Epic Lore & Biography

The ambitious Kayanian monarch of Iran. Mentioned by the King of Hind in his boastful speech regarding historic Iranian kings.

Shahnameh Distichs Featuring this Entity (40)

چو کاووس بگرفت گاه پدر / مر او را جهان بنده شد سر به سر

“When Kavus ascended the throne of his father, the world became entirely subject to his command.”

Kay Kavus • The Song of the Musician Demon and Kavus’s Ambition for Mazandaran بیت #4602

چو کاووس بشنید از او این سخن / یکی تازه اندیشه افگند بن

“When Kavus heard these words from him, a new and foolish ambition took root in his mind.”

Kay Kavus • The Song of the Musician Demon and Kavus’s Ambition for Mazandaran بیت #4625

سبک شاه را زال پدرود کرد / دل از رفتن او پر از دود کرد

“Swiftly Zal bade farewell to the King, his heart filled with sorrow like dark smoke at the monarch's foolish turn.”

Kay Kavus • Zal's Counsel to Kay Kavus Against the Mazandaran Campaign بیت #4735

برون آمد از پیش کاووس شاه / شده تیره بر چشم او هور و ماه

“He stepped out from the presence of Shah Kay Kavus, the sun and moon turned dark before his grieving eyes.”

Kay Kavus • Zal's Counsel to Kay Kavus Against the Mazandaran Campaign بیت #4736

به جایی که کاووس را دسترس / نباشد ندارم مر او را به کس

“'Where Kavus cannot be reached by reason or restraint, I entrust his fate to none but God.'”

Kay Kavus • Zal's Counsel to Kay Kavus Against the Mazandaran Campaign بیت #4739

ازان پس جهانجوی خسته جگر / برون کرد مردی چو مرغی به پر

“Thereafter, the heart-wounded seeker of the world dispatched a man as fleet as a winged bird.”

Kay Kavus • Kay Kavus's Desperate Letter to Zal and Rostam's Farewell بیت #4816

کنون چشم شد تیره و تیره بخت / به خاک اندر آمد سر تاج و تخت

“'Now my eyes are darkened and my fortune rendered bleak; the majesty of crown and throne lies in the dust.”

Kay Kavus • Kay Kavus's Desperate Letter to Zal and Rostam's Farewell بیت #4818

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

یکی از دو راه آنک کاووس رفت / دگر کوه و بالا و منزل دو هفت

“One is the path that Kavus traversed, while the other crosses steep mountains and consists of fourteen stages.”

Kay Kavus • Kay Kavus's Desperate Letter to Zal and Rostam's Farewell بیت #4841

تن و جان فدای سپهبد کنم / طلسم دل جادوان بشکنم

“I shall sacrifice my body and soul for the Commander, and I will shatter the sorcery of the sorcerers' hearts.”

Kay Kavus • Kay Kavus's Desperate Letter to Zal and Rostam's Farewell بیت #4855

بپویم همی تا مگر کردگار / دهد شاه کاووس را زینهار

“I toil onward so that peradventure the Creator may grant safety to King Kay Kavus,”

Kay Kavus • The Second Labor of Rostam: The Burning Desert and the Miraculous Ewe بیت #4904

تهمتن ز اولاد پرسید راه / به شهری کجا بود کاووس شاه

“Tahamtan asked Avlad the way to the city where King Kay Kavus was imprisoned.”

Kay Kavus • The Sixth Stage: The Slaying of Arzhang Div and the Secret of the Blinded King بیت #5121

به ایرانیان گفت پس شهریار / که بر ما سرآمد بد روزگار

“The monarch then said to the Iranians, 'Our ill fortune has come to an end!'”

Kay Kavus • The Sixth Stage: The Slaying of Arzhang Div and the Secret of the Blinded King بیت #5124

به نزدیک کاووس شد پیلتن / همه سرفرازان شدند انجمن

“The elephant-bodied hero went before Kavus, and all the nobles gathered around.”

Kay Kavus • The Sixth Stage: The Slaying of Arzhang Div and the Secret of the Blinded King بیت #5128

گرفتش به آغوش کاووس شاه / ز زالش بپرسید و از رنج راه

“King Kavus took him into his embrace, inquiring of Zal and the hardships of the road.”

Kay Kavus • The Sixth Stage: The Slaying of Arzhang Div and the Secret of the Blinded King بیت #5130

که نزدیک کاووس شد پیلتن / همه نره دیوان شوند انجمن

“'And that the elephant-bodied hero has reached Kavus, lest all the male demons assemble.'”

Kay Kavus • The Sixth Stage: The Slaying of Arzhang Div and the Secret of the Blinded King بیت #5133

به اولاد داد آن کشیده جگر / سوی شاه کاووس بنهاد سر

“He handed that extracted liver to Avlad, and set his face toward King Kay Kavus.”

Kay Kavus • The Seventh Khan: Slaying the White Demon and Restoring Kay Kavus's Sight بیت #5190

بخواند آن زمان شاه فرهاد را / گرایندهٔ تیغ پولاد را

“Then the king summoned Farhad, the fierce wielder of the steel sword.”

Kay Kavus • Kay Kavus's Letter of Ultimatum to the King of Mazandaran and the Mission of Farhad بیت #5239

بدو گفت کاین نامهٔ پندمند / ببر سوی آن دیو جسته ز بند

“Kavus said to him: 'Carry this counsel-filled letter to that demon who has escaped his bounds.'”

