King Yosker

Once upon a time, there was a king, named Preah Bat Yosker, who reigned in  Banteay Chhmar. This king was merciful and kind and never had trouble with neighbouring countries. His people lived peacefully and happily.

King Hou Lou who reigned a fiefdom from the Prao temple was less peaceful and wanted to invade the kingdom of Preah Bat Yosker. Being always fond of peace, Preah Bat Yosker, did not want to wage a war but wished to avoid casualties. He fled from the royal palace and hid himself.

Banteay Chhmar was from then on under the control of king Hou Lou. The latter feared that the previous king would return and reclaim the throne, so he announced publicly: 

- "King Yosker is gathering an army to retake control of Banteay Chhmar. Therefore, to anyone who can discover out his hiding place, I will offer a reward of a thousand damlong of gold.

Some Hunters recognised Preah Bat Yosker, his wife Bortom and his son, Prince Vibolker at Ta Moan temple on Dangraek mountain range. Hoping to secure the one thousand damloeng of gold, the cruel hunters took Preah Bat Yosker captive while he was meditating alone in the quiet forest. They abducted him and took to king Hou Lou .

King Hou Lou ordered an executioner to torture the captive king ruthlessly.

Queen Bortom and her son, prince Vibolker, were very upset when their husband and father disappeared. They soon learned that king Hou Lou was persecuting Preah Bat Yosker cruelly. But the Queen kept quiet and cared for her graceful son until he was 12 years of age.

The prince continuously asked her about his father's fate until she could no longer hide the secret. She revealed the young prince about his father's predicament. Prince Vibolker missed his father all the time and instantly wanted to take revenge, but his mother forbade this and demanded him to forget.

In spite of the warnings, the prince could not find peace in his mind. One day, the prince said goodbye to his mother and took off to find his father. He left straight for Banteay Chhmar because he knew his father was held captive there.

A large crowd had gathered in front of the Royal Palace. "Today, we will witness the execution of the formere king," the people told the young Prince. Vibolker spotted his father in a procession to his execution outside the prison. 

When the boy recognized his father, he cut through the crowds and placed himself in front of king Hou Lou who sat watching the march to the execution site.

- " The prisoner is my father," the prince said in a loud voice. "He is innocent. It is not reasonable to execute him. You must release him now. If you want to kill then kill me instead." 

When king Hou Lou heard this, he was very surprised. 

- "Where are you from?" he asked. "Why do you speak like this? I will order my executioner to kill you." 

- "I am the son of Preah Bat Yosker who is your prisoner." the prince replied, " I am not afraid of dying for your injustice. I am willing to die for my father." 

- "You are a brave boy! Is he your real father?" King Hou Lou wanted to know. "If so. Please come here. I will punish you."

The brave prince approached King Hou Lou to fearlessly accept his ordeal straight away. The king ordered his executioner to put the prince to death in front of the crowd as a stern warning, but the sharp sword of the executioner became blunt. When he wanted to strike, the blade of the sword twisted so that the prince could not harmed. 

- "Pile up wood and light a pyre," king Hou Lou commanded the executioner when he saw that the sword would not harm the prince. "Then put him on the fire and let him burn." Immediately, the king's soldiers started building a pyre, fastened the prince on top of it and lit the fire.

But the fire became cold and developed no heat. The prince walked out of the pyre with a smile on his face, mocking king Hou Lou and all people around.

King Hou Lou grew worried. He instructed the guards to bring several nasty elephants to trample the boy. The elephant keepers galloped the elephants very fast towards the prince but the elephants did not want to step on him.

When they arrived about two steps from the prince, they knelt down. Not only did they kneel in front of the boy but the leading elephant of the herd lifted the boy up and put him carefully on his head. Witnessing the supernatural powers of the prince, the crowds started to rise up and king Hou Lou had to flee from the crowds in the confusion that followed. He was thereafter never again heard from again.

After this astounding victory, the prince invited his father to mount on the elephant ride back to Ta Moan temple in the Dangraek mountain range, so he could bring the blissful news of the King's liberation to Queen Bortom. 

The Queen was very pleased to be reunited with her husband, whose health had suffered severely from his torture. The Queen used all her magic powers to heal the King but the torment had been to great.

 Soon thereafter, Preah Bat Yosker passed away from all his suffering, in spite of the loving care of his adored Queen. Prince Vibolker cremated his dearest father and buried the ashes  according to ancient royal traditions. The residents of Banteay Chhmar and officials of the royal court prepared a procession to return the prince to the royal palace in Banteay Chhmar the for his coronation as the rightful king of the Khmer people. 

As for Queen Bortom, she lived with her son happily forever.