Stories from the Shahnameh

KING KAE KAUS

With peace in Iran and Afrasiyab unwilling to break it on account of his fear of Rustam, King Kae Kaus had a very smooth time on the throne. Because of the ready riches, he had become vain and proud. He spent his time in feasting and merry-making.

As he mellowed, he started increasing the boundaries of his empire on all four sides with the help of Rustam. He was responsible for changing the small kingdom of Iran into a vast and major empire.

King Kae Kaus And Mazandaran

Singers from Mazandaran

Once, during the early days of the kingship of King Kae Kaus, a group of singers and musicians came from the northern province of Mazandaran and sought permission to perform before the king. The permission was granted, and the group sang praises of the richness and attractiveness of Mazandaran, its abundant flora and fauna and its pleasant climate. This ethereal description of this magnificent place enthralled the king and he decided to attack and conquer the place and have it for himself.

When the wise men and warriors of the court of King Kae Kaus came to know about the king’s plan, they were deeply concerned. They were aware that attacking Mazandaran meant a definite defeat for them as the King of Mazandaran was aided by powerful black magicians. No king after King Tehmurasp, not even King Jamshed, Faridun or Minocheher had tried to disturb the peace of Iran by attacking Mazandaran.

Zal is summoned

Knowing the adamant nature of their king, they showed willingness for going to Mazandaran with him on his face. However, later on, they consulted among themselves and the wise warrior Toos suggested that they send for Zal, whom King Kae Kaus respected, and who being a senior statesman would be requested to advise the king against going to Mazandaran.

The warriors immediately sent a messenger requesting Zal to come urgently to Iran. On receiving the news, Zal, who though now being too old to undertake the journey, responded immediately and set off to talk to King Kae Kaus.

Zal admonishes King Kae Kaus

Zal patiently explained to the king that the people of Mazandaran practiced black magic and witchcraft and in that they were helped and guided by great demons. Spells and magic protected Mazandaran. Just having a great army was not enough to defeat Mazandaran, as it needed a lot of spiritual strength to stand against the powerful onslaught of the sorcerers of Mazandaran, for which the Iranian soldiers were not properly equipped.

His predecessors, though very great kings, had not even thought of going near Mazandaran, hence it would be in his own interest and in the interest of his kingdom, and warriors that he forsake the idea of conquering Mazandaran.

The pleas of Zal, however, fell on deaf ears as King Kae Kaus had made up his mind to go to Mazandaran. He said that he considered himself braver and greater than his predecessors and hence well equipped to take a campaign to Mazandaran. He further reprimanded Zal by saying that if he was unwilling to come with him on this campaign, he will go alone with his soldiers. Moreover, he requested Zal and his son Rustam to look after Iran’s throne in his absence.

Zal was greatly disappointed that his mission was not successful. The Iranian warriors thanked him for undertaking the arduous journey to come to Iran on their request. Zal in turn advised the warriors to obey their king, wished them well and returned to Sistan.

King Kae Kaus goes to Mazandaran

After some preparations, Kae Kaus set off for Mazandaran along with Gudarz (now colloquially pronounced as Godrej) and Toos through the rocky terrain of the Asperuz mountains. Gurgin’s father Milad was kept as the caretaker king and was handed over the keys of the treasury. In case of emergency, he was instructed to call on Zal and Rustam.

Gudarz’s son Giv, was sent ahead of the battalion to clear the way and provide advance information to the troops that followed. Giv was awe-struck on seeing the natural beauty of Mazandaran. It was much more spectacular than anybody could imagine. He immediately sent a message to this effect to his king. On receiving the message, Kae Kaus resumed his campaign with greater vigor and within a few days arrived at the outskirts of Mazandaran at dusk time. He decided to rest his soldiers for the night and planned an attack for the following morning.

Mazandaran prepares for war

The King of Mazandaran became aware of Giv’s presence and sensing danger, sent a demon by the name Sanjeh as a messenger to Div-e-Sapid (The White Demon, popularly known as ‘Safed dev’ in Gujarati), the leader of all black magicians, to come to his aid.

Div-e-Sapid spells doom

Div-e-Sapid was as tall as the skies. On receiving the message from his king, he sent his men to scout the territory. They came and reported that King Kae Kaus was camping on the outskirts. Div-e-Sapid with his evil powers immediately enveloped the entire Iranian army under a huge black cloud and showered bricks and stones on them.

The Iranian army was not prepared for this sudden onslaught. They ran helter skelter, and in the pandemonium that ensued more than half of the Iranian soldiers perished. As morning dawned, the remaining soldiers, including King Kae Kaus, realized that they had become stone blind. They stayed that way for seven days and on the eighth day Div-e-Sapid came and proclaimed that they had just noticed a small prelude of what he could do. He further said that he could have destroyed them all but for his promise to the great Iranian paladin Kersasp under whose obligation he was.

Div-e-Sapid then had all the Iranian warriors, including their king, imprisoned at Mazandaran. The king repented at not having heeded the advice of his Zal.

King Kae Kaus sends for help

Before being imprisoned, King Kae Kaus was fortunate enough to find a soldier who had managed to escape the magic charm. He urgently sent him to Zabulis­tan requesting Zal to immediately send help and apologised to him for not heeding his counsel.

On receiving the message, Zal became very upset. He at once called for Rustam and ordered him to set off towards Mazandaran to rescue the king.

Rustam goes to Mazandaran

Young Rustam was reluctant to go to Mazandaran, he tried to reason with his father saying, "Father, I would most willingly submit to any of your commands, but why should we help the king, who does not heed our advice.”

Zal pacified Rustam saying, "Son, the king did what he thought fit at that moment. As faithful servers of the king it is our duty and responsibility to go and rescue him, irrespective of his attitude towards us.”