Kay Kavus • Kay Kavus's Letter of Ultimatum to the King of Mazandaran and the Mission of Farhad بیت #5241

چو بشنید کز نزد کاووس شاه / فرستاده‌ای باهش آمد ز راه

“When he heard that an intelligent envoy had arrived from King Kay Kavus,”

Kay Kavus • Kay Kavus's Letter of Ultimatum to the King of Mazandaran and the Mission of Farhad بیت #5246

ببردند فرهاد را نزد شاه / ز کاووس پرسید و ز رنج راه

“They brought Farhad before the king, who inquired about Kavus and the hardships of his journey.”

Kay Kavus • Kay Kavus's Letter of Ultimatum to the King of Mazandaran and the Mission of Farhad بیت #5254

چنین داد پاسخ به کاووس کی / که گر آب دریا بود نیز می

“Thus he answered Kay Kavus: 'Even if the sea water turned to wine,'”

Kay Kavus • The Arrogant Reply of the King of Mazandaran and Rostam's Mission بیت #5261

چنین گفت کاووس با پیلتن / کزین ننگ بگذارم این انجمن

“Kavus said to the elephant-bodied warrior: 'I must rid this assembly of such disgrace!'”

Kay Kavus • The Arrogant Reply of the King of Mazandaran and Rostam's Mission بیت #5273

به پاسخ چنین گفت کاووس شاه / که از تو فروزد نگین و کلاه

“King Kavus replied: 'From you, signet ring and crown shine brighter!'”

Kay Kavus • The Arrogant Reply of the King of Mazandaran and Rostam's Mission بیت #5278

چو رستم ز مازندران گشت باز / شه اندر زمان رزم را کرد ساز

“When Rostam returned from Mazandaran, the King straightway made ready for war.”

Kay Kavus • The Mobilization of Kavus’s Host for Mazandaran بیت #5344

سراپرده از شهر بیرون کشید / سپه را همه سوی هامون کشید

“He pitched his royal tent outside the city and led the entire army out into the plains.”

Kay Kavus • The Mobilization of Kavus’s Host for Mazandaran بیت #5345

همی راند لشکر بران سان دمان / نجست ایچ هنگام رفتن زمان

“Thus impetuously he drove the host onward, granting no respite nor wasting any time on the march.”

Kay Kavus • The Mobilization of Kavus’s Host for Mazandaran بیت #5348

یکی مرد بیدار جوینده راه / فرستاد نزدیک کاووس شاه

“A vigilant man, a seeker of the righteous path, he dispatched toward King Kavus's realm.”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Ultimatum, Naval Invasion, and the Tripartite Coalition of Hamavaran بیت #5710

که بر شاه ایران کمین ساختی / بپیوستن اندر بد انداختی

“"You laid an ambush for the King of Iran, turning a peaceful alliance into calamity."”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Ultimatum, Naval Invasion, and the Tripartite Coalition of Hamavaran بیت #5713

اگر شاه کاووس یابد رها / تو رستی ز چنگ و دم اژدها

“"If King Kay Kavus finds release, you shall escape the claws and breath of the dragon."”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Ultimatum, Naval Invasion, and the Tripartite Coalition of Hamavaran بیت #5716

چنین داد پاسخ که کاووس کی / به هامون دگر نسپرد نیز پی

“Yet he answered thus: "Kay Kavus shall never tread upon the plains again!"”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Ultimatum, Naval Invasion, and the Tripartite Coalition of Hamavaran بیت #5721

فرستاده بشنید و آمد دوان / به نزدیک کاووس کی شد نهان

“The messenger heard and ran swiftly, secretly reaching King Kay Kavus.”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Ultimatum, Naval Invasion, and the Tripartite Coalition of Hamavaran بیت #5754

به پیمان که کاووس را با سران / بر رستم آرد ز هاماوران

“He made a covenant to bring Kay Kavus and the Iranian chiefs out of Hamavaran unto Rostam.”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Triumph over the Three Monarchs and the Liberation of Kay Kavus بیت #5785

چو از دژ رها کرد کاووس را / همان گیو و گودرز و هم طوس را

“When he released Kavus from the fortress, as well as Gev, Gudarz, and Tus,”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Triumph over the Three Monarchs and the Liberation of Kay Kavus بیت #5788

سپهبد جزین خواسته هرچ دید / بگنج سپهدار ایران کشید

“Whatever riches the commander saw besides, he carried off into the treasury of Iran's lord.”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Triumph over the Three Monarchs and the Liberation of Kay Kavus بیت #5790

بیاراست کاووس خورشید فر / بدیبای رومی یکی مهد زر

“Kavus, possessing sun-like divine glory, adorned a golden litter made of Roman brocade,”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Triumph over the Three Monarchs and the Liberation of Kay Kavus بیت #5791

بسودابه فرمود کاندر نشین / نشست و به خورشید کرد آفرین

“He commanded Sudabeh to sit within; she took her seat and praised the radiant sun.”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Triumph over the Three Monarchs and the Liberation of Kay Kavus بیت #5795

سپاهش فزون شد ز سیصدهزار / زره‌دار و برگستوانور سوار

“His army grew to more than three hundred thousand armored warriors and horsemen with barded mounts.”

Hamavaran • Rostam's Triumph over the Three Monarchs and the Liberation of Kay Kavus بیت #5797

همی کرد پوزش ز بهر گناه / مر او را همی جست هر سو سپاه

“He continuously sought pardon for his sin, while the army searched for him in every direction.”

Hamavaran • The Rescue of Kavus, the Scolding of Gudarz, and the Forty-Day Penance بیت #5923

چو کاووس نشنیدم اندر جهان / ندیدم کس از کهتران و مهان

“'Yet never in this world have I heard of or seen anyone like Kavus, among the humble or the great.'”

Hamavaran • The Rescue of Kavus, the Scolding of Gudarz, and the Forty-Day Penance بیت #5927