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| B. Zhatukhaev |
“Abai Geser”. Inv. No 1569
It is written from storyteller B.Zh. Zhetukhaev. The first two chapters were written down by A. A. Balburov. The volume is 2809 lines, 102 pages of typescript. The third chapter is written by S.P. Baldaev in April 1941 in Ulan-Ude. The volume is 1437 lines in verse. 54 pages of typescript. The content of S.P. Baldaev’s written text is the continuation of the two chapters united under the title “Abai Geser” written down by A. A. Balburov.
B. Zhetukhaev’s variant is an original version of the “Geser” Unga version the plot of which differs substantially from those of P. Petrov and P. Dmitriev.
The subject-matter
I. The introduction. A brief address in verse to the listeners on the beginning of the epic-telling.
II. The introduction. It tells of the time of the action that immediately preceded the events connected with the epical biography of the bogatyr. The celestials – tengris, their genealogical relations and mutual relations, the conflict among the tengris, that was the reason for Geser’s descent from the Sky and his deeds on the Earth are presented in a traditional way close to the variants by P. Petrov and P. Dmitriyev.
Represented are the two camps of the deities, i.e. the western and the eastern deities. The head of the western thirty three tengris is Khan Khurmas, his younger brother is called Zasa Shuker-mergen. Khan Khurmas has three sons: Ami-Sakhigshin-bator, Argasha Mekheshi-bator and Bulegen Tugese-bator (future Geser).
Khan Khurmas goes hunting, first he examines the horses and herds, visits his people.
III. The battle on the sky of Khan Khurmas and Atai Ulan. Khan Khurmas and Atai Ulan wish to wrench off Segen Sebdeg-tengri to their side. A quarrel flares up. The battle between the two opponents ends with Khan Khurmas’ victory, he throws Atai Ulan on the Earth (in difference from the other variants he falls on the earth alive not dead). The eastern tengris in revenge send wholesale deaths, spread diseases in the land of the Tugeshin khans.
IV. Khan Khurmas’s descent on the earth. Khan Khurmas descends on the Earth to the three Tugeshin khans to the land of Tubin Uram. He learns of the transformation of Atai Ulan in monster Gal Durme-khan in the land of Khonin Khotoyin, in a far-off land of Zugei. Shebegli-burkhan (Buddha Shakyamuni) advises that Khan Khurmas should send onto the Earth one of his sons lest Gal Durme-khan and the three sharablin khans should commit evil deeds.
The tsar of the water reign Ukha Lobson khan arranges a big festival. All those taking part in the sport games and contests are defeated by Bukhe Bulegen Tugese (Bukhe is a title of a strong man). His father Khan Khurmas and Ukha Lobson make a decision to become relatives and so to get their children married.
V. The descent of Geser onto the Earth. His second birth. Three years pass and there begin the hard times. The people in the land of Tebid suffer and die. The nine shulmases (demon, evil spirit) attack the people and cattle, kill a hundred of people and a hundred of horses each day, obscure (befog) all with the mist and spread diseases. Khan Khurmas learns of the misfortunes, Golto – burkhan reminds him of the necessity to send onto the earth one of his sons. When the sons refuse to do that Manzan Gurme-the grandma advises that Bulegen Tugese, the youngest son should be sent down. Bulegen Tugese agrees but on the condition that the deities should give him all the necessary things. Then he descends onto the Segte Sumber mountain.
Shebegli-burkhan (the god) tells Khara Zutan-khan to find a beautiful girl and settle her in a deserted solitary place together with one of the tugeshin khans – Sugle Noyon. That one could not cope with the task, he could not find a beautiful girl. Burkhan (lama) himself finds a beauty girl Gegse Namarzan, Guu Bayan’s daughter. Khara zutan with his people get Sugle Noyon and Gegse Namarzan crippled (break their hands and legs) and exile them to a desolate place.
That is the way Geser’s future earthly parents begin to live. Gegse Namarzan gives birth to the three daughters and the three sons. The younger son appears to be a freak and sloven. He causes frost and gets his mother’s hand frostbitten. The parents give him the name of Nyukhata Zura (Snotnose Zura).
VI. The first victories of the baby-bogatyr. Sugle Noyon when going hunting takes his younger son and leaves him in the cradle in a desolate place. The baby sets around himself the magic snare or noose, catches with them and kills a mosquito that flew up to suck out his blood. A one hundred and five-headed biting yellow mangadkhai makes attempts at killing the boy, he comes under the guise of a blind black lama treating children and giving them names. Nyuhata Zura puts the boot in him having torn out his tongue with the larynx.
Sugle Noyon who became rather rich on the will of Khara Zutan comes back to his old nomads' camp.
VII. The wonderful deeds of Geser (Nyukhata Zura) and his marriage (This part was was written down by the folklorist S. P. Baldaev). Nyukhata Zura together with his father and Khara Zutan go out hunting. Khara Zutan stays without any saddle, bow and arrows.
Nyukhata Zura sinks in the sea nine shulmases having substituted his horses. He gives the shulmases’ horses to his uncle Sargal Noyon. Finding himself together with his mother in a desolate land where the people die from the unbearable heat and lack of water. Nyukhata Zura with a big stone makes a big hole in the ground from where bubbling there comes out the water of life. The grateful people build up a palace for the bator.
Tumen Zhargalan - the beauty comes for the prayer to the newly built-up palace with a sack of gold and silver. Nyukhata Zura meets her there and proposes to her. Long persuasions and preparations result in a marriage ceremony.
