Epic Lore & Biography

The half-brother of Rostam born of a concubine, foretold by astrologers to bring ruin upon the house of Sam. He plotted with the King of Kabul to trap Rostam in blade-lined pits. As Rostam lay dying, he shot a final arrow that pinned Shaghad through an ancient plane tree. In the aftermath of Kabul's defeat, Faramarz kindled a gigantic fire that reduced Shaghad's corpse, the tree, and the surrounding earth to ash.

Shahnameh Distichs Featuring this Entity (31)

بجز کام و آرام و خوبی مباد / ورا نام کرد آن سپهبد شغاد

“'May there be naught but fulfillment, peace, and virtue.' The commander named him Shaghad.”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27637

به گیتی به دیدار او بود شاد / بدو داد دختر ز بهر نژاد

“He rejoiced in the world at seeing him, and gave him his daughter in marriage for the sake of noble blood.”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27642

نگیرد ز کار درم نیز یاد / ازان پس که داماد او شد شغاد

“Would no longer recall any matter of coin, now that Shaghad had become his son-in-law.”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27648

دژم شد ز کار برادر شغاد / نکرد آن سخن پیش کس نیز یاد

“Shaghad grew dismal over his brother's action, yet mentioned the matter to no one at first.”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27650

چنین گفت با شاه کابل نهان / که من سیر گشتم ز کار جهان

“Then he spoke in secret to the King of Kabul: 'I have grown weary of the world's affairs.'”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27651

چنین گفت با شاه کابل شغاد / که گر زین سخن داد خواهیم داد

“Shaghad spoke thus to the King of Kabul: 'If we are to exact justice in this matter,'”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27659

چه پیش برادر چه پیش پدر / ترا ناسزا خوانم و بدگهر

“'Before my brother and my father, I will call you unworthy and of bad lineage.'”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27663

بشد شاه و رای از منش دور کرد / به گفتار آن بی‌خرد سور کرد

“The King went forth, casting sound judgment from his mind, and celebrated at the words of that foolish traitor.”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27672

چو سر پر شد از بادهٔ خسروی / شغاد اندر آشفت از بدخوی

“When heads grew heavy with royal wine, Shaghad, stirred by his evil nature, feigned violent rage.”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27675

ز گفتار او تنگ‌دل شد شغاد / برآشفت و سر سوی زابل نهاد

“At these words, Shaghad feigned deep sorrow and offense; he stormed out in wrath and set his face toward Zabul.”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27682

چنین داد پاسخ به رستم شغاد / که از شاه کابل مکن نیز یاد

“Shaghad replied thus to Rustam: 'Speak no more of the King of Kabul!'”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27690

بیامد بر مرد جنگی شغاد / که با شاه کابل مکن رزم یاد

“Shaghad came before the battle-proven hero and said: "Speak no more of waging war against the King of Kabul!"”

Shqad • The Birth of Shaghad and the Omen of Ruin بیت #27706

چو رستم دمان سر برفتن نهاد / سواری برافگند پویان شغاد

“When Rostam resolutely prepared to set forth, Shaghad dispatched a rider in all haste,”

Shqad • The Treacherous Pits of Kabul: The King's Deceit and the Tragic Fall of Rostam and Rakhsh بیت #27718

دو رخ را به خاک سیه بر نهاد / همی کرد پوزش ز کار شغاد

“He pressed both cheeks against the black dust, repeatedly offering excuses for Shaghad's behavior,”

Shqad • The Treacherous Pits of Kabul: The King's Deceit and the Tragic Fall of Rostam and Rakhsh بیت #27724

کمان کیانی به زه بر نهاد / همی راند بر دشت او با شغاد

“He strung his royal Kianian bow and rode across the plain alongside Shaghad.”

Shqad • The Treacherous Pits of Kabul: The King's Deceit and the Tragic Fall of Rostam and Rakhsh بیت #27744

چو با خستگی چشمها برگشاد / بدید آن بداندیش روی شغاد

“When he opened his eyes in his wounded state, he saw the face of the evil-minded Shaghad.”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27758

بدانست کان چاره و راه اوست / شغاد فریبنده بدخواه اوست

“He knew then that this trickery was his doing, and that treacherous Shaghad was his malicious foe.”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27759

بدو گفت کای مرد بدبخت و شوم / ز کار تو ویران شد آباد بوم

“He said to him: 'O wretched and ill-omened man, through your action a prosperous land has been ruined!'”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27760

پشیمانی آید ترا زین سخن / بپیچی ازین بد نگردی کهن

“'Regret shall seize you for this deed; you will writhe in agony from this evil and shall not grow old.'”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27761

برو با فرامرز و یکتاه باش / به جان و دل او را نکوخواه باش

“'Go to Faramarz and be at one with him; be well-disposed to him in heart and soul.'”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27762

چنین پاسخ آورد ناکس شغاد / که گردون گردان ترا داد داد

“The vile Shaghad gave answer thus: 'Turning fortune has dealt you your true justice!'”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27763

چنین گفت پس با شغاد پلید / که اکنون که بر من چنین بد رسید

“He then spoke thus to the vile Shaghad: 'Now that such misfortune has reached me...'”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27781

شغاد آمد آن چرخ را برکشید / به زه کرد و یک بارش اندر کشید

“Shaghad came and drew up that bow; he strung it and pulled it back once.”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27787

بخندید و پیش تهمتن نهاد / به مرگ برادر همی بود شاد

“He laughed and placed it before Tahamtan, rejoicing at his brother's approaching death.”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27788

برادر ز تیرش بترسید سخت / بیامد سپر کرد تن را درخت

“His brother feared his arrow greatly; he went and made a tree his shield.”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27790

میانش تهی بار و برگش بجای / نهان شد پسش مرد ناپاک رای

“Its center was hollow, but its leaves and branches remained; behind it hid that evil-minded man.”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27792

درخت و برادر بهم بر بدوخت / به هنگام رفتن دلش برفروخت

“He pinned the tree and his brother together; at the moment of departure, his heart glowed bright.”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27794

شغاد از پس زخم او آه کرد / تهمتن برو درد کوتاه کرد

“Shaghad groaned from the impact of that wound, and Tahamtan cut short his agony.”

Shqad • The Death of Rostam: Pinning Shaghad to the Plane Tree and the Hero's Last Breath بیت #27795

شغاد آن بنفرین شوریده‌بخت / بکند از بن این خسروانی درخت

“'Shaghad, that cursed and wretched fool, uprooted this royal tree from its very base!'”

Shqad • Zal’s Lamentation, the Retrieval of the Bodies from Kabul, and the Construction of the Mausoleum in Zabulistan بیت #27808

چهل خویش او را بر آتش نهاد / ازان جایگه رفت سوی شغاد

“He set his forty kinsmen upon the fire, and then moved from that place toward Shaghad.”

Shqad • Faramarz's Vengeance on Kabul: Execution of the King and the Ash-Heap of Shaghad بیت #27893

به کردار کوه آتشی برفروخت / شغاد و چنار و زمین را بسوخت

“He kindled a blaze like a mountain, burning Shaghad, the plane tree, and the very ground beneath.”

Shqad • Faramarz's Vengeance on Kabul: Execution of the King and the Ash-Heap of Shaghad بیت #27894