Haft Khan-e Esfandiar
Esfandiar got Gorgsar drunk and asked him the shortest way to an unconquerable castle in Turan, Roin Fortress (Roin Dezh).
He promised to assign Turan to Gorgsar if Arjasb was killed. Gorgsar showed him an abandoned road, where Esfandiar faced seven dangerous trials.
The first trial was two wild wolves, while the second trial was two hungry lions. The third trial was a dragon with two bloody eyes and a cavernous mouth. The fourth trial was a witch called Ghoul with mask, a tambour, and a glass of wine. The fifth trial was Simurgh (the phoenix). The sixth trial was wind, sleet, cold, and darkness. Finally, the seventh trial was water shortage and thirstiness.
Esfandiar passed all seven trials and killed Gorgsar because of his deception. To conquer the fortress, Esfandiar and his companions entered as merchants, with the army hiding in the crates of goods. At midnight, after the party, when the guards were drunk, Esfandiar’s soldiers came out of the crates and conquered the fortress.
Arjasb was killed. Esfandiar rescued his sisters and proudly returned to Goshtasb and Katayoun with the spoils.
Despite Jamasb’s prediction that Rostam would kill Esfandiar, Goshtasb sent his son to Sista in the final stage to possess the throne. The king’s command was to invite Rostam to join the Behi religion or bring back to the capital with his hands tied if he refused.
On their way to Sistan, Bahman, the son of Esfandiar, crossed the Hirmand River, went up a hill, and saw Rostam at the hunting ground. ” Fighting such a powerful man might be the same as facing death,” he thought. Aiming to kill Rostam, he rolled a large rock downhill toward him; however, Rostam kicked the rock away with his foot while sitting.
When he received Esfandiar’s message from Bahman, Rostam pondered and told him, ” Anyone who is wise enough should have thought about his destiny.”
After hearing Rostam’s message from Bahman, Esfandiar realized that Rostam would not obey the king’s order. Therefore, he went to Rostam with his soldiers.
Leave a Reply