Shahnameh - The Book of Kings (Synopsis, Part XV)

The Passing of Kai Khosrau

Of course, Afrasiyab is beside himself, grieving and vowing vengeance. So there is war yet again, and Kai Khosrau swears there will be a good end this time, and asks for Rustem’s help in this.

Afrasiyab sends his son Peschen with a message that Saiawush had been slain with cause, and as it was evil for a son to strike at a father, it was evil for a grandson to strike at a grandfather. Offered to renounce strife and give treasure, but Kai Khosrau saw this as trickery, and said that the sword alone could decide between them.

And so Schideh is killed, and the Turan army is killed, and Afrasiyab flees again, and Kai Khosrau follows and routs Afrasiyab yet again to beyond the borders of Turan and into China for shelter. But Kai Khosrau followed and threatened the King of China, so Afrasiyab fled again, and for two years this pattern followed.

Rustem reigned in place of Afrasiyab, and Kai Khosrau returned to Iran to visit his father, who was made young again for joy. A great celebration occurred, and the old shah prostrated to the new, which Kai Khosrau did not suffer and raised him up. Eventually they gave Ormuzd thanks for all his blessings.

Meanwhile, Afrasiyab still roams, and hides in a cave in a mountain. He pondered his evil deeds, repented, and begged forgiveness from God, which was overheard by Houm, a hermit of the race of Feridoun. And so he captured Afrasiyab and took him to the Shah, who reproached him and then chopped off his head while his brother Gersiwaz watched. Then Gersiwaz was killed as well, leaving the vengeance for Saiawush complete. And now Kai Kaous, who is 150 years old (ed. – that’s it?), got ready to die. And so he did.

After the days of mourning, Kai Khosrau ruled the world in equity and wisdom for sixty years. But he feared the influence of Ahriman, remembering Jemshid and Zohak, and entreated of Ormuzd that he would take him from the earth sooner, before he could be corrupted. He did this by putting himself into seclusion and praying for seven days, and in the meantime many “great ones” of Iran came to demand audience and were refused. They thought ill of the Shah then and entreated to Zal and Rustem for aid. But in the meantime, the Shah came out of seclusion and asked what everyone wanted, and told them it wasn’t their fault. However, he wouldn’t tell them what it was, just that all was well, and for five weeks he was disquieted because he did not hear anything from God as he continued to pray.

Eventually a Serosch greeted him in dreams when Kai Khosrau fell asleep from weariness, who told him that he must choose a successor from the nobles, but that it must be one who has care of all things, even little creepy-crawly things. And then he could be taken to Ormuzd.

At this point, Zal and Rustem have arrived, and the nobles think that a Deev has led Kai Khosrau astray. Zal asked how they could help and told him of the rumors that he was turning to the path of Zohak and Afrasiyab, but the Shah was not angered and spoke of his desire. But Zal was angered and though the Shah had lost his mind, and thought it was a Deev’s influenced, and Kai Khosrau was sad. Finally the Shah explained his reasoning, that he feared corruption, and begged for rest. Thus they reconciled.

The Shah then called all his nobles, their armies, and Rustem, to camp upon the plains, and Kai Khosrau sat on his crystal throne with the ox-headed mace of his forefathers, the crown of Kaianides, and wore a sash of might, with Rustem his Pehliva (champion) at his right and aged Zal on his left. And the Shah announced his plan and for a week gave his treasurer orders as to how to divide the provinces’ rule and treasure. Of course, particularly favored were Gudarz, Zal, Gew, and Rustem, and gave boons as well, whatever they asked for. He also asked that his memory “be hateful unto none.”

Yet though weary the Shah was not finished, and called upon Byzun to bring forth Lohurasp, the descendent of Husheng the Shah of old, and the only one not to yet be called forth by name. And he crowned Lohurasp and said “may the world be submissive to thy will,” and the nobles were confounded and confused, and Kai Khosrau had to enforce his last desire by stating that those who opposed were rebels unto God as well.

And so Zal performed obeisance, and the armies followed, and Kai Khosrau went to prepare himself for death, and gave Lohurasp all his women. When finished Kai Khosrau went into the mountains, and Lohurasp tried to follow but he forbid it. But Zal and Rustem and Gudarz followed, with Gustahem and Gew and Byzun, and Friburz and Tus as well. All strove to change the Shah’s intentions, which they were rebuked for. But after a week they still followed, and the old Shah tried to send them home, but only Zal and Rustem and Gudarz obeyed. The rest continued, but were becoming weary, and Kai Khosrau halted at a spot expecting to be taken by God that night. So he woke up his nobles from slumber and told them to depart at daylight, for a great storm was coming, and if they did not leave now they would not be able to return, for they would not be able to find their way home.

And when morning came Kai Khosrau was gone, but Friburz wanted to linger and they forgot why they should leave. And so all the nobles that had followed but for Zal and Rustem and Gudarz perished, and Lohurasp finally mounted the crystal throne and asked for his people’s allegiance.