The Legends Angkor-Wat

The Legends of Angkor Wat

1. A journey into the distant past.
The road led to a far, unknown land,
Where time itself has preserved ancient temples,
That sprawl between canals and ponds.
The guide told about the secrets of these protected places.

An attentive traveler in the wilds of forests
One day I noticed a carved pattern on the stone.
To this land, far away, dense, deaf
Brave people have made a difficult journey.
The valley was filled with the sound of ringing voices,
The forgotten sounds reached the spirits of the woods.
Over the years, a lot of roots and trunks have been cleared,
In the dense thicket, amidst the age-old silence,
The lost city was found like a book of the gods.
Grateful grandchildren discovered the land of Angkor.
Palaces and temples — Khmer masters' creation,
They were erected among the forests by royal command.
Ancient temples: Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prom...
they were created according to the master architect's plan,
Godson of Indra, in the image of the heavenly palace,
Which, according to legend, the prince visited once.

2. The legend of the ancient kingdom.
The elder told an ancient legend.
Indian Prince Kaundinya (Prea Thong)
I roamed the sea on a large merchant ship,
After a long journey, I got to the ground.
I met Princess Soma (Neang Nek) on the shore,
I fell in love with her, a girl of unprecedented beauty.
The father of the princess, the terrible king of the Nagas,
He blessed the young to start a family,
Freed a piece of land from the waters of the sea,
He gave them a blessed land — Cambodia.
And they founded a new dynasty on this land.

In a certain year, their descendant, Prince Prekh Ketomialia,
visited the heavenly palace with the permission of Lord Indra.,
Who delighted him immensely with his beauty.
The prince decided to invite the heavenly inhabitants to visit,
But I was saddened that there was nowhere on earth
to adequately accommodate them.
Mr. Indra sent his architect Preah Pisnokar to the prince.,
Wishing to build a palace on earth, similar to the heavenly one.
This architect, being the son of a gardener and
the celestial maiden Apsara,
He accurately conveyed the beauty of the heavenly palace on earth.

3. Heavenly guests.
It's not easy to find a way between these huge palaces.,
You can't get around all the galleries, you can't embrace the bas-reliefs.
One day, Indra himself and his retinue visited the temple.
The water surface is frozen, the stars are shining in the sky,
As an extension of the heavens, their reflection in the water.
Like a big petal, the boat floats in silence,
The stars tremble on the wave, like pearls in the depths.
A carved boat descends from heaven from a height between the stars,
It glides along the river surface to the stone shore.
The companions of the gods have entered the firmament of the earth.
That chosen breg is strewn with flowers —
Heavenly messengers have a worthy destiny.

The waters of the canals splash against the walls of temples and palaces,
There are gardens of strange trees and bushes along the banks.
Shady palm groves, picturesque glades,
Rare plants are strewn with wonderful flowers.
A light breeze carried their sweet fragrance.,
Attracting colorful butterflies and songbirds.
The guests rested in the fertile shade of the foliage,
Listening to the birds, the flutter of the drums
and the gentle melody of the strings,
Admiring nature and slender dancers.

When the musicians stopped talking for a while,
The court maidens sat down to rest,
They were replaced by the spirits of the forest, Kinnars
From the mountain gardens of the keeper of Kubera's wealth,
Celestial maidens are Apsara dancers.
Music and singing, like nectar, with gusto
Fragrant gardens filled the air.

4. Strange flowers.
The elder told the legend.
Wonderful flowers were brought from the heavenly garden,
That they bloom only once a year,
On a full moon night in a protected garden.
The prince cannot sleep in the palace, he goes out onto a spacious terrace.
I went down the alley to the garden, where the chorus of cicadas does not stop.
Soma, the god of the Moon, admires nature,
Caresses the wonderful garden around the palace with light.
And the mother-of-pearl shadows glide without touching the fences.
The celestial friends of Apsara descended from the height
Dancing among the strange flowers.
Their weightless outfits sway over the waters of the ponds.
The prince, enchanted, froze, not daring to disturb them.,
And only silently admired the unearthly beauty.
The prince dreams about them all the days,
 and looks forward to meeting them.,
But the gardener says the moon won't rise today.
When the deadline expired, the day of flowering came.,
The moon rose in the sky, celestial nymphs appeared,
We visited the reserved garden again for a moment to look at the flowers,
the young man decided to approach the heavenly virgin
and whispered to her about love,
The moon was admiring a wonderful couple by the water from a height.
And the maidens hummed softly, admiring the wonderful flowers until dawn.

Palaces and temples rise between the waters,
Stars twinkle in the sky. The white lotus blooms,
Dew trembles on the leaves, like tears of tenderness.
The flames of bonfires are reflected in the waters of the moats,
Bright stars, the glitter of blades, and the pattern of jewelry.
A parade and folk festivals are organized on the holiday.
The procession moves solemnly along the canal,
Colorfully reflected among the ripples of the waters.

5. Meeting the dawn.
Travelers from different lands on the shores of the pond
We gathered at the predawn hour.
They stand holding their breath, waiting for the sunrise,
The first rays of the sun are playing on the hills.
Silhouettes of towers appear in the bright sky.,
A fresh breeze blew through the whirlwinds,
Joyful whispers spread throughout the area.

At the playground by the road, the wise elder greets us.,
Clasping his palms together, he welcomes you with a bow,
Friendly places travelers in the shade of a banyan tree,
Praising the sky, pointed to the ancient towers,
He tells stories and legends, reveals secrets.

