Long time ago, there lived a king called Reamea Thireach. He possessed tenfold qualifications of the king and reigned over Taka Seila kingdom. In that kingdom, there lived a poor couple. They could not afford even enough clothes and food. Poor as they were, they had never done any evils. One night there was a heavy downpour. While falling into a deep sleep, the wife dreamed that a hermit brought her three brilliant diamond rings and had them on her fingers.
Rousing from sleep, she woke up her husband and told him about the dream. Her husband suddenly went to a monk to tell him about this. The monk pulled out his slate and cast horoscope. Having thoroughly read and understood the writing on the slate, the monk said, "Don't worry about this; it's a good dream. Based on the horoscope, fortunate persons with great power are going to form their lives in your wife's womb." He added, "It also tells us that your wife has to avoid eating green mango." At home he told his wife about the horoscope and the abstention.
Talking about the fortune people who were forming their lives in their mother's womb, on the due date to be born, somehow an unfortunate thing caused the mother to have such a strong desire to eat green mango that she could not bear. Looking for a green mango, she found one and therefore climbed up the mango tree. At the fork in the tree, she fell off, her womb breaking. She suddenly passed away. Her broken bones were apart and there came a calf out of her perfect offspring called Preah Kor. After being born, Preah Kor ran here and there anxiously as if he was worried about something. Preah Kor was born with script books of formulas, some jewelry, and good meal - all of which were for the fortune people. The small bull galloped away from his mother's corpse running toward his father's house for fear that his younger brother, who could not be born yet, might be dead in his mother's womb.
At dusk, coming back from the wood, the man, his father, saw a good-looking small bull galloping toward the mango tree. Following the small bull, he found that his wife was lying dead on the ground. He carried his wife in his arm, cryinhg desperately. The small bull said, “Father! I could be born from mother, but my younger brother couldn’t.” His father pulled out the unborn baby Preah Keo from his wife’s stomach and bathed him. Seeing his plump, cute and lovely baby, the father was crying and simultaneously saying that, “Oh my son! Your mother was dead, so now you don’t have her breast milk to be fed. Your older brother can eat green grass and what about you? I don’t know who you can take the breast milk from?”
Next morning, his father carried Preah Keo and walked Preah Kor, roaming everywhere in search of a woman for breastfeeding. A villager asked, "Where is his mother?" The man clasped his both hands in respect and answered, "Oh my god! When I was away, my wife climbed up the mango tree because she wanted to eat mango.
Unfortunately, she fell off the tree and dies leaving a twin - one was a human and the other, a bull." The villager replied, "Oh! They must be very evil children; so don't try getting him breastfed? Go away! If you remain here, I'll break your head." With the threatening words, the poor man walked away with his children hopeless. He roamed from one home to another all day, but found no help. When he got back home, he laid his baby and dropped some water into Preah Keo's mouth and rushed to bury his wife's corpse. The fact that the man had one child as a human and the other as a bull surprised everyone in the village. They said that the man's family was an evil, so they sacked him from the village.
The villagers thought that the bull calf had soft bones and tender flesh - tasty. So some people were ready with rattan to tie up Preah Kor, others with long bar to carry, and the others with club to hit. When they got together, they shouted very loudly three times and surrounded Preah Kor closely like a fence. Preah Kor told his father that "Father! The villagers want to catch me; hold tightly to me. I will fly over this surrounding." Preah Kor tried his best to fly over it and fled away. Later, they were all safe and sound. Their father took them into the forest. They wouldn't dare return home. Preah Kor could have green grass to eat, while Preah Keo could get only drops of water rather than breast milk to survive. The man got Preah Kor to take care of his bother so that he could go to pick the ripen fruits to squeeze their juice for Preah Keo. However, he was not brave to go far. Such a living in the forest was very hard.
They wouldn’t dare build even a cottage. The man spent three years wandering in the forest. There were such big and bad tears in his clothes that he could no longer wear them. He used leaves as clothes to cover his body. One day, he reached a place where there was a big banyan tree growing near the forest and mountain. And lots of young cowboys were playing there. They shouted and chased one another happily in a nature of children. Preah Keo, seeing the boys playing happily, asked his brother to join them, but he was not allowed to do so, since his brother was afraid of the fact that the boys would hurt his brother.
One night, the young man lay thinking about the previous horoscope, the monk's prediction. He was wondering about the fact that he was predicted to have three children. What about the other child? Actually, he had the other child - that's Vedic Trai script book in the belly of Preah Kor. The man did not realize about this. In the morning, he brrought ripen fruits for his children and told them that, "If you want to play with other boys, you can, but you have to come back before dusk." In order not to make people suspicious of them, Preah Kor, like an ordinary bull , got his brother to tie him up with a vine, but warned his brother not to throw the vine over his back because so doing would make Preah Kor lose his power." The two brothers walked toward the tree where the boys were playing.Preah Keo tied his brother and came back to play with other young cowboys.
“Hey! Where are you from?” those boy asked when they saw Preah Keo. “I am motherless,” Preah Keo replied, “I have only father; I am homeless; I only live in the forest. Hearing that Preah Keo was motherless, all of the boys leaped to kick him mercilessly, making Preah Keo cery loudly, and Preah Kor, seing this, felt immense pity for his brother.
When the boys were unwrapping their rice packages, Preah Keo felt very hungry, so he implored them for rice to eat. But no boy was generous and, for destruction , even stamped on the very little remaining rice on the banana leaves. Preah Keo walked to his brother, weeping and wailing. Seeing this, Preah Kor asked "What's the matter?" Preah Keo replied that, "Brother! When I saw them eating rice, I, too hungry, begged for some. They didn't give me and additionally swear bad words at me." Preah Kor shed tears, feeling pity for his brother. "If you are hungry, I can belch out some food for you," said Preah Kor. Suddenly he mooed three times sending out a golden bowl containing plate, spoon, hot meal and tasty cakes. His younger brother felt very happy with this and ate up the food. The young cowboys were very surprised and came to watch. "Everyone, this bull mooing, the meal came out; while your bull mooed, dropping dung." The meal was so fragrant that some boys couldn't help begging for it. Immediately after Preah Keo ate the meal, Preah Kor swallowed the golden bowl into his belly. At that moment, his younger brother asked him, "If you have lots of meal like this, why don't you keep some for our father?" The elder told his brother that, "This meal can only be eaten by the fortune people." At early dusk, the elder took his brother back to unite with his father as usual.
Talking about young cowboys, at home they told their parents about this event. All the villagers surprisingly went to catch the bull and it its belly for gold and distributed among themselves. Next morning, Preah Keo asked his father for permission to play with other boys with the protection from Preah Kor. By the way, villagers were ready to trap Preah Kor, but the village chief told them to see what it really was beforehand. At lunch time, the young cowboys ate food together but did not allow Preah Keo to join them.
Preah Keo asked his brother to belch out the meal. The hiding villagers, who were stealing a look, rushed to get the golden items. Preah Kor stood still intending to try his power. The villagers shouted loudly running to encircle Preah Kor. Preah Kor told his brother to grip his tail tightly. Soon the villagers looped rope around Preah Kor's neck and walked him to attach to the patana oak to slit his belly for jewelry and flesh. The villagers wielding their axes to butcher Preah Kor, he suddenly flew to the sky, uprooting the Patana oak and breaking some branches to injure a lot of villagers. Some were slightly injured; others, seriously hurt; ,. All and the others fatally wounded. Those who were slightly injured came up with an idea of getting its root to treat their injuries.
Preah Kor, flowing into the sky, reached a banyan tree which was growing near a pond and let his brother stay there. Preah Keo whispered, "Brother! We left our father behind." Preah Kor answered,
"Don't worry; let's first save our lives." By the way, their awaiting father, not seeing his children get back home, was in search of them everywhere. Not finding his children, the poor father was very worried and ate nothing, not even a fruit. Seven days later, he passed away. The Indra, when coming to the earth for meditation, saw the dead body of the man. He then sprayed the sacred water to bring the man back to life. And the Indra let him reborn as Preah Ketu Mealea living in the heaven with lots of divine wealth. Regarding Preah Keo and Preah Keo, for a very long time they had been staying under the banyan tree. One day came a heavy rain. Preah Keo was convulsively shivering. Preah Kor told his brother to pull out clothes and towel from his belly to cover his body. The two brothers were living in that forest until he grew up.
