Epic Lore & Biography

Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna is the powerful monarch of the Ghaznavid Empire whose name crowns the great epic narrative of the Shahnameh. Renowned for his military conquests in India, he wielded a gleaming sword to subjugate idolaters and expand his realm, praised as a champion of faith and supreme ruler whose glory resounds across horizons.

Shahnameh Distichs Featuring this Entity (40)

ز یزدان بر آن شاه باد آفرین / که نازد بدو تاج و تخت و نگین

“May praise from God attend that king by whom the crown, the throne, and the signet ring take pride!”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19535

که گنجش ز بخشش بنالد همی / بزرگی ز نامش ببالد همی

“Whose treasury groans beneath his endless bounty, while greatness itself flourishes through his glorious name.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19536

ز دریا به دریا سپاه وی است / جهان زیر فر کلاه وی است

“His host stretches from sea to sea, and the wide world abides beneath the shadow of his crown's royal glory.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19537

خداوند نام و خداوند گنج / خداوند شمشیر و خفتان و رنج

“Master of renown and master of treasure, master of the sword, mail-coat, and battle-toil.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19538

ز گیتی به کان اندرون زر نماند / که منشور جود ورا بر نخواند

“No gold remained within the mines of the world that had not read the decree of his munificence.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19539

به بزم اندرون گنج پیدا کند / چو رزم آیدش رنج بینا کند

“In banquet he lays open treasures, and when battle comes, his eye is keen to every hardship.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19540

به بار آورد شاخ دین و خرد / گمانش به دانش خرد پرورد

“He brings the branch of faith and wisdom to fruit; his intellect nurtures deep knowledge.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19541

به اندیشه از بی گزندان بود / همیشه پناهش به یزدان بود

“Through holy contemplation he remains safe from harm, and his refuge is ever in God.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19542

چو او مرز گیرد به شمشیر تیز / بر انگیزد اندر جهان رستخیز

“When he seizes a realm with his sharp blade, he raises a resurrection throughout the world.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19543

ز دشمن ستاند ببخشد به دوست / خداوند پیروزگر یار اوست

“He strips wealth from the enemy to grant to his friend, and the victorious Lord is his ally.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19544

بدان تیغزن دست گوهرفشان / ز گیتی نجوید همی جز نشان

“From the jewel-scattering hand of that swordsman, the world seeks nothing but his noble mark.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19545

که در بزم دریاش خواند سپهر / به رزم اندرون شیر خورشید چهر

“In feast, the heavens call him an ocean; in fight, a lion with the sun's radiant face.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19546

که چون او ندیدست شاهی به جنگ / نه در بخشش و کوشش و نام و ننگ

“That no king like him was ever seen in battle, nor in granting bounties, striving, or seeking honor.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19548

اگر مهر با کین برآمیزدی / ستاره ز خشمش بپرهیزدی

“If his favor were to mix with vengeance, even the stars would flee from his wrath.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19549

تنش زورمندست و چندان سپاه / که اندر میان باد را نیست راه

“His body is mighty and his host so dense that even the wind cannot find passage through them.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19550

پس لشکرش هفتصد ژنده پیل / خدای جهان یارش و جبرییل

“Behind his army march seven hundred giant war-elephants, with the God of the world and Gabriel as his helpers.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19551

همی باژ خواهد ز هر مهتری / ز هر نامداری و هر کشوری

“He exacts tribute from every prince, every famed chieftain, and every realm.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19552

اگر باژ ندهند کشور دهند / همان گنج و هم تخت و افسر دهند

“If they yield not tribute, they must yield their country, their treasures, throne, and crown.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19553

که یارد گذشتن ز پیمان اوی / و گر سر کشیدن ز فرمان اوی

“Who would dare break a covenant with him, or turn his head from his supreme command?”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19554

که در بزم گیتی بدو روشن است / به رزم اندرون کوه در جوشن است

“The world's feast is brightened by him; in battle, he is a mountain clad in mail.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19555

ابوالقاسم آن شهریار دلیر / کجا گور بستاند از چنگ شیر

“Abul-Qasim, that courageous monarch who snatches the wild ass from the lion's very claws!”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19556