"But,” Rustam reasoned, "Mazanda­ran is so far away that it would take me at least six months to go to Mazandaran, and then it would be too late to rescue our King.” The wise Zal then revealed a secret to his son, saying, "There is a shorter route to Mazandaran, a route which will take you just a fortnight.”

"But father,” Rustam interjected with surprise, "that route is said to be very dangerous and nobody going through that route is known to have come out alive.” "I know son,” continued Zal with all the calmness that he could command, "that this particular route is infested with all sorts of evils and dangers, but I am confident that you, my son, with your physical and spiritual strength will overcome them all and emerge victorious against all evil forces. Go forth dear son, our prayers are with you.” These encouraging words enthused Rustam, and he pledged that he would go to Mazandaran to rescue his king.

Rustam passes the ‘Haftekhan’

The following day Rustam’s parents Zal and Rodabeh, with a heavy heart bade him good-bye, because in their heart of hearts they knew what a perilous journey their son was undertaking.

Rustam set off on his horse Raksh towards Mazandaran. On his way he overcame seven hazardous obstacles (Haftekhan) which included passing through jungles and deserts and fighting dangerous animals like lions and dragons and negotiating the spells cast by black magicians. He wove his way through this dangerous journey by the sheer dint of his physical and spiritual strength.

Towards the end of this journey a young man by the name Aulad acted as his guide through the treacherous terrain of Mazandaran. Rustam promised to make him the king of Mazandaran after the present evil king was overthrown.

King Kae Kaus is freed

Rustam overcame this perilous journey, defeated and killed Div-e-Sapid and not only freed King Kae Kaus and his soldiers from imprisonment and restored their eyesight but also set fire to the whole of Mazandaran with all its sorcerers, thus freeing the city from the sorcerers’ magic spells.

A messenger is sent to Mazandaran

Thereafter King Kae Kaus sent the warrior Farhad as a messenger to the king of Mazandaran asking him to accept defeat and give tribute or else be ready for a war with Rustam.

Farhad reached the province of Narmpay in Mazandaran, and then sent a messenger to the king announcing his arrival. When the king of Mazandaran came to know that a messenger from Iran had come his way, he made a vain show of valor and power to impress Farhad. He sent his strong men to shake hands with him. They tried to squeeze Farhad’s hands, but all of their squeezing and pressing did not evince as much as a wince from Farhad, and thus the show of strength by the king and his warriors had no effect whatsoever on the valiant messenger.

Then Farhad conveyed to the king of Mazandaran that all his demons and sorcerers had been killed and that he now had to accept defeat. However, instead of accepting defeat, he challenged the king of Iran to a war.

King Kae Kaus was furious when he got this news. He called Rustam and he too was enraged on seeing this letter. He told his king to write a very strong letter to the king of Mazandaran and then he himself would go to dispatch it and tell the king either to accept King Kae Kaus’ sovereignty or be ready for his wrath.

Rustam returns

The great Rustam proceeded to Mazan­daran with the letter. On his way there was a huge army to intercept him. The mighty Rustam uprooted a colossal tree and hurled it on the army crushing most of its front line soldiers. From the rank and file a burly looking warrior, who was known for his steely grip came to crush the hands of Rustam. He offered to shake hands with him, but instead of crushing Rustam’s hand, his own hand was crushed so badly that his vein snapped and he died instantly. On seeing Rustam’s strength the entire army was terrified.

The message soon reached the king, and he sent his most powerful warrior Kalahur, but he too was no match for the invincible Rustam. He too tried to crush Rustam’s hand, but his own hand was so badly crushed that all the nails fell off his fingers. With a limp hand, Kalahur returned to the king and requested him to accept defeat or else Rustam seemed to be bent on razing the entire Mazan­daran to the ground.

The king summoned Rustam and asked, "Who are you O strong warrior?” The great Rustam replied in jest, "I am but a small attendant of the great warrior Rustam.” On hearing this the king tried to bribe Rustam, "Come over to my side and I would give you hundred times more than what you are getting.”

This dishonesty of the king enraged Rustam and he cautioned him never to utter such words again or he would pull the tongue out of his mouth. The king was greatly insulted by this reply and he asked his executioner to slay Rustam. Rustam, who was already angry at the unethical conduct of the king, found an outlet for his anger on the executioner who was torn into two.

The king was terrified at seeing Rustam’s strength. He tried to pacify him by offering him rich gifts, but Rustam ignored all the priceless gifts and stormed out of the court. He returned to King Kae Kaus, narrated to him all that had happened and asked him to prepare for war. The king of Mazandaran too prepared for a war and started marching towards Iran.

War with Mazandaran

When King Kae Kaus realised that the Mazandaran army was proceeding towards Iran he ordered Rustam and his other brave warriors Toos, Keshvad, Gudarz, Giv and Gurgin to prepare for the war. King Kae Kaus himself, as the commander-in-chief of the army took its helm. The armies of Mazandaran and Iran met in a war, which lasted for seven days. During the war Rustam defeated Mazandaran’s most well known warrior Juya who had come to challenge the Iranian army.

On the seventh day, King Kae Kaus prayed to God to help him and his warriors overpower the evil king. The next day, Mazandaran’s king was cornered by Rustam who pierced him with his spear. However, the king, by his magic, turned into a mountain rock.

King Kae Kaus, Rustam and all others who were present there were utterly amazed. He ordered his soldiers to shift this mountain rock near his tent, but once again to their surprise, they could not move the rock. Then Rustam himself tried and he was easily able to lift the rock. Lifting it on his shoulders, he put it near his king’s tent.

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