Nasren and Bataraz (Chircassian Myth)

Bataraz Releasing Nasren Who Was Chained to the Top of the Mountain

Translated from Russian

Nasren was an intelligent and noble leader.
He comforted people in trouble and cheered them in feasts.
He was an irrepressible and invincible Nart.
However, he was hated by one enemy.
Pako, god of evil, did not get along with Nasren.
Pako hated Narts from the ancient times.
He cursed Narts and burdened them.
People had a time of sorrow.
Pako sent thunders on their country.
He bent oaks like vines.
He lifted sea waves higher than sky.
He robbed them of bread, millet, and barley.
He flooded their land with unceasing rains.
He make their fields dry by hot dry wind.
Upset Narts told Pako:
"The one who have authority, why do you torment us?
You do not give us rest from frost and heat.
You cause evil and sorrow in our native land."

When Pako had heard indignant speeches,
He destroyed Narts' hearths.
He quenched put out life-giving fire everywhere.
He took away even coals.
Poor Narts were deprived of fire.
They told Nasren: "What shall we do?
Our leader, deal with the evil one.
We will die without fire and light."
"Do not worry," replied long-bearded Nasren.
"I will take away fire from evil Pako."
He put on golden chain-mail shirt,
Saddled the horse, and rode.
He reached Oshkhomakho mountain
And looked boldly to the mountain slope.
A voice like a thunder sounded from the mountain summit,
It sounded as if the sky was split,
It was Pako speaking: "Hey, a tiny one,
If you do not leave, I will kill you!"

The noble Nart replied from downstairs:
"Hey, good, you are said to be kind!
Why did you took away fire from Narts?
We, earthly people, are dying with fire?"

"Go away, unwise Nart,
I will not spare your foolish head!
You, poor Narts, forgot about me.
You do not give me what you owe at your earthly feasts.
At the feast of harvest, you sit around three-legged tables
And drink wine without me.
You gather millet from the rich field,
But do not give a portion to your god.
When you come back from battle as a proud army,
Who shares glory with me?
Are you seeking a way to Oshkhomakho [mountain of happiness]
In order to rebel against god?
You will be punished today, rebel.
I will chain up you on the top of the mountain.
At the high mountain, you will be lonely,
You will be my captive until your very death."

He tied iron chain around Nasren
And firmly chained him to Oshkhomakho.
Pako had an eagle, blood-thirsty predator.
Gloating Pako released it.
The eagles' wings are so big that gorge is not enough for them.
The eagle is flying around like black snowstorm.
The predator attacks the leader of Narts
And tears his chest with its beak.
It drinks blood from the heart of proud Nasren
And fiercely pecks his liver with its beak.

Rivers and seas flows in the world,
But there is no drop of water for Nasren.
Under the mountain, there are fountains,
But the captive wishes to drink a little water.
He is thirsty there on Oshkhomakho.
He is covered with ice.
Heavy iron presses on his legs and arms.
He groans because of bitter torments.
Wind makes his groans heard at a long distance.
Narts' hearts ache.

* * *

Narts gathered together for their council without their leader.
They need to decide how to rescue him.
Narts remember their former exploits,
Their youth, their former strength.
Here, there are Imys, Arykshu, and fervent Sosruko.
They are thinking what they should do with the trouble and their enemy.
They are considering. Pako threatens them.
Severe Pako is threatening and invincible.
Narts decided that the leader's daughter
Will be the wife of the one who rescues her father.
In addition, he will receive the best armor.
This person will receive pleasure and joy.
Everyone wishes that somebody would be willing to rescue Nasren.
Everyone wishes that somebody would go to this fearful way.

No one is going. The fiancée is ashamed.
"Let's go all together!" say Narts.
Narts are going through mountains and gorges.
They are seeing Oshkhomakho covered with ice.
On the snow top, the leader suffers.
There is a barrier between them, there is no road to him.

Pako sees Narts. He gathers his servants
And sends them to gorges from the icy summits.
The servants came down, they are near Narts,
And in front of them, the eagle is flying in the sky.
Whirlwinds moan in gorges.
Snowstorm whirls stones and grass.
The sky is covered by a flock of eagles.
Their wings cover up the day light.
It is dark like late at night.
Predators peck Narts' heads.
Narts cannot see anything and are dying.
Nart Panuko is dying because an eagle tears him.
Narts cannot see anything. Bold Badynoko
Lost his horse because of darkness.