Entrance gate.
 The elder showed us the bas-reliefs.
In the ancient temple, on the pediment of the towers,
Makara is a sea monster,
Having arrived from Varuna, the guardian of the waters,
Like a garland, the pediment decorates.
Between the figures of the carved bas-relief —
Snake pattern of woven leaves,
Ejaculating from the mouth of the deep
Nagas and lions, scaring away evil spirits.

Next to them, the insatiable demon Kala,
The toothy mouth gapes ferociously with fangs:
Absorbs the ruins of past events,
Driving away unholy thoughts,
Protecting the temple gates from evil.
There are lion and naga guards at the stairs.,
Garuda spread his wings on the corner.
Fierce gatekeepers are on duty
With heavy clubs on guard.
The floral pattern decorates the wall elegantly.,
But monsters with claws and mouths with fangs
They scare the casual traveler a lot.
Are you ready to continue the journey?

It's not easy to find a way between these huge palaces.,
You can't get around all the galleries,
and you can't embrace the bas-reliefs.
We will carefully examine what time has saved.,
You can dream and imagine what used to be here.…

6. Gallery review.
The steps lead up, we go around the first tier of galleries.
Under steep arches, between slender columns,
A military battle comes to life on ancient bas-reliefs:
Squads of gods and demons, daredevils converged in a dashing hour,
It seems that the call of the commanders is frozen in stone.
The marching march of the squad musicians is heard:
Trumpeters are blowing, the sounds of timpani and horns are heard,
The ringing of bells, bells, and the thunder of drums.
Horsemen, archers, knights and young fighters came together in battle
They fight bravely with spears, swords, and axes.,
With sharp daggers, bows and arrows.
There is a murmur of warriors,
the sound of steel striking armor and shields is heard.
There is a creaking of wheels on chariots, shouts, prodding of drivers.,
The crack of a whip, the trampling, the neighing of horses,
the howling of strange animals.
The bas-relief stones warmed up from the heat of the fatal battle.
The abundance of figures and carved patterns gives the eye a little rest.
On the greenery of lawns and courtyards, between steps and ledges,
On the slumbering stone slabs of pools in the shade,
On the gray tiles of the floor, faded from the blue of the sky.

We go up the stairs to the second level .
A painted floral pattern is like a melody on the walls.
On the bas—reliefs we are greeted by celestial dancers - Apsaras.
Each virgo has her own outfit, high hairstyles, tight belts.
They stood for a moment in graceful poses among the delicate ornaments .
Flowers are visible in their hands and hairstyles,
 and their fingers are like petals.
A fresh breeze sounds like music between the curly window grilles.
The rows of columns are decorated with lotuses on the capitals above;
They crowded together, as well as tourists,
 to admire the dancing of the heavenly maidens,
Who will only rest and swim again in the ancient dance.

Not everyone will climb the steep steps to the third tier—
Only by bowing deeply can they be overcome.
From here you can enjoy a view of the wide expanses,
Which can only be viewed in flight.
Below you can see roads, temple galleries, canals, groves and bridges.
A light breeze blowing from the shady ledges,
It brings the spicy scent of meadows and tropical flowers.
In the distance, the horizon shrouds buildings,
 canals and forests in a haze.
The carved roofs of the towers, like a stone lotus,
stretch their petals towards the sky.
The five towers in the sky shine like snow-capped peaks.
The legendary Mount Meru, blessing the area.

The Lord of the world above listens to all beings.,
His faces are turned to all sides of the world.
He blesses pilgrims, protects time,
warns Demons against malice and envy
, and guides people on the right path.
The views of the stone lord radiate in all directions,
The water and sky reflect these healing vibrations.
Temples, like huge crystals, gather heavenly power,
They guide the pilgrims and feed them with good energy.

7. National holiday.
The musicians play their instruments with
 inspiration,  the timpani tremble,
Drums are thundering rhythmically,
 pipes and horns are singing in all sorts of ways,
Trumpets are blowing loudly, bells and
 tambourines are sounding melodiously.
The boats on the canals are decorated with flowers and flags.,
The tanned rowers work together with long oars.
The rooks move smoothly, swaying slightly on the waves.

Elephants nobly enter the square,
Commanders sit on gilded capes.
The horses are brisk, pulling war chariots,
Their drivers are slowly leading them by the reins.
The Guards regiments march in unison.,
Warriors have steel sabers and strong spears.,
The stern archers lined up in an even row.
The painted quivers shine in the sun.
A squad of brave men followed the guards.,
The sacred painted ark is guarded;
Like birds of prey, they are ready
Tear the enemies to pieces.
The soldiers of the guard look like twins.
The Emperor on a white elephant, under a palanquin,
Surrounded by guards and his entourage.
Servants in capes follow:
Priests, courtiers, nobles,
Palanquins are held by elegant servants.
The people greet with shouts and bows.
Crowds of people gathered from all over the area,
The path is strewn with flower petals.

