Stories from the Shahnameh

The Mehzar-nameh

Zohak’s inability to find Faridun had made him restless and insecure about his life and reign. He was worried about his own safety and so decided to increase the strength of his army.

One day, with a view to win over the noblemen of his court, he summoned them and said, "O wise men, we all know that years ago a child was born, who was to be a threat to our kingdom and my noble reign. As my loyal subjects you would all want me to be protected as you know that I am a wise, just and noble King. With the view of protecting our common interests, I have decided to strengthen the army, and with that purpose I circulate this Mehzar-nameh "a pledge of loyalty” which I request you all to sign.” The noblemen had no choice but to sign on the dotted line.

Kaveh, the blacksmith

As the Mehzar-nameh was being signed, a powerful man angrily stormed into the court shouting and condemning the king. Zohak was furious at this sudden intrusion and angrily asked the man the reason for this sudden outburst.

The man calmed down and started recounting his sad tale in an intense voice. "I am Kaveh Ahangar, a blacksmith. I have come to ask why I have been singled out for your wrath. I had eighteen sons, but one by one all have been taken away and killed by your soldiers to feed the snakes. Now, my last son who is the only hope and support for my old age, has also been taken away by your soldiers. Even the cruelest king would not be so ruthless. I have come here to demand back my son.”

Zohak realized the urgency in Kaveh’s assertive demand and decided to accede to it in order to show his magnanimity before the noblemen of the court. In an act of diplomacy he asked his soldiers to return the son to Kaveh. As Kaveh was leaving, Zohak stopped him and asked him to sign the Mehzar-nameh. Kaveh took the document and went through it. He saw on it the signatures of the leading men of the court, and was disgusted at the deception of the king and the cowardice of the courtiers. He tore the declaration to shreds, trampled it under his feet and in a fit of anger stormed out of the court.

The courtiers saw in Kaveh’s defiance and insolence, a clear sign of Zohak’s tyranny coming to an end and the beginning of the new promised reign. Zohak himself realised this and started trembling at the thought of his days being numbered.

Faridun the saviour

Outside the court, Kaveh challenged the conscience of the Iranian people. He condemned them for tolerating the evil rule of Zohak for so long and asked them to gather under him so that they can go and search for the promised new king, Faridun. He made a banner from his leather apron by fastening it on his spear. This banner became Iran’s national flag all through its five dynasties and came to be known as Kâvyâni Zundo "The Flag of Kaveh.” Kaveh was divinely inspired regarding the whereabouts of Faridun, and he led the people to him.

Faridun with the ‘Gurz,’ flanked by his two brothers, as seen in the dream by Zohak Illustrations: Gulshan Paghdiwala (née Dalal)

When they reached Faridun on the Alburz mountains, he was ready to go with them. He accepted the flag, decorated it with rich cloth and jewels and went to seek his mother’s permission to set out on war against Zohak. The proud mother blessed her son and asked his two elder brothers Kyanush and Purmae to accompany him.

Faridun ordered a blacksmith to prepare a special mace for him before he set out on the war. The mace was to be adorned with the head of a cow to remind him to teach a lesson to the evil Zohak who had mercilessly ordered the killing of the cow which had nursed him during infancy. As per Faridun’s specifications, the blacksmith prepared a mace and presented it to him. This mace was called the Gurz. Faridun richly rewarded the blacksmith and set out for war against Zohak with a big army led by Kaveh.

Faridun sets out for war

Faridun, along with a big army led by Kaveh, set off for war against Zohak. As Faridun was on his way, Sarosh Yazad came to him to teach him Afsuns and Nirangs, which were small prayers, which would be useful to him to counter the evil powers of Zohak’s black magic and sorcery.

Trials and tribulations on the way

One night, as Faridun and his soldiers were resting under a mountain after dinner, the two brothers of Faridun, envious of his growing stature, attempted to crush him to death. They rolled a huge boulder from the high mountain. The rumble of the boulder woke up Faridun who immediately chanted a Nirang which changed the course of the boulder.

Narrowly escaping death, Faridun went to sleep and did not recount this incident to anybody. Faridun’s brothers soon realised their mistake and apologised for their petty mindedness to their magnanimous brother who immediately forgave them.

