Epic Lore & Biography

The pure-hearted youngest son of Fereydun whose tragic murder by his brothers Salm and Tur ignited the ancient feud; mentioned in Baranush's letter as having been fully avenged long ago by Manuchehr.

Shahnameh Distichs Featuring this Entity (40)

از ایشان چو نوبت به ایرج رسید / مر او را پدر شاه ایران گزید

“When the turn came to Iraj, his father chose him to be the King of Iran.”

Fereydoon • Fereydun Divides the Realm Among His Three Sons بیت #1230

هم ایران و هم دشت نیزه‌وران / هم آن تخت شاهی و تاج سران

“To him he gave both Iran and the Plain of the Spear-Wielders, along with the royal crown and throne.”

Fereydoon • Fereydun Divides the Realm Among His Three Sons بیت #1231

بدو داد کورا سزا بود تاج / همان کرسی و مهر و آن تخت عاج

“He granted him that which was worthy of his royal crown—the seat of honor, the seal, and the ivory throne.”

Fereydoon • Fereydun Divides the Realm Among His Three Sons بیت #1232

نشستند هر سه به آرام و شاد / چنان مرزبانان فرخ نژاد

“Thus all three sat in peaceful joy, sovereign rulers of noble and blessed lineage.”

Fereydoon • Fereydun Divides the Realm Among His Three Sons بیت #1233

چو ایران و دشت یلان و یمن / به ایرج دهد روم و خاور به من

“'He gave Iran, the plain of heroes, and Yemen to Iraj, leaving Rum and the West for me.'”

Fereydoon • The Malice of Salm and Tur بیت #1250

فراز آورم لشگر گرزدار / از ایران و ایرج برآرم دمار

“I shall bring forth an army wielding maces, and bring ruin upon Iran and Iraj!”

Fereydoon • The Malice of Salm and Tur بیت #1287

گرامی جهانجوی را پیش خواند / همه گفتها پیش او بازراند

“He summoned his beloved, heroic son Iraj, and recounted to him all that had been said.”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Counsel with Iraj بیت #1346

نگه کرد پس ایرج نامور / برآن مهربان پاک فرخ پدر

“Then noble Iraj gazed upon his loving, pure, and auspicious father.”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Counsel with Iraj بیت #1357

چنین داد پاسخ که ای شهریار / نگه کن بدین گردش روزگار

“He made answer: 'O King, look upon the turning of this treacherous wheel of fortune!'”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Counsel with Iraj بیت #1358

بدو گفت شاه ای خردمند پور / برادر همی رزم جوید تو سور

“The King said to him: 'O wise son! Your brothers seek battle, while you seek a feast of peace.'”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Counsel with Iraj بیت #1374

برادر کزو بود دلتان به درد / وگر چند هرگز نزد باد سرد

“'Your brother—though your hearts were aggrieved because of him, yet he never wished you ill—'”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Letter to Salm and Tur بیت #1393

دوان آمد از بهر آزارتان / که بود آرزومند دیدارتان

“'Has come running, not to harm you, but out of an eager desire to see your faces.'”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Letter to Salm and Tur بیت #1394

بیفگند شاهی شما را گزید / چنان کز ره نامداران سزید

“'He cast aside kingship and chose you instead, as befits the way of noble heroes.'”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Letter to Salm and Tur بیت #1395

ز تخت اندر آمد به زین برنشست / برفت و میان بندگی را ببست

“'He descended from the throne and mounted the saddle, traveling forth to bind his waist in service to you.'”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Letter to Salm and Tur بیت #1396

بدان کو به سال از شما کهترست / نوازیدن کهتر اندر خورست

“'Considering that he is younger than you in years, it is fitting for elders to nurture the younger.'”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Letter to Salm and Tur بیت #1397

گرامیش دارید و نوشه خورید / چو پرورده شد تن روان پرورید

“'Hold him dear and feast together in joy; now that the body is fully grown, nourish the soul.'”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Letter to Salm and Tur بیت #1398

چو از بودنش بگذرد روز چند / فرستید با زی منش ارجمند

“'When a few days of his stay have passed, send him back to me honored and esteemed.'”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Letter to Salm and Tur بیت #1399

نهادند بر نامه بر مهر شاه / ز ایوان بر ایرج گزین کرد راه

“They set the King's royal seal upon the letter; from the palace, noble Iraj took to the road.”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Letter to Salm and Tur بیت #1400

بشد با تنی چند برنا و پیر / چنان چون بود راه را ناگزیر

“He departed with a retinue of young and old, as was necessary for such a journey.”

