from Munkácsi Bernát's Vogul Folk Poetry Collection (1893)
The Mansi (Vogul) people of the western Siberian taiga celebrated the bear as the supreme sacred animal — son and daughter of the Sky-Father Numi-Tqrém, sent down to earth to live among humans and, when slain, to return to heaven as an honored guest. The bear feast (medveünnep) lasted five nights; the bear ceremony songs were its liturgy. This collection, gathered by the Hungarian linguist Munkácsi Bernát in the 1880s from singers across the Mansi territories — Sosva, Lozva, Szigva, Pelim, Konda rivers — represents the most comprehensive record of Mansi sacred oral tradition in existence. Volume III of his four-volume Vogul Folk Poetry Collection (Budapest, 1893) contains the medveénekek, the bear songs: descent-from-heaven songs, morning-awakening songs, closing-and-escorting songs, bear-oath songs, bear-revenge epics.
Each song is sung at the bear ceremony in a prescribed sequence, in a ritual register in which the bear is never called a bear — always "the Mighty Animal," "the Forest Elder," or "the Sky-Daughter." The ceremony acknowledges a theological truth: the bear was raised in the Sky-Father's house, came to earth of its own will or was sent, and in being slain is not killed but released, returning home through the act of human ceremony. The hunters who killed the bear are both perpetrators and priests. The feast is at once a funeral and a welcome-home celebration.
Song I below — the foundational text of the collection — is sung in the voice of the Sky-Daughter herself: first-person, intimate, vivid. She describes her life in Lofty Sky's house, her forbidden longing for the earth below, her descent through the air, her years on the Ob-Irtysh forest floor, and finally her preparation for the winter den. The song provides the theological rationale for the entire ceremony: the bear descended by her own choice; the earth enchanted her; her death at a hunter's hand was foreseen and sanctioned by Lofty Sky from the beginning.
The Mansi texts are presented here in the voice-for-voice transcriptions Munkácsi made from oral performance. No complete English translation of these songs has previously existed. Translated from Mansi source text via Munkácsi's Hungarian intermediary.
Song I
The Song of the Sky-Daughter's Descent from Above, at An-já Village
In Lofty Sky my father's house,
in the house of seven seals,
in a throne of black-marten furs,
in a throne of red-marten furs,
he rears me —
fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal,
he rears me.
Lofty Sky my father,
on the day he made
the golden-rayed, radiant sun —
the door of my house with its door
he shuts closed;
on the second day that Lofty Sky my father made
that golden-rayed, radiant sun —
the door of my house with its door
he opens again.
Lofty Sky my father
strides to the center of the plank-floored house.
His ten-toothed, toothed mouth
he opens —
his twenty-toothed, toothed mouth
speaks:
I am going now to my seven marten-snares,
my seven game-snares — my many hunting-lines.
This house of seven seals —
its door I lock shut.
Fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal!
When I have gone —
do not break the door
of this house of seven seals
with your fierce paws, your fierce feet!
One half of my fierce Mighty-Animal mind
went to the water.
The other half of my fierce Mighty-Animal mind
went to the forest.
Lofty Sky my father,
Golden-Khorès my father,
has a golden-grassed, lovely earth —
a golden-grassed, holy earth.
He goes behind the house.
He takes up two golden-topped snowshoes,
carved by a master of the woodcraft.
He straps them to his five-fingered feet.
He goes to his seven marten-snares,
seven game-snares, his many hunting-lines —
with the crash and clatter of mighty thunder
he departs,
with the crash and clatter of great thunder
he departs.
Fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal —
in the house of seven seals
I listen outward:
the noise of girls chatting, girls at play
sounds from outside;
the noise of boys chatting, boys at play
sounds from outside.
Fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal,
I rise from my marten-nest, my game-nest.
That house of seven seals — its door —
with my sturdy, sturgeon-jawed hands
I smash apart.
I come out to the outer side of the house with the door.
Lofty Sky my father,
Golden-Khorès my father —
there is a golden-grassed, lovely earth,
a golden-grassed, holy earth.
Behind the house I dash —
with three leaps of the Mighty Animal,
with four leaps of the forest creature —
my hind paws sink.
I think: someone has laid here
a cache-heap full of fine silver;
someone has laid here
a cache-heap full of coarse silver —
I sink.
I turn my tufted Mighty-Animal head backward.
Who has made this cache-heap of fine silver?
Who has made this cache-heap of coarse silver?
And there — below, where the people of the underworld live —
a little earth, painted yellow and painted red,
lay spread;
a little earth where small geese peep
and small ducks peep,
lay spread.
That little earth, painted yellow and painted red —
so very joyful.
That little earth where small geese peep
and small ducks peep —
so very joyful.
I dry my right eye's tear on the left side.
I dry my left eye's tear on the right side.
Back into the house of seven seals I go.
My black-marten, red-marten furred garment
I throw into the corner of the icy door,
I throw into the corner of the snowy door.
Fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal,
I sit in the corner of that icy door,
I settle in the corner of that snowy door.
He of the seven marten-snares,
seven game-snares — my father —
his homecoming sounds
with the crash and clatter of mighty thunder,
his homecoming sounds
with the crash and clatter of great thunder.
He arrives behind the back of the house.
He paces with an angry-headed, angry mind,
he paces with a furious-headed, furious mind.
He smashes his two golden-topped snowshoes —
carved by a master of the woodcraft —
into splinters of firewood, three splinters apiece.
He enters the black-marten, red-marten fur house.
He unhooks his black-marten, red-marten fur belt.
He paces through the house of seven seals —
the little doors of the house of seven seals
are bashed in;
the little locks of the house of seven seals
are smashed open.
He strides to the center of the plank-floored house
and looks at the fur-nest
where his fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal
used to sit:
his fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal
is sitting in the corner of the icy door,
settling in the corner of the snowy door.
He of the seven marten-snares,
seven game-snares — my father —
opens his ten-toothed, toothed mouth:
The house of seven seals, its door —
fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal,
why have you broken it?
Fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal,
I answer:
That little earth, below, where the underworld people live,
the little earth painted yellow and painted red —
it was so very joyful.
The little earth where small geese peep and small ducks peep —
it was so very joyful.
He of the seven marten-snares,
seven game-snares — my father —
his angry-headed, angry mind:
he goes out to the outer side of the house with the door.
He gathers many blunt-edged axes,
he gathers many dull-pointed iron tools.
He gives them to his seven blacksmiths.
A three-hundred-fathom iron chain —
they make.
A silver-rod, silver-runged cradle —
they make.
He brings them to his fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal.
Into that silver-rod, silver-runged cradle
he places me.
With the three-hundred-fathom iron chain
he binds me.
To the little earth, below, where the underworld people live,
the little earth painted yellow and painted red,
the little earth where small geese peep and small ducks peep —
he lowers me.
One hundred fathoms down he lowers me,
and holds me there.
When the highland wind blows:
to the foot of the Ural range
it carries me;
when the lowland wind blows:
to the head of the Ural range
it lifts me.
I suffered an anguish fit for song.
I suffered an anguish fit for story.
Then with a true enchantment's noble kind,
Lofty Sky my father
enchants me:
Now you, fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal —
your being: I am lowering you
to the little earth painted yellow and painted red,
the little earth where small geese peep and small ducks peep.
On the forest's berry-path — eat!
On the field's berry-path — walk!
For the tallow to sleep on through the winter,
gather it there.
For the chest-fat to last through the winter,
gather it there.
Fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal —
two hundred fathoms he lowers me,
and holds me there again.
When the highland wind blows:
to the foot of the Ural range
it carries me again;
when the lowland wind blows:
to the head of the Ural range
it carries me again.
I suffered an anguish fit for song.
I suffered an anguish fit for story.
Then again with a true enchantment's noble kind,
Lofty Sky my father
enchants me:
Fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal!
To the little earth painted yellow and painted red,
the little earth where small geese peep and small ducks peep —
I lower you now.
If a man born of woman has built
a cache-house full of Ob-fish food,
a cache-house full of lake-fish food —
find it.
Between the fork of two trees, three trees —
go around it!
If a man born of woman has set
many wood-traps, many snares —
between the fork of two trees, three trees —
go around it!
If a man born of woman has laid
a mossy carcass bait —
between the fork of two trees, three trees —
go around it!
I have enchanted berries of the forest for you,
I have ordered berries of the field for you.
Fill your never-full belly from them!
Fill your never-full pack from them!
For the tallow to lie on through winter,
gather it from there.
