Audio & Video Tracks | CHAPTER 4

The Kyrgyz Epic Manas

  • Ref. 4.1
    "Chong Kazat" (The great campaign)
    Urkash Mambetaliev recites the episode "Chong Kazat" (The great campaign) from Manas.
    Filmed by Nurlanbek Nyshanov, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
    (2011)
    Download text in PDF format View translation
    Eesi chygyp alangdap,
    Feeling desperate for his life,
    Atynyn bashyn burganda,
    The khan Kongur pulled his horse's head
    Kan jyttangan dayraga,
    Towards the river, which smelled like blood,
    Kan Kongur boyun sunganda,
    And tried to cross the river.
    Manas jetip buruldu.
    Manas reached him from his back
    Algaranyn kuyrugu,
    And grabbed
    Sunganda kolgo urundu.
    Algara by his tail.
    Manas bilekke chalyp tartkany
    Manas wrapped his tail around his wrist,
    Ee, kyrk kulach attyn kuyrugu,
    The horse's thick tail, which was as long as forty arm spans,
    Osho tübünön beri julundu, uuu.
    Got ripped off from the bottom.
    Kök joruday ungkuyup,
    Like a gray vulture,
    Körchü bolsong Kongurbay,
    If you saw Kongurbay at that moment,
    Etten alyp tultuyp,
    He looked angry.
    Oy, tuu kuyruktan ayrylyp,
    Losing his beautiful tail,
    Tulpary bolso bultuyup.
    His stallion was outraged.
    Ee, aman chygyp dayradan,
    They pulled themselves out of the river,
    Osho kayrattanyp turganda,
    Stood there to fight back,
    Oo, chabyshuudan kayran alp,
    The strong man was ready for the fight.
    Kün bütköndö, tün bütüp,
    When the day was over and night fell,
    Kan aldyndagy kara atka,
    The black horse under the khan
    Adamcha bölök til bütüp.
    Spoke like a human being.
    Kongurbayga kep aytat,
    He said to Kongurbay
    Kep aytkanda dep aytat.
    The following words:
    Ong kulagynan ayrylyp,
    Losing my right ear,
    Chunak kara at bolgoncho,
    I don't want to be called a one-eared black horse.
    Kuyrugunan ayrylyp,
    Losing my tail,
    Cholok kara at bolgoncho,
    I don't want to be called a tailless black horse.
    Algan külük Algara
    May people instead say that the galloper Algara
    Aykashtan ölgön desinchi,
    Died when his tail got ripped when pulled by a rope tied to another horse.
    Kaiyptan bütkön Algara,
    May people say instead that the magic Algara
    Kazattan ölgön desinchi.
    Died in a military campaign.
    Kanymdy karga jesinchi,
    It is better if crows drink my blood and
    Közümdü kuzgun oysunchu.
    Vultures pick my eyes.
    Söögümdön beri kaltyrbay,
    It is better if all my bones are buried
    Kömülör talap koysunchu.
    In the ground, leaving no trace of me.
    Oo, menin jalymdü kashyp berüüchü
    Oh, where is Ach Buudan [a horse's name],
    Janyma sherik boluuchu,
    Who can scratch my mane
    Ach Buudan kayda körünböyt.
    And be my companion?
    Kalbasa baary kyrylyp,
    Have they all been massacred [by Manas]?
    Kaar alsa anda el kayda.
    Where is our people
    Ushuncha jurttan ayrylyp,
    Losing so many of our warriors?
    El betin kantip karadyk?
    How can you look our people in the face
    Jer betin kantip karadyk?
    And go to our land?
    Ölsök ölüp kalalyk,
    For us, it is better to die here.
    Öküldögön Manastan,
    We must restore our pride
    Ölbösök namys alalyk.
    By fighting the proud Manas.
    Kayra suudan kechelik,
    We should cross back through the river
    Keng Manaska jetelik.
    And reach the big Manas.
    Köz aynygan chang kylyp,
    Let's create fog from dust,
    Körgöndördü tang kylyp,
    Surprise those who see it
    Karysh kyla ketelik.
    By cutting [Manas] into pieces.
    Ee, oshondo kaaryn salgan Algara
    At that moment, the furious Algara
    Atasynday köründü,
    Looked liked his [wise] father and
    Oo, jaratkan Kökö Tengirdin
    Sounded like the blessing of
    Batasynday köründü.
    The Creator, Kökö Tengir. 1
    Aytpay salsa köründü
    It was unbelievable,
    Oduraygan oshonun
    Flames of fire came out
    Oozunan otu tögüldü.
    From the big mouth of Kalcha [Kongurbay]
    Ok ötpögön sebil ton,
    [Kongurbay] straightened his bullet-proof iron body armor
    Ongdop kiydi temirdi.
    On his body.
    Dayrany jara süzdürüp,
    Riding on Algara,
    Algarany temindi.
    He swam through the river.
    Jetip alyp Manasty
    He looked as if he would
    Jep iychüdöy köründü.
    Capture Manas and eat him up.
    Ee, tokto, Manas, toktogun!