8. Evening at the palace walls.
The evening brings coolness, and guests fill the terraces.,
To the sound of music, the dancers seem to float,
The beauties slowly move in a circle,
The braids are tightly braided with turtle crests.
Weightless outfits, expensive belts frame a delicate figure.
Modestly lowering their gaze, they perform an ancient dance,
Within the strict framework of the ritual,
the delicate finger ornament,
It speaks of tender feelings, a silent expression in the eyes.
Her graceful movements enchantingly excite.
Gold jewelry and bracelets on wrists,
Radiant diamonds, tiaras of gems,
They send mischievous lights after their gaze.
Thin legs run across the carpet,
 followed by a swarm of fingers,
Glances are caught by an ardent wanderer
looking around the neighborhood,

The sound spread around, echoed to him,
Evoking a gentle thrill, and holding your breath,
Dev smooth movement, swaying shadows,
There was a deep sigh,
The quiet rumble of the crowd's admiration echoes.
The Royal Ballet performance is enchanting.
Skilful actors performed historical plays,
Fragrant streams flow from the kindling lit in the temples,
Torches are burning near the walls of palaces,
reflecting the dancing shadows on the walls of towers and tents.
Shadow paintings appear on the walls,
The reflections of the lights flicker on the waters of the moats.
In the fading rays of the sun, the five towers of the temple on the hill,
The snow-capped peaks of the distant Mount Meru are shining in the sky.

9. Gallery of ancient gods.
The elder reverently calls the ancient gods.
Lord Brahma looks at the four cardinal directions,
It nourishes the world with its life-giving energy.
There are often rosaries of time next to him on the bas—relief.,
The Scroll of the Veda, the scepter of the
Creator and the sacred vessel,
A lotus flower; accompanied by a nimble swan.
The goddess of rivers, the wise healer
Lady Saraswati, is the consort of Brahma.
She reveals knowledge to people,
and swans serve her along the way.

Lord Vishnu preserves this world,
warns Demons against malice.
Tanned Vishnu in a rich crown
It holds a melodious shell, a shining disc,
 a mace and a lotus.
Next to him is Garuda— the hero bird.,
 I'm ready to spread my strong wings wide.
Lady Lakshmi, the goddess of heavenly beauty,
is the radiant consort of Vishnu.
 When the master creates worlds,
Lakshmi fills them with beauty and prosperity,
and a Wise owl helps her in her business.

Mr. Shiva is destroying the old world,
It clears the way for the birth of a new world.
Radiant Shiva, like a young moon,
With a bunch of ascetic hair and
a necklace of calendar beads,
He holds a trident and a marching drum.
 There was a snake on his shoulder,
and a mighty bull crouched at his feet.
 The daughter of the mountains, Lady Parvati,
 the guardian of formidable power,
is the wife of Lord Shiva.
Skanda, the god of war, was born from their union.,
Whose arrows bring glory to victories,
And his brother Ganesha,
a wise young man with an elephant's head.;
His blessing removes obstacles from the way.

Lord Buddha enlightens the world,
He guides people on the right path.
Next to it is a bowl, an umbrella, a wheel, a sink,
A lotus flower; accompanied by a lion.
The elder told how, on a stormy day, one day,
 When the rain jets flooded the playground,
 On which the Buddha meditated,
 Reflecting on the fate of the mortal world,
The seven-headed serpent appeared naked.
He wrapped his rings around the Teacher's stone.,
Lifted the platform off the ground,
He covered the Buddha with a hood from the weather.
The heavenlies subsided, the waters receded,
 Exposing the washed earth.
An ancient master sculpted a statue out of stone
As an image of mutual care.

Thunderer Indra is the lord of the Gardens of Paradise,
It wakes up nature with thunder,
illuminates the world with lightning,
It feeds the earth with life-giving rains.
He holds a bow, a club, and a spear in his hands.,
The pillar is a white heavenly elephant.

10. Ancient bas-reliefs.
The elder introduces the heroes of the ancient bas-reliefs,
He explains the plots like he's leafing through a family album.

One day, Lord Vishnu incarnated in the form of Varaha the boar,
He got into a fight with the evil demon Hiranyaksha,
Which plunged the Earth to the bottom of the world ocean.
In a formidable battle, the boar defeated the villain,
 piercing him with his fangs.
Then he lifted the Earth from the ocean floor on his fangs.,
The earth has regained its balance, and world order has reigned.

The elder told the legend of those times.,
When the world was ruled by an Asura demon
invulnerable with a horse's head.
He trampled on the laws of the universe, oppressed the people
He stole the sacred Vedas from the sages.
According to the sage's prediction
, only a Knight with a horse's head can defeat a tyrant.

By the will of fate, one day Vishnu lost his head,
He was temporarily endowed with a horse's head.
In this image, the knight-horse became Hayagriva.
In the great battle, he punished the tyrant monster. ,
He freed the people and returned the stolen Vedas .
He restored justice and order in the world,
By the will of the gods, he regained his former form.

One day Vishnu and Shiva merged into one,
Appeared to the world in the form of Harihara.
The multiplication of the two great forces was necessary,
To overthrow a hitherto invincible demon.
 They fought with redoubled might,
saving the world from the storm.
The right side is the radiant Shiva,
It's like a young moon, with a trident,
a drum, a snake and a rosary.
On the left is a tanned Vishnu in a rich crown,
next to a shining disk, a lotus, a sacred shell.
The faithful companions froze at his feet:
The mighty bull and the winged hero Garuda.
Whoever meets Harihara will bow his head humbly.
He will say the words of prayer, lay gifts,
He will fold his hands affably and receive a blessing.

The elder invites you to visit the museum,
Where of the many treasures, you can meet
Statues of gods, kings and heroes, to see
Faces of Harihara, Hayagriva, bow to them.
The ancient gods still protect people from darkness.,
Keeping peace on earth.

