Epic Lore & Biography

A fearsome dragon or sea-monster in the Shahnameh. King Anushirvan uses the metaphor that surrendering a traitor to the king to the dragon's maw is fully justified.

Shahnameh Distichs Featuring this Entity (40)

به بزم اندرون آسمان سخاست / به رزم اندرون تیز چنگ اژدهاست

“In feast he is the heaven of bounty; in battle, a sharp-clawed dragon.”

The Beginning • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #211

شنودند کان‌جا یکی مهتر است / پر از هول شاه اژدها پیکر است

“For they had heard that a formidable chieftain ruled there—a terrifying king with the body of a dragon.”

Jamshid • The Fall of Jamshid بیت #552

کی اژدهافش بیامد چو باد / به ایران زمین تاج بر سر نهاد

“That dragon-like monarch arrived swift as the wind and placed the crown upon his head in the land of Iran.”

Jamshid • The Fall of Jamshid بیت #555

نهان گشته بود از بد اژدها / نیامد به فرجام هم ز او رها

“He had hidden long from the dragon's malice, yet in the end he could not escape his clutches.”

Jamshid • The Fall of Jamshid بیت #562

به ایوان ضحاک بردندشان / بر آن اژدهافش سپردندشان

“They were dragged into the palace of Zahhak and delivered into the hands of that dragon-like tyrant.”

Zahhak • The Thousand-Year Reign of Zahhak بیت #582

بکشتی و مغزش بپرداختی / مر آن اژدها را خورش ساختی

“They would slay them, take out their brains, and make of them food for those serpent monsters.”

Zahhak • Armayel and Garmayel: The Rescue of the Serpent's Victims بیت #587

به جای سرش زان سری بی‌بها / خورش ساختند از پی اژدها

“In place of his brain, they used the worthless head of livestock to prepare the meal for the dragons.”

Zahhak • Armayel and Garmayel: The Rescue of the Serpent's Victims بیت #606

برآمد برین روزگار دراز / کشید اژدهافش به تنگی فراز

“Long times passed away, as the dragon-like Zahhak brought hardship and constriction upon the world.”

Zahhak • The Birth of Fereydun and the Wondrous Cow Barmayeh بیت #679

سر بابت از مغز پرداختند / همان اژدها را خورش ساختند

“'They struck off your father's head for his brain, serving it as nourishment to that dragon.'”

Zahhak • Fereydun at Sixteen: The Secret of His Lineage and Father's Fate بیت #735

بر آن محضر اژدها ناگزیر / گواهی نوشتند برنا و پیر

“Upon that forced testimony to the Dragon King, young and old set their seals.”

Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace بیت #772

تو شاهی و گر اژدها پیکری / بباید بدین داستان داوری

“'Thou art the ruler—or if an ox-dragon thou art—thou must render judgment upon this matter!'”

Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace بیت #778

که گر اژدها را کنم زیر خاک / بشویم شما را سر از گرد پاک

“Saying: 'If I cast that dragon into the earth, I shall cleanse your heads entirely of dust.'”

Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace بیت #841

بدانست کان خانهٔ اژدهاست / که جای بزرگی و جای بهاست

“He knew it was the dragon's abode, a realm of great stature and worth.”

Zahhak • Fereydun's Crossing of the Arvand and the Storming of Gang-i Dizh-Hukht بیت #870

ببرّم پی اژدها را ز خاک / بشویم جهان را ز ناپاک پاک

“I shall sever the dragon's footprint from the earth, and cleanse the world completely of all evil!”

Zahhak • Fereydun Cleanses the Palace and Liberates Jamshid's Daughters بیت #908

بباید شما را کنون گفت راست / که آن بی‌بها اژدهافش کجاست

“Now ye must tell me the truth: where has that worthless dragon-like creature gone?'”

Zahhak • Fereydun Cleanses the Palace and Liberates Jamshid's Daughters بیت #909

بر او خوب‌رویان گشادند راز / مگر کاژدها را سر آید به گاز

“Thereupon the fair maidens revealed the secret to him, hoping that the dragon's head might be brought to the shears.”

Zahhak • Fereydun Cleanses the Palace and Liberates Jamshid's Daughters بیت #910

نخواهیم بر گاه ضحاک را / مر آن اژدهادوش ناپاک را

“'We desire no longer Zahhak upon the throne—that impious dragon-shouldered tyrant!'”

Zahhak • The Binding of Zahhak by Fereydun بیت #990

بدان تا جهان از بد اژدها / به فرمان گُرز من آید رها

“"So that the world might be delivered from the dragon’s evil by the command of my mace."”

Zahhak • The Binding of Zahhak by Fereydun بیت #1023

یکی را دم اژدها ساختی / یکی را به ابر اندر افراختی

“You made the breath of one a dragon's breath, and raised another up into the clouds.”

Fereydoon • The Malice of Salm and Tur بیت #1280

بترسم که در چنگ این اژدها / روان یابد از کالبدتان رها

“I fear that in the clutches of this dragon, your souls will be freed from your bodies!”

Fereydoon • The Malice of Salm and Tur بیت #1335

ولیکن چو جانی شود بی‌بها / نهد پر خرد در دم اژدها

“'Yet when a soul becomes cheap to its possessor, the wise man steps right into the dragon's breath!'”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Counsel with Iraj بیت #1377

هژبر جهانسوز و نر اژدها / ز دام قضا هم نیابد رها

“Neither the world-consuming lion nor the fierce dragon can escape the snare of Fate.”