Speaking of King Rea Mea Thireach and Queen Botumea, who had five daughters, due to per ordainment jointly made by Preah Keo and Preah Neang Pov to be husband and wife in every afterlife, somehow Preah Neang Pov felt bored and stayed uncomfortably in the palace since the Buddha-to-be, Moha Boros Roth, came to live in her kingdom. She implored her sisters to ask for their father's permission to have a visit at a pond. Her father agreed to the request, but told the ladies-in-waiting to guard his sisters in order not to allow any man to join them. Parade of princess arrived at the Muchlin pond, where Preah Keo was living.
Upon their reaching the pond, the five princesses and ladies-in-waiting decided to swim and plays ball throwing game. If anyone could get the ball in their hand, they had the right to chase and to push down the neck of the other. The other who was to be chased had to escape. For fearing of being pushed on her neck down, Preah Neang Pov ran upland. Accidentally she came across Preah Keo. She was very amazed at his beauty. As a matured woman, she was very shy and therefore, returned to the pond. She wondered, "Where is the man from? How come he is incredibly handsome?"
Regarding Preah Keo, when he saw her like this, he was very anxious. He then asked his brother to play with them. His brother told him that, "Alright, my brother! Please take the divine items from my belly and decorated your body first, and then you can go." After getting them all, Preah Keo wore those items-- glass crown, gem scarf, brilliant clothes-walking toward the pond. Ladies-in-waiting and the five princesses subconsciously stopped playing because of the beauty of this divine son. Then her older sisters shouted, "Where are you from? Why are you shameless watching women taking bath like this?"
Preah Keo replied, "I come here to take a shower because it is where I come to get it. I don't have any intention to watch you." The older sisters replied that, "No need to tell a lie. If are interested in playing with me, come on! Why standing here?" As soon as the shouting finished, Preah Keo went to join with them. When he caught the ball, he chased to catch Preah Neang Pov by tweezing her cheek while Preah Neang Pov did the same when she caught the ball. In the next game, Preah Keo caught the ball once again, chased and touched Preah Neang Pov with his nose. Neang Pov did the same as what Preah Keo had done to her when she got the ball. Feeling strange, the four older sisters thought, "Why aren't four of us caught? Preah Keo caught only Neang Pov." This was inappropriate and was not accepted by the custom, so they decided to stop playing and retumed to the royal palace. At that time, Preah Keo and Neang Pov were respectively worried and upset. Neang Pov, when leaving Preah Keo, felt purely nostalgic about him, since it was the first love they had just made; but being jointly blamed y her older sisters Neang Pov must have a big problem.
When the prince arrived at the palace, Neang Pov was not brave to meet her father. In a blue funk, she stayed and remained quiet in her bedroom, while her sisters went to the father to tell him what had happened. Immediately after listening to them , their father was very angry. "You are all the elder brothers; why didn't you care about your youngest sister? I got you, Ladies-in-waiting, to guard my daughters; why did you let the man to play with them." The older sisters said that, "Father, we had told Neang Pov but she didn't listen. Seeing that it broke the ethical norms of women, we all left Neang Pov with the man and came back to
the land. We tried to call her to come with us, but she refused and continued to play him, splashing around in the water happily." Much angrier and angrier, the king got a lady-in-waiting to invite Neang Pov to see him. "I don't go to see him," said Neang Pov. Told this refusal by the lady in waiting, the king, at that time, was suddenly furious. "How come she is breaking the ethical norms of women and seeking for a man?" said the king angrily, "Th is daughter I disown!" He ordered an executioner to tie up Neang Pov. Too frightened, Neang Pov was so shocked that she became unconscious. As soon as Neang Pov's mother knew this, she begged putting her arms around the king and said, "My Darling, please offer a free pardon to Neang Pov, since she is too young to be considerate." The king, then, was even angrier. "Out," said the king, "otherwise heads of you all will be cut." She left the king and went back to her room crying alone.
Seeing that his daughter was in unconscious state, the king felt hurtful inside. He thought, "She broke the women codes; if I pardon her, my people will not be happy with me, who is their king, since I stick to the truth , so I cannot cancel this order." While the executioners were taking Neang Pov to the wild forest, her mother was also traveling along with them in order to beg them to release her beloved daughter. However hard she implored, they did not dare to free Neang Pov because it was the king’s order. Upon arrival in the deep forest, the executioner wielded his sword and beheaded Neang Pov at that time. The king was grief-stricken but did not know what to do because every thing was over.
Talking about Indra, the king of deities, who stayed in the diamond castle? He could not stand still; he felt particularly worried. Feeling like this, he opened his magic eyes to see things on the earth. Suddenly he saw Neang Pov's dead body, whom killed by the executioner. "Not saving her is inappropriate," thought the Indra, "Because she used to be his daughter in her previous life." Then, he got down to the earth to reconnect Neang Pov's head with her body and took a drug to cure her neck and bring her back to life again. At that time, Neang Pov got her consciousness like person got up from sleep. She was alone in deep forest, feeling afraid of dangerous animals, as well as not knowing where she could find food. At that time, some of parrots helped her by dropping ripe fruit for her.
One afternoon, she arrived at the bank of the pond, where she had broken the women codes, and there was also the place where she had started her first love and would never forget the first day of her sweet memory, which she had made with Preah Keo. She went to a big nearby banyan tree when, suddenly, she felt greatly surprised at the presence of Preah Kor, standing there and then saw Preah Keo, a handsome figure, in his elegant clothes.
At that time, she made a wish, "If he is really my husband-to-be, may my clothes tum as beautiful as they were before." Immediately, she was in fine clothes, a loosely woven costume, wearing outstandingly beautiful jewellery. Happy with her beauty, she was not aware that Preah Keo was intently looking at her lovely face. Soon, she told Preah Keo about her ill fortune. Having listened to this, Preah Keo was full of pity for the princess. "You two are so fine;" said Preah Kor, "I'll celebrate a wedding for you both. Go into the forest and bring back some flowers and fruits. Preah Keo and Neang Pov agreed to the request. After they had the flowers and fruits, Preah Kor got them to decorate the castle for their wedding and then told his brother to insert one arm into his belly and get a small magnificent castle in the same size as a thumb. Out of the belly and onto the ground, the castle became a large 9-storey building, which was surprisingly bright and impressive. Preah Kor arranged a traditional and perfectly honorable wedding for the two.
Talking about King Reamea Thebadei, he had a fighting cock without peer. It was very tall and strong in build with shiny feathers called Arompong Phnom. Its fame spread to the neighboring countries, while Siam king also had a famous fighting cock named Aromduol. Knowing that there was a strong fighting cock in Taka seila Kingdom, Siam king came to this kingdom and challenged King Reamea to have a cock fight. He set out conditions that, "If his cock, Aromduol, had lost in the fighting, he would have given 500 junks and his soldiers as well as all of the precious things in the junks to King Reamea. He asked for the returning of himself to his country alone." Siam king, then asked King Reamea in return that, "What if his cock, Arompong Phnom lost in the fighting? Was there any condition? King Reamea replied, "If my cock had lost, I would have asked to walk alone from here without bringing with me any wife. And I would have my people and my whole kingdom under your control." After conditions were set out, cock fighting started.
During the fighting, Arompong Phnom and Aromduol showed their potentials very bravely; they leapt to kick against each other vigorously. Accidentally, because of its carelessness, Arompong Phnom was kicked at its chest by Aromduol so hard that it fell onto the ground, unable to stand up. This made the Siam give a triumphant shout. "What do you think?" Siam king asked King Reamea. "I agree to lose this cock fight ," replied King Reamea, "but I request you to give me another chance to have the second fight and give me three days to find a good fighting cock; if I lost in this second fight, I will give myself to you." Siam king, then, happily agreed.
