Epic Lore & Biography

The foundational monarch of the Kayanian dynasty of Iran, symbol of authentic Iranian royal bloodline. Bahram Adarmahan taunted Hormozd by claiming he lacked the sacred bloodline of Kay Qobad due to his Turkic mother.

Shahnameh Distichs Featuring this Entity (40)

ز تخم فریدون یل کیقباد / که با فر و برزست و با رای و داد

“'From the seed of Fereydun, the hero Kay Qubad, who shines with glory, stature, justice, and sound judgment.'”

Garshasp • The Gathering of Armies at Khwar-e Rey and the Choosing of Kay Qubad بیت #4294

ابر کیقباد آفرین کن یکی / مکن پیش او بر درنگ اندکی

“'Offer praises unto Keyqobad, and tarry not for even a brief moment before him.'”

Garshasp • Zal's Command to Rostam: Fetching Keyqobad from Mount Alborz بیت #4297

که در خورد تاج کیان جز تو کس / نبینیم شاها تو فریادرس

“'"For we see no one worthy of the Kayanid crown save thee, O King, our ultimate savior and helper."'”

Garshasp • Zal's Command to Rostam: Fetching Keyqobad from Mount Alborz بیت #4300

نشانی دهیدم سوی کیقباد / کسی کز شما دارد او را به یاد

“Give me a sign toward Kay Qobad, if any among you remembers him.'”

Garshasp • Rostam's Quest to Mount Alborz: The Finding of Kay Qobad and the Defeat of Qalun بیت #4327

سر آن دلیران زبان برگشاد / که دارم نشانی من از کیقباد

“The leader of those warriors spoke out, saying: 'I have tidings of Kay Qobad.”

Garshasp • Rostam's Quest to Mount Alborz: The Finding of Kay Qobad and the Defeat of Qalun بیت #4328

بگوییم یکسر نشان قباد / که او را چگونست رسم و نهاد

“We shall reveal to thee all signs of Qobad, and what manner of man he is in custom and nature.'”

Garshasp • Rostam's Quest to Mount Alborz: The Finding of Kay Qobad and the Defeat of Qalun بیت #4330

تهمتن ز رخش اندر آمد چو باد / چو بشنید از وی نشان قباد

“When Tahamtan heard tidings of Qobad, he dismounted from Rakhsh like the wind.”

Garshasp • Rostam's Quest to Mount Alborz: The Finding of Kay Qobad and the Defeat of Qalun بیت #4331

بپرسیدی از من نشان قباد / تو این نام را از که داری به یاد

“Thou didst ask me for tidings of Qobad; from whom hast thou remembered this name?'”

Garshasp • Rostam's Quest to Mount Alborz: The Finding of Kay Qobad and the Defeat of Qalun بیت #4336

مرا گفت رو تا به البرز کوه / قباد دلاور ببین با گروه

“Bade me: "Ride unto Mount Alborz and seek out the valiant Qobad among his host.”

Garshasp • Rostam's Quest to Mount Alborz: The Finding of Kay Qobad and the Defeat of Qalun بیت #4340

ز تخم فریدون منم کیقباد / پدر بر پدر نام دارم به یاد

“I am Kay Qobad, of the seed of Fereydun; generation by generation I remember my royal birth.'”

Garshasp • Rostam's Quest to Mount Alborz: The Finding of Kay Qobad and the Defeat of Qalun بیت #4345

به شاهی نشست از برش کیقباد / همان تاج گوهر به سر برنهاد

“Kay Qobad ascended the throne of kingship and placed the jewel-studded crown upon his head.”

Kay Qobad • The Coronation of Kay Qobad and the Fall of Shamasas بیت #4390

قباد از بزرگان سخن بشنوید / پس افراسیاب و سپه را بدید

“Qobad listened to the words of the elders, then turned his gaze toward Afrasiab and his host.”

Kay Qobad • The Coronation of Kay Qobad and the Fall of Shamasas بیت #4393

پس پشت‌شان زال با کیقباد / به یک دست آتش به یک دست باد

“Behind them stood Zal with Kay Qobad, like fire on one side and wind on the other.”

Kay Qobad • The Coronation of Kay Qobad and the Fall of Shamasas بیت #4399

همی خواست بردنش پیش قباد / دهد روز جنگ نخستینش داد

“He intended to carry him away captive before Kayqubad, to present him as the spoils of his first battle.”

Kay Qobad • Rostam's Battle with Afrasiab and the Turanian Defeat بیت #4436

یکی مژده بردند نزدیک شاه / که رستم بدرید قلب سپاه

“Glad tidings were brought unto the King, that Rostam had torn through the heart of the enemy army,”

Kay Qobad • Rostam's Battle with Afrasiab and the Turanian Defeat بیت #4442

ز جای اندر آمد چو آتش قباد / بجنبید لشگر چو دریا ز باد

“Kayqubad leaped up like blazing fire, and the host stirred like a sea whipped by the wind.”

Kay Qobad • Rostam's Battle with Afrasiab and the Turanian Defeat بیت #4445

قباد آمد و تاج بر سر نهاد / به کینه یکی نو در اندر گشاد

“'Now Qobad has come and placed the crown upon his head, opening a new portal of vengeance.'”