11. An extraordinary man is Leo Narasimha.
Once upon a time, the demon king Hiranyakashipu
Overcome by excessive pride, he persistently meditated
In the inaccessible mountains, he indulged in severe austerities.,
For this, he received special protection from Lord Brahma. :
They couldn't beat him day or night.,
Neither in the palace, nor outside, neither man nor beast ,
Not on the ground, not in the air, and invulnerable to weapons.
However, intoxicated by power and unbridled malice,
The king trampled on the divine laws with his cruelty.
Over time, he oppressed the gods and his subjects.
He forgot about mercy and divine justice.
Coolness brought down his anger on the son of the prince,
That prince is cool even before birth in the womb,
I learned the righteous instructions from the sage Narada,
Who gave them to his mother and sang divine hymns.
While the demon king was in seclusion, his father
was engaged in austerities.
Coolness from an early age, Mr. Vishnu revered,
In his life, he observed mercy and justice.
And he instructed his subjects in good deeds.
When the king decided to punish his son Cool,
Then Lord Vishnu gathered his anger and showed determination
He came to restore order to the earth.
Narasimha became an extraordinary Man, Leo.,
In the evening, from the split column of the porch appeared
Narasimha the lion tore the treacherous villain to pieces on his knees.
Tsarevich Coolness after a long meditation,
I have strengthened my spirit and found peace of mind.
By the will of Lord Vishnu, he ascended the royal throne.,
He brought order and tranquility to his subjects there.

12. Whipping up the milk Ocean.
The elder told us about the old days,
About the deeds of the ancient gods, about the pranks of demons.
Gods and demons decided to unite forces,
To get the coveted elixir of immortality.
On the stone bridge, demons and gods are at age-old work:
Pulling the snake like a rope, churning the celestial ocean.
The demons and the gods were arguing with each other:
Who will be more revered on earth,
Who gets the divine nectar,
Capable of giving immortality a gift.

To get the elixir of immortality, you just need to whip up the ocean together.
In the boundless ocean, Vishnu in the form of a turtle gave a firm foothold,
Mount Mandara served as a whorl for them, Vasuka the snake replaced the rope.
The head of the great serpent is in the hands of the asura demons.,
The gods are holding onto their tails with all their might,
and the hero Hanuman is with them.
Indra has been supporting the mountain from above for a thousand years in a row.
The demons and gods got to work together, without being distracted by anything.,
They work hard, without rest or stopping.
They alternately pull back and forth, churning up the ocean.
Smoke and flames burst out of the snake's mouth,
Indra extinguished the flame, sent drops of refreshing rain.
Centuries pass in rhythmic movement.
From exertion, the snake releases venom, but to avoid harm,
Shiva drinks dangerous poison, saves everyone from trouble,
But the blue scar on his neck has been shining ever since.

Hard work is not wasted, the foam of the ocean shows wonders:
The goddess of beauty, the beautiful Lakshmi, appeared from the foam.
Other wonders appear: a winged horse, a white elephant, a miracle tree.,
Celestial dancers of the Apsara, a healer with a bowl of elixir, swim out.
The gods drank the elixir,
and the asura demons were captivated by the dancing of the heavenly maiden.
Only the demon Rahu took a sip of that elixir and gained divine powers.
The heavenly gods Surya and Soma wanted to stop him.,
But the demon Rahu managed to swallow the Sun and Moon.,
Why the world was plunged into total darkness.
Vishnu quickly cut down the demon and freed the heavenly bodies.
Now the head of the demon is Rahu and his tail is Ketu,
They wander across the sky like unintelligent comets.,
Eclipses disturb the peace of the heavenly bodies.
Demons and gods have been feuding since long ago,
But by the command of Shiva in this blessed land
Stone statues of demons and nagas inhabit the palace.,
Palaces and temples are humbly guarded from evil intruders.

13. On the bas-relief of Krishna.
The elder showed a bas-relief of the battle of Krishna and Asura Bana.
In the ancient kingdom, once upon a time
Lord Vishnu incarnated on earth as Krishna.
Baby Krishna raised mighty mountains.
He took palm trees in his hands like thick ropes,
He braided the tall trees into braids.
He protected the people from the terrible storm
, and he played the flute in a quiet moonlit hour.
The world was fragrant with these sounds.
When Krishna grows up, he does great things.,
Terrible demons are being pushed into the dense forests,
Ferocious lions are harnessed to a chariot,
Riding on a bird, the hero Garuda flies,
He notices everything, helps kind people.

The kingdom of the neighboring lands was ruled by an evil demon,
One day Banasura the thousand-year-old became enraged,
Having found out about his daughter's secret date,
And our young blue-faced prince, the grandson of Krishna.
Whom the beauty had seen in a dream before.
The demon Banu, resorting to his magic,
He captured the prince and imprisoned him in a dungeon.
Our army went out to rescue the prince,
Fight with the army of the treacherous demon in the field.
Asur Banu bow arrows metal,
I lit a wall of flame pillars.
Garuda extinguished the fire with his wings.
In a bloody battle, Krishna conquered
Bonasura and blew his conch shell.
And for his treachery, he deprived him of extra hands with his disk.
It was only through the intercession of Shiva that King Banasura was saved.
Out of a thousand of his hands, he only kept four,
The ferocious demon lions scattered away.
King Banu released the prince from prison,
He married his daughter to the prince.
Young people on a fancy chariot
They returned to the capital with Mr. Krishna.,
Where they were greeted by jubilant people.