جهاندار محمود کاندر نبرد / سر سرکشان اندر آرد به گرد

“Mahmud, master of the world, who in combat brings the heads of the defiant down to the dust.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19557

جهان تا جهان باشد او شاه باد / بلند اخترش افسر ماه باد

“As long as the world endures, may he reign king; may his exalted star be the crown of the moon!”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19558

که آرایش چرخ گردنده اوست / به بزم اندرون ابر بخشنده اوست

“He is the ornament of the revolving sphere; in banquet, he is the rain-giving cloud of bounty.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19559

خرد هستش و نیکنامی و داد / جهان بی سر و افسر او مباد

“Wisdom is his, good name, and justice; may the world never be deprived of his royal head and crown!”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19560

سپاه و دل و گنج و دستور هست / همان رزم و بزم و می و سور هست

“He possesses army, heart, treasure, and wise vizier; he holds both battle and feast, wine and celebration.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19561

گشاده زبان و دل و پاک دست / پرستندهٔ شاه یزدان پرست

“Eloquent of speech, pure of heart, and open-handed—a worshipper of the God-fearing king.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19566

ندیدم جهاندار بخشنده‌ای / به تخت کیان بر درخشنده‌ای

“I saw no world-ruler so generous, shining upon the throne of the ancient Kianians.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19570

همی داشتم تا کی آید پدید / جوادی که جودش نخواهد کلید

“I waited long until such a liberal lord appeared, whose generosity requires no key.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19571

نگهبان دین و نگهبان تاج / فروزندهٔ افسر و تخت عاج

“Guardian of faith and guardian of the crown, illuminating the ivory throne and royal diadem.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19572

به رزم دلیران توانا بود / به چون و چرا نیز دانا بود

“Mighty in the battle of braves, and versed in every question of why and wherefore.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19573

فریدون بیدار دل زنده شد / زمان و زمین پیش او بنده شد

“Awakened Fereydun came back to life; time and earth became servants before him.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19578

بداد و به بخشش گرفت این جهان / سرش برتر آمد ز شاهنشهان

“Through justice and bounty he seized this world, his head rising higher than all emperors.”

Mahmood • In Praise of Sultan Mahmud بیت #19579

شهنشاه محمود گیرنده شهر / ز شادی به هر کس رسانیده بهر

“'The King of Kings Mahmud, conqueror of realms, who brings a share of joy to everyone.'”

Goshtasp • Ferdowsi's Dream of Daqiqi بیت #23542

بگویم به تأیید محمود شاه / بدان فر و آن خسروانی کلاه

“I shall recite this through the grace of King Mahmud, empowered by his royal farr and sovereign crown.”

7esfandyar • The Awakening of Spring and Prologue to the Seven Labors of Esfandiyar بیت #25062

که شاه جهان جاودان زنده باد / بزرگان گیتی ورا بنده باد

“May the King of the world live eternally, and may the grandees of the earth serve him in devotion.”

7esfandyar • The Awakening of Spring and Prologue to the Seven Labors of Esfandiyar بیت #25063

به خورشید ماند همی دست شاه / چو اندر حمل برفرازد کلاه

“The hand of the King is like the sun when it exalts its crown in the sign of Aries.”

7esfandyar • The Awakening of Spring and Prologue to the Seven Labors of Esfandiyar بیت #25075

کف شاه ابوالقاسم آن پادشا / چنین است با پاک و ناپارسا

“Such is the bountiful palm of King Abu’l-Qasim, bestowed upon both the righteous and the unrighteous.”

7esfandyar • The Awakening of Spring and Prologue to the Seven Labors of Esfandiyar بیت #25078

دریغش نیاید ز بخشیدن ایچ / نه آرام گیرد به روز بسیچ

“He never grudges his bounty, nor rests on days of preparing for battle.”

7esfandyar • The Awakening of Spring and Prologue to the Seven Labors of Esfandiyar بیت #25079

چو جنگ آیدش پیش جنگ آورد / سر شهریاران به چنگ آورد

“When war presents itself, he leads the charge, capturing the heads of powerful monarchs.”

7esfandyar • The Awakening of Spring and Prologue to the Seven Labors of Esfandiyar بیت #25080