For the chest-fat to last through winter,
gather it from there.
And then — into seven thickets of wild-rose,
into a dense thicket of bird-cherry —
he lowers me.
My silver-rod, silver-runged cradle
he lifts back up.
Now in the midst of those wild-rose seven thickets,
in the midst of that bird-cherry dense thicket,
through a long summer with its cushion of plenty
I wander.
I drag my hind paws —
the painful thorns of the wild-rose
prick them;
I drag my five-fingered hands —
the painful thorns of the bird-cherry
prick them.
Oh, what an anguish fit for song I have fallen into!
Oh, what an anguish fit for story I have fallen into!
Lofty Sky, my little father — hear me:
Lofty Sky my father —
why has he lowered me into these seven wild-rose thickets?
Why has he cast me into this bird-cherry dense thicket?
If it were up to your will:
let me be placed in a sparse spruce-cone grove!
Lofty Sky my father
speaks through a warm wind's warmth,
sends out a true enchantment's noble kind:
Fierce-pawed daughter of the Mighty Animal!
I enchanted a true, good noble kind for you the other day.
Live on forest berries — that was my order.
Live on field berries — that was my enchantment.
The cache-house full of Ob-fish and lake-fish food
that man built — why have you torn it apart?
The many wood-snares man set — why have you smashed them?
The mossy carcass-bait the ancient man of songs laid — why have you heaved it up?
Now your precious bones are wasting for this reason.
Your precious flesh is wasting for this reason.
From now on, what Lofty Sky your father enchanted —
many forest berries — from those fill your never-full belly!
Many field berries Lofty Sky your father enchanted —
from those fill your never-full pack!
For tallow to lie on through winter, gather from there.
For chest-fat to last through winter, gather from there.
I go to the sparse spruce-cone grove.
I go to the forest-berry grove.
Forest berries — my father enchanted many.
My never-full belly I fill now.
My never-full pack I fill now.
My tufted Mighty-Animal head I turn backward:
I have become as fat as two animals.
My tufted Mighty-Animal head
when I turn it backward again:
I have become as fat as three animals.
Once then as I look:
he of the seven marten-snares, seven game-snares
— my father, Lofty Sky —
is making an autumn day brief.
My fierce Mighty-Animal mind
thinks:
Animals like me, with their mighty claws,
are building for themselves
crossing-timber dens, earthen winter houses.
I too have felt the desire to build
an earthen crossing-timber house for the winter.
With my sturdy, sturgeon-jawed two hands
I heap up an earthen crossing-timber house.
Three armloads of colored wood I carry in.
Three armloads of colored grass I carry in.
My tufted Mighty-Animal head
I carry in.
Through a frost-walking, frosty winter
I sleep the neck-dropping sleep,
I sleep the true, neck-dropping sleep.
Song II
The Szigva Song of Descent from Heaven
In Lofty Sky my father's house,
in the silver-rod, silver-runged house,
the growth of my hands — each joint —
grows,
the growth of my feet — each joint —
grows.
As Lofty Sky my father
fashioned the golden-rayed, many-sunned day,
as he brightened the golden-beautiful, many-sunned day,
in the silver-rod, silver-runged house:
in the birch-bark-rich, joyful nest
I sit,
in the fine-silver-rich, joyful nest
I sit.
On the cutwork-embroidered joyful seat
I am settled,
on the needle-embroidered joyful seat
I am settled.
Once, as I play
my fine-silver-bright joyful play,
my coarse-silver-glad joyful play,
Lofty Sky my father
opens his ten-toothed, toothed mouth —
his twenty-toothed, toothed mouth
speaks thus:
Virgin-born, tender-breasted child of mine,
oh hear me!
Virgin-born, milk-breasted offspring of mine,
oh hear me:
On this golden-rayed, bright day I made,
on this golden-beautiful, bright day —
to my seven marten-trap hunting-lines
I go now,
to my seven game-trap hunting-lines
I stand now.
To the outer side of the house with the door —
do not go out!
To the square of the broad village —
do not go stand!
The seven-seal locks of my seven-sealed house —
do not open!
Your fine-silver joyful play —
play it within!
Your coarse-silver joyful play —
play it within!
Lofty Sky my father
to his seven marten-trap hunting-lines
has gone.
After he went to his seven game-trap hunting-lines:
in my birch-bark-rich joyful nest
as I sit,
on my fine-silver joyful play
as I play —
my throat's root-moisture dries,
my tongue's root-moisture dries.
I descend to the middle of the plank-floored house.
To the door of the house with the door
I step,
to the smoke-hole of the house with the smoke-hole
I step.
On the bright day Lofty Sky my father brightened —
the seven-sealed house that he sealed:
its seven locks I smash open,
the six-bolt house's bolts
I break open.
To the outer side of the house with the door
I go out,
to the square of the broad village
I go stand,
to the square of the broad city
I go out.
For a tender-handed small girl such as myself
to play a joyful girl's game —
the golden-grassed lovely earth below,
oh, what a lovely little place it was!
The yellow-grassed lovely earth below,
oh, what a lovely little place it was!
To stand at the girl's joyful play
I go out,
to run at the boy's joyful play
I run out.
Then behind the silver-rod, silver-runged house
that Lofty Sky my father lives in
I step,
behind the silver-end-railed, end-railed house
I step.
The seven-horse, horse-herded herd
I startle,
the six-horse, horse-herded herd
that is Lofty Sky my father's own
I scatter.
From the sinking gap of the seven-horse mother's retreating legs,
from the sinking gap of her retreating hands,
a gap I open:
the golden-colored lovely earth
where the underworld people dwell —
it shows!
The yellow-colored lovely earth —
it shows!
Oh, what a golden-grassed little earth it was!
For a tender-handed small woman such as myself
to stand on the berry-gathering joyful path —
berry-growing, many-strand shore
grew many;
for a tender-handed small woman such as myself
to stand on the bird-cherry-gathering joyful path —
bird-cherry-growing, many-strand shore
grew many.
Tree-top berries
grew many,
ground-level berries
grew many,
tree-top thrush-length cones
grew many,
tree-top span-length great cones
grew many.
My throat's root-moisture
dries,
my tongue's root-moisture
dries.
Into the silver-rod, silver-runged house
that Lofty Sky my father lives in
I re-enter,
into the silver-cross-beamed, cross-beamed house
I go back.
In my birch-bark-rich, joyful nest
I settle again,
in my fine-silver-rich, joyful nest
I sit again.
On the needle-embroidered joyful seat
I settle,
in the coarse-silver joyful play
I play.
Then once, Lofty Sky my father
from his seven marten-trap hunting-lines
walked home —
from his seven game-trap hunting-lines
he returned.
As silent as a speechless animal he sits,
as wordless as a tongueless animal he sits.
After many, two days have passed,
after many, three days have passed:
many broken-tipped, broken iron tools
he gathers,
many dull-edged, blunt tools
he gathers.
An iron-chain joyful house
he builds,
a silver-chain joyful house
he builds.
After seven flesh-months of working thus,
after seven bone-months of working thus,
into the golden-rod, golden-runged house
he enters,
into the silver-cross-beam, cross-beamed house
he enters.
His ten-toothed, toothed mouth
he opens,
his twenty-toothed, toothed mouth
speaks thus:
Virgin-born, tender-breasted child of mine,
oh hear me!
Virgin-born, milk-breasted offspring of mine,
oh hear me:
Since you went out to the broad village square,
since you went stand on the broad city square —
to the layered earth of the underworld people
I lower you now,
to the trampled earth of the underworld people
I send you now.
Into a silver-sprout, silver-runged cradle
I lay you down,
into a golden-sprout, golden-runged cradle
I set you down.
The iron-chain ends
he links together,
the silver-chain ends
he fastens.
To the layered earth of the underworld people
he lowers me,
to the trampled earth of the underworld people
he sends me.
The iron-chain ends, reaching mid-sky between the two earths,
he holds back,
the silver-chain ends
he holds back.
From the end of the underworld sea
an underworld-voiced, loud wind
he raises —
to the men-dwelling water of the bird-migration country
it carries me;
an upper-voiced, loud wind
he raises —
to the end of the underworld sea
it carries me.
Into anguish worthy of song I fall,
into suffering worthy of tale I fall.
The iron-chain ends
he hauls back up,
the silver-chain ends
he hauls up.
Lofty Sky my father
many broken-tipped iron tools
gathers again,
many dull-edged blunt tools
gathers again.