14. Prince Rama and Princess Sita.
Over time, Demons raged in the world,
Vishnu decided to bring order to the earth,
He appeared on earth in the form of Rama,
and was born into the royal family,
He has grown stronger over the years in the palace, wins in archery,
As a coveted prize, he chooses Princess Sita as his wife.
When dark times come in the kingdom,
In fulfillment of a father's command and filial obedience,
Prince Rama with Princess Sita and Lakshmana's brother,
They left their father's house to wander around the world.
Rama and Princess Sita go into exile,
Lakshman is with them, they are hiding in a forest hut.
The demon king Ravana became infatuated,
He wanted to kidnap the beautiful princess Sita,
The demon, his treacherous wizard, turned into a golden deer,
Sita was enchanted by a gentle gaze, cherishing a dark plan.   
While Prince Rama and his brother were catching that deer demon,
The ruler Ravana secretly made his way to the dwelling,
He kidnapped Princess Sita and took her to Lanka.,
He settled in his palace under the custody of Grozny.
Prince Rama and Lakshman are running after him.,
But insidious demons guard them on the way.

Princess Sita languishes in captivity in Lanka,
Prince Rama and Lakshman are rushing to help,
With them is the army of the monkey king Sugriva,
The magical Hero monkey Hanuman,
the evil demons want to destroy them all.
Rama's companions are fighting the demons asuras.
Eagles help the heroes, bears rush out of the thicket.
Demons run wild during the day,
And they don't let you walk through the woods at night.
Hanuman and the monkeys build a bridge to Lanka,
Evil demons do harm early in the morning.
The mermaid Suwannamacha helps the hero,
And the fish guard the man-made bridge underwater.
Rama defeated the demon with a face on his stomach,
But hordes of new demons are already on the way.
Ravana the giant demon King on a chariot
There are ferocious lions in the team,
 the monkeys are being dispersed.

The decisive battle took place in Lanka.
The chariots of the enemies were attacked by agile monkeys:
They knocked down elephants and lions,
knocked down the chariots of demons,
And then they dispersed them and pursued them in droves.
Ordinary arrows did not harm the demon king.
Only a special crushing arrow from the weapon
Lord Brahma was able to impress him.
Marksmanship with a heroic bow
Lord Rama defeated the demon king in battle.
The sky over Lanka has cleared up from thick clouds,
When the evil ten-headed demon king Ravana was defeated.
The joyful news of getting rid of the tyrant swept over the island.

Rama defeated the demon Ravana, and set Sita free.
God Agni tests the princess with tongues of flame,
And returns Sita from the campfire unharmed.
The bas-reliefs tell the story of terrible misadventures,
Princess Sita is in the hands of the treacherous asura Ravana,
But Prince Rama has already brought the long-awaited salvation.,
Prince Rama with Princess Sita next to him,
With them, their supporters rejoice and rejoice.

The elder kindly accompanies us everywhere.,
He walks through the galleries of temples and palaces.,
It is interesting to tell ancient stories,
With statues, frescoes, mysterious signs explains,

During small stops by the water,
Under the trees outdoors in the shade,
You can quench your thirst and have a snack.,
Admire the wonderful views of nature,
Or listen to quiet, calm music.
Only the shadows of the events of those times have been preserved.
They showed us a performance of Ramayana at the Shadow Theater.
Old stories and epics were passed from mouth to mouth.,
According to ancient traditions, masks were cut out of the skin.
It was as if the heroes from the temple wall were coming to life.
In a dark hall, masks are reflected on the screen,
The action of the play unfolds to the music.

15. The Battle of Gods and Demons.
Lord Vishnu and other gods appeared on earth,
We fought the demons, restored order.
The battle of gods and demons comes to life
 on the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat.
The ranks of warriors were mixed up
in the chaos of the battle :
Archers, horsemen, spearmen, chariots nearby,
Drawn by lions and strange animals.
The heavenly forces and the demon horde collided.
The gods descended to earth to restore world order.
Lord Indra, Thunderer, Lord of heaven,
He sits on a mighty four-tusked elephant.;
He unleashed his lightning spears on the demons.
 His retinue, the Gandharva spirits, clears the way.,
Piercing the ranks of the Asuras with sharp spears.
 Lord of the wealth of Kubera, defender of the North,
He stands tall, standing on the shoulders of a giant Yaksha.
He showers his enemies with arrows from a height;
The forest spirit brings confusion to the enemy ranks:
He drives away the lions with a club,
scares the horses with a roar.

The Sun God Surya rides a chariot in a fiery halo.
His charioteer Aruna, Garuda's brother, drives fiery horses.,
It shields you from the heat with its wings.,
In order not to burn everything down, terrifying the demons.
The brave Skanda, the leader of the squad,
Fights for six, hitting enemies with arrows
He leads the warriors into battle behind him.
His war peacock spread its wings menacingly,
He's spreading panic among the animals,
forcing the lions to back away.

Lord Krishna riding on the mighty heavenly Garuda
Unstoppable in battle — sweeps away everything in its path.
Nearby, Agni, the keeper of fire,
is throwing flames with tongues,
Riding on a thick-skinned rhinoceros;
His rhinoceros walks through the crowd,
Clouds of smoke covered the battlefield.

Lord of the winds, I am a fierce whirlwind
Swiftly rushes through the ranks on a chariot,
It is harnessed by a fleet-footed golden-horned deer.,
Scatters enemies to the sides.
The Lord of the waters, Varuna,
directs the rivers into the ocean;
Riding through the field on a five-headed snake Naga,
Well-aimed arrows strike enemies like a snake's sting.