King Reamea ordered the royal soldiers and officials to beat a gong to look for an outstanding fighting cock, but they could not find one. Khmer king was dreadfully worried about this. High and low went the gong beaters. Walking into some sort of the dense forest, the gong beaters were greatly surprised by the bright magnificent castle. Seeing this great castle, they went into the building and saw Preah Keo and Neang Pov. The royal soldiers passed on this finding to the king. The king ordered his royal solder that, "Go and ask my daughter to find out the best fighting cock for tomorrow's fight; if she cannot find it, our kingdom will belong to Siam. However, if we win the bet, I will proclaim her king in this kingdom." Preah Keo and Neang Pov were desperately worried. "Don't worry," Preah Kor said to Preah Keo, ''I'll help." On the due date, Preah Kor swallowed the castle back into his belly and turned into a small black cock, standing on a gold tray, but did not allow anyone to pat his or her arm over his head, or Preah Kor's power would fade quickly. As for the villagers in this kingdom, a big crowd of them – knowing that Preah Keo and Neang Pov brought the cock for a fight - went to see the cock. They altogether said that Preah Keo's cock was good for chicken soup because it was small and scrawny. They went back home and packed their luggage to run away from Siam's control.
Preah Keo and Neang Pov went into the royal palace and offered the cock to her father. Seeing that the cock was too young and small, her father, the king, became panic and pale in his face. "We can't win the fighi with this too small fighting cock," said the king. Neang Pov replied, "Don't worry, Father! You will be happy because of this small cock." The king, then, said nothing, but got the royal servants to invite Siam king for fighting, since the time was up."
Siamese, just when looking at Neang Pov's cock, cheered up very happily. Neang Pov placed her cock into the cockfighting arena. The small young cock stumbled on the ground as if it was a hen, which was not a fighting cock. Considering the small cock a hen, Aromduol went toward it, intending to have intercourse. "Jump on it, Aromduol'" shouted the Siamese, "And have as much intercourse as you like." Preah Kor, in a figure of small cock, jumped on Aromduol and gave it such a hefty kick that Siam soldiers fell absolutely quiet. King Reamea stood up and shouted , "I am saved this time; what a lovely daughter you are'" Siam king, at that time, became pale and it was almost impossible for him to find the way to his junk. "Is it because of the magic?" thought the king, while walking to the junk, "I don't think this kind of small young cock was so strong; that's incredible! I will seek the revenge." King Reamea Thibpadei and Queen Botumea, realizing the triumph, they went to hug their sister and son-in-law and then proclaimed Preah Keo king in that kingdom. At the same time, four sisters of Neang Pov admitted their mistakes.
Talking about Siam king, he was relentlessly upset. He then marched in elephant cortege toward Taka Sejla Kingdom. He ordered his soldiers to built pavilions outside the city and sent King Reamea a message for elephant fight. Getting the message, King Reamea got his servants to tell Preah Keo and then, Preah Keo talked to Preah Kor. Preah Kor, then, was responsible for this. On the due date, Preah Kor transformed himself into an elephant. Siam king set out a condition with Preah Keo that, "We bet 160 elephants on this fight [if I lost in this fighting]." Preah Keo said that, "Okay, it doesn't matter how many elephants you want to bet; we have enough elephants for you." Siam king chose Akiry Kampoulpich for this fighting. No sooner did the fighting start than the elephant of Siam king, like a thunderclap in the dry season, rushed headlong and carelessly toward Preah Kor elephant. Since Preah Kor elephant sidestepped, Akiry Kampoulpich tripped, falling to the ground and unable to stand up, so Preah Kor elephant pushed Akiry's tusks to the ground. Akiry Kampoulpich tried his best to move out until the grass got damp, but failed. Akiry broke wind like an exploding mine, excreted in feces scattering over the audience's faces.
Siam king bowed telling Preah Keo that, "We may be separated from our family. My majesty, you can take away the twenty elephants, but please let us go back to our Home country and your kindness must become the profound gratitude." Preah Keo replied, "Alright, keep the twenty elephants here and you all can return to your home country." Permitted to return home, Siam king and his soldiers were happy. After that, Siam king got the royal officials invited for a meeting to find the way to defeat the king of Taka Seila Kingdom. Siam king ordered the royal servants to look for a skilled mechanic who could invent a mechanical bull. After the successful invention, Siam king, extremely happy, came to Taka Seila Kingdom again. The highly ambitious Siam king assigned a royal servant to send a letter to the king of Taka Seila Kingdom. Gaining this information, Preah Keo went to see Preah Kor and told him about the attempt of Siam king. Preah Kor thought with clairvoyance and told Preah Keo that, "Brother Keo, this time we will be away from our home, since Siam bull is not a real one, but is made of metal so I cannot win against it. This is our unfortunate destiny which cannot be avoided." Preah Keo and Neang Pov were desperately nervous and frightened, but Preah Keo tried to be brave and went back to his shelter.
Siam king merrily marched in procession to lead the mechanical bull to the fighting arena. "Brother and sister-in-law, when I was in the fighting arena, find a way to hang tightly on to my tail. While hanging on to my tail, be careful and don't turn back." As soon as Siam king saw Preah Keo leading Preah Kor in the arena, he was cheerful and thought, ''This time Taka Seila Kingdom will belong to me and therefore, I shall warmly welcome and greet them." Preah Kor whispered to Preah Keo that, "Go and make a new agreement, but don't bet our kingdom on this fight in order not to trouble the people in our kingdom merely because of us; if there is any trouble, let it come to only two of us." Preah Keo went to meet Siam king to make a new agreement as requested by Preah Kor. When the fighting began, Siam immediately started their mechanical bull. Siam's bull walking toward him, Preah Kor cast the magic spell and rushed suddenly to fight it as a trial of strength. Fearless, Preah Kor fought very hard over the mechanical bull but this bull was not at all moving or had no dent in it. Preah Kor tried to gore with his horns from below to fall Siam's bull to the ground but it stood still. Preah Kor gave another trial with his magic spell, saying that, "Bother, I am very tired." Hearing Preah Kor's words, Preah Keo held his wife's hands and hung tightly on to his brother's tail, following what Preah Kor had told him.
Regarding Preah Keo, who went into the forest in search of Preah Kor, he was crying; not only was he separated from his brother, but also he was deeply worried about his wife, who may have been hurt by Dump Siam. Preah Kor, who was flying so fast, was always downcast after realizing that his brother and sister-in-law had dropped. "Brother Keo," he thought, "how have you been?" And he flew back to see his brother. Arriving at a chrei (a kind of tree), Preah Kor saw Preah Keo sleeping under the tree. He woke Preah Keo up. Waking up and seeing his brother, Preah Keo briskly got up, asking about his wife. "Don't worry," said Preah Kor. "Your wife was safe, since at that time the Indra came to conjure her dead body to become a stone statue and took her spirit to live a happy life in paradise. Now, please forget it, since Siam was looking for us." Then, Preah Kor got Preah Keo to hang on to his tail and flew ahead. Reaching a huge mountain. Preah Kor flew low and went into the mountain cave for a stay because that place, he thought, could be a very safe shelter.
Speaking about the crowd of Siam, they were very surprised when seeing the bull flying; because since they were born, they had never known that a bull could fly. Siam king ordered his troops to chase Preah Keo, but because of Preah Keo's power, Siam was not able find out Preah Keo and therefore, got back to their home country. Regarding Preah Kor and Preah Keo, who were hiding in the mountain cave; because of their special power spread everywhere, people had lots of food and all kinds of fruits to eat and were filled with happiness, not afraid of any diseases. Their power was also spread to Siam country, so, like those in Taka
Seila Kingdom, Siam people surprisingly found happiness and brought in many agricultural crops. This strangeness made everyone in Siam country so curious that even Siam king felt that the mango trees near the royal palace, not in due season, bore fruits. Then the king got the astrologist invited to make prediction.
"According to my predicting number, it is very good," said the astrologist, "since the lucky figures in the bullfighting that day was spreading their special power. If you, My Majesty, go to catch them now, I believe, you will be able to have them."
