Why does rostam

Then Sohrab led them into the land of Iran. And their track was marked by desolation and destruction, for they spared nothing that they passed.

And they spread fire and dismay abroad, and they marched on unstayed until they came unto the White Castle, the fortress wherein Iran put its trust. Now the guardian of the castle was named Hujir, and there lived with him Gustahem the brave, but he was grown old, and could aid no longer save with his counsels. And there abode also his daughter Gurdafrid, a warlike maid, firm in the saddle, and practised in the fight. Now when Hujir beheld from afar a dusky cloud of armed men he came forth to meet them.

And Sohrab, when he saw him, drew his sword, and demanded his name, and bade him prepare to meet his end. And he taunted him with rashness that he was come forth thus unaided to stand against a lion. But Hujir answered Sohrab with taunts again, and vowed that he would sever his head from his trunk and send it for a trophy unto the Shah. Yet Sohrab only smiled when he heard these words, and he challenged Hujir to come near.

And they met in combat, and wrestled sore one with another, and stalwart were their strokes and strong; but Sohrab overcame Hujir as though he were an infant, and he bound him and sent him captive unto Hooman. But when those within the castle learned that their chief was bound they raised great lamentation, and their fears were sore. And Gurdafrid too, when she learned it, was grieved, but she was ashamed also for the fate of Hujir.

So she took forth burnished mail and clad herself therein, and she hid her tresses under a helmet of Roum, and she mounted a steed of battle and came forth before the walls like to a warrior. And she uttered a cry of thunder, and flung it amid the ranks of Turan, and she defied the champions to come forth to single combat. And none came, for they beheld her how she was strong, and they knew not that it was a woman, and they were afraid.

But Sohrab, when he saw it, stepped forth and said- "I will accept thy challenge, and a second prize will fall into my hands. And the maid, when she saw he was ready, rained arrows upon him with art, and they fell quick like hail, and whizzed about his head; and Sohrab, when he saw it, could not defend himself, and was angry and ashamed. Then he covered his head with a shield and ran at the maid. But she, when she saw him approach, dropped her bow and couched a lance, and thrust at Sohrab with vigour, and shook him mightily, and it wanted little and she would have thrown him from his seat.

And Sohrab was amazed, and his wrath knew no bounds. Then he ran at Gurdafrid with fury, and seized the reins of her steed, and caught her by the waist, and tore her armour, and threw her upon the ground. Yet ere he could raise his hand to strike her, she drew her sword and shivered his lance in twain, and leaped again upon her steed. And when she saw that the day was hers, she was weary of further combat, and she sped back unto the fortress. But Sohrab gave rein unto his horse, and followed after her in his great anger.

And he caught her, and seized her, and tore the helmet from off her head, for he desired to look upon the face of the man who could withstand the son of Rostam. And lo! And he was confounded. But when he had found speech he said- "If the daughters of Iran are like to thee, and go forth unto battle, none can stand against this land.

For they have beheld our combat, and that I overcame thee, and surely now they will gibe when they learn that thy strength was withstood by a woman. Better would it beseem thee to hide this adventure, lest thy cheeks have cause to blush because of me.

Therefore let us conclude a peace together. The castle shall be thine, and all it holds; follow after me then, and take possession of thine own. And Gustahem, when he saw them, opened the portal, and Gurdafrid stepped within the threshold, but when Sohrab would have followed after her she shut the door upon him. Then Sohrab saw that she had befooled him, and his fury knew no bounds. But ere he was recovered from his surprise she came out upon the battlements and scoffed at him, and counselled him to go back whence he was come; for surely, since he could not stand against a woman, he would fall an easy prey before Rostam, when the Pehliva should have learned that robbers from Turan were broken into the land.

And Sohrab was made yet madder for her words, and he departed from the walls in his wrath, and rode far in his anger, and spread terror in his path.

And he vowed that he would yet bring the maid into subjection. In the meantime Gustahem the aged called before him a scribe, and bade him write unto Kai Kawous all that was come about, and how an army was come forth from Turan, at whose head rode a chief that was a child in years, a lion in strength and stature.

And he told how Hujir had been bound, and how the fortress was like to fall into the hands of the enemy; for there were none to defend it save only his daughter and himself and he craved the Shah to come to their aid. Albeit when the day had followed yet again upon the night, Sohrab made ready his host to fall upon the castle.