Lord Vishnu on the wings of the hero Garuda
He rushes into battle, sweeping away enemies from his path.
The undaunted Shiva riding a mighty bull
Rushes into the thick of the fight, breaking spears;
He crushes enemies with his gaze,
They run away in horror.
Supreme Brahma on the Sacred goose
Breaks through the ranks of the treacherous asura demons,
He sends arrows of retribution for their machinations.
Loyal charioteers are fighting alongside the gods.,
Heavenly spirits are Gandharvas, clearing the way with spears.

The heavenly host is advancing deep into the field.
The demons are desperately trying to hold back the onslaught,
But the signal for their retreat is already close.
Drums are thundering at the foot of the sacred mountain.
The sky is covered with clouds of arrows and clouds of smoke.
The air is filled with the clang of steel,
the screams of fighters and the growling of animals.

16. The battle on the Kurukshetra field on the gallery.
The elder told a sad story,
The cousins are descendants of great dynasties.
They came together to fight on the field of Kurukshetra,
The Pandava brothers joined the fight for the rightful throne ,
Captured by the descendants of the Kauravas treacherously.

Each of the five Pandava princes is endowed with a divine gift:
They went out with an army under the command of a skilled archer Arjuna.
A hundred sons of the Kaurava dynasty are fighting against them,
The eldest of them is Duryodhana, with them the hero Drona on an elephant.
With them is the knight Karna, a descendant of the Sun god Surya,
The hero Bhishma is a relative of both clans,
On the bas-relief is this warrior, struck down by many arrows in battle.,
He did not fall to the ground, waiting for an auspicious hour to leave,
Continuing to give wise instructions.

Prince Arjuna, descendant of Indra,
He is accompanied by his mentor and charioteer, Krishna.
Arjuna's brother, the unbridled warrior Bhima,
A descendant of the god Vayu, protects the family from an early age;
He is currently fighting with Prince Duryodhana of the Kauravas.,
Who tried to poison and drown Bhima as a child,
And now he is called to account for his dark deeds.
Arjuna shot his secret brother Karna with an arrow in battle,
While he was freeing the wheel of the war chariot.
A formidable army of heroes came together on the field,
 no one wanted to give in.
With each stroke of the sword and the whistling of flying arrows
The great armies were thinning, suffering heavy losses.
Heavy leaden clouds covered the sky,
Covering the battlefield with a gray veil.

17. The palaces of the underworld.
The God of the underworld, Yama, with a staff in his hand
With a stern retinue on a buffalo in a royal saddle,
He executes a just judgment on people,
It will indicate the further route for them.
The souls of those who have walked the righteous path,
They are sent to heaven at the appointed hour.

Those who get along with heaven, the earth helps their souls,
And corrects those who are on the other side.
The souls of poor sinners are rushing about in hell,
There are terrible guards in the cellars of the dark ones,
And fierce lions are guarding the gates of the slaves.
Having redeemed his sins, he will be able to free himself.,
Whoever overcomes the torments will pass through all the dungeons,
And with a new life he will come to earth.

18. Heavenly gardens.
For those who fight on the battlefield,
The Pit's caring servants are watching invisibly.
The souls of the heroes will reach the castles of heaven,
They are greeted by celestial dancers — Apsaras.
They will show their charming dances
Among the greenery of trees, bushes and wonderful flowers,
To the tune of fountains and murmuring streams,
Running merrily among the stones, in the shade of the branches.
Gandharvas fill the gardens of paradise with singing,
Apsaras step on carpets to wonderful sounds.
And the gods will look away from the storms of the earth.,
The hero's gaze will become softer among his friends.
They will see the heavenly nymphs dancing, their fabulous outfit,
The hero's thirst will be quenched, they will forget about separation,
They will take away the earthly pain from their souls.
They drink nectar from crystal bowls there.,
The troubles of the day and the sufferings
of battles are forgotten in paradise,
The sadness of roads and the bitterness of distant separation.
Garuda are proud heavenly castles that guard,
In the gardens, the wings are very cool.

19. The caring ruler of the country.
In a troubled age, the caring Lord
Preparing to defend against external enemies,
From the devastation of forests, fields, villages, cities.
And in a difficult hour, the troops are ready to march.,
And the goal is clear to everyone, to overcome the enemies,
 to save the people.
Messengers carry reports. The sages remember the covenants,
Treasurers have opened caskets, merchants are collecting coins,
Stargazers find comets, and the priests have called on God to help.
Bonfires are burning in the districts, wizards interpret omens.
Drums outside the temples are humming, blacksmiths
are forging horseshoes and blades,
Mothers prepare breadcrumbs for their sons before dawn.
The drivers collect provisions for the wagons.

Tents are good for camping, they will save you from the heat at noon.,
Put the stones in the caskets, but how can the caskets be preserved?
Thick walls will save you from enemies if the bolt at the gate is secure.
The enemy spy hears every whisper, searches for secret murmurs.
Sly words are sweet, envy creeps in like a snake,

 With a lie, the villain will open the lock at the door on a black night.
The hunters are preparing strong snares, the beast cannot escape into the thicket,
Anglers get along well with the gear, they hide it carefully in the shade.
Threatening clouds are gathering, rumbling can be heard in the distance.
The enemy has come from afar, ravages fields and fields,
Scares away animals and birds, and takes people into slavery.
Burns barns and houses, blocks roads.   