Immediately after listening to the prediction, Siam king was extremely happy and therefore, sent many troops into the high steep mountain. At the mountain, Siam king seawall the surrounding attractive wild plants. The fortune figures, he thought, must be in the mountain cave. The king, then , ordered his troops to surround the mountain carefully. "Brother, the danger is coming again," Preah Kor said to Preah Keo, "because Siam troops are entirely surrounding this mountain. Hang on to my tail and I will fly out of this cave." As soon as Siam king saw Preah Kor, he shouted to his troops, "Please everyone, they are near here; go and catch them." At that time Preah Kor flew and crashed into the forest so as to fell the trees over Siam troops, which resulted in some troops' death here and there. Preah Kor flew and took Preah Keo to Banteay Lung Vek, a citadel surrounded by dense bamboo forests. Preah Kor told Preah Keo not to go anywhere at all for fear that there was another danger which may separate them again.
Unable to catch Preah Kor and Preah Keo, Siam king was absolutely furious. Then he guided his remaining troops to return to his kingdom. Angry with the astrologist, Siam king placed the wide blame on him. The astrologist, worried and nervous, briskly told the king that, "Please forgive me; my majesty, you will surely be able to catch them. Go there again and I also join you to observe the situation. If it ends in failure again, I will cut off my head to hang it at the boundary." Listening to the astrologist, Siam king thought that it was worth forgiving him.
Preah Kor and Preah Keo had been staying in Lung Vek for seven days and nights. Siam king went there and explored every possible way of uprooting the bamboos. The astrologist told the king that, "It is a good idea to throw Khmer coins into the bamboo forest. When coming across these coins, Khmer will uproot the bamboo forests for the coins." Finally, the bamboo forest was completely destroyed, while the coins, thrown into the forest, were regarded as wages for forest clearance. After that, the Siam royal troops went to tell the king and therefore, Siam king mobilized his troops again.
Preah Kor, seeing the complete destruction of bamboo forest, told his brother that, "Brother Keo, another danger exists; briskly escape from here." Then, Preah Kor, together with his brother, flew towards Odong,
an eight-corner mountain. When arriving at the Lung Vek and saw the destruction of the bamboo forest, Siam troops were very happy. Siam king ordered his troops to run into Lung Vek, but was again disappointed, since Preah Kor and Preah Keo had left there. The astrology predicted, "My Majesty, we will be able to catch them up the very next four days. Now they are at the eight-corner mountain. With this prediction, Siam king led the troops to surround Odong. Siam king ordered those who could use bows and arrows to stand by at the mountain lank, while the front-line ones would attack violently. Regarding Preah Kor, knowing the danger came, he told Preah Keo that, "Brother Keo, now we may not be able to escape from Siam troops because I am exhausted. Now we have to be disguising as a wild buffalo for a while." The two buffaloes walked into, and hide themselves among a herd of wild buffaloes.
Siam king entirely destroyed the forest, but did not find Preah Kor and Preah Keo. The king asking the astrologist about this failure, the astrologist said to the king: "Don't worried, My Majesty, today we will be able to catch them up; they are now becoming wild buffaloes and therefore, get people to prepare and tie a long incantatory cord made of buffa lo hide to surround them, since Preah Kor and Preah Keo were is guising as buffaloes in that herd.
Then, have people shoot guns noisily to startle the buffaloes so that they run out jumping over the cord , while the disguised buffaloes, for fear that their spells will be removed, dare not jump over it. At that moment, we will be able to arrest them easily. "Listening to the astrologist, the king was very happy. He, then, ordered to have it done. When ready, the guns were fired so loudly that the real buffaloes ran over the incantatory cord, except for the disguised buffaloes. Preah Kor told his brother that, "Now we cannot escape; it's impossible for me to fly and leave here because you, Bother, had been a buffalo. It's better to die here than to be alive, for we are away from our home country." At that time Siam found it easy to catch the two buffaloes. Standing in the distance, the king merrily broke into a wild applause. Angry with the buffaloes, Siam troops tied them up, insulted and said to hurt their feelings, and beat them so badly that the blood gushed and soaked into their body. Preah Kor and Preah Keo said nothing. The astrologist told the king that, "My Majesty, Please don't get the fortunate persons beaten at all."
Siam king took them to stay in a magnificent castle so that the country was filled with happiness. Since anywhere lived the fortunate persons, the residents in that kingdom would live happily as well as won't suffer from diseases, and the happiness will be found forever. Preah Kor and Preah Keo were very distressed. Preah Keo asked his brother to escape, but Preah Kor said, "We should flee here the next seven days, the full moon day, when we should explore a way to escape." Siam king came for a visit and soothed them that, "Don't worry at all; if there is something you don't like, please tell us. Our servants are here to serve you any time you want and they will never upset or disappoint you." Even though they lived in good health, Preah Kor and Preah Keo were even unhappier but could tell no one.
During the full moon night, when the guards were asleep, Preah Kor and Preah Keo flew to escape and arrived at a place. But, in that night, the weather was terrible: it was very dark and the sound of thunder was everywhere. Preah Kor said "Brother Keo, it is a bad omen, so we cannot go far." He added that, "Bother Keo, please guard me resting here. I am very tired and if I fall asleep, wake me up. Having guarded too long, Preah Keo also fell into a sleep near a raing (kind of tree). That place is now called "Bor Pailin". Speaking of the guarding troops commander, at midnight after Preah Kor and Preah Keo escaped, he and his subordinates were dreadfully worried for fear that they would be punished by the king, but went to tell the king about this. The king mobilized strong adult males in order to set off on a march to Bor Pail in in the night, following the prediction of the astrologist. He got them to surround it completely and carefully. Because of their goodness and power, Preah Kor and Preah Keo flew and left there without any troop knowing.
Preah Kor and Preah Keo flew toward Sampov Mountain and hid themselves there. Siam troops destroyed Bor Pailin totally, yet saw no one. The king had the astrologist predict as usual. The astrologist told the king that, "With this astrological diagram, they had been at the Sampov Mountain." The king, then, led the troops there. When they arrived at Sampov Mountain, the king commanded the troops to station around the mountain and forest and especially to watch carefully so that Preah Kor and Preah Keo could not escape again. Preah Kor, bored with, and tired of Siam's chase, told his brother that, "Brother Keo, it must be our misfortune that they are always chasing us; so now we're going to give them a lesson. Hang on to my tail, brother, and be careful." Siam was shouting loudly in the catching of Preah Kor and Preah Keo. Hearing the noises and seeing the troops coming nearer and nearer, Preah Kor flew up to push to fell trees over the troops. Many Siam died and injured. Siam king called in the troops to continue the chase. Preah Kor left for a divine mountain which was not very far from Sampov Mountain.
Siam troops were chasing the fortunate persons day and night, as predicted by the astrologist. When arriving at the divine mountain, Siam troops surrounded the mountain carefully. Preah Kor, when Siam troops reached there, got ready to fly and take his brother out of that place, but was seriously worried, since it was
in the middle of a very dark night. Eventually, Preah Kor flew to hide at Tbeng Mountain. When Siam troops arrived at the divine mountain, but did not find the fortunate persons, they all decided to stay there. At dawn Siam troops left for Tbeng Mountain and went up to Kulen Mountain; after that, they were back to Tbeng Mountain and surrounded it as they did before. Siams were looking for Preah Kor and Preah Keo day and night but did not find them because Preah Kor and Preah Keo, had left in the night. Unfortunately, it was so dark that Preah Kor got lost; alsol, without a break he was absolutely exhausted. He told his brother that, "Brother Keo, I cannot continue our journey, so I decided to fly down and take a break here. Unluckily, while flying low, they were out of the blue in the middle of Siam troops. Siam caught Preah Kor and Preah Keo, but did not torture them like before.
Siam king took Preah Kor and Preah Keo to their home country as what they wished. At Siam city, the king had the castle built, which was even greater than the king's royal palace to ensure their safety. The king did not allow anyone to gointo the castle without permission. Preah Kor and Preah Keo, though in a magnificent castle, were not at all interested in it. They thought the castle a prison. In the evening, they always cried, missed their home country and did not know how they could get there. Every full moon night, the guards were always more careful. Siam people always worshiped and considered Preah Kor and Preah Keo the fortunate persons and the symbols of the spirits of their nations. That is why Siam People have rarely eaten meat from bull (Preah Kor) since then.