But when he came near thereto he found it was empty, and the doors thereof stood open, and no warriors appeared upon its walls. And he was surprised, for he knew not that in the darkness the inmates were fled by a passage that was hidden under the earth.

And he searched the building for Gurdafrid, for his heart yearned after her in love, and he cried aloud- "Woe, woe is me that this moon is vanished behind the clouds! And he said- "Who shall stand against this Turk? For Gustahem doth liken him in power unto Rostam, and saith he resembleth the seed of Neriman. And he wrote unto his Pehliva, and invoked the blessings of Heaven upon his head, and he told him all that was come to pass, and how new dangers threatened Iran, and how to Rostam alone could he look for help in his trouble.

And he recalled unto Tehemten all that he had done for him in the days that were gone by, and he entreated him once again to be his refuge. And he said- "When thou shalt receive this letter, stay not to speak the word that hangeth upon thy lips; and if thou bearest roses in thy hands, stop not to smell them, but haste thee to help us in our need.

And he said- "When thou hast done my behest, turn thee again unto me; neither abide within the courts of the Pehliva, nor linger by the roadside. And Rostam greeted him kindly, and asked him of his mission; and when he had read the writing of the Shah, he questioned Geew concerning Sohrab. For he said- "I should not marvel if such an hero arose in Iran, but that a warrior of renown should come forth from amid the Turks, I cannot believe it.

But thou sayest none knoweth whence cometh this knight. I have myself a son in Samengan, but he is yet an infant, and his mother writeth to me that he rejoiceth in the sports of his age, and though he be like to become a hero among men, his time is not yet come to lead forth an army. And that which thou sayest hath been done, surely it is not the work of a babe.

But enter, I pray thee, into my house, and we will confer together concerning this adventure. But when morn was come Geew remembered the commands of the Shah that he tarry not, but return with all speed, and he spake thereof to Rostam, and prayed him to make known his resolve. But Rostam spake, saying- "Disquiet not thyself, for death will surely fall upon these men of Turan. Stay with me yet another day and rest, and water thy lips that are parched. For though this Sohrab be a hero like to Sam and Zal and Neriman, verily he shall fall by my hands.

But on the fourth Geew uprose with resolve, and came before Rostam girt for departure. And he said- "It behoveth me to return, O Pehliva, for I bethink me how Kai Kawous is a man hard and choleric, and the fear of Sohrab weigheth upon his heart, and his soul burneth with impatience, and he hath lost sleep, and hath hunger and thirst on this account.

And he will be wroth against us if we delay yet longer to do his behest. Now when they came nigh unto the courts of the Shah, the nobles came forth to meet them, and do homage before Rostam. And when they were come in Rostam gat him from Rakhsh and hastened into the presence of his lord. But Kai Kawous, when he beheld him, was angry, and spake not, and his brows were knit with fury; and when Rostam had done obeisance before him, he unlocked the doors of his mouth, and words of folly escaped his lips.

And he said- "Who is Rostam, that he defieth my power and disregardeth my commands? If I had a sword within my grasp I would split his head like to an orange. Seize him, I command, and hang him upon the nearest gallows, and let his name be never spoken in my presence. And Tus would have led them out, for he hoped the anger of the Shah would be appeased; but Rostam broke from his grasp and stood before Kai Kawous, and all the nobles were filled with fear when they saw his anger.

And he flung reproaches at Kai Kawous, and he recalled to him his follies, and the march into Mazanderan and Hamaveran, and his flight into Heaven; and he reminded him how that but for Rostam he would not now be seated upon the throne of light.

And he bade him threaten Sohrab the Turk with his gallows, and he said- "I am a free man and no slave, and am servant alone unto God; and without Rostam Kai Kawous is as nothing.

And the world is subject unto me, and Rakhsh is my throne, and my sword is my seal, and my helmet my crown. And but for me, who called forth Kai Kobad, thine eyes had never looked upon this throne. And had I desired it I could have sat upon its seat. But now am I weary of thy follies, and I will turn me away from Iran, and when this Turk shall have put you under his yoke I shall not learn thereof.