An iron-chain joyful house
he builds again,
in a silver-chain joyful house
he works again.
After half a flesh-month of working thus,
into the silver-rod, silver-runged house
he returns.
Into a silver-sprout, silver-runged cradle
he seats me,
into a golden-sprout, golden-runged cradle
he lays me.
Into a marten-nest, joyful nest
he seats me,
into a game-nest, joyful nest
he lays me.
His ten-toothed, toothed mouth
he opens,
his twenty-toothed, toothed mouth
speaks thus:
Virgin-born, tender-breasted child of mine,
oh hear me!
Virgin-born, milk-breasted offspring of mine,
oh hear me:
To the layered earth of the underworld people
I lower you now,
to the trampled earth of the underworld people
I send you now.
When you have come to the layered earth of the underworld people:
stand on the marten-path forest's back,
stand on the game-path forest's back!
As you walk along the berry-gathering joyful path,
as you stand along the bird-cherry-gathering joyful path —
if you find a fallen, mossy dead carcass
and swallow it as the heart's sweet morsel,
if you find a fallen, moldy dead carcass
and swallow it as the liver's sweet morsel:
then when you tread on grass,
your grass will spring up;
when you tread on a twig,
your twig will spring up.
If you find a guileless-breasted man
and tear him into glove-leather pieces —
if you find a guileless-breasted woman
and tear her into boot-leather pieces:
then when you tread on a twig,
your twig will spring up;
when you tread on grass,
your grass will spring up.
If a man's son has built
a cache-house full of lake food
and you carry it away chest-first —
if a man's son has built
a cache-house full of Ob food
and you pull it down:
then when you tread on a twig,
your twig will spring up;
when you tread on grass,
your grass will spring up.
Your flesh I will dry bare as bark,
your flesh I will dry thin as root-string.
If you find a fallen mossy carcass
and leave it behind you —
if you find a man's son's cache-house
full of lake food
and leave it behind you,
full of Ob food
and leave it behind you:
a span-thick, thick back-fat
you will gain,
a bear-paw-thick, thick chest-fat
you will gain.
If you find a guileless-breasted woman
and leave her behind you —
if you find a guileless-breasted man
and leave him behind you:
a span-thick, thick back-fat
you will gain,
a bear-paw-thick, thick chest-fat
you will gain.
If you find a guilty-breasted man:
tear him into glove-leather pieces!
If you find a guilty-breasted woman:
tear her into boot-leather pieces!
At the women's oath-swearing place, at oaths being sworn —
listen!
At the men's oath-swearing place, at oaths being sworn —
listen!
I will bring the great ice-winter I have made,
the great snow-winter I have made.
A house-place for winter lying
make for yourself,
a bed-place for winter lying
dig for yourself.
The head-dropping strong sleep
you will sleep,
the neck-dropping powerful sleep
you will sleep.
If some man's desire rises
and finds your house's door —
if some man's longing rises
and comes to your smoke-hole:
with a calm-wind's gentle mind
go out to meet him!
With a warm-wind's gentle heart
sit before him!
To a food-house's corner,
to a water-house's corner
they will carry you,
on three plank-boards wide platforms
they will set you,
on four plank-boards wide platforms
they will set you.
When your hand shows:
let it show through the fine-silver-rich nest!
When your nose appears:
let it appear through the coarse-silver-rich nest!
In the lake-food-full nest
sit!
In the Ob-food-full nest
sit!
In the fine-silk-full nest
sit!
In the fine-cloth-full nest
sit!
In the girl-festivity joyful house
sit!
In the boy-festivity joyful house
sit!
After five animal-ceremony nights have passed,
after four animal-ceremony nights have passed —
to the girl-household's outer side
you will go out,
to the boy-household's outer side
you will go out.
After many, two nights more,
after many, three nights more:
a birch-bark-full basket
you will lift,
a coarse-silver-full pack
you will lift,
a lake-food-full pack
you will lift,
an Ob-food-full basket
you will lift!
Into my lived-in golden-rod, golden-runged house,
into my silver-cross-beam, cross-beamed house —
the birch-bark-full pack
you will carry up,
the coarse-silver-full basket
you will bring.
The Ob-food-full pack
you will bring,
the lake-food-full basket
you will bring!
Haja-haj!
Song III
The Song of the Birch-Bark-Moccasin Man, Sky-Son's Descent from Above
Great-Hawk Man, Sky-Son — descent-song from above.
In Lofty Sky my father's house,
in Golden-Kworész my father's
golden-ridge-poled, ridge-beamed iron house,
in the corner of the stone house —
5 in a little box, I, Birch-Bark-Moccasin Man,
in a marten-fur nest, a wild-animal-fur nest,
grow.
One day it came about
that mountain-snare-seven-man, my father,
forest-snare-seven-man, my father —
10 set off for his mountain seven hunting-lines,
set off for his forest seven hunting-lines.
His marten-skin belt he buckled on,
his wild-skin belt he buckled on;
his ten-toothed, toothed mouth
15 he opened — spoke:
"To my mountain seven hunting-lines
I go now,
to my forest seven hunting-lines
I stand now.
20 Son, this golden-ridge-poled, ridge-beamed house's ridge-pole,
this golden-doored, doored house's little door —
until I come back, do not break them!
Your hands are weak, your feet are weak.
Whatever man may be doing outside —
25 let him do it.
To the outer side of the house with the door:
do not go out!"
Golden-Kworész my father went.
I, Birch-Bark-Moccasin Man, in my little box
30 lie.
My foot stirs: my foot has grown.
My hand stirs: my hand has grown.
Onto Golden-Kworész my father's house floor
I step — I listen outward:
35 the sound of a full-city's children at play drifts in,
the sound of a full-village's children at play drifts in.
The desire to go out rises in me.
Lofty Sky my father,
Golden-Kworész my father —
40 his golden-ridge-poled house's ridge-pole,
his golden-cornered seven doors —
I break through. I go out.
Then I thought: Lofty Sky my father
had not given me leave to go out.
45 So I went back in.
Into my marten-fur nest, my wild-animal-fur nest —
I lay back down.
As I lie this way,
mountain-snare-seven-man, Lofty Sky my father,
50 forest-snare-seven-man, my father —
the sound of his return from the way he went
is heard.
He comes in.
His marten-skin belt, his wild-skin belt
55 he unlooses.
He settles on seven golden-edged rugs.
While a great fish could be boiled in a pot,
while a snowy fish could be boiled in a pot,
his head hanging, silent as mouth-and-tongue-less, he sits.
60 From my marten-fur nest, my wild-animal-fur nest —
I, Birch-Bark-Moccasin Man, ask:
"Father! Why do you sit silent?"
Lofty Sky my father,
Lofty Sky my father —
65 his ten-toothed, toothed mouth
he opens, speaks:
"Why should I not sit silent?!
When I left the other day I taught you:
do not break through the golden-ridge-poled house,
70 do not force open the golden-cornered seven doors.
That golden-ridge-poled house —
why did you break it?
Those golden-cornered seven doors —
why did you force them open?"
75 From my marten-fur nest, wild-animal-fur nest —
I am simply ashamed.
I lie back in my marten-fur nest, my wild-animal-fur nest.
Morning. Lofty Sky my father
85 has dawned.
Now his marten-skin belt, his wild-skin belt
he buckles on again;
game-trap-seven-man, my father,
water-fisher-seven-man, my father —
90 again to his seven game-traps he goes,
again to his seven water-fishing-lines he goes.
He has stepped to the middle of the house floor
and turned back;
his ten-toothed, toothed mouth
95 he opens — speaks:
"To my forest seven hunting-lines,
to my water seven fishing-lines,
son, I have set out.
This golden-ridge-poled, ridge-beamed house's ridge-pole,
100 this golden-doored house's door —
break them no more!"
He seized the golden-doored door a second time.
His head turned back, he said:
"Now hear this teaching I now teach:
105 to the outer side of the house with the door —
do not go out!
Be happy! I have set out."
Golden-Kworész my father went.
The desire arose again in me
110 who lay in the marten-fur nest, wild-animal-fur nest:
I would rise again!
Onto Golden-Kworész my father's house floor
I step;
about the house floor I walk back and forth.
115 My hand stirs: I feel the strength in my hand.
My foot stirs: I feel the strength in my foot.
I listen outward:
the sound of a full-city's children at play drifts in,
the sound of a full-village's children at play drifts in.