    Hey, stop! Manas, stop!
    Shashpa, Manas, shashpagyn!
    Don't rush, Manas, don't rush!
    Shashyp anda kachpagyn!
    Don't rush to run away!
    Menin karmashuuga karym bar,
    I have strong arms to fight with you,
    Chabysuuga chamam bar,
    I have energy to come to blows with you,
    Küröshüügö küchüm bar.
    I have strength to wrestle with you.
    Arkalyktyn Sary-Talaa
    On the Sary-Talaa of Arkalyk,
    At jaryshmak oynoyluk,
    Let's race on our horses,
    Üzöngü boogo salyshyp,
    Or wrestle on horseback
    Oodaryshmak oynoyluk,
    By putting our legs on the stirrup's string.
    Er kezegin bereli,
    Let's have a real manly game
    Eregishe kögörüp,
    On horseback.
    Küch synashsak küch synap,
    Or, if you want to test our strength,
    Toodoy tashty bölölük.
    Let's see who can break that giant rock.
    Andan ayla bolboso,
    If that doesn't work,
    At üstündö süzüshüp,
    Let's come to blows on horseback
    At tizginin üzüshüp,
    And rip each other's reins.
    Myktap maydan bashtaylyk,
    Let's start a real battle on the field.
    Ölümdön mynda kachpaylyk.
    Let's not fear death.
    Oshondo kök jal Manasyng, ee
    At that moment, the brave Manas
    Bura tartyp keldi deyt,
    Came by, pulling his horse's head,
    Kongurga kezek berdi deyt.
    And gave the turn to Kongur, they say.
    Tonkoyup bütkön talaaga,
    He told him to scatter a big clamor
    Toodoy chuunu chach dedi.
    On the wide open field.
    Er bolsong körgö jitirip,
    If you are a brave man,
    Ekige bölö chap dedi.
    Make [that giant rock] disappear by slashing it into two parts.
    Oshondo, topchulugu bir toguz,
    At that moment, he, the big wild boar as big as a mountain
    Toodoy bolgon chong donguz,
    Who had huge button holders [on his coat],
    Üpchülügü bir toguz,
    He, the big wild boar as big as a house
    Üydöy bolgon chong donguz,
    Securing his body and fixing his coat,
    Tula boyun tumchulap,
    Struck his Algara with the whip,
    Algarasyn kamchylap,
    Fixing his body and
    Oozunan otu tamchylap,
    Hitting his horse with the whip,
    Ay tushunan bir koydu.
    The giant Kongurbay
    Ey, alachyktay choyun bash,
    Approached the giant rock from one side
    Aylantyp kelip chong tashty,
    And, circling around it six times,
    Alp Kongurbay bir koydu
    Knocked it with a huge iron mace.
    Alty aylanyp chapkancha,
    Manas, the lion, watched him from the side
    Arstan Manas tim koydu.
    While he tried six times.
    Körchü bolsong Kongurdu
    If you had seen Kongur at that moment,
    Shondo közü ketti chekcheyip,
    His eyes popping,
    Beli ketti mekcheyip.
    His back bending, unable to withstand the force!
    Algarany moyundap,
    He leaned forward onto Algara's neck,
    Seksen kulach soyuldan,
    From the eighty-meters-long mace
    Saby kaldy kolunda.
    Only the handle was left in his hand.
    Oshol boydon kozgolboy,
    The giant rock stood in his way and didn't budge,
    Opol tash turat jolunda.
    With no sign of damage.
    Oshondo on ekisinde ok atkan,
    At that moment, Manas, who shot arrows at the age of twelve and
    On üchünö jetkende,
    Played ordo,2 and struck at enemies
    Ordo buzup joo chapkan.
    When he reached the age of thirteen,
    Jylgaluu jerde jylky algan,
    Who drove off mares from steep slopes,
    Koshogu menen kyz algan,
    Who took a wife to whom a bridal song was sung,
    Kokuylatyp er saygan,
    Who killed warriors with spears,
    Jaydak tulpar koshtogon,
    Who is accompanied by barebacked stallions [to facilitate changing horses in battle]
    Jan alchuga okshogon,
    Who looked like a killer.
    Aybatynan buulup
    Fearing his might
    Akpay dayra toktogon.
    Even the rivers stopped flowing.
    Arstan Manas baatyryng,
    Manas, the lion, approached from a distance,
    Kur kemerin chalynyp,
    Tightening his belt around his waste.
    Kuduretke jalynyp,
    Praying to God
    Jetip Manas chapkanda,
    Manas reached the rock and struck it.
    Jerdin kardy jarylyp
    The ground split open and
    Ot chachyrap toktoldu.
    Burst into flames for a moment.
    Opol tash kulap ydyrap,
    The giant rock split apart
    Ordu menen jok boldu.
    And disappeared into a crack in the earth.
    Aytylsa Manas taryhy,
    If we tell the story of Manas,
    Ee andan kalgan emespi,
    The crack in the black earth
    Osho kara jerdin jarygy.
    Remains from hi

