The heroic blacksmith of Isfahan who raised his leather apron as the Kavian Banner (Drafsh-e Kaviani) to spark the uprising against Zahhak. Father of Qaren, his name remains legendary for courage and defiance against tyranny.
خروشید و زد دست بر سر ز شاه / که شاها منم کاوهٔ دادخواه
“He wept bitterly, struck his hands upon his head, and cried: 'O King, I am Kaveh, seeking justice!'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #776
یکی بی‌زیان مرد آهنگرم / ز شاه آتش آید همی بر سرم
“'I am a harmless blacksmith, yet fire from the King falls incessantly upon my head.'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #777
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 هفت کشور به شاهی تو راست / چرا رنج و سختی همه بهر ماست؟
“'If the sovereignty of seven climes is thine, why must all suffering and hardship fall to us?'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #779
شماریت با من بباید گرفت / بدان تا جهان ماند اندر شگفت
“'Thou must settle an account with me, so that all the world may stand in astonishment.'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #780
مگر کز شمار تو آید پدید / که نوبت ز گیتی به من چون رسید
“'So it may be made clear in this reckoning why the turn of slaughter hath reached me,'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #781
که مارانت را مغز فرزند من / همی داد باید ز هر انجمن
“'That the brains of my sons must forever feed thy serpents from every gathering!'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #782
سپهبد به گفتار او بنگرید / شگفت آمدش کآن سخن‌ها شنید
“The commander marveled at his speech, astounded to hear such fearless words.”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #783
بِدو باز دادند فرزند او / به خوبی بجستند پیوند او
“They restored his remaining son to him and sought to soothe his heart with kindness.”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #784
بفرمود پس کاوه را پادشا / که باشد بران محضر اندر گوا
“Then the king commanded Kaveh to add his witness to that scroll of righteousness.”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #785
چو بر خواند کاوه همه محضرش / سبک سوی پیران آن کشورش
“When Kaveh read the full document, he turned swiftly toward the elders of the land,”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #786
خروشید کای پای مردان دیو / بریده دل از ترس گیهان خدیو
“And roared: 'O ye henchmen of the Demon, who have severed your hearts from fear of the Lord of the World!'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #787
همه سوی دوزخ نهادید روی / سپردید دل‌ها به گفتار اوی
“'Ye have all turned your faces toward Hell, yielding your hearts to his deceitful words!'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #788
نباشم بدین محضر اندر گوا / نه هرگز براندیشم از پادشا
“'I shall never bear witness to this document, nor shall I ever fear the wrath of this ruler!'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #789
خروشید و برجست لرزان ز جای / بدرّید و بسپرد محضر به پای
“He roared, sprang trembling to his feet, tore the scroll to shreds, and trampled it beneath his feet.”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #790
گرانمایه فرزند او پیش اوی / ز ایوان برون شد خروشان به کوی
“His precious son before him, he strode out of the palace, shouting into the streets.”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #791
چرا پیش تو کاوهٔ خام‌گوی / به سان همالان کند سرخ روی
“'Why should Kaveh, that raw-spoken smith, bolden his face before thee as if he were thine equal?'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #794
همه محضر ما و پیمان تو / بدرّد بپیچد ز فرمان تو
“'He tore up our covenant and thy mandate, turning away from thy supreme command!'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #795
که چون کاوه آمد ز درگه پدید / دو گوش من آواز او را شنید
“'When Kaveh appeared at the court and his voice struck my ears,'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #797
میان من و او ز ایوان درست / تو گفتی یکی کوه آهن برست
“'It was as if a mountain of iron had sprung up between him and me within this palace!'”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #798
چو کاوه برون شد ز درگاه شاه / بَرو انجمن گشت بازارگاه
“When Kaveh left the King's threshold, a crowd gathered around him in the marketplace.”
Zahhak • Kaveh the Blacksmith, the Kavian Banner, and the Forging of the Ox-Headed Mace
بیت #800