- THE END -
Rousing from sleep, she woke up her husband and told him about the dream. Her husband suddenly went to a monk to tell him about this. The monk pulled out his slate and cast horoscope. Having thoroughly read and understood the writing on the slate, the monk said, "Don't worry about this; it's a good dream. Based on the horoscope, fortunate persons with great power are going to form their lives in your wife's womb." He added, "It also tells us that your wife has to avoid eating green mango." At home he told his wife about the horoscope and the abstention.
Talking about the fortune people who were forming their lives in their mother's womb, on the due date to be born, somehow an unfortunate thing caused the mother to have such a strong desire to eat green mango that she could not bear. Looking for a green mango, she found one and therefore climbed up the mango tree. At the fork in the tree, she fell off, her womb breaking. She suddenly passed away. Her broken bones were apart and there came a calf out of her perfect offspring called Preah Kor. After being born, Preah Kor ran here and there anxiously as if he was worried about something. Preah Kor was born with script books of formulas, some jewelry, and good meal - all of which were for the fortune people. The small bull galloped away from his mother's corpse running toward his father's house for fear that his younger brother, who could not be born yet, might be dead in his mother's womb.
At dusk, coming back from the wood, the man, his father, saw a good-looking small bull galloping toward the mango tree. Following the small bull, he found that his wife was lying dead on the ground. He carried his wife in his arm, cryinhg desperately. The small bull said, “Father! I could be born from mother, but my younger brother couldn’t.” His father pulled out the unborn baby Preah Keo from his wife’s stomach and bathed him. Seeing his plump, cute and lovely baby, the father was crying and simultaneously saying that, “Oh my son! Your mother was dead, so now you don’t have her breast milk to be fed. Your older brother can eat green grass and what about you? I don’t know who you can take the breast milk from?”
Next morning, his father carried Preah Keo and walked Preah Kor, roaming everywhere in search of a woman for breastfeeding. A villager asked, "Where is his mother?" The man clasped his both hands in respect and answered, "Oh my god! When I was away, my wife climbed up the mango tree because she wanted to eat mango.
Unfortunately, she fell off the tree and dies leaving a twin - one was a human and the other, a bull." The villager replied, "Oh! They must be very evil children; so don't try getting him breastfed? Go away! If you remain here, I'll break your head." With the threatening words, the poor man walked away with his children hopeless. He roamed from one home to another all day, but found no help. When he got back home, he laid his baby and dropped some water into Preah Keo's mouth and rushed to bury his wife's corpse. The fact that the man had one child as a human and the other as a bull surprised everyone in the village. They said that the man's family was an evil, so they sacked him from the village.
The villagers thought that the bull calf had soft bones and tender flesh - tasty. So some people were ready with rattan to tie up Preah Kor, others with long bar to carry, and the others with club to hit. When they got together, they shouted very loudly three times and surrounded Preah Kor closely like a fence. Preah Kor told his father that "Father! The villagers want to catch me; hold tightly to me. I will fly over this surrounding." Preah Kor tried his best to fly over it and fled away. Later, they were all safe and sound. Their father took them into the forest. They wouldn't dare return home. Preah Kor could have green grass to eat, while Preah Keo could get only drops of water rather than breast milk to survive. The man got Preah Kor to take care of his bother so that he could go to pick the ripen fruits to squeeze their juice for Preah Keo. However, he was not brave to go far. Such a living in the forest was very hard.
They wouldn’t dare build even a cottage. The man spent three years wandering in the forest. There were such big and bad tears in his clothes that he could no longer wear them. He used leaves as clothes to cover his body. One day, he reached a place where there was a big banyan tree growing near the forest and mountain. And lots of young cowboys were playing there. They shouted and chased one another happily in a nature of children. Preah Keo, seeing the boys playing happily, asked his brother to join them, but he was not allowed to do so, since his brother was afraid of the fact that the boys would hurt his brother.
One night, the young man lay thinking about the previous horoscope, the monk's prediction. He was wondering about the fact that he was predicted to have three children. What about the other child? Actually, he had the other child - that's Vedic Trai script book in the belly of Preah Kor. The man did not realize about this. In the morning, he brrought ripen fruits for his children and told them that, "If you want to play with other boys, you can, but you have to come back before dusk." In order not to make people suspicious of them, Preah Kor, like an ordinary bull , got his brother to tie him up with a vine, but warned his brother not to throw the vine over his back because so doing would make Preah Kor lose his power." The two brothers walked toward the tree where the boys were playing.Preah Keo tied his brother and came back to play with other young cowboys.
“Hey! Where are you from?” those boy asked when they saw Preah Keo. “I am motherless,” Preah Keo replied, “I have only father; I am homeless; I only live in the forest. Hearing that Preah Keo was motherless, all of the boys leaped to kick him mercilessly, making Preah Keo cery loudly, and Preah Kor, seing this, felt immense pity for his brother.
When the boys were unwrapping their rice packages, Preah Keo felt very hungry, so he implored them for rice to eat. But no boy was generous and, for destruction , even stamped on the very little remaining rice on the banana leaves. Preah Keo walked to his brother, weeping and wailing. Seeing this, Preah Kor asked "What's the matter?" Preah Keo replied that, "Brother! When I saw them eating rice, I, too hungry, begged for some. They didn't give me and additionally swear bad words at me." Preah Kor shed tears, feeling pity for his brother. "If you are hungry, I can belch out some food for you," said Preah Kor. Suddenly he mooed three times sending out a golden bowl containing plate, spoon, hot meal and tasty cakes. His younger brother felt very happy with this and ate up the food. The young cowboys were very surprised and came to watch. "Everyone, this bull mooing, the meal came out; while your bull mooed, dropping dung." The meal was so fragrant that some boys couldn't help begging for it. Immediately after Preah Keo ate the meal, Preah Kor swallowed the golden bowl into his belly. At that moment, his younger brother asked him, "If you have lots of meal like this, why don't you keep some for our father?" The elder told his brother that, "This meal can only be eaten by the fortune people." At early dusk, the elder took his brother back to unite with his father as usual.
Talking about young cowboys, at home they told their parents about this event. All the villagers surprisingly went to catch the bull and it its belly for gold and distributed among themselves. Next morning, Preah Keo asked his father for permission to play with other boys with the protection from Preah Kor. By the way, villagers were ready to trap Preah Kor, but the village chief told them to see what it really was beforehand. At lunch time, the young cowboys ate food together but did not allow Preah Keo to join them.
Preah Keo asked his brother to belch out the meal. The hiding villagers, who were stealing a look, rushed to get the golden items. Preah Kor stood still intending to try his power. The villagers shouted loudly running to encircle Preah Kor. Preah Kor told his brother to grip his tail tightly. Soon the villagers looped rope around Preah Kor's neck and walked him to attach to the patana oak to slit his belly for jewelry and flesh. The villagers wielding their axes to butcher Preah Kor, he suddenly flew to the sky, uprooting the Patana oak and breaking some branches to injure a lot of villagers. Some were slightly injured; others, seriously hurt; ,. All and the others fatally wounded. Those who were slightly injured came up with an idea of getting its root to treat their injuries.
Preah Kor, flowing into the sky, reached a banyan tree which was growing near a pond and let his brother stay there. Preah Keo whispered, "Brother! We left our father behind." Preah Kor answered,
"Don't worry; let's first save our lives." By the way, their awaiting father, not seeing his children get back home, was in search of them everywhere. Not finding his children, the poor father was very worried and ate nothing, not even a fruit. Seven days later, he passed away. The Indra, when coming to the earth for meditation, saw the dead body of the man. He then sprayed the sacred water to bring the man back to life. And the Indra let him reborn as Preah Ketu Mealea living in the heaven with lots of divine wealth. Regarding Preah Keo and Preah Keo, for a very long time they had been staying under the banyan tree. One day came a heavy rain. Preah Keo was convulsively shivering. Preah Kor told his brother to pull out clothes and towel from his belly to cover his body. The two brothers were living in that forest until he grew up.