    Notes

    1. Kökö Tengir (Blue Sky Tengri) is the old Turkic name for God or Creator.

    2. Ordo: a military game played with knucklebones.

  • Ref. 4.2
    Manas
    Rysbek Jumabaev recites from Manas.
    Filmed by Saodat Ismailova and Carlos Casas.
    (2004)
  • Ref. 4.3
    Manas
    Sayakbay Karalaev recites excerpts from Manas.
    Filmed by Melis Ubukeev.
    (Around 1970)
  • Ref. 4.4
    Manas
    Rysbay Isakov recites excerpts from Manas with music by Ensemble Ordo-Sakhna.
    Recording courtesy of Ensemble Ordo-Sakhna.
  • Ref. 4.5
    "Semetey's Encounter with Sarytaz"
    Samat Köchörbaev recites the episode "Semetey's Encounter with Sarytaz" from the epic Semetey in the Manas trilogy.
    Filmed by Nurlanbek Nyshanov, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
    (2011)
  • Ref. 4.6
    "Kanykeydin Tayrotunu chapkany" (Kanykey's horse race on Taytoru)
    Kulmat Sydykov recites the episode "Kanykeydin Tayrotunu chapkany" (Kanykey's horse race on Taytoru) from Manas.
    Filmed by Nurlanbek Nyshanov, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
    (2011)
    View translation
    Eey, mina oshondo Taytoru,
    At that moment, Taytoru
    Baskanyna mal jetpey,
    Galloped with such an unusual pace
    Bashkacha churkap alyptyr.
    That no other animal would catch up with him.
    Jelgenine jel jetpey,
    He galloped with such a distinct pace
    Jekeche churkap alyptir.
    That not even a breeze would catch up with him.
    Enkeyishte kalganda,
    When he came to a downhill,
    Eliktey kolu saiylat.
    His front hooves tightly grabbed on the slope.
    Örgö tarta bergende,
    When he came to an uphill,
    Jal, kuyrugu jaiylat.
    His mane and tail fluttered in the air.
    Talaa tuzgö kelgende
    When he came to a flat field,
    Tamany jerge tarsyldap,
    His soles made sounds against the ground.
    Kara bolot oozduk
    The black steel bit
    Kömököydö karsyldap,
    Clattered against his palate.
    Tal jibektey kuyrugun
    He hit his straight silky tail
    Chatky ayakka chapkylap.
    Against his rear legs.
    Kökülün kökkö yrgytyp
    Throwing his forelock into the air
    Könöktöy bolgon tuyagyn,
    With his hooves as big as a bucket,
    Körüngön jerge mylgytyp,
    He ran, stepping all over the ground
    Oynop ketchü nemedey,
    He became playful,
    Oysongdop bashyn chulgutup,
    Tossing his head from side to side
    Maralday bolgon denesi,
    His body, which became like that of a doe,
    Kapkara changa bölönüp,
    Was covered in black dust.
    Üstündögü jash Aydar,
    The young Aydar on his top,
    Er kashyna jölönüp,
    Leaned onto the saddle's head.
    Kele jatat Taytoru
    Thus Taytoru was coming,
    Ichi küyüp chok bolup,
    Burning like embers inside,
