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

Rustem and Isfendiyar

After Isfendiyar’s return, he went before Gushtasp and demanded again the fulfillment of the promise of the throne, reminding his father of how he had previously been thrown in chains by mistrust and deceit. And though Gushtasp knew he should keep his word, he did not wish to step down.

So Gushtasp tasked Isfendiyar with bringing the overly proud Rustem before him to re-acknowledge him as Shah before he would remove himself from the crystal throne, though Isfendiyar protested, as Rustem was both wise and had been a pillar of support for all the Shahs. But Gushtasp insisted, for Rustem had avoided court, and Isfendiyar told him that he no longer desired the throne, for he knew his father would not abandon it. But bound to the Shah’s will, and expecting to fall before Rustem, he went to fulfill his task.

So in sadness he departed, but not long after leaving the camel at the head of the line laid down and would not rise. Seeing it as an evil omen, Isfendiyar ordered the head struck from the camel, but remained despondent. When they reached Zaboulistan, the land of Rustem, Isfendiyar sent his son Bahman as an envoy in hope that Rustem would come willingly, with Isfendiyar’s boon for the task that Rustem go free unharmed.

Now Bahman went, but found only aged Zal, for Rustem was off chasing wild ass again. And having orders not to delay, Zal directed Bahman to where Rustem might be found, and discovered him eating said wild ass at the campfire. Impressed with his might and majesty, Bahman decided to try to eliminate the threat to his father by casting a rock down the mountainside. Rustem, warned by one of his warriors Zevarah that a rock was falling, merely batted it aside. Though afraid to now come forth, eventually Bahman delivered his message and was received well.

The return message, however, was that Isfendiyar should turn from this path of Deevs, for the wind cannot be shut in a cage, and if he would return to Rustem’s house for feasting, they would then go before Gushtasp together. And Rudabeh his mother was instructed to prepare a feast, and Isfendiyar went to meet him.

Though knowing his demand was not right, Isfendiyar was still bidden to follow the orders of his father, and was hesitant to enter Rustem’s house as a guest. And Rustem again agreed to return to the Shah with Isfendiyar, though not in chains, and Isfendiyar while abstaining from Rustem’s feast agreed to provide one himself.

But Isfendiyar had second thoughts, for neither he nor Rustem had places in each other’s houses, and decided not to bid him entry to his own feast. His brother Bashuntan warned that it was not fitting or right for this to happen, and that the Shah had been overcome by evil desires that Isfendiyar should not fulfill. But worried about obtaining the next life as well as maintaining his earthly life, Isfendiyar knew he had to keep to his word.

Rustem, waiting for the invitation to the feast, became angered, and rode out upon Rakush to determine what courtesy he had been slighted. And the Iranian warriors knew that Gushtasp must be sending Isfendiyar to his death, and spoke against the Shah for it. Rustem declared himself the Protector of the Kings of Iran and that he should not be treated disdainfully.

Isfendiyar asked him not to be angry, excepting the slight because he was exhausted from the journey, and that he had planned to visit in the morning. But since there, Rustem was invited to drink with Isfendiyar, and to sit as his left hand, which angered Rustem since he had always been at the Shah’s right hand. So Isfendiyar complied, with a chair of gold, but Rustem remained angered. And as he sat there Isfendiyar insulted him and his origins, sparking Rustem to defend his 600 years of great and historic deeds.

And Isfendiyar told him his story as well and tried to end the conversation and return to drinking, but Rustem said he was not finished, and that if he knew all he would not even consider putting Rustem in chains. But Isfendiyar again encouraged drinking and offered challenge for the morrow, and Rustem told him not to be hasty in his boasting, but that he would uproot the Shah for his evilness and serve Isfendiyar as Pehliva (champion). So they ate and drank, and Isfendiyar again refused Rustem’s hospitality in favor of following Gushtasp’s orders.

But for Rustem this was an unwinnable situation, as he could neither allow a boy to lead him in chains nor permit himself to strike against a Kaianide. And though Bashuntan spoke again of not fighting Rustem, Isfendiyar would not listen, as this was the only way he saw to attain the throne. Zerdusht the prophet had said that who does not honor the king’s wishes would suffer hell, to which quotation Bashuntan responded by claiming a Deev had possessed Isfendiyar.

The next morning Rustem was unable to talk him out of fighting, and so they fought with lance, then swords, then maces, then rested, for both were equally matched. Then they fought with arrows, which affected both Rustem and Rakush, but Isfendiyar not at all, because he was enchanted like unto brass by Zerdusht. And he called for Rustem’s surrender, which he would not give, and they agreed to continue in the morning.

And Rustem, who had never been hurt in battle before, caused distress to Zal and Rudabeh, who thought to call upon the Simurgh by burning the feather. And she healed his wounds and gave him the advice to entreat Isfendiyar again, for it was written that the one who shed the blood of Isfendiyar would also perish, and while living never know joy, and in the afterlife be cursed and in pain. But she also took him to a faraway garden and bid him make an arrow from a tamarisk branch, for this arrow through his forehead was all that would slay Isfendiyar.

The next morning Isfendiyar slept, convinced Rustem would have perished in the night from his wounds, and Isfendiyar claimed it was due to Zal the sorcerer’s work, but told Rustem only to get ready for combat. Rustem then entreated again to save Isfendiyar’s soul from the Deevs, and to recall what he had done for Iran.

But Isfendiyar asked if he would never cease speaking, and blamed him for trying to turn away from God for trying to turn him away from the Shah his father. And so Rustem knew it was useless and let fly the tamarisk arrow, and Isfendiyar’s eye was pierced. But he took his time dying, and called after Rustem, and told him that Rustem was honored and that the curse of the prophet should fall upon his father instead. He gave his son Bahman into Rustem’s keeping to train and counsel, and Rustem swore it would be so. And Isfendiyar asked Rustem and his brother and son to speak to the Shah that Isfendiyar and he would meet before the judge, and speak, and listen to God’s decree. He knew his death was caused by magic, and Rustem admitted before God that he strove to turn Isfendiyar from his resolve as well.

Then dying, lamentations begun, and Rustem prepared a coffin of iron lined with silk, and sent the army back to Iran with Isfendiyar’s armor hanging from the sides of Isfendiyar’s horse with a reversed saddle and shorn mane. But in Zaboulistan Rustem and Bahman remained, and Gushtasp faced his remorse and sorrow alone, and Bashuntan upbraided him, for “thou alone hast caused him to perish.” And for a year mourning continued, with cries that Iran’s glory had been laid low at the hands of the Shah.