Epic Lore & Biography

The king of Turan and arch-enemy of Iran. Mentioned by the two youths to Ardashir as proof that malevolent rulers who cause suffering to kings eventually perish, leaving behind only ill repute.

Shahnameh Distichs Featuring this Entity (40)

جهان پهلوان پورش افراسیاب / بخواندش درنگی و آمد شتاب

“He summoned his son, the world-champion Afrasiab, who tarried not and came in all haste.”

Nozar • Turan Learns of Manuchehr's Death and Pashang's Call for Vengeance بیت #3665

ز گفت پدر مغز افراسیاب / برآمد ز آرام وز خورد و خواب

“At his father's words, Afrasiab's mind boiled over; peace, food, and sleep vanished from him.”

Nozar • Turan Learns of Manuchehr's Death and Pashang's Call for Vengeance بیت #3670

به مغز پشنگ اندر آمد شتاب / چو دید آن سهی قد افراسیاب

“Pride and eagerness flooded Pashang's mind when he beheld tall, imposing Afrasiab,”

Nozar • Turan Learns of Manuchehr's Death and Pashang's Call for Vengeance بیت #3677

پسر را چنین داد پاسخ پشنگ / که افراسیاب آن دلاور نهنگ

“Pashang answered his son thus: 'Afrasiab, that brave sea-monster,'”

Nozar • Turan Learns of Manuchehr's Death and Pashang's Call for Vengeance بیت #3692

چنین گفت با نامور نامجوی / که من خون به کین اندر آرم به جوی

“Thus replied the ambitious prince to his renowned father: 'In retribution, I shall make streams of blood flow like rivers!'”

Nozar • Turan Learns of Manuchehr's Death and Pashang's Call for Vengeance بیت #3705

که افراسیاب اندر ایران زمین / دو سالار کرد از بزرگان گزین

“Afrasiab chose two chieftains from among the prominent lords against Iran.”

Nozar • Afrasiab's Invasion of Iran and the Stand at Dehestan بیت #3716

ازان سخت شادان شد افراسیاب / بدید آنکه بخت اندر آمد به خواب

“Afrasiab grew exceedingly joyful at this, seeing that Iran's fortune had gone to sleep.”

Nozar • Afrasiab's Invasion of Iran and the Stand at Dehestan بیت #3721

به لشکر نگه کرد افراسیاب / هیونی برافگند هنگام خواب

“Afrasiab looked upon the armies, and dispatched a swift courier at bedtime.”

Nozar • Afrasiab's Invasion of Iran and the Stand at Dehestan بیت #3726

بشد نزد سالار توران سپاه / نشان داد ازان لشکر و بارگاه

“He went before the commander of the Turanian host and described the Iranian army and its courtly tent.”

Nozar • The Battle of Dehestan: The Death of Qobad and the Fury of Qaran بیت #3740

پرآژنگ شد روی پور پشنگ / ز گفتار اغریرث آمدش ننگ

“The face of Pashang's son grew furrowed with rage, taking shame at Aghriras's words.”

Nozar • The Battle of Dehestan: The Death of Qobad and the Fury of Qaran بیت #3747

بشد بارمان نزد افراسیاب / شکفته دو رخسار با جاه و آب

“Then Barman returned unto Afrasiab, his face radiant with glory and victorious pride.”

Nozar • The Battle of Dehestan: The Death of Qobad and the Fury of Qaran بیت #3783

یکی خلعتش داد کاندر جهان / کس از کهتران نستد آن از مهان

“The prince bestowed a robe of honor upon him, such as no vassal had ever received from a sovereign lord.”

Nozar • The Battle of Dehestan: The Death of Qobad and the Fury of Qaran بیت #3784

ز قارن چو افراسیاب آن بدید / بزد اسپ و لشکر سوی او کشید

“When Afrasiab perceived Qaran's fury, he struck his steed and led his troops directly against him.”

Nozar • The Battle of Dehestan: The Death of Qobad and the Fury of Qaran بیت #3792

چو افراسیاب آن سپه را بدید / بزد کوس رویین و صف برکشید

“When Afrasiab beheld that host, he sounded the bronze kettle-drum and arranged his battle lines.”

Nozar • The Second Day at Dehestan: Defeat of Iran and Nowzar's Last Charge to His Sons بیت #3814

کجا خاستی گُردْ افراسیاب / همه خون شدی دشت چون رود آب

“And wherever the brave Afrasiab arose, the desert became red with blood like a river of water.”

Nozar • The Second Day at Dehestan: Defeat of Iran and Nowzar's Last Charge to His Sons بیت #3819

چنین تا شب تیره آمد به تنگ / برو خیره شد دست پور پشنگ

“Thus they fought until dark night fell upon them, and the hand of Pashang's son prevailed in strength.”

Nozar • The Second Day at Dehestan: Defeat of Iran and Nowzar's Last Charge to His Sons بیت #3823

ابا لشکر نوذر افراسیاب / چو دریای جوشان بد و رود آب

“Against the army of Nowzar, Afrasiab stood like a boiling ocean and a surging river.”

Nozar • The Third Day of Battle: Siege of Dehestan, the Fall of Shapur, and Qaran's Vengeance بیت #3850

به پرده‌سرای رد افراسیاب / کسی را سر اندر نیامد به خواب

“In the pavilion of the chieftain Afrasiab, no man found time for sleep.”

Nozar • The Third Day of Battle: Siege of Dehestan, the Fall of Shapur, and Qaran's Vengeance بیت #3853

سواران بیاراست افراسیاب / گرفتش ز جنگ درنگی شتاب

“Afrasiab arrayed his horsemen, changing his slow siege into swift stratagem.”