Survived Narts gathered together.
Narts' blood is flowing to the gorge.
Narts are riding in silence. They bowed their heads.
There is sorrow in their native land.
"Narts do not have fire because Pako took it away.
We do not have the leader because he is dying in chains.
Narts, what shall we do, where can we find rescue?
We were unable to bring fire back to our hearths.
We were unable to rescue wise Nasren.
Narts, what shall we do? How shall we live?"

Then, fearless Bataraz said:
"I will regain our fire.
I promise you: our wise leader
Will be with us again. I will rescue him."
Bataraz saddled his horse Karaptsa, put on his warrior's clothes,
And was riding as he used to ride.
Here is Oshkhomakho. He stood at its foot.
"Hey, god who shamed his god's title!
Why are you hiding in the gorge as a coward?
It is not hard to hide, but come out to fight!
You took away fire from Narts
And chained Narts' leader.
I am Narts' messanger, I am their rescuer.
I will deliver people from you, destroyer.
If you are not a coward, do what I tell you.
Let your greedy eagle come down from the summit."

The sky was darkened. Black darkness became thick.
It was because the eagle came down from the mountain.
When it waved with its wings, everything became dark around.
Even the horse was frightened. "Hey, horse Karaptsa,
What's wrong with you? Are you frightened by its wings?
Or you have not seen a stronger enemy?
Did not we have troubles?
Are this whirlwinds new to you?"
He beats Karaptsa three times with a belt
And is going to shoot the eagle with an arrow.

At this moment, a dragon, hungry more than a wolf,
Is coming down to them from the mountain top,
And the eagle makes a whirlwind with its wings.
The tired horse is unable to stand.
"Karaptsa, why are you frightened?
You were my faithful friend, but you became a coward now?"
Bataraz again beats Karaptsa.
It teared along to the sky.
Bataraz began to fight against the eagle
And continued the battle on the mountain ice.
The eagle's wings made darkness,
But Bataraz pierced a wing with his lance.
Suddenly, it became light as if a window was open.
The sun gave light through the eagle's wing.
The sun began to shine to rocks and gorges.
The eagle's voice was heard in the sky.
Bold Bataraz pierced the eagle again with his lance.
Nart defeated the mountain ruler.

He brought the predator on the lance to the mountain foot
And cut off the eagle's head with his sword.
Pako heard when the eagle cried before dying.
Death's bodyguard also heard this cry.
This bodyguard came down to Bataraz
And was killed in severe battle.
Death began to fight with the man,
But the living Nart was not scared by Death.
He killed Death by cutting her.
Death groaned and fell down.
Mountains were shaken at her fall.
A bird flied above her like a black shadow.

Nart did many mighty acts at this day.
A dragon was crawling and crushing everything on its way.
Fearless Bataraz cut off the dragon's head
With his shining sword.
Bataraz on Karaptsa was rushing to the mountain top.
Pako in fear left his place.
Bataraz reached the chained Nart
And cut off the chains with his lance.
He cut off the chains and released
The wise Nasren and brought him home.

At that day, there was fire in Narts' hearths.
Narts had a feast and joyful noise.
They cut rams and shared with shepherds.
Narts drank sano [Narts' drink] with shepherds: all people were equal.
At this day, Narts began to drink sano.
Look at them: Narts are on horses.
They play games and sing songs.
There never have been a better feast.
Ardent Sosruko granted his friend Bataraz
His precious chain-mail shirt that he had worn.
Narts praised and glorified Bataraz.
Shepherds from far mountains came to the feast.

Old Vakva saw her son:
"Did I not raise a giant for you!"
Bataraz was given the first cup.
He was cheerfully crowned with glory.
Narts said many good words.
They asked him to drink sano and told him:
"Beloved Bataraz, invincible Nart,
You restored our souls, you brought fire back.
You released Nasren from the iron chains.
You are our rescuer, you are our best friend."
Bataraz thankfully drank the cup
And said: "Let our fire be eternal!"

There was sano drinking and joy
For forty days and nights.
Far places heard clatter of horses.
In the field, arrows were shot and reached the target.
Narts let the wheal Zhan-Sherkh [mysterious wheel] down from the ancient mound
And threw it upward.
They called Bataraz the best Nart,
They called him the best of men.