As the script Of a Tibetan opera, the story appears in two editions printed by woodblock, one entitled The Secret History of Pan-chen-blo-bzang-yes-shes and the other with the title, Story of Brothers Don-yod and Don-grub.

Once upon a time, there was a country named Stod-pa-bsam-gling. Its king, who was called Pa-la-de-va, married Princess Kun-bzang-ma, daughter of King Shi-ba-dra of another country. They were very affectionate and led a harmonious, happy life. But after quite a number of years, she had borne neither a son nor a daughter. The king worried very much about descen-dants, and went often to pray to gods and consult the oracle, the prophets and the fortune-tellers here and there.

One day, a famous sorcerer of the country was invited to consult the oracle. The sorcerer told the king Beyond an island in the open sea there is an islet named Go-sha-gling where a mystic dragon lives. If you devoutly offer sacrifices to him, you may possibly get some children.

The king thanked him for the advice and departed with his queen, his ministers and commoners for the journey, all dressed in gorgeous costumes. They traveled straight to their destination, with offerings for the gods loaded on elephants. After arriving at the seaside, they sailed on ships for five days and nights and came to the place of the mystic dragon, on the islet. They stayed there for seven days, paying homage to the dragon each day, in accordance with the custom.

On the seventh night, King Pa-la-de-va dreamed that A-tsi-ra (reciter of Tantric incantations) came into his presence holding a rosary in his hands and said to him Pa-la-de-va, you seem to be a devout person. Soon you may get two princes as successors to your throne one is the incarnation of Avalokitesvara (the God of Mercy) and the other is the incarnation of the god of wisdom. Now you should rejoice!

Of course these words made the king very happy. He asked the reciter, Who are you

I am the god who is the ruler of Paradise in the Western Heavens, Vod-dpag-med (Infinite Light). The guardian god of you and your son is the Immortal of Go-sha-gling, Va-ni-mu-ni. You must come often to offer him sacrifices.

When the king woke up, he saw other auspicious signs and was even more delighted. Tidying up his things, he returned to the palace. After nine months and ten days, Queen Kun-bzang-ma did indeed give birth to a prince. At the time of his birth, flowers from heaven rained down and a rainbow appeared like a canopy over the earth. A grand banquet was held in the palace for a celebration, along with blowing conches, raising flags, ringing bells and beating drums. The sorcerer was given an ample reward. As the king had all his wishes satisfied, he named this prince Don-grub, which means success and perfection.

When the prince reached the age of five, he could recite from memory the six-word philosophical saying Om-ma-ni-pad-mal-hum, Hail to the jewel in the lotus! (Equivalent to the Lord's Prayer, especially in Latin.) Everybody was surprised at this.

Unexpectedly, that year, Queen Kun-bzang-ma suddenly contracted a serious illness. Praying, consulting oracle, taking medicine and acupuncture all proved ineffective. She died, leaving behind her husband and son. People all over the country, high and low, grieved.
A year later, the king and his son went to attend a ceremony celebrating the completion of a pagoda. The king spotted a maiden in the crowd - she was charming and bewitching. After sending his emissaries to inquire about her, he learned that she was Pad-mo-can, the daughter of an ordinary family. He ordered his ministers to bring her to the palace, where he married her and made her queen, and lavished his love on her.

One night, the king again dreamed that the Infinite Light was bringing him a prince. Indeed, the queen became pregnant. After nine months and ten days, she bore a prince. Because the child came from a noteworthy family, the king named him Don-yod, which means attaining enlightenment.

While Prince Don-yod was growing up, he was unwilling to live with his mother or his wet nurse, but wanted to spend every day with his elder brother, Dongrub, studying, playing, taking meals and resting together. The king was very pleased with such fraternal affection as theirs.
Several years passed. One day, the queen opened a window of the palace and gazed into the east. She saw many people singing operas and dancing on the eastern square. She heard them say Our king has two princes. Prince Don-grub is of fine quality and good temper and was borne by a princess. He should be designated the successor to the throne in the future. As for Don-yod, he is also acceptable but his mother is a person of unknown origin. He must not be allowed to inherit the throne!