Fereydoon • Fereydun's Letter to Salm and Tur بیت #1401

چو تنگ اندر آمد به نزدیکشان / نبود آگه از رای تاریکشان

“As he drew near unto them, he knew nothing of the dark counsel in their hearts.”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1402

پذیره شدندش به آیین خویش / سپه سربسر باز بردند پیش

“They came forth to receive him according to their custom, advancing their whole army forward.”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1403

چو دیدند روی برادر به مهر / یکی تازه‌تر برگشادند چهر

“When they saw their brother's affectionate face, they brightened their countenances with feigned warmth.”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1404

دو پرخاشجوی با یکی نیک خوی / گرفتند پرسش نه بر آرزوی

“Two quarrelsome brothers and one of noble nature greeted each other, though not out of true affection.”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1405

دو دل پر ز کینه یکی دل به جای / برفتند هر سه به پرده سرای

“Two hearts filled with hatred, one heart pure and steadfast—the three together entered the royal pavilion.”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1406

به ایرج نگه کرد یکسر سپاه / که او بد سزاوار تخت و کلاه

“The entire army gazed upon Iraj, seeing that he alone was worthy of the throne and crown.”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1407

بی‌آرامشان شد دل از مهر او / دل از مهر و دیده پر از چهر او

“Their hearts grew restless with love for him, their spirits filled with affection and their eyes with his visage.”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1408

سپاه پراگنده شد جفت جفت / همه نام ایرج بد اندر نهفت

“The soldiers scattered in pairs and groups, and the name of Iraj was on every tongue in secret.”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1409

که هست این سزاوار شاهنشهی / جز این را نزیبد کلاه مهی

“Saying, 'He alone is worthy of sovereignty; to none but him does the high crown belong.'”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1410

به لشکر نگه کرد سلم از کران / سرش گشت از کار لشکر گران

“Salm looked upon the army from afar, and his spirit grew heavy and troubled at their mood.”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1411

که چندان کجا راه بگذاشتند / یکی چشم از ایرج نه برداشتند

“'For throughout the entire length of the road they traversed, they never took their eyes off Iraj!'”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1418

سپاه دو کشور چو کردم نگاه / از این پس جز او را نخوانند شاه

“'As I observed the troops of both realms, henceforth they will call no one king save him!'”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1420

اگر بیخ او نگسلانی ز جای / ز تخت بلندت کشد زیر پای

“'If thou dost not uproot him now, he will pull thee down from thy exalted throne!'”

Fereydoon • The Arrival of Iraj Before Salm and Tur بیت #1421

چو از خیمه ایرج به ره بنگرید / پر از مهر دل پیش ایشان دوید

“When Iraj looked out along the path from his tent, his heart filled with love, and he ran out to meet them.”

Fereydoon • The Slaying of Iraj بیت #1426

چو از تور بشنید ایرج سخن / یکی پاک‌تر پاسخ افگند بن

“When Iraj heard these words from Tur, he laid the foundation of a pure and gentle reply.”

Fereydoon • The Slaying of Iraj بیت #1433

نیامدش گفتار ایرج پسند / نبد راستی نزد او ارجمند

“Iraj's words pleased him not, for truth held no value in his sight.”

Fereydoon • The Slaying of Iraj بیت #1444

بزد بر سر خسرو تاجدار / از او خواست ایرج به جان زینهار

“He struck it upon the head of the crowned king, while Iraj begged him for his life.”

Fereydoon • The Slaying of Iraj بیت #1447

به تابوت زر اندرون پرنیان / نهاده سر ایرج اندر میان

“Within that golden casket, wrapped in fine silk, lay the severed head of Iraj.”

Fereydoon • Section 11 - Fereydun's Blinding Grief for Iraj بیت #1474

ز تابوت چون پرنیان برکشید / سر ایرج آمد بریده پدید

“As the silk wrapping was pulled back from the casket, the severed head of Iraj was revealed.”

Fereydoon • Section 11 - Fereydun's Blinding Grief for Iraj بیت #1477

سپه داغ دل شاه با های و هوی / سوی باغ ایرج نهادند روی

“With heart-stricken grief and loud lamentations, the army and king turned their steps toward the garden of Iraj.”

Fereydoon • Section 11 - Fereydun's Blinding Grief for Iraj بیت #1489

فریدون سر شاه پور جوان / بیامد ببر برگرفته نوان

“Fereydun arrived, holding the head of his young royal son close to his breast, trembling and weeping.”

Fereydoon • Section 11 - Fereydun's Blinding Grief for Iraj بیت #1491