Speaking of King Rea Mea Thireach and Queen Botumea, who had five daughters, due to per ordainment jointly made by Preah Keo and Preah Neang Pov to be husband and wife in every afterlife, somehow Preah Neang Pov felt bored and stayed uncomfortably in the palace since the Buddha-to-be, Moha Boros Roth, came to live in her kingdom. She implored her sisters to ask for their father's permission to have a visit at a pond. Her father agreed to the request, but told the ladies-in-waiting to guard his sisters in order not to allow any man to join them. Parade of princess arrived at the Muchlin pond, where Preah Keo was living.
Upon their reaching the pond, the five princesses and ladies-in-waiting decided to swim and plays ball throwing game. If anyone could get the ball in their hand, they had the right to chase and to push down the neck of the other. The other who was to be chased had to escape. For fearing of being pushed on her neck down, Preah Neang Pov ran upland. Accidentally she came across Preah Keo. She was very amazed at his beauty. As a matured woman, she was very shy and therefore, returned to the pond. She wondered, "Where is the man from? How come he is incredibly handsome?"
Regarding Preah Keo, when he saw her like this, he was very anxious. He then asked his brother to play with them. His brother told him that, "Alright, my brother! Please take the divine items from my belly and decorated your body first, and then you can go." After getting them all, Preah Keo wore those items-- glass crown, gem scarf, brilliant clothes-walking toward the pond. Ladies-in-waiting and the five princesses subconsciously stopped playing because of the beauty of this divine son. Then her older sisters shouted, "Where are you from? Why are you shameless watching women taking bath like this?"
Preah Keo replied, "I come here to take a shower because it is where I come to get it. I don't have any intention to watch you." The older sisters replied that, "No need to tell a lie. If are interested in playing with me, come on! Why standing here?" As soon as the shouting finished, Preah Keo went to join with them. When he caught the ball, he chased to catch Preah Neang Pov by tweezing her cheek while Preah Neang Pov did the same when she caught the ball. In the next game, Preah Keo caught the ball once again, chased and touched Preah Neang Pov with his nose. Neang Pov did the same as what Preah Keo had done to her when she got the ball. Feeling strange, the four older sisters thought, "Why aren't four of us caught? Preah Keo caught only Neang Pov." This was inappropriate and was not accepted by the custom, so they decided to stop playing and retumed to the royal palace. At that time, Preah Keo and Neang Pov were respectively worried and upset. Neang Pov, when leaving Preah Keo, felt purely nostalgic about him, since it was the first love they had just made; but being jointly blamed y her older sisters Neang Pov must have a big problem.
When the prince arrived at the palace, Neang Pov was not brave to meet her father. In a blue funk, she stayed and remained quiet in her bedroom, while her sisters went to the father to tell him what had happened. Immediately after listening to them , their father was very angry. "You are all the elder brothers; why didn't you care about your youngest sister? I got you, Ladies-in-waiting, to guard my daughters; why did you let the man to play with them." The older sisters said that, "Father, we had told Neang Pov but she didn't listen. Seeing that it broke the ethical norms of women, we all left Neang Pov with the man and came back to
the land. We tried to call her to come with us, but she refused and continued to play him, splashing around in the water happily." Much angrier and angrier, the king got a lady-in-waiting to invite Neang Pov to see him. "I don't go to see him," said Neang Pov. Told this refusal by the lady in waiting, the king, at that time, was suddenly furious. "How come she is breaking the ethical norms of women and seeking for a man?" said the king angrily, "Th is daughter I disown!" He ordered an executioner to tie up Neang Pov. Too frightened, Neang Pov was so shocked that she became unconscious. As soon as Neang Pov's mother knew this, she begged putting her arms around the king and said, "My Darling, please offer a free pardon to Neang Pov, since she is too young to be considerate." The king, then, was even angrier. "Out," said the king, "otherwise heads of you all will be cut." She left the king and went back to her room crying alone.
Seeing that his daughter was in unconscious state, the king felt hurtful inside. He thought, "She broke the women codes; if I pardon her, my people will not be happy with me, who is their king, since I stick to the truth , so I cannot cancel this order." While the executioners were taking Neang Pov to the wild forest, her mother was also traveling along with them in order to beg them to release her beloved daughter. However hard she implored, they did not dare to free Neang Pov because it was the king’s order. Upon arrival in the deep forest, the executioner wielded his sword and beheaded Neang Pov at that time. The king was grief-stricken but did not know what to do because every thing was over.
Talking about Indra, the king of deities, who stayed in the diamond castle? He could not stand still; he felt particularly worried. Feeling like this, he opened his magic eyes to see things on the earth. Suddenly he saw Neang Pov's dead body, whom killed by the executioner. "Not saving her is inappropriate," thought the Indra, "Because she used to be his daughter in her previous life." Then, he got down to the earth to reconnect Neang Pov's head with her body and took a drug to cure her neck and bring her back to life again. At that time, Neang Pov got her consciousness like person got up from sleep. She was alone in deep forest, feeling afraid of dangerous animals, as well as not knowing where she could find food. At that time, some of parrots helped her by dropping ripe fruit for her.
One afternoon, she arrived at the bank of the pond, where she had broken the women codes, and there was also the place where she had started her first love and would never forget the first day of her sweet memory, which she had made with Preah Keo. She went to a big nearby banyan tree when, suddenly, she felt greatly surprised at the presence of Preah Kor, standing there and then saw Preah Keo, a handsome figure, in his elegant clothes.
At that time, she made a wish, "If he is really my husband-to-be, may my clothes tum as beautiful as they were before." Immediately, she was in fine clothes, a loosely woven costume, wearing outstandingly beautiful jewellery. Happy with her beauty, she was not aware that Preah Keo was intently looking at her lovely face. Soon, she told Preah Keo about her ill fortune. Having listened to this, Preah Keo was full of pity for the princess. "You two are so fine;" said Preah Kor, "I'll celebrate a wedding for you both. Go into the forest and bring back some flowers and fruits. Preah Keo and Neang Pov agreed to the request. After they had the flowers and fruits, Preah Kor got them to decorate the castle for their wedding and then told his brother to insert one arm into his belly and get a small magnificent castle in the same size as a thumb. Out of the belly and onto the ground, the castle became a large 9-storey building, which was surprisingly bright and impressive. Preah Kor arranged a traditional and perfectly honorable wedding for the two.
Talking about King Reamea Thebadei, he had a fighting cock without peer. It was very tall and strong in build with shiny feathers called Arompong Phnom. Its fame spread to the neighboring countries, while Siam king also had a famous fighting cock named Aromduol. Knowing that there was a strong fighting cock in Taka seila Kingdom, Siam king came to this kingdom and challenged King Reamea to have a cock fight. He set out conditions that, "If his cock, Aromduol, had lost in the fighting, he would have given 500 junks and his soldiers as well as all of the precious things in the junks to King Reamea. He asked for the returning of himself to his country alone." Siam king, then asked King Reamea in return that, "What if his cock, Arompong Phnom lost in the fighting? Was there any condition? King Reamea replied, "If my cock had lost, I would have asked to walk alone from here without bringing with me any wife. And I would have my people and my whole kingdom under your control." After conditions were set out, cock fighting started.
During the fighting, Arompong Phnom and Aromduol showed their potentials very bravely; they leapt to kick against each other vigorously. Accidentally, because of its carelessness, Arompong Phnom was kicked at its chest by Aromduol so hard that it fell onto the ground, unable to stand up. This made the Siam give a triumphant shout. "What do you think?" Siam king asked King Reamea. "I agree to lose this cock fight ," replied King Reamea, "but I request you to give me another chance to have the second fight and give me three days to find a good fighting cock; if I lost in this second fight, I will give myself to you." Siam king, then, happily agreed.
