Eliya is God of War, Lightning and Thunder in Karachay-Balkar mythology. This song is prayer to him. As we can see, this prayer is a legacy from the Narts, because they are often mentioned in it. Here we see a distinct lineage of Karachays and Balkars to the legendary Narts. The mention of the raven is not accidental. According to the legends, he was an inseparable companion of Eliya, which is why he increased the morale of the warriors who saw him. Hurs Halı, mentioned in the song, is a fortress - the residence of Eliya.
As early as the beginning of the 19th century, the German orientalist Julius Klaproth wrote about the Balkars that: "They claim that he (Eliya) often appears on the top of the highest mountain; they sacrifice lambs, milk, butter, cheese and beer to him, with singing and dancing" .
Lyrics:
Aşırdıla bizni Nartla, quçaqlaşıb, Eliya,
Saqlaydıla bizni Nartla, cuwuqlaşıb, Eliya.
Qara qarğa col nögerdi bizge barığa, Eliya,
Kim biledi, qayıtırbızmı biz a endi, Eliya?
Taw başında Nartla temir qazadıla, Eliya,
Alanı wa qatınları saqlaydıla, Eliya.
Ala bügün cortuwulğa ketgendile, Eliya,
Kim biledi, ala sawlay qayıtırlamı, Eliya?
El başında biyik eşik açhansa sen, Eliya,
Qurç qayanı başın urub çaçhansa sen, Eliya.
Biz a endi cıyılğanbız ma onowğa, Eliya,
Col nögerlik etçi, ahşı ariw cigit Eliya.
Nartla bla köbden beri caşaysa sen, Eliya,
Cigitlege ahşı alğışla etgense, Eliya.
Beri kelçi, Nart nögeri, batır, cigit Eliya,
Hurs Halıda quwanç bardı, köremise, Eliya?
Sen a kel da taş allında olturçu, ma, Eliya,
Batır cürekleni quwançdan tolturçu, Eliya.
Biz a seni ertteden da saqlaybız, oy, Eliya,
Sensiz tatlı sıranı da tartalmaybız, Eliya.
Translation:
Narts said goodbye to us, embracing us, Eliya,
Narts are waiting for our return, like close friends, Eliya.
The black raven is a helper to all of us, Eliya,
Who knows if we will return home now, Eliya?
On the tops of the mountains the Narts mine iron, Eliya,
And the wives are waiting for them at home, Eliya.
They came to war today, Eliya,
Who knows if they'll return home alive, Eliya?
At the top of the village you opened the big gate, Eliya,
You destroyed the top of the steel mountain with one strike, Eliya.
And now we have gathered for a big council, Eliya,
Be our companion, kind, beautiful hero, Eliya.
You have been living with the Narts for a long time, Eliya,
You made a lot of good wishes to the heroes, Eliya.
Come to us, friend of the Narts, brave hero, Eliya,
Hurs Halı is full of fun, can't you see it, Eliya?
Come and sit before this stone, Eliya,
Fill the hearts of heroes with joy, Eliya.
We have been waiting for you for a long time already, oh, Eliya,
Without you, we don’t even drink sweet sıra (beer), Eliya.