The advancing army came near the Arvand (Tigris) river. Faridun requested the boatman Vifra-Navaz to ferry him and his soldiers across the river. The boatman explained to Faridun that though he had great respect for him, he would not be able to do so as his King Zohak had ordered him not to ferry anybody without his permission.

Enraged, Faridun metamorphosed him into a bird. The boatman remained in that form and kept hovering in the sky for three days and nights. He entreated Avan Yazad to save him. Avan Yazad intervened and Vifra-Navaza was brought back to his human form by Faridun.

Faridun chanted Nirangs and was able to safely cross the river on horseback, followed by his soldiers. Miraculously the river water did not come above the saddle of the horses. Thus they reached Zohak’s capital Baet-ul-Mukaddas (Jerusalem) where his palace Gang Dezhukht was situated.

Infant Faridun became very fond of the cow Purmae on whose milk he was nursed for three years

Faridun reaches Zohak’s palace

Faridun majestically rode into Zohak’s palace chanting Nirangs and breaking the evil magical cordon set up by Zohak. No soldier of Zohak dared to stop him. Whoever came before him became the victim of his powerful Gurz. Faridun defeated all the black magicians and sorcerers who served in the palace. The magic spells cast over the ladies in the harem were broken by giving them Nahan, "a ceremonial bath.”

King Jamshed’s daughters Arnavaz and Shernaz were also freed of the evil spells. The sisters were overjoyed to see Faridun. They told him all the secrets they knew about Zohak, and also informed him that Zohak had gone towards Hindustan to seek a new kingdom for himself, as he feared the end of his reign in Iran. They assured Faridun that he alone was destined to free Iran from Zohak’s evil rule by breaking through the spell which protected the evil King.

Kundarav, the palace custodian

When the palace custodian Kundarav came the following day, he was surprised to see Faridun in the palace. Realising the futility of opposing Faridun, he saluted him, and when asked for, gave all the information about the secret chambers of the palace. Thereafter Faridun ordered Kundarav to arrange for a grand banquet that night.

At night, when the banquet was in progress, Kundarav set out to look for Zohak. After finding him, he was informed that exactly according to his dream three men had come and taken charge of his palace. The youngest, who was the bravest and most impressive of all had broken all evil spells, killed all sorcerers and freed all the ladies from the harem.

Zohak realised that this young man was none other than Faridun and that his end was drawing near. He collected whatever soldiers he could and rode towards his palace.

Zohak returns to his palace

When Zohak reached the palace, he realised that he neither had support from his army nor his subjects. In fact, the subjects were shouting slogans against Zohak calling him worse than a wild beast. Zohak realised the futility of challenging Faridun. In a final desperate attempt he swore to kill Arnavaz and Shernaz whom he considered betrayers. He entered their room through a portico with a dagger in his hand and was about to strike them, when Faridun came rushing in and attacked him with his sword. A fierce scuffle took place between the two. Just when Faridun was about to smite Zohak with his Gurz, Sarosh Yazad intervened and advised him not to kill Zohak. Instead he directed Faridun to secure Zohak in chains and imprison him in the mountains.

End of Zohak’s evil reign

Faridun bound Zohak on camel back and took him to Mount Demavand, the highest peak of the Alburz mountains. The people of Iran triumphantly followed him, shouting slogans against Zohak. As Faridun was about to hang Zohak upside down on the mountains, Sarosh Yazad once again intervened and cautioned him against hanging Zohak upside down. He advised him to tightly secure Zohak in chains and imprison him. Faridun accordingly imprisoned Zohak in a deep dungeon in Mount Demavand.

Legend has it that Zohak is still imprisoned in Mount Demavand. Every night he nips at the iron chains that bind him and makes them extremely thin, but as they are on the verge of snapping, morning dawns with the crow of the rooster which restores the chains to their original size. This allegorical story signifies that the forces of evil are at their zenith during the night, and they try to annihilate the world, but when morning dawns, the good forces in the universe, symbolised by the rooster representing Sarosh Yazad, become powerful once again and the evil forces have to retreat.

According to scriptures, as the end of the world will approach, the power of evil will increase and Zohak will free himself from the chains that bind him. He would once again reign over the world for one year. After that year, his life and reign will be brought to an end by the great Iranian Paladin Kersasp.

Reprinted from the book Serialized Stories from the Iranian Epic Shahnameh.