Nozar • The Third Day of Battle: Siege of Dehestan, the Fall of Shapur, and Qaran's Vengeance بیت #3868

چو قارن شنود آنکه افراسیاب / گسی کرد لشکر به هنگام خواب

“When Qaran heard that Afrasiab had dispatched an army under cover of night,”

Nozar • The Third Day of Battle: Siege of Dehestan, the Fall of Shapur, and Qaran's Vengeance بیت #3872

چو افراسیاب آگهی یافت زوی / که سوی بیابان نهادست روی

“When Afrasiab received tidings that the king had turned his face toward the wilderness,”

Nozar • The Capture of King Nowzar and the Flight of Qaren بیت #3901

سپاه انجمن کرد و پویان برفت / چو شیر از پسش روی بنهاد و تفت

“He assembled his army and set out swiftly, pursuing him furiously like a lion.”

Nozar • The Capture of King Nowzar and the Flight of Qaren بیت #3902

چو تنگ اندر آمد بر شهریار / همش تاختن دید و هم کارزار

“As he closed in upon the monarch, Nowzar saw both his swift assault and the battle before him.”

Nozar • The Capture of King Nowzar and the Flight of Qaren بیت #3903

شب تیره تا شد بلند آفتاب / همی گشت با نوذر افراسیاب

“From dark night until the high sun rose, Afrasiab maneuvered and fought with Nowzar.”

Nozar • The Capture of King Nowzar and the Flight of Qaren بیت #3905

چنان لشکری را گرفته به بند / بیاورد با شهریار بلند

“Such an army he bound in chains and brought away along with the exalted king.”

Nozar • The Capture of King Nowzar and the Flight of Qaren بیت #3909

وزان پس بفرمود افراسیاب / که از غار و کوه و بیابان و آب

“Thereafter Afrasiab gave order that from caves, mountains, deserts, and waters,”

Nozar • The Capture of King Nowzar and the Flight of Qaren بیت #3914

چو بشنید کاو پیش ازان رفته بود / ز کار شبستان برآشفته بود

“When he heard that Qaren had already departed, troubled over the state of the royal household,”

Nozar • The Capture of King Nowzar and the Flight of Qaren بیت #3916

غمی گشت ازان کار افراسیاب / ازو دور شد خورد و آرام و خواب

“Afrasiab became grieved at this turn of events; food, rest, and sleep departed from him.”

Nozar • The Capture of King Nowzar and the Flight of Qaren بیت #3917

چنین گفت با ویسهٔ نامور / که دل سخت گردان به مرگ پسر

“He spoke thus to the renowned Vayseh: 'Harden your heart over the death of your son,'”

Nozar • The Capture of King Nowzar and the Flight of Qaren بیت #3919

بشد ویسه تا پیش افراسیاب / ز درد پسر مژه کرده پرآب

“Viseh fled back to Afrasiab, his eyelashes heavy with bitter tears for his slain son.”

Nozar • The Battle of Qaran and Viseh: The Avenging of Barman and the Turanian Defeat بیت #3944

یکی مرد بینادل و پرشتاب / فرستم به نزدیک افراسیاب

“'To send an insightful and speedy messenger straight to King Afrasiab,'”

Nozar • The Turanian Advance on Zabulistan: Mehrab's Deception and Warning to Zal بیت #3960

سوی شاه ترکان نهادند سر / گشاده سلیح و گسسته کمر

“They fled toward the King of the Turks, their armor discarded and their belts undone.”

Nozar • Zal's Return, the Slaying of Khazarvan and Kolbad, and Qaran's Interception of Shamasas بیت #4006

سوی شاه ترکان رسید آگهی / کزان نامداران جهان شد تهی

“Word reached the King of the Turanians that the world had been emptied of his glorious chieftains.”

Nozar • The Execution of King Nowzar and the Intercession of Aghriras بیت #4014

دلش گشت پر آتش از درد و غم / دو رخ را به خون جگر داد نم

“His heart caught fire with grief and pain, and blood from his liver moistened his cheeks.”

Nozar • The Execution of King Nowzar and the Intercession of Aghriras بیت #4015

برآشفت و گفتا که نوذر کجاست / کزو ویسه خواهد همی کینه خواست

“Enraged, he cried: 'Where is Nowzar, that Viseh may exact his vengeance upon him?'”

Nozar • The Execution of King Nowzar and the Intercession of Aghriras بیت #4016

به دژخیم فرمود کو را کشان / ببر تا بیاموزد او سرفشان

“He commanded the executioner to drag him forth, so he might be taught the severing of heads.”

Nozar • The Execution of King Nowzar and the Intercession of Aghriras بیت #4018

ببستند بازوش با بند تنگ / کشیدندش از جای پیش نهنگ

“They bound his arms tight with cords, and dragged him out before the dragon.”

Nozar • The Execution of King Nowzar and the Intercession of Aghriras بیت #4021

چو از دور دیدش زبان برگشاد / ز کین نیاگان همی کرد یاد

“When Afrasiab saw him from afar, he unloosed his tongue, recalling the vengeance of his ancestors.”

Nozar • The Execution of King Nowzar and the Intercession of Aghriras بیت #4023

بدو گفت هر بد که آید سزاست / بگفت و برآشفت و شمشیر خواست

“He said: 'Every evil that befalls is deserved!' Then in wrath, he demanded a sword.”

Nozar • The Execution of King Nowzar and the Intercession of Aghriras بیت #4025

بزد گردن خسرو تاجدار / تنش را بخاک اندر افگند خوار

“He struck off the crowned King's head, and cast his body down into the dirt with scorn.”

Nozar • The Execution of King Nowzar and the Intercession of Aghriras بیت #4026