No matter how fast the driver hurries, urging the horse to run,
With each revolution of the spoke, the path becomes shorter.
Clouds of smoke rise in silence, and the guards have their bows raised.,
The shadows of separation are approaching, as if the arrows are ready
to dig into a young body…

And time flies like an arrow, then it stops like a wall.
The hero will be able to stand up and defend the country,
hug his mother at home.,
She'll remember her friends. but in a difficult hour of battle,
the native land helps.
He humbly accepts his fate before eternity…
The dragons of time are fighting an indomitable
battle today and yesterday,
Just for the edification of meeting the dawn,
 they leave a trail behind us in tomorrow. …

20. Heavenly guards.
Garudas descended from heaven, towers guard,
Lions guard the formidable steps, block the way,
Demons and nagas subdued at the stairs guard,
It's like they're protecting the stone pages of a calendar.
The guards are stern with clubs, the passages are closed,
Snakes and many-headed Nagas cover the ravines,
The gatekeepers close the gates, the city is guarded.

The horse trusted the rider, rushes to the stone formation…
Enemies are flying under the hooves, save the horse rider.
Brave warriors are fighting in battle, and the powers of heaven,
the Powers of earth, and the powers of the underworld
are helping them in a deadly battle.,
Demons are fighting for the souls of heroes,
the hero will not trust them with his soul.,
Otherwise, fate will turn around so that
a new demon will be set up.…

There are unequal forces in treachery, the chase is flying on the trail,
The dashing horses are soaring, the murmur is not heard,
The riders are ready for a hot fight, all as one.
Elephants fighting through the thickets pave the way,
You can't turn off the road with harsh assistants.,
Great forces fought, and there were still sons on the field.,
And there is no decent price for them,
but a father's house awaits everyone.…

The elder told the legend,
When the Prince fought off attacks with a faithful guard ,
Bravely fighting against treacherous enemies.
Blades flashed, shields rang from blows,
Enemies surround you, trying to hit you from behind.
Suddenly, in the midst of the battle, a fog descended.
Apsaras and Gandharvas descended from heaven,
Saving the brave from treacherous enemies,
They were led out of the encirclement
under the cover of darkness.

21. Fog hides palaces and temples.
A thick fog has descended, the road is not visible around,
Enemies are making noise over the edge, their voices are close.
But a treacherous hand cannot tighten the noose tightly.
When the mists parted, the defenders' formation disappeared,
It was as if the Gods in the bas-reliefs had hidden
 the inhabitants of the capital.,
Under the cover of fog, they were secretly led to a safe area,
Only stone giants, looking in all directions,
The soldiers and dancers froze in the stone on the wall.,
Only shadows are dancing furiously, and the fire is billowing with smoke.

The stone carved pattern fights back with a protective line.
The gray stones have risen, the walls are trembling with excitement,
Like elephant sirens, a noise can be heard in the night,
Garudas beat their wings, stones fly from everywhere.
The nagas hiss fiercely, the steep steps tremble,
the lions raise a menacing roar: "Down with the uninvited guests!"
The enemies were thrown into confusion by such a rockshake,
Lightning flashes, thunder rumbles in the night — the enemies flee in fear.
Black clouds came, plunged the palaces into darkness,
Torrential rains have passed, and traces of fires have been washed away.
Muddy streams from the mountains rush down, flooding the valleys.
Treasures of palaces and temples,
They are littered with clay, stones and mud,
lying at the bottom of canals and ponds.,
They remained inaccessible to enemies.
The enemies fled in terror.

22. Trees obscure the ancient ruins.
The wonderful palace disappeared, swallowed up
by an impenetrable forest.
The jungle has swallowed up roads and canals,
only the secret ways have been preserved.
Forest Elder Lok Yeai Mao — guardian
Hunting trails and fishing channels.
The gods hid the palaces and temples until better times,
Plunging into the darkness, covering for a while with a forest veil,
When people adequately appreciate the heavenly painted pattern.

In the midst of an insurmountable jungle, an ancient city lurks,   
In the thicket of thickets, away from human eyes.
Hidden like a mysterious precious casket.
Birds nest in the foliage, monkeys scream and jump,
Snakes crawl between the stones, and monitor lizards sometimes scream.,
And people, not daring to approach, bypass the side of the secret city.
Only bats, guardians of the night, visit the ruins in flocks.,
Their shadows flicker across the treetops against the sunset.
Mountain spirits and snakes are naked, tired from centuries of sleep,
Yes, their forest descendants guard the temples at night.,
Trees with huge snake roots are propping up the walls.
Grasses and mosses cover the stones, lianas block the walls from the light.
The traveler is surprised to hear the sounds of distant times.…
Grateful grandchildren revealed great creations to the world of masters,
Hidden for a while, but now they are carefully protecting from destruction.

23. The work of an ancient master.
Since childhood, listening to the legends of Angkor Wat,
About the great gods and glorious heroes,
Inspired by the valor of the warriors,
the Agility and bravery of the horsemen,
The master found the right stone among the rocks and cliffs.
Solid slabs were laid in rows for the walls of the galleries,
Under the master's hand, the silent stone came to life,
Skillfully wielding a hard chisel and a stubborn mallet,
A smooth trail remains from the rasp and a thin drill,
the Master performed his work like a magician.
He breathed life into the bas-relief on the silent granite.
Which has been keeping ancient secrets for centuries.

Blow by blow, a painted pattern was born.,
Bas-reliefs come to life face by face, lovely to the eye,
Slender statues were born from a block of stones,
Gods, heroes, guards, celestial dancers,
Horses, elephants, beasts, subdued demons,
That they decorated temples and halls of palaces.
To the pride of the rulers, to the joy of the people,
They glorify heroes, keep the precepts of their fathers.
Leading away from the troubles and evil deeds,
Protecting people from the evil and treachery of demons.
They cherish this world as the care of their ancestors.