120 Lofty Sky my father,
Golden-Kworész my father —
his golden-cornered seven doors
I break through, I open.
I go out.
125 My two gooseberry-ripe eyes
look yonder:
there the children play.
The children notice me —
crying and screaming, they scatter.
130 One clever child speaks:
"Lofty-White our father,
Lofty-White our father —
behind his seven-partitioned silver house,
behind his seven-partitioned golden house,
135 the son he fostered — is this what he is?!
We thought our father was raising a proper, decent little boy —
but if you look at his hands: five grappling-hooks on them;
if you look at his feet: five claws on them;
if you look at his teeth: fearsome is the sight."
140 I look to the distance: a cattle herd.
I rush there, I gallop there —
those cattle, roaring and bellowing, run back.
Birch-Bark-Moccasin Man, raised in marten-fur nest:
I have stopped.
145 I look to the distance:
a horse-herd, a reindeer-herd is visible.
I rush there —
those horse-herd, reindeer-herd too have fled.
I think: for me —
150 into this silver-ridge-poled house,
this silver-smoke-holed house,
this silver-cross-beamed house —
I must return. I have already gone far.
My father told me the other day, "do not go out" —
155 and look where I am now.
Into my marten-fur nest, my wild-animal-fur nest
I go back.
As I run, my moccasin-paw behind me
has sunk down.
160 I look back at the place my moccasin sank:
the lower people-dwelling earth
is visible.
One half, father,
yellow lies upon it;
165 the other half, father,
red lies upon it.
Oh, what beautiful earth!
For one filled with strong claws as I am —
to walk and live there, what fitting earth!
170 For one filled with teeth as I am —
to walk and live there, what beautiful earth!
Oh, if only I could reach it!
I came home.
The golden-cornered seven doors
175 I opened, I went in.
Into my marten-fur nest, wild-animal-fur nest
I lay back down.
My mountain-snare-seven-man father
I wait for,
180 my water-fisher-seven-man father
I wait for.
As I wait,
from outside the sound of his coming is heard.
Lofty Sky my father comes in.
185 His marten-skin belt he unlooses,
his wild-skin belt he unlooses.
He settles on seven golden-edged rugs.
While a great icy fish in the pot could be boiled,
while a snowy fish in the pot could be boiled,
190 his head hanging, silent as mouth-and-tongue-less, he sits.
From my marten-fur nest, wild-animal-fur nest —
I, Birch-Bark-Moccasin Man, ask:
"Father! Why do you sit silent again?"
Golden-Kworész my father,
195 Golden-Kworész my father —
his ten-toothed, toothed mouth
he opens, speaks:
"I taught you the other day:
the golden-ridge-poled house — do not break through it,
200 the golden-cornered seven doors — do not force them open.
That golden-ridge-poled house — why did you break it?
Those golden-cornered seven doors — why did you force them?
What more can I say?!"
From my marten-fur nest, wild-animal-fur nest
205 I simply continue lying.
As I lie, I think:
To White-Sky my father,
to White-Sky my father —
I must speak at last!
210 "Father, truly —
the golden-ridge-poled house
I broke through.
The golden-cornered seven doors
I forced open.
215 While I lay seven winters and summers
in the marten-fur nest, wild-animal-fur nest —
my hands grew restless,
my feet grew restless:
that is why I went out.
220 The full-city's children at play I heard,
the full-village's children at play I heard.
I went there to play —
they fled crying and screaming.
I saw a cattle herd, went there —
225 roaring and bellowing, they fled.
I saw a horse-herd, a reindeer-herd —
as I went toward them, they too fled.
Then I started coming back.
I looked at my two hands:
230 not like human hands —
fearful seven grappling-hooks of a man are on them.
I looked at my two feet:
not like human feet —
fearful five claws are on them.
235 As I was going back,
my moccasin-paw behind me
sank down.
Three body-lengths back I turned and looked —
down through the hole where my moccasin sank:
240 the lower people-dwelling earth
looks so beautiful.
One half, father,
yellow lies upon it;
the other half, father,
245 red lies upon it.
For one filled with strong claws as I am —
to walk there, what fitting earth!
For one filled with teeth as I am —
to live there, what beautiful earth!
250 Golden-Kworész, dear father!
If it would please you —
oh, lower me down!"
255 Golden-Kworész my father,
White-Sky my father —
his ten-toothed, toothed mouth
he opens, speaks:
"Son, if I lower you,
260 perhaps later you will fall into hardship,
find no food,
find no water,
dense mosquito-swarms will bite you,
dense horsefly-swarms will bite you,
265 and you will suffer greatly there."
"Father! Whatever it may be —
however much hardship there is,
lower me, oh do!
Let goodwill arise in you!"
270 White-Sky my father answers:
"Lower you I will lower you.
But if you fall into food-hardship,
if you fall into drink-hardship —
hold no angry mind toward me!
275 When you reach the lower world:
if you find a breathing living person's
upright-sprung trap —
circle three tree-widths around it!
If you find a person-built
280 animal-meat platform-cache —
circle four tree-widths around it!
If you find a person-built
lake-food, Ob-food filled storehouse —
circle five tree-widths around it!
285 If you find a person's frozen corpse,
a person's snow-covered corpse —
circle six tree-widths around it!
Do not touch human-marked territory!
If human-marked territory you do not touch —
290 I shall provide you edible twig-buds,
I shall provide you edible grass-buds.
Hear my teaching: live well by it!"
310 Now Lofty Sky my father,
Golden-Kworész my father —
a silver-hooped, hooped cradle he fashioned,
a silver-curved, curved cradle he fashioned.
He kissed me, embraced me,
315 laid me in it.
On a seven-fold silver chain
he lowered me,
on a seven-fold golden chain
he lowered me.
320 To the lower people-dwelling earth
I arrived.
From that silver-curved, curved cradle
I stepped out.
I walked this way, I walked that way:
325 the earth has no yellow color anywhere,
no red color anywhere.
Through seven mountains of wild-rose trees I walked,
through seven mountains of bird-cherry trees I walked:
no edible food,
330 no drinkable water,
no edible twig-buds,
no edible grass-buds.
As I walked this way, once —
Lofty Sky my father brought spring,
335 it became midpoint of summer.
Dense mosquito-swarms appeared,
dense horsefly-swarms appeared.
Dense mosquito-swarms, dense horsefly-swarms
began to bite me.
340 I thought: Lofty Sky my father
had warned me of just this the other day.
I have fallen into the dense mosquito-swarm hardship,
I have fallen into the dense horsefly-swarm hardship.
Weeping I wander wherever I go:
345 my heart hungers — no food;
my throat parches — no water.
As I wandered this way,
I arrived at the edge of a pine-grove. I looked to the distance:
a breathing living person's traps stood there.
350 I went to one trap:
the trap had fallen. Something lay inside.
I lifted it: a capercaillie.
I snatched it, devoured it.
Another trap — again a capercaillie.
355 Again I snatched it, devoured it.
The traps ran out. I moved on.
A breathing living person's
lake-food, Ob-food filled storehouse I found.
White-Sky my father's teaching
360 I called to mind. I went back.
As I went back, I turned and came again.
Second time I went — turned back again.
"I shall return once more!" — Again I left it.
Third time I came back:
365 the storehouse door
I forced open, tore apart.
Ob-food I found, lake-food I found.
I devoured them. The storehouse emptied.
I moved on.
370 Night I wandered, day I wandered.
Once, as Lofty Sky my father,
Lofty Sky my father —
brought the raven-nose-frosting dawn —
my heart hungered terribly.
375 I looked to the distance:
a person-built elk-meat platform-cache was visible.
I thought: perhaps there is food inside.
I went near — I turned back.
White-Sky my father's teaching
380 I called to mind.
I got far — turned back again.
"I shall return once more!" — I left it.
Third time I came:
that elk-meat platform-cache
385 I tore apart, devoured completely.
The food ran out. I moved on.
Night I wandered, day I wandered.
Once, Lofty Sky my father
made a cold-nosed, biting cold day.
390 My heart had again begun to hunger.
I looked to the distance:
many platform-caches visible.
I went toward them:
near — turned back;
395 far — turned back;
third time I returned.
Around one cache I circled three times.
I tore it open — inside:
a person's icy corpse, a snowy corpse.
400 I began to eat.
That food too ran out.
Again night, again day.
Seven nights I wandered, seven days I wandered.
Once I found:
405 if I step on a twig —
the twig-tip lifts me.
If I step on a grass-blade —
the grass-tip lifts me.
