I am the drala that accompanies the noble steed. I will be [Gesar’s] sister Thalei Ödkar [Completely Luminous]. When you offer to me, offer tea and turquoise. My retinue is at the ear tip of the horse, Noble Mount, resembling the finest vulture feathers. I am the spy lamp that illuminates the situation. I am the body god that never parts from the Great One.” Having spoken, she remained in the middle space. At that moment, the guru Lotus Born spoke the words of truth as prayers for auspiciousness by singing this song:

  NAMO GURU MAÑJUŚRĪYE

  This godling who has taken birth in the land of humans,

  The great loving Lokeśvara,g

  He of unimpeded superior knowledge, Mañjuśrī,

  And the powerful Lord of the Secret, Vajrapāṇi,

  Are inseparable from his self-existing mind.

  They will be symbolized by his rosary of jewels,

  The mirror, a mansion of light that clearly reflects existence,

  And the five-pointed crystal vajra;

  These three spontaneously will adorn his body.

  May there be the auspiciousness of bliss in Jambudvīpa.

  So that he will be able to benefit beings with his body,

  There will be the nine faults of the demons with perverted aspirations.

  So that the element of fire cannot harm him

  There will be the fire deity called Gyatag Marpo [Royal Red Tiger],

  And his further emanation, the werma Tigress.

  For the water element, there will be the wind god Yudrug [Turquoise Dragon],

  And his further emanation, the werma Sergyi Nya [Golden Fish].

  For the wood element, there is wind god Garuḍa King of Birds

  And his further emanation, Khelkar Lag [White-Breasted Eagle].

  For the iron element, the wind god Sengchen [Great Lion],

  And his further emanation, werma Sengei Kar [White Snow Lion].

  For crossing the plain of fire or a raging river,

  There will be the king of winds, Tornado, and the weapons of the four demons.

  His protectors will be these eight wind gods and wermas.

  May they accompany the body of this Great One.

  And may the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  The wermas who protect him from noxious poison

  Will be Kyilrog Sertrül [Coiled Friend Golden Snake].

  And the food god Changthang Nönpo [Youthful Blue Wolf].

  Along with Dungtra Horpa [White Horpa] who speeds ahead.

  The gods who clear the murk of fog both day and night,

  Will be the daytime shepherd Tangkar Gödpo [Strong White Vulture] and

  The nighttime shepherd Ugpa Serpo [Golden Owl].

  With the intelligent Ribong Karlu [Little White Rabbit],

  The courageous Dredmo Sogkar [White-Shouldered Grizzly],

  The disease curing werma, Lawa Rog [Black Musk Deer],

  The wind power that prevents the reach of the demons’ lasso, and

  The werma Onager Khakar Kyangtang [Asian Wild Ass White Muzzle].

  These are the nine wermas who protect from

  Poison, black magic curses, and binding lassos.

  May they accompany the body of the Great One

  May the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  First, the white helmet with silken pennants and garuḍa feathers,

  Second, the black armor that deflects lightning bolts,

  Third, the indestructible long life clothes of bliss-emptiness,

  Fourth is the amulet, the life-force stone of the wrathful ḍākinī mamos,h

  Fifth is the ḍākinī’s silken activity sash,

  Sixth is the red shield of six spokes,

  Seventh, the Mongolian boots that splendidly suppress the godly demons,

  Eighth, the tiger-skin quiver, a castle for the dralas.

  Ninth, a leopard-skin quiver that is the castle of the wermas;

  These are the nine accoutrements that are the work of the eight classes of haughty ones.

  May they accompany the body of the Great One.

  May the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  First, the sword Tabpa Lenme [Strikes without Riposte]

  Second, the spear Khamsum Dradül [Quells the Enemies of the Three Realms].

  Third, the lasso Trülnag Domgu [Black Snake of Nine Spans],

  Fourth, the bow Ragöd Khyilpa [Curving Wild Horn],

  Fifth, the ninety-nine divination arrows that support the gods,

  Sixth, the slingshot Phawang Tongkhor [Slings a Thousand Boulders],

  Seventh, the ax Dorje Dragchöd [Cuts Rocks like Vajras],

  Eighth, the knife Shelgyi Drichung [Crystal Little Knife],

  Ninth, the life stone Damcen Chagpa [Attracts the Oath-Bound Protectors].