Listening to these words, the queen was much displeased. She banged the eastern window shut and opened another window to gaze to the south. She saw many men engaged in horseracing and archery on the southern square, and it was a bustling scene too. But she heard people saying Elder Prince Don-grub is really the person eligible to inherit the throne! Although the younger Prince Don-yod is not bad, he is inferior to his elder brother! Listening to these worjs, the queen became more impatient. She banged shut the southern window and opened another window to gaze to the north. She saw many children playing hide-and-seek. In a short time, the ciiildren heaped up a pile of stones to be a throne. One boy, decking himself out as Prince Don-grub, sat on the throne. Many other boys, dressing themselves up as ministers, kowtowed to him. Other children in the guise of ordinary people took off their clothes and, tying up their sleeves, dragged them forward on the ground as if they were offerings of oxen and sheep. Another boy, decked out as Prince Don-yod, sat on a straw cushion at one side. Looking at this, the queen was shocked. She said to herself Don't discount Don-grub. Although his mother is dead, he still has considerable influence! Judging by what I have seen today, very likely he will take over the throne someday and there is no hope for my son Don-yod. If my son cannot become king, then I, his mother, will be an insignificant person! I must use my head.

A few days later, she smeared some red clay on her right cheek and some indigo color on her left cheek, disguising herself as a mad woman and made a clamor. The king became very worried and asked what was the matter with her. She deliberately did not answer. The king was alarmed and frightened, and invited fortunetellers to interpret the oracle, and lamas to recite Buddhist sutras and sorcerers to pray to avert disaster. But all proved ineffective. The king was so worried that he himself almost feel sick. Thus three days passed. The king came to the queen's bedside, asking Dear Pad-mo-can, do you yourself know some way to cure your ailment

She said, There is a method, but you cannot carry it out. You had better let me die! No need to say any more! Again she pretended to groan. The king said hastily No matter how many wild beasts there are in the mountain, they will always fall prey to lions. No matter how many affairs there are in the world, they can always be managed by a king. Speak quickly. Let me carry it out!

Unless you take an oath, I won't believe that you can really carry it out, said the queen, and the king unhesitatingly took an oath, saying Dkon-mchog-gsum (a Tibetan oath, invoking the triad of the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha).

Then the queen said, Our elder prince Don-grub is the reincarnation of a demon. Shortly after he was born, he harassed his own mother Kun-bzang-ma to death. Now he is tormenting me. It seems I cannot live long, but it doesn't matter whether or not I die. I am afraid it's your turn to die next. If it is possible to seize and kill this transformation of a demon, my ailment will, without doubt, be cured and there will be no need to worry about your life.

Hearing this, the king was very shocked, and thought to himself I got this Prince Don-grub of mine by praying to gods and the Buddha. People say he has an unusual countenance and is suitable to inherit the throne. I don't think he is a demon, but it was also true that Kun-bzang-ma died without any cause. What a great misfortune it would be if I allowed my beloved queen to die again! I cannot bear to kill my son Dongrub with my own hands. - Let it be, let it be, let it be! Let me exile him to a desolate frontier. Then the queen's ailment will be cured! He told the queen this idea, and she was fully satisfied.

So the king issued an order that Prince Don-grub be sent to a desolate frontier, and the two brother soon heard of it. Don-yod said to Don-grub Elder brother! If you are going to a desolate frontier, pray take me with you. I want to go with you. I will go wherever you go!

Don-grub said My good brother! Pray listen to me. I am going to the wilderness neither for a trip nor for a pilgrimage. There are many dangers on the way - hunger and wandering. Don't go with me. Stay at home and obey the instructions of your father and mother and you will inherit the throne and rule our country someday.

But Don-yod sobbed, Elder brother, how can I stay here alone to inherit the throne when you are going to suffer in the wilderness Pray take me along! Live or die, I want to be with you! However hard Dong-grub tried to advise Don-yod, he would not listen. Finally, Don-grub gave up.