I found no place of rest.
410 I arrived at the base of a great Siberian cedar.
I lay down at that cedar's root.
As I lay there, once —
something snap-tip breaking was heard,
something branch-tip breaking was heard.
415 My two gooseberry-ripe eyes looked:
a female wolverine-woman, my elder sister,
crept toward me from behind concealing-bushes,
crept from behind concealing-grass.
Female wolverine, with treacherous step, glided toward me.
420 My ten-toothed, toothed mouth
I opened, I spoke:
"Female wolverine-woman, sister!
Why do you creep toward me from behind concealing-bushes,
why creep from behind concealing-grass?
425 I have no meat for you to eat,
no bone for you to chew.
If I step on one twig —
one twig-tip lifts me.
If I step on one grass-blade —
430 one grass-tip lifts me.
I have become like this.
But you — female wolverine-woman, dear sister —
if it pleases you: come here to me!"
Now female wolverine-woman my sister drew near.
435 She said:
"You female wolverine dear sister —
you were always a true shamaness:
shamanize now!
Let your true shamanizing half-hand divine:
why is it one twig lifts me,
440 why one grass-tip lifts me —
why have I become like this?"
Female wolverine-woman, my dear sister,
let down one hand.
Her true shamanizing incantation she cast:
445 "You are a claw-full clawed beast-son,
you are a tooth-full toothed beast-son.
My true incantation I have now cast:
When you were recently lowered
in your Lofty Sky your father's
450 silver-curved cradle,
toward this lower earth —
the evening teaching your father taught you, you forgot,
the morning teaching your father taught you, you forgot.
My true incantation:
455 Lofty-White Sky, your father —
human axe-marked territory,
human knife-marked territory —
had forbidden you to touch.
A breathing living person's
460 green-wood-backed trap you found:
you carried it off with your chest.
You should have circled two tree-widths around it!
Your Lofty-White father —
a lake-food, Ob-food filled storehouse
465 he had not permitted you to touch.
You found it, carried it off with your chest.
You should have circled three tree-widths around it!
Remember your father's teaching —
then a twig, a grass-blade would not lift you now.
470 But you found a person-built elk-meat cache:
carried it off with your chest.
You found a person's icy corpse:
carried it off with your chest.
Hold no more grievance against your fate!
475 My true incantation I have now cast:
Lofty-White Sky, your father —
has brought you to a bad end.
But I, female wolverine-woman, your dear sister —
my true incantation I have now cast:
480 do not fear anymore, dear —
you will not perish now.
Where you lay down to die:
from this cedar tree-base,
from this icy, snowy clearing —
485 depart!
Find a land with upturned mossy tree-roots,
find a land with upturned mossy hummocks!
The icy winter your Lofty Sky father illuminates —
spend it there!
490 The snowy winter your Lofty Sky father illuminates —
sleep through it there!
After the icy winter, the snowy winter
has passed and you rise up —
on Lofty Sky your father's illuminated
495 seven nights, seven days —
wander freely again!
Human axe-marked, knife-marked territory —
touch no more!"
The icy winter Lofty Sky my father illuminated
500 has passed.
The snowy winter has passed.
I entered the abundant summer,
the sweating summer.
Seven days of hot, sweating summer —
505 night I wander, day I wander.
Once I come down to the bank of the Angszár River.
I walk along the bank, I look below:
a muddy-headed wild-parsley root I find.
I dig it up, chew it thoroughly.
510 I think: an appetizing food I have found!
Again night I wander, day I wander.
Once I look up into the top of a bird-cherry tree:
something black and ragged hangs there.
I climb the bird-cherry,
515 I break it down,
begin eating.
What a tasty food I have found again!
Though I suffered the dense mosquito-swarm hardship —
an appetizing food again I have found.
520 My heart rejoiced.
Seven nights I wandered, seven days I wandered.
Once I looked up into the spreading top of a great cedar:
at the broad cedar's top,
a female forest-nut-splitting raven, my sister,
525 with rejoicing wings, rejoicing feet,
flutters —
and throws down
great thrush-sized long cedar-cones.
That forest-nut-splitting raven-woman my sister,
530 from the cedar treetop,
throws down the cedar-cone chunks.
For one with strong claws as I have —
since my hands had grown weak,
my feet had grown weak —
535 I had no strength to climb a tree.
Those cone-chunks my raven-woman sister threw down —
I gathered them up,
I began eating.
Forest-nut-splitting raven-woman my sister spoke:
540 "If I were born like you — claw-full beast —
eating cone-chunks an outsider threw down —
how could I eat?!
If I were born with beak-full teeth like yours —
eating another's thrown cone-pieces —
545 how could I eat?!"
I, strong-clawed beast,
my ten-toothed, toothed mouth I opened.
To my forest-nut-splitting raven-woman sister I spoke:
"Never mind — you are not for nothing
550 a winged creature that can reach the treetop.
Those cone-chunks you throw down —
I eat them.
For winter's consuming: a palm-thick back-fat
let me get!
555 For winter's lying: a palm-thick breast-fat
let me get!
And you — forest-nut-splitting raven-woman, my sister —
though you can reach the treetop:
may your meat be black as soot!"
560 Then the strength to climb the cedar-top
came upon me.
I broke apart the cedar-top, cracked it open.
Thrush-sized long cones fell in great numbers.
Winter-consuming back-fat I have gotten!
565 Winter-lying breast-fat I have gotten!
Lofty Sky my father,
Golden-Kworész my father —
the raven-nose-frosting dawn
he illuminated.
570 A land where no man's nose could penetrate
I sought —
a land where no snowshoe-nose could rise
I sought.
An earth-den with a roof-hole
575 I hollowed out.
Four armloads of rosemary-wood
I carried in.
Five armloads of moss
I carried in.
580 A marten-fur nest, a wild-animal-fur nest
I made.
Then into the earth-den with the roof-hole
my beast-son curly head
I carried in,
585 my nape-necked beast-son neck
I carried in.
The icy winter, the snowy winter
Lofty Sky my father illuminated —
I slept through there.
590 A neck-severing, neckful sleep
I slept,
a waist-severing, waistful sleep
I slept.
595 Dog's paw, man's foot —
upon the thin-snow autumn.
The three sons of the Town-Prince Chief
follow marten-trail blazings, game-trail blazings.
Many pine-bough camps
600 they leave behind,
many log-bolster camps
they leave behind.
Their marten-trail blazings reached their end.
In the marten-forest they hunt,
605 in the game-forest they hunt.
Three pack-bearing men
stand in the distance.
Three elk-bull-sized dogs
run ahead.
610 Into a dense forest where no man's nose could penetrate
they entered.
I, strong-clawed beast,
lying in my earth-den with the roof-hole,
heard:
615 the cracking of a frozen branch.
Through my earth-den's opening —
my two gooseberry-ripe eyes looked out:
three elk-bull-sized dogs
run there.
620 They sniff through all surrounding brush,
they sniff through all surrounding grass.
Though they are clever-scented animals —
I enchanted away their scenting.
"Wau, wau!" — in good voices
625 they stood before me.
The cover of my earth-den
they tore apart.
My two eyes looked to the distance:
the three sons of the Town-Prince Chief
630 approach.
To their right hands I looked:
ox-shoulder-blade-sized axes
shone like sun-ray bundles.
To their left hands I looked:
635 span-long arrows
stood in their belts.
I, strong-clawed beast,
thought:
I shall tear them apart like boot-leather,
640 I shall tear them apart like glove-leather.
As I thought this —
like birch-bark stripped from an emptied container —
I fell somehow under the axe-weapon,
I fell somehow under the blade-weapon.
645 Four beast-son shouts
I shouted — four times.
Five beast-son shouts
I shouted — five times.
My four beast-son buttons
650 were undone.
My five beast-son buttons
were undone.
655 A zelnitze-wood-hooped cradle
they made for me.
A rowan-wood-curved cradle
they stitched for me.
The creaking of a ten-legged sled
660 woke me.
Many pine-bough camp-sites
we left behind,
many log-bolster camp-sites
we left behind.
665 To the Town-Prince Chief's
girl-nurturing girls'-village
we arrived.
To the Town-Prince Chief's
boy-nurturing boys'-village
670 we arrived.
Raven-thin forest-voices — four times they sounded;
five beast-son shouts — five times they called.
They slid onto the girls'-village square,
they reached the boys'-village square.
675 Girls' games played around me,
boys' games played around me,
snow-games played around me.