King Reamea ordered the royal soldiers and officials to beat a gong to look for an outstanding fighting cock, but they could not find one. Khmer king was dreadfully worried about this. High and low went the gong beaters. Walking into some sort of the dense forest, the gong beaters were greatly surprised by the bright magnificent castle. Seeing this great castle, they went into the building and saw Preah Keo and Neang Pov. The royal soldiers passed on this finding to the king. The king ordered his royal solder that, "Go and ask my daughter to find out the best fighting cock for tomorrow's fight; if she cannot find it, our kingdom will belong to Siam. However, if we win the bet, I will proclaim her king in this kingdom." Preah Keo and Neang Pov were desperately worried. "Don't worry," Preah Kor said to Preah Keo, ''I'll help." On the due date, Preah Kor swallowed the castle back into his belly and turned into a small black cock, standing on a gold tray, but did not allow anyone to pat his or her arm over his head, or Preah Kor's power would fade quickly. As for the villagers in this kingdom, a big crowd of them – knowing that Preah Keo and Neang Pov brought the cock for a fight - went to see the cock. They altogether said that Preah Keo's cock was good for chicken soup because it was small and scrawny. They went back home and packed their luggage to run away from Siam's control.
Preah Keo and Neang Pov went into the royal palace and offered the cock to her father. Seeing that the cock was too young and small, her father, the king, became panic and pale in his face. "We can't win the fighi with this too small fighting cock," said the king. Neang Pov replied, "Don't worry, Father! You will be happy because of this small cock." The king, then, said nothing, but got the royal servants to invite Siam king for fighting, since the time was up."
Siamese, just when looking at Neang Pov's cock, cheered up very happily. Neang Pov placed her cock into the cockfighting arena. The small young cock stumbled on the ground as if it was a hen, which was not a fighting cock. Considering the small cock a hen, Aromduol went toward it, intending to have intercourse. "Jump on it, Aromduol'" shouted the Siamese, "And have as much intercourse as you like." Preah Kor, in a figure of small cock, jumped on Aromduol and gave it such a hefty kick that Siam soldiers fell absolutely quiet. King Reamea stood up and shouted , "I am saved this time; what a lovely daughter you are'" Siam king, at that time, became pale and it was almost impossible for him to find the way to his junk. "Is it because of the magic?" thought the king, while walking to the junk, "I don't think this kind of small young cock was so strong; that's incredible! I will seek the revenge." King Reamea Thibpadei and Queen Botumea, realizing the triumph, they went to hug their sister and son-in-law and then proclaimed Preah Keo king in that kingdom. At the same time, four sisters of Neang Pov admitted their mistakes.
Talking about Siam king, he was relentlessly upset. He then marched in elephant cortege toward Taka Sejla Kingdom. He ordered his soldiers to built pavilions outside the city and sent King Reamea a message for elephant fight. Getting the message, King Reamea got his servants to tell Preah Keo and then, Preah Keo talked to Preah Kor. Preah Kor, then, was responsible for this. On the due date, Preah Kor transformed himself into an elephant. Siam king set out a condition with Preah Keo that, "We bet 160 elephants on this fight [if I lost in this fighting]." Preah Keo said that, "Okay, it doesn't matter how many elephants you want to bet; we have enough elephants for you." Siam king chose Akiry Kampoulpich for this fighting. No sooner did the fighting start than the elephant of Siam king, like a thunderclap in the dry season, rushed headlong and carelessly toward Preah Kor elephant. Since Preah Kor elephant sidestepped, Akiry Kampoulpich tripped, falling to the ground and unable to stand up, so Preah Kor elephant pushed Akiry's tusks to the ground. Akiry Kampoulpich tried his best to move out until the grass got damp, but failed. Akiry broke wind like an exploding mine, excreted in feces scattering over the audience's faces.
Siam king bowed telling Preah Keo that, "We may be separated from our family. My majesty, you can take away the twenty elephants, but please let us go back to our Home country and your kindness must become the profound gratitude." Preah Keo replied, "Alright, keep the twenty elephants here and you all can return to your home country." Permitted to return home, Siam king and his soldiers were happy. After that, Siam king got the royal officials invited for a meeting to find the way to defeat the king of Taka Seila Kingdom. Siam king ordered the royal servants to look for a skilled mechanic who could invent a mechanical bull. After the successful invention, Siam king, extremely happy, came to Taka Seila Kingdom again. The highly ambitious Siam king assigned a royal servant to send a letter to the king of Taka Seila Kingdom. Gaining this information, Preah Keo went to see Preah Kor and told him about the attempt of Siam king. Preah Kor thought with clairvoyance and told Preah Keo that, "Brother Keo, this time we will be away from our home, since Siam bull is not a real one, but is made of metal so I cannot win against it. This is our unfortunate destiny which cannot be avoided." Preah Keo and Neang Pov were desperately nervous and frightened, but Preah Keo tried to be brave and went back to his shelter.
Siam king merrily marched in procession to lead the mechanical bull to the fighting arena. "Brother and sister-in-law, when I was in the fighting arena, find a way to hang tightly on to my tail. While hanging on to my tail, be careful and don't turn back." As soon as Siam king saw Preah Keo leading Preah Kor in the arena, he was cheerful and thought, ''This time Taka Seila Kingdom will belong to me and therefore, I shall warmly welcome and greet them." Preah Kor whispered to Preah Keo that, "Go and make a new agreement, but don't bet our kingdom on this fight in order not to trouble the people in our kingdom merely because of us; if there is any trouble, let it come to only two of us." Preah Keo went to meet Siam king to make a new agreement as requested by Preah Kor. When the fighting began, Siam immediately started their mechanical bull. Siam's bull walking toward him, Preah Kor cast the magic spell and rushed suddenly to fight it as a trial of strength. Fearless, Preah Kor fought very hard over the mechanical bull but this bull was not at all moving or had no dent in it. Preah Kor tried to gore with his horns from below to fall Siam's bull to the ground but it stood still. Preah Kor gave another trial with his magic spell, saying that, "Bother, I am very tired." Hearing Preah Kor's words, Preah Keo held his wife's hands and hung tightly on to his brother's tail, following what Preah Kor had told him.
Regarding Preah Keo, who went into the forest in search of Preah Kor, he was crying; not only was he separated from his brother, but also he was deeply worried about his wife, who may have been hurt by Dump Siam. Preah Kor, who was flying so fast, was always downcast after realizing that his brother and sister-in-law had dropped. "Brother Keo," he thought, "how have you been?" And he flew back to see his brother. Arriving at a chrei (a kind of tree), Preah Kor saw Preah Keo sleeping under the tree. He woke Preah Keo up. Waking up and seeing his brother, Preah Keo briskly got up, asking about his wife. "Don't worry," said Preah Kor. "Your wife was safe, since at that time the Indra came to conjure her dead body to become a stone statue and took her spirit to live a happy life in paradise. Now, please forget it, since Siam was looking for us." Then, Preah Kor got Preah Keo to hang on to his tail and flew ahead. Reaching a huge mountain. Preah Kor flew low and went into the mountain cave for a stay because that place, he thought, could be a very safe shelter.
Speaking about the crowd of Siam, they were very surprised when seeing the bull flying; because since they were born, they had never known that a bull could fly. Siam king ordered his troops to chase Preah Keo, but because of Preah Keo's power, Siam was not able find out Preah Keo and therefore, got back to their home country. Regarding Preah Kor and Preah Keo, who were hiding in the mountain cave; because of their special power spread everywhere, people had lots of food and all kinds of fruits to eat and were filled with happiness, not afraid of any diseases. Their power was also spread to Siam country, so, like those in Taka
Seila Kingdom, Siam people surprisingly found happiness and brought in many agricultural crops. This strangeness made everyone in Siam country so curious that even Siam king felt that the mango trees near the royal palace, not in due season, bore fruits. Then the king got the astrologist invited to make prediction.
"According to my predicting number, it is very good," said the astrologist, "since the lucky figures in the bullfighting that day was spreading their special power. If you, My Majesty, go to catch them now, I believe, you will be able to have them."
