The Tiger's Lair and Chao Tong's Cowardice

The great army led by Prince Yula Toju of the Jiang Kingdom converged with the forces of the Lion King at the southern pass of Mount Moujiang. The assembled heroes gathered within the royal tent of King Gesar to hold council. The hero Chaxiang Danma arranged the battle formations and declared: "Ahead lies the Spotted Tiger's Lair of Zhangbu. A man-eating tiger of extraordinary ferocity dwells there. Only the magical incantations of Darong Chief Chao Tong can subdue this beast."

Chao Tong set out on his mission, and as he neared the tiger's lair, he fashioned a red torma and a white torma, calling upon the protective deities to aid him in subduing this man-eating southern tiger. He continued onward until he reached a rocky mountain shaped like a great black elephant rearing up, surrounded by poisonous thorn trees, with blue flowers and azaleas gleaming like piles of precious jewels. Chao Tong thought to himself: Previously, when I subdued five-clawed beasts, I suffered greatly. Now, if I provoke this red tiger's wrath, no good will come of it. It would be better to deceive King Gesar and the ministers. So he turned back and announced to the warriors: "My spells are potent whether cast from near or far. I shall cast my incantations from right here. Go forth and attack that man-eating tiger, I have already diminished its magical powers!"

At this, Chief Danma questioned him: "If casting your spells from here can work without you reaching the tiger's lair, why didn't you cast them from camp this morning? You, Chief Chao Tong, are counted among the brave men of Ling. Since you've already stripped the tiger of its magic, how could we brothers presume to share your glory? By all means, go and finish the task yourself!"

Danma's words left Chao Tong red-faced with fury, yet he found no grounds to argue. He was forced to press on with Michong. They climbed atop a red boulder the size of a wild yak beside the elephant-shaped rock, lit a fire, and burned fragrant juniper incense. He offered the white torma to the gods and cast the red torma toward the enemy. In an instant, roaring flames erupted before the tiger's lair.

The Fierce Tiger Attacks and Senda's Rescue

The man-eating southern tiger, unable to bear the scorching heat, opened its flame-red maw, its roar like thunderclaps, its fangs like overlapping snow mountains, and lunged at Chao Tong and Michong. Michong fled and hid beneath a flowering poisonous thorn tree, escaping the tiger's notice. Chao Tong ran for his life, not daring to look back. The tiger, having caught the scent of the ritual objects upon him, gave chase. Chao Tong's flat-soled embroidered boots were snagged on a tree branch, but he abandoned them, fleeing barefoot, shedding his armor, scattering his bow, arrows, and pouches along the way. Spotting a tall golden pine, he scrambled halfway up its trunk. The red tiger reached the tree, roaring, clawing at its waist, and gnawing the bark with its fangs. Just as it was about to bite through the trunk, Chao Tong, desperate, tried to bluff: "Striped tiger, listen well! From below comes the neighing of a horse, that is the chestnut steed's cry! From the sky comes a call, that is King Gesar summoning! From between comes the sound of rushing wind, that is a sharp blade being drawn! If you value your life, flee now! If you court death, stay where you are!"

His threats only enraged the tiger further. Chao Tong wept, certain he would be devoured. Just then, in the distance, upon a mirror-bright meadow, Bara Senda Adong came galloping, gleaming white like a cloud swept by the wind. Seeing his savior, Chao Tong cried out: "Invincible hero Bara Senda Adong! You are the wolf among men! Your steed is worth a thousand gold pieces! Your waist-sword is a great slaying blade! You are a treasure of the gods! Save my life today, defeat this man-eating tigress, and I shall reward you with ten gold coins!"

Senda Adong, seeing Chao Tong in such a sorry state, could not hide his glee: "Oh my! Is this not Darong Chief Chao Tong? Did you not receive prophecies from the divine bird? Were you not confident you could win Princess Meiduo Zhuoma of the Men Kingdom as your bride? If you're this afraid of a mere ugly tiger no bigger than a dog, how will you court the princess? How will you face the sixty demon generals of Men?"

Though he mocked, Senda nonetheless drew his bow and loosed an arrow at the fierce beast. The arrow struck the red tiger's throat. With a tremendous roar, the tiger spewed crimson blood and collapsed to the ground. Simultaneously, the dragon, demon, and spirit entities became enraged, a great wind arose, shaking heaven and earth. The tree Chao Tong clung to snapped at its midpoint, pinning him beneath it. As he lay unconscious, Senda Adong rushed over and dragged him out from under the fallen trunk.