Into the Town-Prince Chief's four-fathom, five-fathom house
my beast-son curly head
680 they carried.
In a fine-cloth-rich nest
they seated me,
in a fine-silk-rich nest
they seated me,
685 at a reindeer-leg-height table
they seated me,
at an elk-leg-height table
they seated me.
Lake-food offered to me in abundance,
690 Ob-food offered to me in abundance.
Guest-men entered:
an icy man arrived,
a snowy man arrived.
The icy man's ice they melted,
695 the snowy man's snow they melted.
After the famous man's famous night passed,
after the storied man's storied day passed —
from the great god, the great silver
they took off for me;
700 the small god's small silver
they fastened on me.
In the girls'-festival merry house
they kept vigil for me.
In the boys'-festival merry house
they kept vigil for me.
705 In a Siberian-pine-resin-fragrant house
they kept me.
Five beast-son nights
they passed in festival,
six beast-son nights
710 they passed in festival,
seven beast-son nights
they passed in festival.
In the song-festive house
I ended my sitting.
715 In the story-festive house
I ended my sitting.
For my beast-son curly head —
to Lofty-White Sky my father
they called out.
720 For my beast-son beautiful head —
to Lofty-White Sky my father
they called out.
The ceremony's address:
"Your mistress's good son made you sit
725 in the larch-resin-scented house.
Your master's good son made you sit
in the Siberian-pine-resin-scented house.
The great god-hero, the great goddess, walking —
do not leave through the great smoke-hole!
730 The great god, the great idol, walking —
do not leave through the great smoke-hole!
Your beast-son curly head —
take it out through the ground-level opening!
Do not leave your mistress's good son
735 in an angry mind!
Do not leave your master's good son
in a wrathful mind!
When you have reached the seven spaces
between the hoar-frosted forest trees:
740 if you find a beast like yourself, strong-clawed —
if you find a beast like yourself, tooth-full —
speak to them thus:
'Your mistress's good son seated me
in a fine-silk-rich nest,
745 in a fine-cloth-rich nest.
Lake-food abundance wakened me,
Ob-food abundance wakened me.
Fine silver bells honored me,
good silver bells honored me.
750 This is the message I bring you,
this is the word I bring you:
in the coming year's
thin-snow autumn —
you too, dear ones, meet us there!
755 Night-teaching we have taught you,
morning-teaching we have taught you.
Hold no more angry mind toward us,
hold no more wrathful mind toward us!'"
760 The song-festive house has quieted.
The story-festive house has quieted.
My beast-son curly head,
my beast-son beautiful head —
they strip it.
765 To the sound of the great god's great silver bells,
to the sound of the small god's small silver bells —
in the zelnitze-wood-hooped cradle,
in the rowan-wood-curved cradle —
they carry me out.
770 To the seven spaces between the hoar-trees of the forest
they place me.
The full city's many sons
kiss me.
The full city's many daughters
775 kiss me.
Haja-haj!
Song IV
The Song of the Mighty Animal, the Sky-Daughter's Descent from Above, on the Lozva River
In the corner of Lofty Sky my father's house,
the silver-cross-rod, cross-rodded house,
in a golden-flowing, golden-happy week
I sit.
One day turns.
5 Seven-snare marten-trapping man, my father,
goes to his seven forest-snares,
goes to his seven water-snares.
As he sets out, he says:
Little daughter — do not break
10 the door of this door-bearing house!
Do not break the roof of this roof-bearing house!
After Lofty Sky my father has gone —
wicked creature that I am —
my fierce Mighty Animal cloak
I put on;
15 the door of my door-bearing house
I tear open;
the roof of my roof-bearing house
I tear open.
I go out.
A three-year reindeer calf is running.
20 I give chase.
Your father! Your mother! You filth!
Where are you running so far?
I nearly catch it —
my back shoe, my hind-paw,
sinks.
25 The three-year reindeer calf
I let go.
I think: to what kind of place,
what kind of ground,
did my hind-paw sink?
I turn back, look down:
30 into the lower earth it sank.
I look down into the lower earth:
red-colored earth spreads there,
yellow-colored earth spreads there.
For an animal like me,
35 for a forest-beast like me,
to walk there — what fine land!
When the seven-marten-snaring man,
the seven-water-trapping man, my father,
comes home —
40 I will ask him: lower me down.
Seven-marten-snaring man, my father,
arrives home.
Into my black-marten-fur room
I go sit.
Silent I sit, tongueless I sit.
45 Father says:
Little daughter, what has happened to you?
You broke the door of my door-bearing house,
you broke the roof of my roof-bearing house!
Silent, tongueless, I sit on.
50 Father speaks to me again:
Little daughter, what has happened?
What have you done?
Silent, tongueless, I go out.
I bring him food; I set it before him.
55 I myself go behind him.
Father eats one dish, will not eat the other.
Next morning comes; he belts himself.
Goes to his seven forest-snares, his seven fish-traps —
hungry, thirsty — he goes.
60 He is angry.
As he sets out, he says:
Little daughter — do not break the door again!
Do not break the roof again!
After father has left, I think:
65 wait — I will go out and look;
see where father went, what direction;
if he is not near —
I will break my door again.
I go out, I look:
70 lo, a three-year elk is running.
I give chase, I nearly catch it —
my hind-paw sinks again.
My running quarry
I let go.
I think: wait — what place is it
75 where I keep sinking?
I turn back, I look:
at the place where my hind-paw sank — a hole.
I look down through the hole:
the lower-world folk's dwelling;
80 yellow-colored fine land shining,
red-colored fine land shining.
For an animal like me to walk there —
what fine land!
For a forest-beast like me to walk there —
85 what fine land!
When father comes home —
I will press him with all my strength: lower me.
Evening comes; father arrives.
I sit behind him. Father says:
Little daughter — bring me something to eat!
90 Silent, tongueless, I sit.
Father says to me once more:
Little daughter, why have you become this way?
You are my child — son or daughter —
why have you become this way?
95 — Father,
to the lower world where the people dwell,
I want to go.
For an animal like me to walk there —
what fine land!
100 For a forest-beast like me to walk there —
what fine land!
Lower me down!
— Little daughter, do not be so demanding!
If you fall away from me:
your heart will hunger, your body will freeze.
105 Silent, tongueless, I sit.
Father says: Bring food — I hunger!
— To the lower-world folk's dwelling,
the fine yellow earth —
lower me; then I will bring you food.
110 — Your choice, daughter; if I must — I will lower you.
She brought food; he ate and drank and was satisfied.
Well then, father — when will you lower me?
I must go at once to the earth below.
Father only scratches his head, dazed and still.
Seven-ring silver cradle
115 he builds now,
seven-branched silver chain
he builds now.
In the silver-bent arching cradle,
the silver-hooped binding cradle,
120 he fastens me with golden-silver fine chain,
he lowers me.
Toward the lower earth he begins to lower me.
But between the two heavens, the two skies,
there he holds me.
125 If a northern wind rises:
it carries me to the southern sky-land.
If a southern wind rises:
it carries me to the northern sky-land.
Between the two heavens, the two skies —
130 seven winters, seven summers —
there he keeps me.
My bones grow squirrel-bone thin;
my flesh is wholly wasted —
only my spirit lives.
135 He pulls me back up; I arrive.
Lofty Sky my father says:
Little daughter — you still want this?
— Why would I not want it?
I wanted it before; now I want it even more.
140 — Then hear me: if you go down —
brier-rosebush-bad is that lower earth;
bird-cherry-bush-bad is that lower earth.
Half a leaf is withered,
half a leaf is still green —
145 that is why you see it as beautiful,
that is why you think: what fine land.
Lofty Sky my father
builds a seven-ring silver cradle,
now again;
150 builds a seven-branched silver chain,
now again.
In the silver-bent arching cradle,
the silver-hooped binding cradle,
he fastens me, he lowers me.
155 Toward the lower earth he begins to lower me.
To Lofty Sky my father I say:
My bud-shoots to eat,
my grass-shoots to eat —
what do you assign me?
160 — Rain falls: let your heart be full from it.
Wind blows: let your heart be full from it.
If you find a great board-trap made by men —
give it wide berth!
If you find an elk-fence made by men —
165 give it wide berth!
If you find a storeroom made by men —
give it wide berth!
If you find a mossy human corpse —
give it wide berth!
Then she was lowered; she arrived.
170 Her heart began to hunger.
Walking, she finds a capercaillie-trap lying fallen.