One night, Don-grub stealthily got out of bed and was going to depart. But Don-yod suspected what he was going to do and hugged his neck tightly, refusing to loosen his grip, sobbing and crying.

Don-grub had to wait until his brother had fallen asleep. Then, carrying his dry grain and beef on his back, he sneaked out of the palace and marched straight towards the northern frontier wilderness.

When Don-yod woke up and found his elder brother gone, he traced his footprints, sobbing and shouting Elder brother! Elder brother! When Don-grub heard his younger brother's shouting he sighed and waited for Don-yod to catch up with him. Then the two brothers set off together for the frontier wilderness.

When several of the more kindly ministers found out about this, they were very concerncd and secretly sent three servants with elephants and horses to go with the brothers and look after them on the way. Thus they all marched for more than half a month until they arrived at the frontier of their country. The servants could not continue any more so Don-grub sent them back. They were very reluctant to part with the brothers and were much grieved and wept. Although Don-grub was sad, he dvised them:

Everybody must be responsible for himself,
There is no need for others to take his part,
Separation lies at the end of gathering,
Whether for traveling merchants, or dark clouds hiding the moon, or money that passes through our hands without benefiting us,
Pray go back, the three of you,
We may meet again in the future.

But the three servants were still unwilling to begin their return journey, feeling reluctant to part with the brothers. Don-grub again said

The beauty of youth is as transient as a colorful rainbow,
Life resembles flowers that do not last long;
Let us pledge to one another we'll meet in heaven in the future.
With these words, the brothers proceeded straight to the frontier wilderness.

Meanwhile, when the king and queen found out that the brothers had both gone away, they were very worried. They sent officials to look for them everywhere, but it was like fallen leaves drifting in the woods, pebbles sunk into the sea and the mist dispersed in the sky. Not even their shadows could be found. The queen who had pretended to be sick was now, indeed, severely ill because her beloved son had disappeared. All the people were worried about the princes.

Don-grub and Don-yod went past sparse villages, herdsmen's black yurts, a vast expanse of desert and large dense forests, until they came to a completely desolate place where nobody lived. They had eaten up the dry grain they had brought and even the leather sack for storing it. Their mouths felt as dry as fire. Their limbs were weak and numb, and they had to sit down and rest.

Don-grub spotted some fruits on a tree, picked them and gave them to Don-yod. Only then did they again walk on, dragging their feet. When they came to Ox Nose Hill, Don-yod was not able to continue the journey. Don-grub bade him sit down for a rest. He himself tried to search for water on the other side of the hill. After walking a great distance, he found a ditch that had dried up, and an empty pond. Looking back, he saw that his younger brother had fallen to the ground. Dong-grub gave up his search for water, ran back to his brother and found him almost dying, like a withered flower. When Don-grub hugged him and lifted him up, Don-yod opened his eyes and said, Elder brother! I am afraid I can no longer go with you. You must take good care of your health! Don-grub's heart was as distressed as if stabbed by a knife. He carried his dying brother in his arms, with his tears streaming down like a fountain.

At this moment, a cuckoo and a nightingale flew up to the brothers and circled around, as though praying for them. After a time, Don-yod closed his eyes and stopped breathing. Mountains and peaks in all directions shook and flowers rained down from the sky; melodious music sounded faintly in the air. Many wild beasts - tigers, monkeys and apes - came down from the mountains and did not threaten Don-grub but seemed to protect him instead.

Don-grub wept for a while and then, carrying his brother's corpse on his back, went on. After he had crossed eight mountains, he came to a large forest where sandalwood trees spread all over the mountain and milk flowed in a river. Don-grub thought There is no other place as good as this. Let me bury my brother here! He placed Don-yod's body well under a large umbrella-shaped sandalwood tree and encircled it with many pieces of sandalwood so that it would always stay in this spot. Then he himself walked on towards the northern ft-ontier wilderness, step by step.

