The Arrival of Tariel in India and His  Conquest of the Khatavians
1596	TARIEL arrived in India; hills were there and the crest of a great mountain; countless troops appeared, he marvelled at their number. Tariel said: "O knights, what hope do you give me! I swear by God and by your happiness that I shall soon be free of them.
1597	"THESE troops have already felt the edge of my sword: once they engaged in battle with me, I pierced their armour, I crushed them utterly." Avt'handil said: "Why speak words of violence ? We shall make dust of them and trample them under our feet."
1598	PROUDLY they made ready for battle, acting most dexterously; they mounted their best steeds and gave rein to them; they urged the steeds to outdistance one another. Those who looked on them praised. They galloped down the slope over the crest of the mountain, flinging up columns of dust.
1599	THE front ranks of the warriors came upon the guard of the Khatavians. Tariel’s warriors put them to flight, they pursued them, they threw them from their horses and brought them to Tariel and Avt'handil. Those cried: "Whose men are ye?"
1600	THEY answered: "O, lord, we have been deceived, we were sent here as guards, we are warriors of King Ramaz." Tariel commanded: "Go, ye wrathful fools, go, inform your  master: "They come, those brave of heart.'
1601	"SAY: 'It is the order of Tariel, the proud and mighty king, the courageous lord who strikes fear into his enemies: thine own guards will bring thee tidings of me, fear will not save thee from death, grief is of no avail.
1602	"'WHO but a madman would think of intimidating the great! How didst thou dare to make an assault on India, thou maddest of the mad! I have come- the fire that shall utterly consume thee. I shall blunt my sharpened steel on thy body.'"
1603	THE guards went, each trying to outdistance the other. They related everything to Ramaz, they could hold back nothing: "The king of India has come, he commands excellent warriors; who can hide himself from them ? One of them alone is worth two of any other."
1604	TARIEL raised his banner and the flag of his country. The banner of the Arabian king was also raised: all know that the lance is the weapon of the Arabs. P'hridon, the sun, is there too, the knight who spilled a pool of blood.
1605	THEY went a little farther, five hundred horsemen appeared. The Arabian knights who were there wished to engage in battle. Tariel said to them: "Do not thus". He made them to sue for forgiveness. The horsemen came up, Ramaz appeared, he had no armour, nor had he even a knife.
1606	HE embraced the legs of Tariel’s horse; sinking to his knees he began to entreat Tariel. He said to him: "Pity me for the sake of Him who created thee; do not let me live, let them carry me away dead. Fate has so smitten my heart that it must belong to you.
1607	"TEN years have passed since you departed, since you disappeared. The birds are without a master, the eagle has broken its wings; that is why I have undertaken this affair over which we are contending. Long since has the world been lost to me as one loses at a game of dice."
1608	THEY all swore by the Almighty, fell on their knees before him: "For the sake of Him who created thee thus, do not kill." Tariel became pensive, Ramaz fell on his face before him. God giveth joy to repentant sinners, what man then can but forgive ?
1609	STUDYING the writings of the sages, I found the following: The greatest courage for a man is not to kill his conquered enemy, but to stop in time—if you want to be truly brave, remember these words.
1610	THEREAT Tariel's heart softened, he was righteous, like unto God. He said: "I shall kill no more; if the conquered is seized with fear. he will twist aright what was wrongly twisted. Now I have set right all that was wrong."
1611	THEY all made obeisance to him and blessed him, they implored God to make greater their joy. They were saved from death, having received life from Tariel. Tariel's sword is unappeased, it hungers for the flesh of the warriors.
1612	MUSHT’HAR appeared in order to see Tariel. With his gentleness Tariel calmed the fire of his wrath. They came to gaze at him; the troops of Ramaz could scarce find place. In India a light like unto a column descended from the sky.
1613	A MAN came to these troops as a messenger: "He will not kill you, he has mercy on you." All blessed him. They sounded the bell and joyously they said: "He has come, that knight who single-handed has killed so many."
1614	THEY went forth to meet Tariel, they greeted him from afar. The Indians recognized their banner among the troops who raised their flag aloft, but they did not dare to trust them. They said: "They are plotting some treacherous deed." They expected not Tariel, they bathed in tears.
1615	TARIEL drew closer and cried: "It is I your king! My star is high, her eyes flashing lightning. From on high the Almighty has given the wings of an eagle—come forth, I cannot endure to have you so far."
1616	ONLY then did they recognize Tariel, they began to run up from all sides. The terraced roofs and great walls beamed with light. They conversed in loud voices, crying: "Our ailment has left us, now the Almighty, hitherto wrathful, has shown us His mercy!"
1617	THEY opened the door, they brought the keys: all those who came to look upon them were dressed in mourning. The woman and the knight both wept, the roses of the garden were moistened; they screamed, they beat their heads, their raven hair fell on the crystal.
1618	. THE pupil, as was fitting, lost his senses for his master, the tears that fell from his eyes were more burning than fire; he beat his head, screamed, wept with fearful grief. He raked the thicket of jet with a crystal rake.
1619	WHEN he saw the viziers of the court apparelled in mourning, once again Tariel uttered a shrill cry. Blood and tears flowed from his eyes in torrents. The viziers came and embraced him as a brother, as a son.
1620	THE lords embraced him, they expressed their sympathy to the bridegroom and bride. The maid lost consciousness; she did not venture to lament for her father; the branches fell from the rose bush, no one could raise it. You could not meet there a laughing or a smiling man.
1621	THE queen ran forth to see them. "Who is weeping and why weep you?" quoth she. She was angry and said: "God hath changed His wrath to mercy, we must thank Him, we have no time for grief, no time to say 'Alas'."
1622	SHEDDING hot tears she embraced Tariel. She said: "My flaming fire is out. now a slow fire consumes me; he silent, be calm, hear my tidings; God, who makes joyful the orphans, hath rejoiced me sending thee back alive."
1623	THE weeping maiden addressed her mother: "O mother, what must I do! When I left thee, in red and yellow raiment wert thou clad, but now I see thee in black. My father has abandoned his throne. Alas, no longer does he sit thereon!" Her mother dried the maiden^s tears: "Do not weep, be silent, ill-omened one!"
	SHE kissed her face and the delicate roses of her lips. She crushed the rose with her mouth, she drowned the aloe-tree. She said to Nestan-Daredjan: "Why should we speak ill-omened words? We must all enjoy a thousand felicities, not merely one."
1625	WHEN some time had passed, the lords came to do homage, presenting themselves. Those suns came forth to meet them and embraced them with heartfelt love. They kissed and greeted each one separately.
1626	AVT'HANDIL and P'hridon expressed their sympathy to the queen. Tariel said; "O queen, you do not know them. They are our saviours, we have no time at present for lengthy discourse. We both have received life through them."
1627	THEY rose and went into the town, they entered their palace. The queen said a few words, addressing them as it were: "God hath destroyed our foes, no more can they do us harm; therefore am I joyous and glad of heart."
1628	SHE commanded: "Put off your mourning, beat the drums and the cymbals, let a great noise and exultation come from our court, engirdle your brocades with golden belts. Laugh and sing, let the murmuring of your tears cease."