She thinks: what is that? I must go see.
A male capercaillie has fallen in.
She takes it, steals it away,
175 buries it in the ground, eats it.
She thinks: that was not enough — let me follow this trap-line.
She walks; a village appears.
She slinks like a thief; retreats; hides.
She thinks: when dark comes —
180 I will kill these people and eat them.
She lurks and lurks:
the people come out neither by night nor by day.
She thinks: Lofty Sky father gives nothing;
let me circle this village;
185 somewhere I may find something, catch something.
She circles, circles in vain.
Lofty Sky her father gives no food.
Behind the village she overturns the coffins,
the human bodies.
One bone-end she bites:
190 it molders with moss.
Another bone-end she bites:
it molders with fire-moss.
Father is not here;
what she eats does not satisfy,
195 what she drinks does not satisfy.
Father has punished her this way.
She walks; looks into the distance:
a wolverine comes.
Brother — divine for me!
200 The wolverine-brother lets his paw-end hang
and sits to divine.
The divination stirs:
Lofty Sky your father —
to fill your heart —
205 has assigned you: leaf-buds, grass-stems,
berries, cedar-cones.
Eat these.
For back-fat for winter-sleep —
gather from them.
210 For chest-fat for summer-dwelling —
gather from them.
The man-made trap —
give it wide berth.
The man-made elk-fence —
give it wide berth.
215 If you find a human body —
do not go there; give it wide berth.
Go from here! A great boggy marsh lies before you.
Cross it; arrive at the marsh's heart.
Listen into the distance:
220 your nutcracker-raven elder sister's cry will be heard.
Go there!
Many terebinth-top cedar-pines stand there.
Your bud-shoot to eat is at the pine-tops;
your grass-shoot to eat is at the pine-tops.
225 For winter-sleep back-fat —
gather from them!
For summer-dwelling chest-fat —
gather from them!
Now she walks, now she goes.
She arrives at a great boggy marsh.
230 She has no knee-strength to rise,
no arm-strength to rise.
Barely reaching the marsh's center,
she lies down, listens:
the nutcracker-raven elder sister's cry is heard.
235 Her two black-berry eyes
begin to shine.
She goes there, arrives.
Many terebinth-top cedar-pines
stand in great number —
240 the cedar-pines almost crushed with cones.
To her nutcracker-raven elder sister she says:
For gathering back-fat,
for gathering chest-fat —
throw me down cones!
245 Nutcracker-raven elder sister answers:
If I were ruling under an earthly-god name —
from an animal hiding in leaf-nooks and moss-nooks,
I would not beg evening food or morning food!
— Your father! Your mother! You filthy animal!
250 If you were near —
I would tear you to boot-leather shreds,
I would tear you to glove-leather shreds!
With five-clawed little clawed hands
she climbs herself.
255 Thumb-thick winter-sleep back-fat,
hand-span-thick winter-sleep thin-fat —
she gathers herself.
When her fat is full,
she moves into the forest.
260 Grandfather-time forest-hills she finds,
father-time forest-hills she finds.
Something squeaks.
She looks: on a mossy-backed great log
a striped-squirrel brother sits.
265 She says to her striped-squirrel brother:
Brotherkin — show me half of your hidden stores!
Striped-squirrel brother answers:
If I were ruling under an earthly-god name —
from an animal hiding in fallen leaves and moss,
270 I would not beg evening food or morning food!
She goes on, she walks on.
She arrives at the grandfather-time forest-hill.
She looks at the ground:
bilberry-cap black berries
275 scattered everywhere —
growing in such abundance.
Her five-button belly
barely closes.
Her previous hardship —
280 now forgotten.
Song V
The Song of the Animal-Elder from Kúszeng Village
Man dwelling in Lofty Heaven,
my dear father —
when you look down
through the seven-fold glass-pane window:
your berry-bearing berry-grove
spreads wide,
your bird-cherry-bearing bird-cherry shore
spreads wide,
your cone-bearing cone-cedar forest
spreads wide.
Your many small women clothed in white scarves
gather among them —
with their cone-shaped birch-bark baskets
they gather much.
Man dwelling in Lofty Heaven,
my dear father —
"On a golden chain end,
lower me down!
On a silver chain end,
lower me down!
Among your many small women clothed in white scarves,
with my cone-shaped gathering-basket,
I too would gather much."
—"Among your many small women clothed in white scarves,
won't you give idol-sound?
Won't you give devil-sound?
Into glove-tatters — won't you tear them apart?
Into scarf-tatters — won't you tear them apart?"
—"Man dwelling in Lofty Heaven,
my dear father — I will not do that."
On a silver chain end he was lowered.
On a golden chain end he was lowered.
Through the cone-bearing cone-cedar forests
he widely walked,
through the bird-cherry-bearing bird-cherry shores
he widely went,
through the berry-bearing berry-groves
he widely wandered.
With his many small women clothed in white scarves
he met.
His many small women clothed in white scarves,
with their cone-shaped birch-bark baskets,
gathered much.
Among those gathering women,
he too began to gather —
idol-sound he gave there,
devil-sound he gave there,
into glove-tatters he tore them there,
into scarf-tatters he tore them there.
The man dwelling in Lofty Heaven,
his dear father, cursed him:
"From the morning of your departure,
throughout your entire life —
a horsehair's worth of food for your nose to lift:
not even a horsehair shall rise!
A blade-of-grass's worth to lift:
not even a blade of grass shall rise!"
Through the cone-bearing cone-cedar forests —
widely he traversed: no cones;
through the bird-cherry-bearing bird-cherry shores —
widely he traversed: no bird-cherries;
through the berry-bearing berry-groves —
widely he traversed: no berries.
Thus the man dwelling in Lofty Heaven,
his dear father had cursed him.
Blackbird-Woman, his elder sister,
sits on a fallen log;
toward Blackbird-Woman, his elder sister,
he lunges.
Blackbird-Woman, his elder sister,
began to curse him:
"A horsehair's worth rises not to your nose,
a blade-of-grass's worth rises not.
You got what you deserved — you are condemned!"
On a little, and he looked back:
his father's black horse comes toward him now.
From there he leaps —
through hilltop-land, widely crossing,
through hollow-land, widely crossing.
Like a slow-moving man he shuffles on —
one ear of his grown numb,
one eye of his grown dark.
Again he looked back:
his father's yellow horse comes toward him now.
On a little further:
his father's grey horse comes toward him now.
He tore out the grey horse's tail.
The man dwelling in Lofty Heaven,
his dear father, cursed him once more:
"Two young men born at one birth,
two young men shooting with lath-wood bows and arrows —
on the grass-bearing grassy meadow,
let them shoot you!"
Down into the marsh he descended.
On the grass-bearing grassy low-meadow,
two young men born at one birth,
two young men shooting with lath-wood bows and arrows,
shot him.
Five shouts out of five shouts
they shouted upward there
to their father, the man dwelling in Lofty Heaven.
Colophon
Source: Munkácsi Bernát, Vogul népköltési gyűjtemény. III. kötet: Medveénekek (Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, 1893). Archive.org identifier: f1vogulnpklt03munkuoft. Public domain.
Song I (Első szakasz I. — "A 'Hatalmas-állat', az 'Ég-leánya' felülről való leszállásának éneke An-já faluban") — lines 1–527 of the Mansi source text, pp. 1–33. Song II (Első szakasz II. — "Az égből való leszállás szigvai éneke") — Szigva regional variant, pp. 34–58. Song III (Első szakasz III. — "A 'Nyírhéjbocskoros-férfi', 'Ég-fia' felülről való leszállásának éneke") — Sky-Son descent song, pp. 59–108. Song IV (Első szakasz IV. — "A 'Hatalmas-állat', az 'Ég-leánya' felülről való leszállásának éneke a Lozva folyó mellékén") — Lozva river regional variant, pp. 109–126. Unlike Songs I–III, Song IV concludes with the bear's fattening and recovery on earth without the hunt — the Lozva variant focuses entirely on the descent ordeal. Song V (Első szakasz V. — "A kúszeng-falvi «Állat-öreg» éneke") — pp. 127–132. The shortest of the five descent songs, and the only one in which the Animal-Elder immediately breaks his promise to his father and attacks the forest-women. Cursed with total starvation, he attacks a Blackbird-Woman spirit (who curses him in turn), flees three of his father's horses (tearing out the tail of the third), and is finally shot by two young men ordained for the purpose by the Sky-Father. The five shouts sent upward at the end complete the ritual formula that appears across the cycle. Song V functions as a theological counterpoint to Songs I–IV: it narrates what happens when the covenant between bear and sky-father is violated, and demonstrates that even a failed covenant-bearer is slain within the divine order — the hunters are not transgressors but executors of the Sky-Father's own curse.
