Poetry Wednesday - Sohrab and Rustam

I have read very few stories that moved me to tears.   The story of Rustam and Sohrab is one of them.  This is from the Shah Nameh written by the Poet Ferdowsi.  

The Shah Nameh is an epic poem of over 60,000 couplets, is based mainly on a prose work of the same name compiled in the poet's earlier life in his native Tus. This prose Shahnameh was in turn and for the most part the translation of a Pahlavi work, a compilation of the history of the kings and heroes of Iran from mythical times down to the reign of Khosrau II (590-628), but it also contains additional material continuing the story to the overthrow of the Sassanids by the Arabs in the middle of the 7th century. The first to undertake the versification of this chronicle of pre-Islamic and legendary Persia was Daqīqī-e Balkhī, a poet at the court of the Samanids, who came to a violent end after completing only 1000 verses. These verses, which deal with the rise of the prophet Zoroaster, were afterward incorporated by Ferdowsi, with due acknowledgments, in his own poem.

The Shahnameh itself was written in Pahlavi Persian, which at the time was losing importance. Persia during the time of Ferdowsi was making way for Islamic assimilation and Arabic.  Prior to Islam, Iranians followed the religion of Zorastrainism and spoke Pehlavi, which is said to be similar to present day Farsi- the language of the People of Iran. Persia during his time included all of present day Iran, Parts of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, parts of Pakistan, India and China.

Source : Wikipedia, Sacred-texts.com 

This is my redition of the story.  I did take some liberties with respect to how Tehminah would have felt or behaved and did omit some parts of the story for brevity.  Nothing to beat the Master Ferdowsi, its just an attempt at using my lazy brain cells.  This is a little too long. I had to condense some 1,000 or so couplets into this. No, I dont know Pehlvi, I depend on the trusty translated versions. Have fun reading.

The Horse-napping

Along the forests bordering Turan
And the lands of Samengan
Hunted Rustom, the Hero of Iran.
Sated with the hunt,
He lay down to rest
Tethered nearby
His beloved horse Rakush.
Upon this scene
Came the seven knights of Turan
They saw the Magnificient Being,
Ears upright, shining Mane, snorting
As they stealthily approached
"What use is a horse to a sleeping man?
We could use  it to unburden our tired limbs."

Rustom awoke alone,
Fury building like lightening
A hero without a horse?
What an Indignity.
Hoofmarks lead him to Samengan
The King of Samengan welcomes the Hero
Promising to find his horse,
Until then - "My Palace is your home"
At the Palace,
Princess Tahmineh's joy is unbound
The Love of her life is within her reach.

The Wedding

The Bold Tahmineh prepares to meet her love.
Confident was she of her womanhood
Luxuriating in a warm asses milk.
Her handmaids wash her long flowing hair
Bathed in waters, petaled of rose and jasmine.
Smoking Frankincense and Myrrh
Gently dry her tender skin.
Her hair half braided,
Gently sway across her hips
She slips delicately,
Into a Gown of  fine Muslin.
Eyes darkened with Kohl,
Peep through her see through veil.
With the musky scent surrounding her
She was the Siren, No man could deny.

She walks into his bedchamber unannounced
Rustom awakens, Lightfooted as she was,
Wonders if he is dreaming, then he hears her voice
"I am Tehmineh, the daughter of the King of Samengan
I have Loved you all my short life, I would be much obliged
If you could grant me one wish - to be your wife."
Rustom though smitten by her boldness, her beauty
Was an honourable man, he bid her go back to her chambers
Until he obtained her hand in marriage.
The Next morning, the King of Samengan was the Happiest Man
When Rustam asked for Tehmineh's hand
Without much ado, they were married.
Happy were the Lovebirds for a week or two.

One morning, Rakush was found
Happy was Rustam, to see his long lost friend
Soon, he missed Zabulistan
The warrior's restlessness came over him
That evening, after passion spent
He removed his amulet from his arm
Handing it to Tehmineh he said
"Use this to clasp the hair, should we have a girl
Use it as an amulet, should we have a boy, Always
Either way, it will protect them from the ways of Ahriman"
Then he bid farewell to a tearful Tehmineh and  went his way.

Sohrab's birth

Nine Moons passed
From Tehmineh's womb
Came forth Sohrab, the shining one
A spitting image of his father Rustam
Joy became sadness as Tehmineh pondered
Should Rustam know about Sohrab,
He would want to take him to Zabulistan
So she sends word to Rustam
"A beautiful Daughter you have"
Incognito, Sohrab grows into a Man
Becoming a Warrior par exellence
He asks his mother who his father is
Tehmineh, knowing that dreaded time has come
Tells him of his father, the Hero of Iran, Rustam.
Sohrab swells with pride with the knowledge
Decides that Iran should have a new king- Rustam
So he gathers his grandfather's army to invade Iran
Hearing this news, Afrasyab the King of Turan,
Twice defeated in battle by Rustam, plots a wily plan
He sends his huge battalion to join Sohrab's army
If Sohrab kills Rustam and defeats the King of Iran
Then Afrasyab could Conquer Iran
If Rustam Kills Sohrab, then Rustam would know of his son
Regret would impose a self-exile on Rustam
Either way, Rustam would be out of Afrasyab's way.

Sohrab's Death

The two side engage in a fierce battle
Sohrab's army overwhelms the Shah's troops
Negotiating, Sohrab sends word of a solution
"Send your greatest hero to duel with me,
The one standing gets Iran"
Unanimously was Rustam selected
For none felt confident to face Sohrab.

In the land between the two armies
Rustam meets his unknown son for the first time
He feels affection flow for this unknown youth
Through the armour the eyes look back
Like a Mirror of Rustam's years gone by
Sohrab Feels Compassion for the old Man
A feeling of familiarity, Is that blood recognizing blood?
He asks "Pray Sir, Who are you? Do tell me the truth, Oh Hero,
My heart would rejoice if you are Rustam"
Rustam quietly thinks- to put fear into the youth's heart
I must make him think that Iran has many more heroes
And replies "I am but a slave, not the great Rustam"
Sohrab was visibly disappointed
Yet readied for combat.
They fought until the day was done
Using every weapon in their arsenal
Yet there was no winner,
So equally matched were they
A truely befitting son of Rustam, Sohrab was.
On the second day
The agreed to wrestle
The first bout, saw Rustam land on the ground
But Sohrab hesitates to plunge his dagger
And Rustam recovers his stand
The second bout commences
Rustam throws Sohrab to the ground
And doesnt hesitate to plunge his dagger in.

Blood flowed from Sohrab's wound
Soaking the earth beneath him
As life ebbed out, he made a request
"Let the armies of Samengan and Turan return
For they fought not to gain Iran
But to help me Hunt the Face of Rustam, My Father"
Rustam feels his feet buckle under him
As he turned to face Sohrab and Says
"Rustam had no son, just a girl"
Sohrab replies "A dying man speaks not untruth"
Rustam asks for proof and sees the Amulet
His grief grew heavy as the universe
"Oh what have I done" He lamented
Holding on to Sohrab like a mad man.
So did fate play its Dirty Trick
What father would wish to kill his son?
Yet the shining one smiled as he left
For he got his wish, he did meet his father.
The one person that meant the world to him.

Rustam sent word to Tehmineh
Upon which she died from grief
Sohrab was buried in Zabulistan
In the land of his Father
So he  might look upon Rustam
Beyond Death's doors.

Poetry Wednesday Tour starts here