Immediately after listening to the prediction, Siam king was extremely happy and therefore, sent many troops into the high steep mountain. At the mountain, Siam king seawall the surrounding attractive wild plants. The fortune figures, he thought, must be in the mountain cave. The king, then , ordered his troops to surround the mountain carefully. "Brother, the danger is coming again," Preah Kor said to Preah Keo, "because Siam troops are entirely surrounding this mountain. Hang on to my tail and I will fly out of this cave." As soon as Siam king saw Preah Kor, he shouted to his troops, "Please everyone, they are near here; go and catch them." At that time Preah Kor flew and crashed into the forest so as to fell the trees over Siam troops, which resulted in some troops' death here and there. Preah Kor flew and took Preah Keo to Banteay Lung Vek, a citadel surrounded by dense bamboo forests. Preah Kor told Preah Keo not to go anywhere at all for fear that there was another danger which may separate them again.
Unable to catch Preah Kor and Preah Keo, Siam king was absolutely furious. Then he guided his remaining troops to return to his kingdom. Angry with the astrologist, Siam king placed the wide blame on him. The astrologist, worried and nervous, briskly told the king that, "Please forgive me; my majesty, you will surely be able to catch them. Go there again and I also join you to observe the situation. If it ends in failure again, I will cut off my head to hang it at the boundary." Listening to the astrologist, Siam king thought that it was worth forgiving him.
Preah Kor and Preah Keo had been staying in Lung Vek for seven days and nights. Siam king went there and explored every possible way of uprooting the bamboos. The astrologist told the king that, "It is a good idea to throw Khmer coins into the bamboo forest. When coming across these coins, Khmer will uproot the bamboo forests for the coins." Finally, the bamboo forest was completely destroyed, while the coins, thrown into the forest, were regarded as wages for forest clearance. After that, the Siam royal troops went to tell the king and therefore, Siam king mobilized his troops again.
Preah Kor, seeing the complete destruction of bamboo forest, told his brother that, "Brother Keo, another danger exists; briskly escape from here." Then, Preah Kor, together with his brother, flew towards Odong,
an eight-corner mountain. When arriving at the Lung Vek and saw the destruction of the bamboo forest, Siam troops were very happy. Siam king ordered his troops to run into Lung Vek, but was again disappointed, since Preah Kor and Preah Keo had left there. The astrology predicted, "My Majesty, we will be able to catch them up the very next four days. Now they are at the eight-corner mountain. With this prediction, Siam king led the troops to surround Odong. Siam king ordered those who could use bows and arrows to stand by at the mountain lank, while the front-line ones would attack violently. Regarding Preah Kor, knowing the danger came, he told Preah Keo that, "Brother Keo, now we may not be able to escape from Siam troops because I am exhausted. Now we have to be disguising as a wild buffalo for a while." The two buffaloes walked into, and hide themselves among a herd of wild buffaloes.
Siam king entirely destroyed the forest, but did not find Preah Kor and Preah Keo. The king asking the astrologist about this failure, the astrologist said to the king: "Don't worried, My Majesty, today we will be able to catch them up; they are now becoming wild buffaloes and therefore, get people to prepare and tie a long incantatory cord made of buffa lo hide to surround them, since Preah Kor and Preah Keo were is guising as buffaloes in that herd.
Then, have people shoot guns noisily to startle the buffaloes so that they run out jumping over the cord , while the disguised buffaloes, for fear that their spells will be removed, dare not jump over it. At that moment, we will be able to arrest them easily. "Listening to the astrologist, the king was very happy. He, then, ordered to have it done. When ready, the guns were fired so loudly that the real buffaloes ran over the incantatory cord, except for the disguised buffaloes. Preah Kor told his brother that, "Now we cannot escape; it's impossible for me to fly and leave here because you, Bother, had been a buffalo. It's better to die here than to be alive, for we are away from our home country." At that time Siam found it easy to catch the two buffaloes. Standing in the distance, the king merrily broke into a wild applause. Angry with the buffaloes, Siam troops tied them up, insulted and said to hurt their feelings, and beat them so badly that the blood gushed and soaked into their body. Preah Kor and Preah Keo said nothing. The astrologist told the king that, "My Majesty, Please don't get the fortunate persons beaten at all."
Siam king took them to stay in a magnificent castle so that the country was filled with happiness. Since anywhere lived the fortunate persons, the residents in that kingdom would live happily as well as won't suffer from diseases, and the happiness will be found forever. Preah Kor and Preah Keo were very distressed. Preah Keo asked his brother to escape, but Preah Kor said, "We should flee here the next seven days, the full moon day, when we should explore a way to escape." Siam king came for a visit and soothed them that, "Don't worry at all; if there is something you don't like, please tell us. Our servants are here to serve you any time you want and they will never upset or disappoint you." Even though they lived in good health, Preah Kor and Preah Keo were even unhappier but could tell no one.
During the full moon night, when the guards were asleep, Preah Kor and Preah Keo flew to escape and arrived at a place. But, in that night, the weather was terrible: it was very dark and the sound of thunder was everywhere. Preah Kor said "Brother Keo, it is a bad omen, so we cannot go far." He added that, "Bother Keo, please guard me resting here. I am very tired and if I fall asleep, wake me up. Having guarded too long, Preah Keo also fell into a sleep near a raing (kind of tree). That place is now called "Bor Pailin". Speaking of the guarding troops commander, at midnight after Preah Kor and Preah Keo escaped, he and his subordinates were dreadfully worried for fear that they would be punished by the king, but went to tell the king about this. The king mobilized strong adult males in order to set off on a march to Bor Pail in in the night, following the prediction of the astrologist. He got them to surround it completely and carefully. Because of their goodness and power, Preah Kor and Preah Keo flew and left there without any troop knowing.
Preah Kor and Preah Keo flew toward Sampov Mountain and hid themselves there. Siam troops destroyed Bor Pailin totally, yet saw no one. The king had the astrologist predict as usual. The astrologist told the king that, "With this astrological diagram, they had been at the Sampov Mountain." The king, then, led the troops there. When they arrived at Sampov Mountain, the king commanded the troops to station around the mountain and forest and especially to watch carefully so that Preah Kor and Preah Keo could not escape again. Preah Kor, bored with, and tired of Siam's chase, told his brother that, "Brother Keo, it must be our misfortune that they are always chasing us; so now we're going to give them a lesson. Hang on to my tail, brother, and be careful." Siam was shouting loudly in the catching of Preah Kor and Preah Keo. Hearing the noises and seeing the troops coming nearer and nearer, Preah Kor flew up to push to fell trees over the troops. Many Siam died and injured. Siam king called in the troops to continue the chase. Preah Kor left for a divine mountain which was not very far from Sampov Mountain.
Siam troops were chasing the fortunate persons day and night, as predicted by the astrologist. When arriving at the divine mountain, Siam troops surrounded the mountain carefully. Preah Kor, when Siam troops reached there, got ready to fly and take his brother out of that place, but was seriously worried, since it was
in the middle of a very dark night. Eventually, Preah Kor flew to hide at Tbeng Mountain. When Siam troops arrived at the divine mountain, but did not find the fortunate persons, they all decided to stay there. At dawn Siam troops left for Tbeng Mountain and went up to Kulen Mountain; after that, they were back to Tbeng Mountain and surrounded it as they did before. Siams were looking for Preah Kor and Preah Keo day and night but did not find them because Preah Kor and Preah Keo, had left in the night. Unfortunately, it was so dark that Preah Kor got lost; alsol, without a break he was absolutely exhausted. He told his brother that, "Brother Keo, I cannot continue our journey, so I decided to fly down and take a break here. Unluckily, while flying low, they were out of the blue in the middle of Siam troops. Siam caught Preah Kor and Preah Keo, but did not torture them like before.
Siam king took Preah Kor and Preah Keo to their home country as what they wished. At Siam city, the king had the castle built, which was even greater than the king's royal palace to ensure their safety. The king did not allow anyone to gointo the castle without permission. Preah Kor and Preah Keo, though in a magnificent castle, were not at all interested in it. They thought the castle a prison. In the evening, they always cried, missed their home country and did not know how they could get there. Every full moon night, the guards were always more careful. Siam people always worshiped and considered Preah Kor and Preah Keo the fortunate persons and the symbols of the spirits of their nations. That is why Siam People have rarely eaten meat from bull (Preah Kor) since then.
- THE END -
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