And he sprang upon Rakhsh, who waited without, and he was vanished from before their eyes ere yet the nobles had rallied from their astonishment. And they were downcast and oppressed with boding cares, and they held counsel among themselves what to do; for Rostam was their mainstay, and they knew that, bereft of his arm and counsel, they could not stand against this Turk.

And they blamed Kai Kawous, and counted over the good deeds that Rostam had done for him, and they pondered and spake long. And in the end they resolved to send a messenger unto Kai Kawous, and they chose from their midst Goodarz the aged, and bade him stand before the Shah.

And Goodarz did as they desired, and he spake long and without fear, and he counted over each deed that had been done by Rostam; and he reproached the Shah with his ingratitude, and he said how Rostam was the shepherd, and how the flock could not be led without its leader.

And Kai Kawous heard him unto the end, and he knew that his words were the words of reason and truth, and he was ashamed of that which he had done, and confounded when he beheld his acts thus naked before him. And he humbled himself before Goodarz, and said- "That which thou sayest, surely it is right. And Goodarz hastened forth to do as Kai Kawous desired, and he told the nobles of his mission and they joined themselves unto him, and all the chiefs of Iran went forth in quest of Rostam.

And when they had found him, they prostrated themselves into the dust before him, and Goodarz told him of his mission, and he prayed him to remember that Kai Kawous was a man devoid of understanding, whose thoughts flowed over like to new wine that fermenteth.

And he said- "Though Rostam be angered against the King, yet hath the land of Iran done no wrong that it should perish at his hands. Yet, if Rostam save it not, surely it will fall under this Turk. What is this Kai Kawous that he should anger me? I have not deserved the evil words that he spake unto me, but now will I think of them no longer, but cast aside all thoughts of Iran. But Goodarz, full of wisdom, opened his mouth and said- "O Pehliva!

Turn thee not, therefore, at this hour from thy allegiance to the Shah, and tarnish not thy glory by this retreat, neither suffer that the downfall of Iran rest upon thy head. Put from thee, therefore, the words that Kai Kawous spake in his empty anger, and lead us forth to battle against this Turk.

For it must not be spoken that Rostam feared to fight a beardless boy. But he said- "Fear hath never been known of me, neither hath Rostam shunned the din of arms, and I depart not because of Sohrab, but because that scorn and insult have been my recompense. So he did that which he knew to be right, and he rode till he came unto the gates of Kai Kawous, and he strode with a proud step into his presence.

Rudabeh gives birth a huge son like a lion cub. Rustam is a miracle baby and has grown into a boy within 5 days and to the height and strength of a young man within weeks. As a child he is the only on able to kill a white elephants that is rampaging unstoppable through the palace. No one knows who the foal belongs to and no one can catch him.

Rustam is the only one who can catch and saddle the foal. He says that the foal will be his war horse and calls the foal " Rakhsh" Rakhsh is the stallion of protagonist Rustam in the Persian national epic, Shahnameh of Ferdowsi. The color of Rakhsh is described as ' rose leaves that have been scattered upon a saffron ground' and it is first noticed by Rustam amongst the herds of horses brought over from Zabulistan and Kabul.

Notify me of new comments via email. Cancel Report. Create a new account. Log In. Powered by CITE. Are we missing a good definition for rostam? Don't keep it to yourself Submit Definition. The ASL fingerspelling provided here is most commonly used for proper names of people and places; it is also used in some languages for concepts for which no sign is available at that moment.

There are obviously specific signs for many words available in sign language that are more appropriate for daily usage. Browse Definitions. Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web! Two clicks install ». While this device gives authority to the poem, it remains a dream, not a reality.

I find this problematic. But personally I have difficulties with readings that promote recourse to force rather than contemplation, duty to country over human bonds, that sustain pride rather than an awareness of human deficiencies and folly. Several Persian painters have depicted this scene in mesmerising miniatures, emphasizing how the horses of the father and the son are screaming to warn them.

Clinton, J. Cross, C. Davis, D. II, pp. London: Penguin, , ; New York: Penguin, Washington, DC: Mage Publishers, Lewis, F. Seyed-Gohrab, A. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Asghar Seyed Gohrab and Leiden Medievalists Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Asghar Seyed Gohrab Professor. All blog articles. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Modern Reception The reception history of this story is fascinating. I saw on the young steed, on that day, a young Rostam.