    Örttönüp ketchü ot bolup.
    As if he were going to burst into flame.
    Buydala tüshüp dürbünü,
    Quickly grabbing her binoculars,
    Kayran eneng Kanykey,
    The noble mother, Kanykey,
    Kayra saldy toktolup.
    Looked again carefully.
    Myna oshondo karasang,
    When she looked,
    Sary adyrmak urchukta,
    On the far side of Sary Adyrmak mountain,
    Salyngan toonun tumshukta,
    In the foothills of the mountain,
    Kerüüchünün jolunda,
    On the road to Kerüüchü,
    Kara Talas boyunda,
    Near dark Talas,
    Özüng körgön Taytoru,
    That Taytoru whom she saw,
    Kalgan eken janybar,
    When she looked,
    Myna oshondo karasang,
    The charger with the soul, was left behind
    Otuz tulpar songunda.
    Thirty stallions.
    Aylanaiyn Taytoru,
    Dear Taytoru,
    Belgilüü külük mal eleng,
    You were a famous galloper,
    Kechee katagandyn kan Koshoy,
    Khan Koshoy of Katagan,
    Aksakalduu abakem,
    My respected uncle with a white beard,
    Kabylan Manas ölgondö,
    Had given you to me as a contribution for the funeral
    Oshol azaga ele bergen mal eleng, uuuuu.
    When Manas, the tiger, had died.
    Ee, serüündötpös özümdü,
    Don't ruin my dignity,
    Shermende katyn dedirtip,
    Don't make people call me a shameless woman,
    Ubara kylba özümdü.
    Don't let my efforts be in vain.
    Dep oshentip jengekeng,
    Saying these words, your dear sister-in-law [Kanykey]
    Kayrat kylyp turalbay,
    Became impatient
    Kayra dürbü saldy ele,
    And looked through her binoculars again.
    Kayra karap kaldy ele,
    When she looked again,
    Baya körgön Taytoru,
    Taytoru, whom she saw a while ago,
    Tulparlygy bilinip,
    Showed his real stamina,
    Araanday oozun achyptyr,
    He opened his mouth wide
    Kan aralash ak köbük,
    And splashed white foam
    Omuroogo chachyptyr.
    Onto his chest.
    Baskanyna mal jetpey,
    He galloped with such an unusual pace
    Bashkacha churkap alyptyr.
    That no other animal would catch up with him.
    Jelgenine jel jetpey,
    He galloped with such a distinct pace
    Jekeche churkap alyptir.
    That not even a breeze would catch up with him.
    Atangdyn körü dünüyö,
    Damn this world,
    Özüng körgön buudanyng
    That stallion whom she saw a while ago
    Otuzunan adashyp,
    Coming behind thirty horses
    On ekige baryptyr.
    Was now coming behind twelve horses.
    Munu körgön jengengdin,
    Seeing this, your dear sister-in-law
    Köngülü jaman bölünüp,
    Became so excited,
    Közünön jashy tögülüp,
    Tears poured from her eyes.

    Notes

    1. Kyrgyz warriors named their coat of armor. Chubak named his armor "Akh albars" (hungry demon).

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