As he again crossed thirteen mountains, Don-grub saw a Buddhist streamer fluttering at the tip of a tree. He thought Wherever a Buddhist streamer flutters there must be a village or perhaps a herdsmen's yurt, or at least some people and some grain. So he walked towards the Buddhist streamer. Near a forest halfway up the mountain, he saw people's footprints on the ground and his mind soothed. After some time he emerged from the woods onto a vast grassland. He thought he heard someone reciting a Buddhist sutra there. He thought there must certainly be a temple nearby.

Don-grub climbed on up the mountain and came to a clear, sparkling pond. Beside it was a white-haired old lama reciting sutras and incantations while throwing an offering made of butter and roasted barley meal into the pond. Prince Don-grub bowed and made his obeisance, saying Living Buddha, pray give me guidance.... Without waiting for him to finish, the old larna turned to look at him and was very surprised. He asked, Are you a man or a ghost For Prince Dongrub was as thin as a skeleton and was disheveled - he looked more like a ghost than a human being, after his long, strenuous journey. He had braved wind and damp, without enough food or sleep, and he was weighed down with grief over Don-yod's death. He said

Living Buddha! Pray look at me with your eyes of wisdom. I am not a ghost but a man who has met a disaster!
The lama again asked If you are not a ghost, then where have you come from and whither are you going

Don-grub answered, I have come from far away to undergo hardships here! As the young man was truly pitiable, the lama led him to a mountain cave. First, he bade him take a bath, cut short his hair and change into a suit of clean riothes. Then the lama cooked some food for him. While Don-grub was eating, the lama inquired where he had come from and about his family origin. As he talked about what had saddened him, Don-grub's tears streamed down. Even the lama felt sorry for him.

Later, Don-grub honored the lama as his master and served him in the mountain cave. Every day he rose early, fetching water and gathering firewood. He picked special soft grass to make a cushion for the lama. But the lama saw that he still had a sorrowful face so he asked the prince Don-grub! Is something still weighing on your mind

Living Buddha! answered the prince. I have settled down here but my miserable younger brother is far away from me and I cannot find even his body. I can never set my mind at ease until I find his corpse and bring it here.

The lama said This is what you ought to do! You need not worry. I'll escort you in this search! The master and disciple departed in search of Prince Don-yod's corpse.

Meanwhile, Prince Don-yod, dying of thirst, had been placed by Pince Don-grub under a sandalwood tree. Unexpectedly, a heavy rain fell in the night and rainwater dripped down from the sandalwood tree onto his face and flowed to the corner of his mouth. Slowly it moistened his throat. Like the crops receiving a pleasant rain in a year of drought, Prince Don-yod slowly regained consciousness. Some say he was revived by two gods, Lha-tshangs-pa and Lha-khyab-vjug. Ah ya! He felt as though he had just wakened from a dream. He looked around and saw that he was surrounded by trees. Where had Dong-grub gone

Don-yod shouted aloud 'Elder brother! Elder brother! But, except for an echo from the mountain valley, nobody answered him. Don-yod thought Alas! Some disaster has happened. Can it be that some wild beast has harmed my elder brother How sorry I am that I haven't helped him! Jumping up hurriedly, he stumbled into the forest shouting, Brother! Elder brother! Where are you Where are you He kept on shouting, and when he was hungry he ate some fruit and when he got thirsty, he drank a little water, and continued to search for elder brother Don-grub.

Don-grub and his master arrived at the place where Don-yod's corpse had been pkced. There they saw that the original heap of wood was scattered and some fruit peelings lay on the ground, as if somebody had been there. But Don-yod's body had disappeared like a rainbow in the sky. Don-grub was even more grieved and thought perhaps Don-yod's body had been ravaged by wild beasts. He searched everywhere for seven days, but could find no trace of it.

The old lama advised him Child, don't make your efforts in vain! I think your younger brother must have been saved and taken away by some god, and you will have a chance to meet again in the future. Don't be so worried and sad or your health will be affected! Don-grub believed his master's words and returned with the old lama to the mountain cave.

The lama said to him Soon I will go to the palace of a king near here, to recite sutras. You should also learn some rites and the reatation of Buddhist sutras. So Don-grub learned Buddhist sutras from the lama and did not leave the mountain for a long time.