24. The mystery of the Tower.
The elder told the legend of the centuries,
the ancient secret of the priests of Angkor Wat.
Twice a year, when the sun rises at the zenith,
Crowns the sky, the shadows disappear.,
The beam passes through a hidden well
Through the granite thickness of the towers.
Reaching the cell hidden in the depths of the mountain,
The light hits the rock crystal.
Multiplying on the faces of quartz and casket,
The light turns into a powerful stream.
For a moment, a ray flashes over the temple,
Blessing the frozen neighborhood,
The pillar rises into the sky — the answer for the gods.
The stone statues of the temple barely moved,
Breathing in the heavenly light to your heart's content,
The silent ones are given a grateful response.
Planet Earth is breathing more calmly,
Continuing the conversation with the sky
Through space and centuries.

The stone of legend is like a moment of eternity,
In every curve, in the noble features
There is a whisper of voices, an ancient verse.
Through the dust of centuries, among the jungle,
Through the torrential rains and the heat
that sharpened the granite,
the Master left his sculptures —
It seems that time itself stores them.

The traveler who came to the foot of the shrine,
Forgetting about worries, about a busy day,
I met a look from antiquity that still shines today,
In the silent, stone-frozen silence.
Traveler, keep this world that is still shining,
In the silent beauty frozen in the stones.

25. A spring in the forest.
A barely noticeable path led us to the spring
What is hidden by a huge tree of old roots ,
The crown is held high in a bouquet of long branches,
The trunk supports the remains of the wall of an ancient ruin,
Which is barely visible among the greenery of the foliage.
Huge vines clung to the stone slabs,
Like gnarled, sinewy fingers of a giant,
Sitting among the foliage, blotting out the blue sky,
Preserves the former building in the protected area.
A small hole at the roots collects the cold water of the spring,
What slides like a snake stream gets lost in the grass and moss.
The delicious spring water brings a boost of energy,
washing away the fatigue of the years like road dust,
it energetically nourishes the forces of earth and water.
We thank the protected area, the giant with the spring,
That they gave me a little rest, and gave me fresh water to drink,
With the blessing of the local spirits, our faces were washed.
We were escorted on a long journey by a fresh breeze.

24. In a fishing village.
We have overcome a long, difficult path and with God's help
They returned to their native lands.
Family and friends gathered together,
Our stories and favorite songs will be played until morning.
Visiting protected areas, we found ourselves in a fishing village,
In the morning we wandered along the trails,
 sailed on a fishing boat along the channels,
Monkeys were playing on the branches between the vines,
snakes and monitor lizards rustled in the grass.,
Parrots flew overhead, birds of rare beauty and butterflies fluttered,
But we had a guide and a dog with us- they boldly
led us to the house through the thicket.
In the evening - dinner in the hut by the campfire:
fish, and fragrant tea from the forest,
The soft sound of the surf,
and a quiet conversation among themselves.
Soon we were surrounded by darkness,
the campfire was burning out, and the stars were twinkling.
The voices faded away, only the Hostess was
humming monotonously and softly.,
Through slumber, images come out of the shadows,
 and the words of the voices become clearer.
A tiny painted house honoring the ancestors
and the surrounding spirits
I hid under the crown of a tree,
 a modest offering is kept in an ancient bowl:
A few fresh petals in the bowl,
a glimmer of the moon on the water droplets.
A fragrant trail of candles flows between the branches.
The next morning, we refreshed ourselves slightly,
 thanked the hosts for the food and shelter,
They remembered the landlady's nighttime singing,
 but she just shrugged her shoulders.:
She thanks me for my kind words,
 but says it wasn't her who sang at night.,
Perhaps the ancient spirit is the old lady Lok Yeai Mao.,
Protector of hunters and fishermen,
 protecting trails for peaceful travelers,
Yes, the guardian spirit of the village of Neak-Ta looked at the light,
We've seen fishermen and travelers, and they sang us their own fairy tales.

26. Comments.
According to legend, the union of Princess Neang, the daughter
 of the Naga ruler and the Indian Prince Preah Thong, led to the
 creation of the ancient Khmer state. Khmer Prince Prekh Ketomialia
visited the heavenly palace of Indra, and with the help of its architect,
 the son of an earthly gardener and the heavenly virgin Apsara,
 embodied the beauty he saw on earth. Cambodia's temple complexes
 in the Angkor region are world-famous cultural heritage sites.
Historians note that the construction of temples here began during
the reign of King Jayavarman II (802-850) and lasted for about 400 years.
 During the reign of Rajandravarman II, several temples were built,
including the temple of Mount Pre Rup (961), and his advisor
Yajnavaraha Brahman built the small but picturesque Bantai Srei temple (967)
 made of pink stone. During the heyday of the Khmer Empire, cities, temples,
roads, dams, reservoirs, and irrigation systems were built.
 Angkor Wat Temple, built during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150),
 the city of Angkor Thom, the multifaceted Bayon Temple on towers
and the Ta Prohm Monastery were erected by King Jayavarman VII (1177-1220).
 The temples are richly decorated with carvings, and the bas-reliefs depict
scenes from mythology, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana.
The weakening of the state from wars led to the destruction of cities
and hydraulic structures. Residents fled the cities, and the temple
 complexes were eventually swallowed up by impenetrable forests.
Only since the middle of the 19th century, the clearing of ruins
from forests and the restoration of ancient structures began.

ISBN 978-5-4477-2345-3
ISBN 978-5-4477-3775-7