  These are the nine self-existing weapons of the dralas

  Which sever the life force of all enemies so that they will never escape.

  May they accompany the body of the Great One.

  May the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  That Noble Mount from the land of Orgyen

  Is still in the belly of its Wild Ass mother.

  In order to capture him with the magical lasso

  And through the power of the truth of the ḍākinī’s words,

  May this horse become the karmic horse of the Great One.

  May the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  The companions who will help the divine child to perform his enlightened activities will be:

  The flower he carries as his ornament, Sengcham Drugmo [Lion Sister Dragoness];

  His divine arrow of good fortune from Chödrön [Dharma Torch];

  Adorned with the five-colored silk from Bumkyid [Full of Happiness]; and

  The beautiful mirror attached to it from Küntar [Total Freedom].

  May they48 unite in the hand of the Great One.

  May the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  The valley of Makhog, the great lion’s stomach,

  Connects in the upper part with the land of India

  And in the lower part with the country of China.

  There is no earth lord who is an embodied human;

  The intangible spirits own this land.

  When he reaches seven years of age,

  Engaging in a hidden manner, through uncontrived yogic activity

  May he take charge of this ownerless land

  And bind the formless by oath.

  May the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  The golden arrow Samdrub [Fulfills All Wishes],

  The longevity arrow of Drubpa Gyalmo,i

  Including the arrow Namcag Gönpola [Meteorite Life Force of Mahākāla],

  The thirty gold-notched divine arrows, and

  The fifty divine arrows of Jambudvīpa

  Are the Great One’s board of eighty ministers.

  May they become the ornaments of his bow of enlightened activity.

  May the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  That flying māra arrow for the forehead of King Lutsen,

  May it join the divine
arrows in the quiver.

  May the horse of Gurkar’s shoulder

  Be under the immutable golden saddle.49

  May the heart lake of King Sadamj

  Be the castle for the drala Sergyi Nya [Golden Fish].

  May the great white wing feathers of the garuḍa Shingtri

  Become the white feathers that adorn his divine arrow.

  May the four demons be bound by oath.

  May the four borderlands turn to the dharma.

  May the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  The four great fortresses and the eight lesser ones

  Are the twelve gateways to their kingdoms.

  May they be opened by the Magical Great One [Gesar].

  May he bring the wealth of the borderlands to Tibet.

  May those kingdoms of demons become his divine subjects.

  May the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  When the Great One has completely accomplished the benefit of others,

  May he, along with the three ministers who originally joined him in his aspiration prayers,

  Depart from the upper treasure gate of Sheldrag [Crystal Rock] and,

  Without leaving their bodies, may they join the ranks of the vidyādharas.

  May the auspiciousness of bliss pervade Jambudvīpa.

  In the future, until the end of this eon,

  May he be a wealth god for all those who practice correct dharma.

  May he become a jewel that fulfills whatever others wish for.

  This emanation of me, Padma,

  Although emanation and emanator are inseparable,

  May he be the greater emanation that benefits others.

  May whatever aspiration prayers I have made, be accomplished.

  And may auspicious bliss prevail in Jambudvīpa.

  Thus he sang, and from the gods came a symphony of music, a rainfall of flowers, and a dome of rainbow light. Guru Rinpoche conferred upon the divine child the name Supreme Being of Jambudvīpa, Gesar Norbu Dradül. For a while amazing and astonishing phenomena occurred, but everyone there was sworn to secrecy, and they remained, from then on, with that seal upon them.

  At that time the three iron falcon brothers, who are the life force of all classes of māras, were dwelling in their nest on Mount Meru. Sometimes their bodies were so huge that they had the power to shake the earth. Other times they became the size of thumbs, for they were the support of the black māras’ life essence. Every day they roamed around Jambudvīpa creating obstacles to the life span and life essence of dharma practitioners. While the ordinary people could not normally see them, at that time all the dralas and wermas of the side of virtue were summoning them to appear in the middle space of the sky. Powerless to escape, they circled there high in the sky in great rings. Knowing that the time had come to tame them, at that moment the Great Being received a magical bow and arrow and shot an arrow into the sky. Naked, he sat there on a boulder as the corpses of the three falcons fell to the earth. Still to this day the face of the stone is plainly imprinted with the impression of a three-year-old child’s thighs and buttocks. It became known that, in less than a day’s time of being in this world, he had tamed the three black falcon brothers.