One day, when Prince Don-grub came down the mountain to buy some utensils, he saw many shepherd boys playing and rollicking on a plain at the opening of a mountain valley. He joined their play, and all the children liked him and chose him as leader in this or that game. When he returned to the mountain cave, the master asked him why he was so late. He told his master the truth and the master advised him Watch out, don't tell others your family background lest you bring some trouble on yourself. Don-grub promised to be careful.

A few days later, he went down the mountain to buy grain and again played with the children. The children held a contest of strength but no one could rival Don-grub. The other children asked why he had such great strength. He said, It's because I was born in the year of dragon! Can a dragon be weak So the children called him Born in the Year of Dragon, and this nickname became very popular.

This place was under King Go-cha's jurisdiction. The palace was far away from the mountain, a magnificent building hemmed in by hundreds of thousands of households. The king had only one daughter, a princess beautiful as a fairy maiden and gentle as a sheep. The king cherished her like a pearl in his palm.

There was a large lake inside this country, where lived a dragon king. When the fifteenth day of the sixth month arrived each summer, the mystic dragon colored like jadeite danced in the sky with rumbling thunder and flashing lightning. The king led his officials and commoners to the lake to offer sacrifices to the mystic dragon. This guaranteed favorable weather for crops every year and both people and animals enjoyed peace.

Later, for some unknown reason, epidemics and floods occurred in the country and many people and animals died. According to the plan of a sorcerer, the king ordered a boy born in the year of dragon to be thrown into the lake as a sacrifice to the dragon king, in exchange for the country's peace and prosperity. Many boys born in that country in the year of dragon were sacrificed and others fled; none dared to stay home to wait for death.

This year, the time came again for offering sacrifices to the mystic dragon, but however hard the officials tried, they could not find a boy born in the year of dragon. The king was very worried and ordered minister Tri-shod to go around and make a search.

Tri-shod was a cunning, sinister and ruthless fellow; he envied and hated others. Killing was his only hobby. Throwing a boy into the lake every year was always his business. Nobody knew how many boys died at his hands. When he learned from a group of ohildren that Don-grub had been born in the year of dragon, he hastened to report this to the king, who ordered him to go and arrest Don-grub.

When the large contingent of people led by Tri-shod entered the forest, the lama already saw what was going on. He knew that when an owl enters a house, it means more bad than good luck, and when soldiers enter a common house, it means more hardship than goodwill. He hastily told Don-grub to hide in a heap of straw and covered it with a broken earthen jar. He bade him never to come out of the jar unless he was told to do so, otherwise he would be in danger of death.
Minister Tri-shod entered the cave and, grabbing the old lama, said, Hey, old man! I hear you have a son born in the year of dragon. Now the king has ordered me to arrest him. Where is he Speak quickly!

The old lama said My lord, I am a monk. How can I have a son I am an ascetic BuddhiSt disciple here, a lonely man without a companion!

Refusing to listen, Tri-shod said again, You lie! I'll show you how formidable the goveinment is!
The old lama said calmly, Even if you kill me, I can tell you nothing. What shall I say
Without further argument, Tri-shod pushed the old lama into the cave and, calling his attendants, prepared to torture him. Taking out a knife, he brandished its bright sharp blade this way and that way. It was truly ferocious.

Don-grub, hiding in the straw heap, saw all these things and thought to himself I cannot let my master suffer for my sake. Besides, he is very old. How can he stand up to such torture So he suddenly jumped out of the straw heap and said, Hey! Don't make the old man suffer! I am here!

Tri-shod said with a sneer Ah ha! A good little fellow! It's you! He grabbed Don-grub and tied him up tightly and took him back to the palace. As they left, he said to the old lama Such a good Buddhist monk! Where has such a big son come from With these words, he hit the lama's chest with his fist, making him fall to the ground on his back. Then he swaggered off, whistling. The old lama, with tears in his eyes, could only pray silently to the gods and the Bud-dha to protect Don-grub.

