CH 1 - The people of snowly land ...

 
The first chapter of The Epic of King Gesar tells the story of how the beings of the snowy plateau fell into suffering due to the rampage of demons, and how the gods decided to send their divine son, Gesar, to the human world to save them. According to legend, beneath a massive, yak-shaped black stone, three iron scorpions were imprisoned. Out of compassion, the Vajra released them, but due to their karmic sins from past lives, they were reincarnated as a nine-headed snow pig. The King of Brahma beheaded the nine heads, which transformed into four black, three red, one multicolored, and one white. The four black heads were reborn as the Four Great Demon Kings of the North (including Hor’s White Tent King and the Demon King of Jiang), who spread chaos across the human world. Meanwhile, the white head vowed to become a hero to subdue the demons and was reincarnated as King Gesar.
Disasters frequently struck the snowy plateau, and living beings suffered greatly. Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) implored Amitabha Buddha to save them. Amitabha Buddha prophesied that the Prince of Brahma Heaven, Tonpa Gawa (King Gesar in his previous life), would be born into the human world, tasked with teaching and saving beings as well as subduing demons. At the same time, the Four Great Demon Kings wreaked havoc on the snowy plateau, leaving the people in unbearable misery. Amitabha Buddha sent a ray of divine light to guide the Master Padmasambhava (Pema Tötreng Tsal), foretelling the arrival of King Gesar.
Ultimately, the son of the Brahma King, Tonpa Gawa (Gesar), was chosen to be reborn in the southern continent of Jambudvipa, destined to become the hero who would rescue all beings. This chapter, rich in mythological elements, narrates the origins of King Gesar and establishes the epic’s central theme of subduing demons and saving the world.


CH 2 - Avalokiteshvara Delivers the Teachings...
 
Chapter Two tells the story of how Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin Bodhisattva), in order to save sentient beings, transformed into a demon child and ventured into the perilous land of the northern Ox-Tail Continent, the dwelling place of the Rakshasa tribe. The grand palace of Great Bliss in this land was so imposing that even Yama, Brahma, and the demon king Vetala dared not approach it. Concealing his true form and protected by a white light, the Bodhisattva entered this realm, where he was intercepted by the Rakshasa minister, Recha Gotön. In response to questioning, the Bodhisattva replied with wisdom, identifying himself as the “Compassionate Son Who Benefits All Beings” and insisting on meeting the Rakshasa king, Pematokchen.
Eventually, Pematokchen, who was actually an emanation of Amitayus (the Buddha of Infinite Life), recognized the Bodhisattva’s true identity. Joyfully, he accepted the Bodhisattva’s mission of salvation and prophesied the coming of the divine child, Tonpa Gawa. The later sections detail the sacred process of the divine child’s birth: through the blessings of the Five Buddhas, he was endowed with extraordinary powers to subdue demons and save sentient beings, becoming the embodiment of a “warrior and teacher” who tirelessly works day and night


CH 3 - The Divine Child Fears Difficulty ... (Click for full version)

The divine son of the heavens, Tonpa Gawa (also known as Boddo Gabu), was chosen by the gods to descend to the human world and embark on the arduous journey of subduing demons and saving sentient beings. However, due to the immense suffering he endured through countless cycles of reincarnation, the divine son developed great fear of the mortal realm and repeatedly tried to avoid his mission. He hid in various places, such as snow mountains, dragon palaces, and mandalas, but was repeatedly found and brought back by the master Padmasambhava and other gods. Finally, after the gods promised to fulfill nine of his conditions (such as having a divine father, a dragon mother, a divine steed, and weapons) and provided repeated teachings, the divine son vowed to be reborn as King Gesar to save the beings of the snowy land.


CH 4 - Seeking the Divination Deity to Resolve...(Click for full version)
The meticulous preparations made by Master Padmasambhava for the divine son Tonpa Gawa's (King Gesar) descent into the human world. Master Padmasambhava observed various regions of the snowy plateau through divinations and ultimately selected Ling, the center of the "Six Ridges of Dokham," deeming it the auspicious land of the "Self-Rising Sun," fit for enlightening sentient beings.
The master identified Senlen, a descendant of the ancient Tibetan Mu Buddha Dong clan, as the divine son's earthly father, due to his kind and generous nature. To secure the divine son’s mother, the master caused the dragon clan to fall victim to an epidemic, compelling the dragon king, Zöna Rinchen, to seek help. Through the divination of the oracle Dorje Anga, the dragon king learned that offering a dragon princess would resolve the calamity.
Ultimately, the master chose the dragon king’s youngest daughter, Meto Naze, as the divine son’s mother. Although she was not beautiful in appearance, she possessed extraordinary spirituality. As part of her dowry, the master requested a green tent, Buddhist scriptures, and a green-horned milking cow. The dragon princess was entrusted to Dunba Khyentse of Ling for safekeeping until the divine son’s birth.