Kay Qobad • Afrasiab's Report to Pashang: The Valour of Rostam and the Call for Peace بیت #4459

ازین بیشتر نامداران گرد / قباد اندر آمد به خواری ببرد

“'...and more than these, how many glorious chieftains did Qobad humiliate and destroy!'”

Kay Qobad • Afrasiab's Report to Pashang: The Valour of Rostam and the Call for Peace بیت #4488

کنون از گذشته مکن هیچ یاد / سوی آشتی یاز با کیقباد

“'Now recall no more the past; reach out instead in peace toward Kay Qobad!'”

Kay Qobad • Afrasiab's Report to Pashang: The Valour of Rostam and the Call for Peace بیت #4498

مگر رام گردد برین کیقباد / سر مرد بخرد نگردد ز داد

“'May Kay Qobad yield to this counsel, for the head of a wise man turns not away from justice.'”

Kay Qobad • The Peace of Pashang and Kay Qobad: Turanian Retreat and Royal Honors بیت #4525

ببردند نامه بر کیقباد / سخن نیز ازین گونه کردند یاد

“They brought the letter to Kay Qobad and recounted the message in like manner.”

Kay Qobad • The Peace of Pashang and Kay Qobad: Turanian Retreat and Royal Honors بیت #4529

چنین داد پاسخ که دانی درست / که از ما نبد پیشدستی نخست

“He replied: 'You know full well that the initiation of aggression came not from us.'”

Kay Qobad • The Peace of Pashang and Kay Qobad: Turanian Retreat and Royal Honors بیت #4530

ز جیحون گذر کرد مانند باد / وزان آگهی شد بر کیقباد

“He crossed the Jayhun swift as the wind, and news thereof reached Kay Qobad.”

Kay Qobad • The Peace of Pashang and Kay Qobad: Turanian Retreat and Royal Honors بیت #4541

چنین گفت با نامور کیقباد / که چیزی ندیدم نکوتر ز داد

“Renowned Kay Qobad answered him: 'I have seen nothing finer than Justice.'”

Kay Qobad • The Peace of Pashang and Kay Qobad: Turanian Retreat and Royal Honors بیت #4545

ازان پس چنین گفت فرخ قباد / که بی‌زال تخت بزرگی مباد

“Thereupon blessed Qobad declared: "May the throne of greatness never be bereft of Zal!"”

Kay Qobad • The Peace of Pashang and Kay Qobad: Turanian Retreat and Royal Honors بیت #4554

وزانجا سوی پارس اندر کشید / که در پارس بد گنجها را کلید

“From there he marched onward toward Pars, for in Pars lay the key to all royal treasures.”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4564

جهانی سوی او نهادند روی / که او بود سالار دیهیم جوی

“The entire world turned its face toward him, for he was the sovereign ruler seeking the crown of justice.”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4566

به تخت کیان اندر آورد پای / به داد و به آیین فرخنده‌رای

“He set his foot upon the Kianian throne, governing with equity, tradition, and auspicious wisdom.”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4567

چنین گفت با نامور مهتران / که گیتی مرا از کران تا کران

“Thus he spoke to the renowned nobles: 'The world, from border to border, belongs to me.'”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4568

تن آسانی از درد و رنج منست / کجا خاک و آبست گنج منست

“'The comfort of the people comes through my toil and hardship; wherever there is land and water, there lies my treasure.'”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4571

چراگاهشان بارگاه منست / هرآنکس که اندر سپاه منست

“'—My royal court shall be their pasture and sanctuary, as it is for every soul within my army.'”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4576

وزان رفته نام‌آوران یاد کرد / به داد و دهش گیتی آباد کرد

“He honored the memory of illustrious kings of old, and prospered the world through justice and bounty.”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4577

برین گونه صدسال شادان بزیست / نگر تا چنین در جهان شاه کیست

“In this wise he lived joyfully for a hundred years; behold if ever there was such a king in the world!”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4578

پسر بد مر او را خردمند چار / که بودند زو در جهان یادگار

“Four wise sons were born unto him, left as his enduring legacy in the world.”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4579

چو دانست کامد به نزدیک مرگ / بپژمرد خواهد همی سبز برگ

“When he knew that death was drawing near, and that his green leaf was destined to wither—”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4583

سر ماه کاووس کی را بخواند / ز داد و دهش چند با او براند

“At the turn of the month he summoned Kay Kavus, imparting to him deep discourses on justice and generosity.”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4584

بدو گفت ما بر نهادیم رخت / تو بسپار تابوت و بردار تخت

“He said to him: 'We have packed our burdens for the journey; prepare for me the coffin, and ascend thou the throne.'”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4585

بگفت این و شد زین جهان فراخ / گزین کرد صندوق بر جای کاخ

“Speaking these words, he departed this vast world, choosing a wooden chest in place of a palace.”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4590

بسر شد کنون قصهٔ کیقباد / ز کاووس باید سخن کرد یاد

“Now the tale of Keyqobad has reached its end; it is time to recount the saga of Kavus.”

Kay Qobad • The Reign of Keyqobad at Istakhr: Decrees of Justice and the Succession of Kavus بیت #4591

من از جم و ضحاک و از کیقباد / فزونم به بخت و به فر و به داد

“I surpass Jamshid, Zahhak, and Kay Qobad in fortune, divine glory, and justice.”

Kay Kavus • The Song of the Musician Demon and Kavus’s Ambition for Mazandaran بیت #4629