After Don-grub had been taken by force to the palace, the first person who saw him was the princess. She was especially taken by this handsome youth and asked the king to let him play with her. The king always approved whatever the princess said and never refused anything she asked. So he consented. Seeing that Prince Don-grub was dignified and impressive in appearance, the king was inclined to like him too. So he permitted them to play together.

Seven days later, when it was time to offer sacrifices to the lake and for Tri-shod to take Don-grub away, the princess wept and begged the king to change the decision. The king also thought it was a pity to throw such a handsome young lad into the lake to feed the dragon, and said to Trishod Go find another boy born in the year of dragon to replace him! But Tri-shod shook his head and said

The king cannot break his promise,
Breaking his promise would make him a laughingstock;
Words spoken by the king resemble an arrow shot,
It can never be turned back;
Words spoken by the king resemble a bird set free,
It can never be brought back;
Words spoken by the king resemble water flowing away,
It can never be reversed.
You had better allow me to take him away!

Listening to these words, the king could find no way to refute him, and was in a dilemma. The princess at his side wept sorrowfully.

At this moment, Don-grub thought to himself If I don't go as a sacrifice to the dragon king, I am afraid another boy born in the year of dragon will die. I cannot cause others suffering for the sake of my own happiness. So he turned and said, Your Majesty! Princess! Don't trouble yourselves about me. You'd better let me go! But the princess would by no means allow him to go.

So the king let the two sail together in a boat towards the middle of the dragon lake. When the princess became sleepy and was dozing, Don-grub jumped into the mirror-like lake. She was startled and woke up, but it was too late to save Don-grub and she had to return to the palace, weeping bitterly.

After Don-grub had plunged into the water, he arrived in a trance at the entrance of a splendid palace. A group of shrimp soldiers and crab generals grabbed him and took him to the dragon palace, where the dragon king, dragon queen, dragon children and dragon grandchildren were gathered, waiting for this sumptuous feast. When they saw that the boy sent this time was so handsome, so brave and without a trace of fear, they asked about his family and his history. Dong-grub told them all about his past, from birth on, including the disasters that had befallen him, his younger brother's death, parting with the lama, and the princess' love for him.

When they heard all these things, the mystic dragons were astonished and respectful. They sighed for him and were very sympathetic, and thought well of his spirit of self-sacrifice, so they invited him into the dragon palace and entertained him with warm hospitality.

Don-grub lived in the dragon palace for three months and explained to them Buddhist teachings, brotherhood and the importance of respecting the aged and helping the young. All the mystic dragon gods were moved. They took oaths they would never eat human beings again and never conjure up storms and tempestuous waves to harm people. They also gave Don-grub many treasures as gifts, including large pearls and countless pieces of jade, agate, coral and jadeite.

The dragon king told the prince to close his eyes and think of wherever he wanted to go. Prince Don-grub thought I am going to visit my master. I wonder how it has fared with him.

As soon as this idea cropped up, he heard the sound of water and found himself at the mountain cave. He saw his master-sitting upright on a rush cushion, reciting sutras. The prince called gently Master! The old lama raised his head and saw him, and was so astonished and happy that he fainted away. Don-grub hastened to spray sandalwood water on the lama's face and he regained consciousness.

The old lama said, Can it be that we meet each other in a dream.

Don-grub told all his experiences to the master and took out all the jewels and treasures he had brought from the dragon palace to provide for the support of his master. After this tribulation, the master and the disciple were even more devoted to each other, eating from the same vessel, and always sitting side by side.

King Go-cha saw that after Don-grub had been thrown into the lake, his country truly enjoyed peace and harvested rich grain crops. But he felt sorry for the old lama, believing he had wronged the venerable one. So he sent minister Chos-dpal-ba-dpal to the mountain to invite the old fama to the palace t9 be provided for and looked after. The lama could not refuse, but he was reluctant to leave Don-grub alone on the mountain. If he took Don-grub along, he was afraid the king would recognize him and there might be danger. Finally, he bade Don-grub to wear a mask and tell people his face had been stung by a bee and must keep out of the wind. Thus the lama took Don-grub into the palace, in the guise of a new disciple.