Fereydoon • Salm and Tur Learn of Manuchehr بیت #1577

بینداختم چون یکی اژدها / بریدم سرش از تن بی‌بها

“I cast him down like a slain dragon and severed his worthless head from his body.”

Fereydoon • Manuchehr Sends the Severed Head of Tur to Fereydun بیت #1812

به کین اندرون چون نهنگ بلاست / به زین اندرون تیز چنگ اژدهاست

“'In vengeance he is like a sea-monster of calamity; upon the saddle, a sharp-clawed dragon.'”

Manoochehr • The Praise of Zal and the Awakening of Rudabeh's Love بیت #2310

بدانست کز گوهر اژدهاست / و گر چند بر تازیان پادشاست

“He well knew that Mehrab springs from the dragon-lineage, even though he now rules over the Arabs.”

Manoochehr • Zal's Missive to Sam: A Plea for Love and Destiny بیت #2575

پدر گر دلیرست و نراژدهاست / اگر بشنود راز بنده رواست

“Though my father is a brave champion and a fierce dragon, it is fitting that he listen to his servant's secret.”

Manoochehr • Zal's Missive to Sam: A Plea for Love and Destiny بیت #2602

همان کن کجا با خرد درخورد / دل اژدها را خرد بشکرد

“'Do that which accords with wisdom, for wisdom hunts the heart of the dragon.'”

Manoochehr • Sam’s Audience with King Manuchehr: Tales of War and the Royal Decree Against Kabul بیت #2817

نباید که او یابد از بد رها / که او ماند از بچهٔ اژدها

“He must not escape calamity, for he springs from the demonic brood of the dragon!"”

Manoochehr • Sam’s Audience with King Manuchehr: Tales of War and the Royal Decree Against Kabul بیت #2883

همی گفت اگر اژدهای دژم / بیاید که گیتی بسوزد به دم

“He declared: 'If a furious dragon were to come and burn the world with its breath,'”

Manoochehr • Zal's Appeal to Sam and the Letter of Intercession to King Manuchehr بیت #2892

چنان اژدها کو ز رود کشف / برون آمد و کرد گیتی چو کف

“Like that dragon which emerged from the River Kashaf, and churned the wide earth into white foam and chaff.”

Manoochehr • Zal's Appeal to Sam and the Letter of Intercession to King Manuchehr بیت #2957

مرا کرد پدرود هرکو شنید / که بر اژدها گُرز خواهم کشید

“Whoever heard that I went to raise my heavy mace against the dragon, bade me farewell with tears on their face.”

Manoochehr • Zal's Appeal to Sam and the Letter of Intercession to King Manuchehr بیت #2969

جهانی بران جنگ نظاره بود / که آن اژدها زشت پتیاره بود

“The whole world had been watching that battle, for that dragon was a hideously evil monster.”

Manoochehr • Zal's Appeal to Sam and the Letter of Intercession to King Manuchehr بیت #2988

یکی روی آن بچهٔ اژدها / مرا نیز بنمای و بستان بها

“'Now show me the face of that offspring of the dragon, and take your reward from me!'”

Manoochehr • Sindokht's Embassy to Sam: The Brave Diplomacy of Kabul بیت #3129

به بازوش بر اژدهای دلیر / به چنگ اندرش داده چنگال شیر

“Upon its arm was painted a fierce dragon, and within its hand was placed a lion's claw.”

Manoochehr • The Miraculous Birth of Rostam, His Naming, Effigy to Sam, and Prodigious Growth بیت #3461

مگر زنده از چنگ این اژدها / تن یک جهان مردم آید رها

“So that perhaps a vast multitude of people may escape alive from the clutches of this dragon."”

Nozar • Mourning for Nowzar, the Rescue of Captives by Aghriras and Kashvad, and Their Return to Zabulistan بیت #4098

ز چوپان بپرسید کاین اژدها / به چندست و این را که خواهد بها

“He asked the shepherd: 'What is the price of this dragon, and who claims its payment?'”

Garshasp • Rostam's Quest for a Steed and the Taming of Rakhsh بیت #4265

که آن ترک در جنگ نر اژدهاست / در آهنگ و در کینه اَبر بلاست

“'For that Turk in war is a fierce dragon—in attack and vengeance, a cloud of calamity!'”

Kay Qobad • Rostam's Battle with Afrasiab and the Turanian Defeat بیت #4421

ز ترکان بپرسید کین اژدها / بدین گونه از بند گشته رها

“He asked the Turanians: 'Who is this dragon, freed in this manner from its bonds?'”

Kay Qobad • Rostam's Battle with Afrasiab and the Turanian Defeat بیت #4429

که شاه جهان در دم اژدهاست / به ایرانیان بر چه مایه بلاست

“While the King of the World lies in the breath of the dragon, and such immense calamity has befallen the Iranians.”

Kay Kavus • Kay Kavus's Desperate Letter to Zal and Rostam's Farewell بیت #4830

که در سینهٔ اژدهای بزرگ / نگنجد بماند به چنگال گرگ

“Lest he who could not be contained in the jaws of a great dragon fall helpless into the claws of a wolf!”

Kay Kavus • The Second Labor of Rostam: The Burning Desert and the Miraculous Ewe بیت #4923