The Army Marches to the Southern Mountains

By then, the lords and warriors of Ling had arrived. Gade supported Chao Tong and listened closely to his chest, his outward breath had ceased, but an inner breath remained. King Gesar approached, placed his right hand upon Chao Tong's head, and performed a soul-calling ritual to extend his life. After the time it takes to drink a bowl of tea, Chao Tong awoke as if from a dream. Bara and Danma skinned the tiger, loaded the pelt onto a horse, and returned to camp with the others.

After several days, the Ling army reached Mount Dala Chawu in the south. It was a place of breathtaking beauty, the Four Regions of U-Tsang and the eighteen great tribes of Men were all visible in the distance. The surrounding peaks, bathed in sunlight, rose in layered shades of green, magnificent beyond words. The Lion King and his ministers and generals were captivated by the lovely scenery. Gesar ordered the troops to rest and enjoy the picturesque views. Attendants brought fine wine and delicacies, and lord and vassals drank together in high spirits. The Lion King radiated joy. During the feast, he suddenly asked the youngest general, Prince Yula Toju of the Jiang Kingdom: "Yula, my beloved general, can you name these mountains near and far and tell me their origins and characteristics?"

"Please point them out, Your Majesty, and I shall do my best."

Yula, just fifteen years old and full of youthful vigor, was eager to display his talents before the other generals.

"Very well. Look there, Yula, I will point to each mountain, and when I finish, you must answer immediately."

"Yula obeys."

As King Gesar's finger indicated each peak, a succession of majestic mountains came into view:

"That mountain nearest to us,

Like a novice monk holding incense before the shrine,

What is its name?

Beside it, a purple rocky peak,

Like an eagle gliding low over the crags,

What is its name?

That mountain of standing stone slabs,

Like a red banner fluttering in the wind,

What is its name?

A goddess in a yellow hat,

Wreathed in rainbow clouds, standing among the heavens,

What is her mountain's name?

A beautiful peacock spreading its jeweled tail,

At the goddess's feet,

What is its name?

Yula, look farther south,

That mountain rising like a crescent moon on the third night,

What is its name?

In the middle, four mountains stand,

Majestic as palace halls,

What are their names?

To the north, a precipitous peak,

Like a general brandishing a war banner,

What is its name?

Beyond the steep peak, a gentler slope,

Like a king just ascending his throne,

What is its name?

Yula, look now to the east,

A dakini bearing five mountains,

What are their names?

Between the mountains, a broad plain,

An elephant walking across it,

What is its name?

A beautiful woman holding a babe,

Gazing into the distance, longing for her husband's return,

What is its name?"

Yula's Magnificent Mountain Praise

Yula Toju straightened his helmet, stepped onto a rock, and stood tall like a proud rooster:

"The novice monk holding incense is Jaga's Sandalwood Mountain,

The eagle gliding low is Jaga's Tulu Bird Mountain,

The fluttering red banner is Wayi Weigelama Mountain,

The goddess in the yellow hat is the renowned Mount Everest,

The peacock spreading its tail is Nepal's Long-Life Five-Eyed Buddha Mountain,

The crescent moon rising is Bhutan's Thunderstruck Peak,

The four central mountains are the Four Great Sacred Mountains of Tibet,

The general brandishing his banner is the Seven Tigers' Proud Peak,

The king ascending his throne is Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain,

The dakini bearing five peaks is Jhana's Wutai Mountain,

The elephant on the plain is Jhana's Mount Emei,

The woman holding her child is the Holy Mountain of Huzan Demu."

King Gesar asked about over a hundred mountains in one breath, and Yula Toju answered them all without hesitation. This became the famous "Praise of the Mountains."

The Lion King, delighted by Yula's mountain praise, ordered his attendants to bring a large bowl of wine in honor. Yula did not decline, he raised the bowl high and drained it in one go. Gesar ordered the army to make camp there, but Yula stopped him: "Your Majesty, though this place is beautiful, it is not suitable for camping. We must press forward quickly. Tonight we should camp at Nanqin Zala Wama, where we can secure the golden bridge leading to the Men Kingdom. Tomorrow, once we cross the river, we can attack successfully."

Thus the great army marched onward, drawing closer each day to the capital of the Men region.