After they came to the palace, the king was very respectful to the master and his disciple and gave them everything they needed. Four days passed but nobody recognized Don-grub. On the fifth morning, they went with the king for a walk on the roof terrace. At this moment, the princess, carrying ivory and other treasures in her hands, came to offer them to the lama and asked him to bless Prince Don-grub and expiate his sins so that he might quickly ascend to heaven. While saying this, sh was nearly choked with sobs.

Suddenly a gust of wind blew the old lama's cap to the ground and Don-grub hastened to pick it up. No sooner did he bend down than his mask fell off. All recognized him to be Don-grub. The princess hugged him and sobbed so hard that the servants, the lama and the king were very moved. Only then did the lama explain in detail Prince Don-grub's history.

King Go-cha said So that's what Prince Don-grub is like! He permitted the princess and Don-grub to marry. Although Prince Don-grub was worried and sad about his younger brother, he could not decline the king's kindness.

On the day of their wedding, everyone in the land, high and low, was bustling with activity and excited, blowing trumpts and hoisting flags. The old lama held a mass, expounding Buddist teachings. Everyone was in high spirits with the exception of Tn-shod who, with a guilty conscience, did not dare to stay any longer and sneaked into a neighboring country.

Shortly after the marriage of Prince Don-grub and the princess, King Go-cha passed the throne to him and went with the old lama to practice Buddhism. The old lama gave him the religious name Dgar-ba-dpal. Prince Don-grub truly became a king.

Two years later, Don-grub continued to long for his younger brother Don-yod, and his mind was never at ease. Taking many ministers and attendants and all sorts of weapons, dry grain, money and supplies, he departed on a journey, searching in those places where he had passed before. But still he could find no trace. On the way, Don-grub helped people to do many good things, dredging riverbeds, building bridges and houses and giving alms. So people always knew where the king had been.

At this time, some country folk came to report There is a strange creature in the mountain with a human-like body covered all over with white hair. It lives with monkeys day in and day out. Don-grub wondered, Can it be my brother Don-yod, destined to an unfortunate life Quickly he asked the country folk where this creature lived. Then he instructed his ministers and attendants to wait there and he himself went with the country folk. Crossing mountains and rivers, they traveled into the heart of a forest. There he saw the human-shaped creature picking fruit from a tree, placing it on a stone slab and calling Elder brother Don-grub! Where are you Elder brother Don-grub, where are you

When Don-grub heard his brother's call, he felt as if a needle had stung his heart and could not help shedding tears. He called, Younger brother Don-yod! I am here, your elder brother is here!

Don-yod was stunned for a moment and then rushed forward and threw himself into Don-grub's arms. The brothers hugged tightly, choked with sobbing and faughing, unable to tell whether they were happy or sad.

The two returned to the palace and told others their experience of reviving after death. Everyone sighed in sympathy, and the brothers lived very happily together.

Unfortunately, minister Tn-shod, with the hatred that comes from envy, attacked the country in collusion with robbers from elsewhere. Don-grub and Don-yod led their troops against them until Tri-shod's army was utterly routed and fled to the frontier wilderness.

Later, the two brothers, missing their parents very much, returned to their native land, accompanied by their troops, to visit their parents. King Pa-la-de-va, already advanced in years and believing he had lost his sons, had been grieving. He often shed tears and prayed that his sons would forgive him. He led a dreary, miserable life. When he heard that troops from the northern country were on their way to his kingdom, he was panic-stricken, but he had no army to defend his country.

While he was worrying, he saw that the leaders of the approaching troops were no other than his sons Don-grub and Don-yod, whom he had prayed for and missed every day. Father and sons hugged each other and sobbed bitterly, recounting their experiences of many years. Again they were saddened, but at least they were reunited now, and their grief turned into joy.

Later, King Pa-la-de-va passed on his throne to Don-yod. And Don-grub went back to be king of Go-cha, and the brothers always remained on brotherly and har-monious terms, until their death.