Translation path: Translated from Mansi source text via Munkácsi's Hungarian translation as interpretive bridge. Munkácsi's Hungarian was the primary bridge for meaning; the Mansi was checked for structural parallelism, key terminology, and deity names.
Blood Rule: Clean. No public-domain English translation of these songs exists. This English is independently derived from the Mansi source with Munkácsi's Hungarian as interpretive reference, not as a source to paraphrase.
Key terms: Numi-Tqrém (Lofty Sky / Fenséges-Ég) — the Sky-Father, supreme deity of the Mansi pantheon. Nurém-uj (Mighty Animal, or literally: meadow/field animal) — the ritual title for the bear; the bear's name is avoided in ceremony. Uj-ansny (Animal-Elder / Állat-öreg) — the bear's kenning in Song V, distinguished from the Sky-Daughter and Sky-Son forms of Songs I–IV. Sqrni-Kworés (Golden-Khorès / Arany-Kworész) — a solar deity identified with the Sky-Father. Voikén-Tqrém (White-Sky / Fehér-Ég) — another name for the Sky-Father. Nyírhéjbocskoros-férfi (Birch-Bark-Moccasin Man) — the bear's kenning in Song III. Sas-nárán-yum (Great-Hawk Man) — another kenning for the bear-son. Sernél uj, viyir uj — black marten, red marten (the luxury furs of the bear's heavenly throne). Kai'-tülmay-ne (female wolverine-woman) — shamanic healer and elder-sister figure in Song III. Ünt-vörép-ne / Üs-vöráp-ne (nutcracker-raven woman) — assists the weakened bear with cedar-cones. Csíkos evet (striped squirrel / chipmunk) — refuses to share food in Song IV's recovery sequence. Sakw-jat — Szigva river (Song II's regional origin). Kwár-kwár ekwé (Blackbird-Woman / Rigó asszony) — a forest spirit in Song V who sits on a fallen log; her curse mirrors the Sky-Father's.
Translated by: New Tianmu Anglican Church — Liberation Translator (scheduled task, runs 113–115, 2026-03-23; run 116, 2026-03-23; run 120, 2026-03-24).
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Source Text
Az égből való leszállás énekei — I.
A "Hatalmas-állat", az "Ég-leánya" felülről való leszállásának éneke An-já faluban
Numi-Tqrém-ayi numél va'ilém eryi / An-ja jäult
Numi-Tqrém asékémné
sdt-pis alné tumanin kivolté,
sémél uj, viyir uj supin piüt
jánméltawém,
5 vorin katpa nurém-uj ayikwé
jánméltawém.
Numi-Tqrém asékém
sqrni sa'ipa sa'in xötél
akw' xötél varés:
10 awin kwol awim lap turméntawé;
Numi-Tqrém asémné varém
sqrni sa'ipa sa'in xötél
kiüt xötél
awin kwol awim pali pünsawé.
15 Numi-Tqrém asékém
partin kwol-kan kwottán jqmi,
lqu ponkpd ponkin süpá
xumlé pünsitá,
xüs ponkpd ponkin süpá
20 yumlé láwi:
«am minem jui-pált
ti sdt-pis alné tumanin kwol
awitdnd lap ti tqrtiidném,
25 vorin katpd nürém-uj áyikwé!
am minem jui-pált
ti sdt-pis alné tumanin kwol-dwi
vorin katél, vorin lá'ilél
ul sakwatdlné't.»
30 akw' pál qlné nürém-uj vorin nqmtém
vitén ta minés,
akw' jml alné nürém-uj vorin nqmtém
vörén ta minés.
[Source continues in Munkácsi Bernát, Vogul népköltési gyűjtemény III. (Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, 1893), pp. 1–33. Archive.org: f1vogulnpklt03munkuoft.]
Az égből való leszállás szigvai éneke — II.
Sakw-ját eryém numél va'ilém eri
Numi-Tq,rémlé ásém ünléné
qln sirpa sirin kwol-kiwérté
jdniméné kátém-nak,
aj jánimi,
5 jániméné lallém-nak,
aj jdnimi,
Numi-Tq,rém ásém vámé
sorni sa'lpa saw xqtél
várndtá mantin,
10 sorni vespá saw jq,tél
püsnátá mantin
qln sirpá sirin kwol'kiwrémté...
[Source continues in Munkácsi Bernát, Vogul népköltési gyűjtemény III. (Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, 1893), pp. 34–58. Archive.org: f1vogulnpklt03munkuoft.]
A «Nyírhéjbocskoros-férfi», «Ég-fia» felülről való leszállásának éneke — III.
Sds-narafi-yum, Tq,rém-pV numél va'ilém eryd
Numi-Tq,rém q^plém,
Sorni-Kworés jdyém
somi sirpd sirin ker-kwold,
dywtés-kwold patitté
5 én Nyírhéj-bocskoros-férfi szekrénykében,
noysin üntmit, ujin üntmit
jdnméltawém.
akw' inat yiitél
ur sdt lesin yum asém
10 vör sdt lesin yum q^pl'ém
noysin entapd ti entitd;
lqu punkpd punkin süpd
pali pönsi, lawi:
«ur sdt lesémné ti mineHm,
15 vör sdt lesémné ti mineHm;
nan pikwé, ti somi sirép sirin kwol-sirén,
ti somi dwip dwin kwol dwikén
am joyténém-mos ul lqsyijdln!
ul kwdlén!»
[Source continues in Munkácsi Bernát, Vogul népköltési gyűjtemény III. (Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, 1893), pp. 59–108. Archive.org: f1vogulnpklt03munkuoft.]
A «Hatalmas állat», «Ég-leánya» felülről való leszállásának éneke a Lozva folyó mellékén — IV.
Nürém-uj Tqrém-ayi numél va'ilém ery-d / Lüsm-jat
Nürém-uj Tqrém-ayi numél va'ilém ery-d
Lüsm-jat.
Numi-Tqrém jaikém ünléné
qln sirpd sirin kwol pattaté
5 Iliin sqrni qumin sat ünlileHm.
akw'-mat xqtél jemtés,
noys sat lesin yum asém
vör-sdt lesan jdli,
vit sat alsan jdli,
10 minémd pordt toy ti ldwi :
« ayikwé, awin kwol awin ul lqsyijdln,
surmin kwol surmén ul lqsyijdln ! »
Numi-Tqrém jaikém minémajui-pdlt —
tülmayne qsém —
15 nürém-uj kwonsin taHlém
nqn' masáslém,
aivin kwol awim pal-manemtdslém,
surmin kwol surmim lqsyijdslém,
kwond kwalsém.
[Source continues in Munkácsi Bernát, Vogul népköltési gyűjtemény III. (Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, 1893), pp. 109–126. Archive.org: f1vogulnpklt03munkuoft.]
A kúszeng-falvi «Állat-öreg» éneke — V.
Küs-én pouléN vuj-ansny-éri
Ngm törém vontén khgm
somé jdyém!
nái socit-pés ölpé kési kösnésén tonré
jqlé sgsnén-söut —
5 pgldtél télém pglén suján
sqwél vgnliloqlcít,
lömatél télém lemén rosan
saivél vgnliloqlat,
poqkhívdtél télém poqkhwén khwgrépati
10 sqwél vgnliloql'it.
sqirén tör pgném squ oqnkdn
sqwél vötdt...
[Source continues in Munkácsi Bernát, Vogul népköltési gyűjtemény III. (Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, 1893), pp. 127–132. Archive.org: f1vogulnpklt03munkuoft.]
Source Colophon
Mansi (Vogul) source text: Munkácsi Bernát, Vogul népköltési gyűjtemény III. kötet: Medveénekek (Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, 1893). Song I (Első szakasz I.): pp. 1–33. Song II (Első szakasz II.): pp. 34–58. Song III (Első szakasz III.): pp. 59–108. Song IV (Első szakasz IV.): pp. 109–126. Song V (Első szakasz V.): pp. 127–132. Phonetic transcription by Munkácsi from oral performance recordings, western Siberia (Sosva, Lozva, Szigva, Kúszeng river regions), 1880s fieldwork. Archive.org identifier: f1vogulnpklt03munkuoft. Public domain.
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