Epic Lore & Biography

The tyrant Serpent King of the Pishdadian age who ruled for a millennium. Cited by the two wise youths as a historical example of how evil tyrants inevitably crumble, comforting King Ardashir in his time of despair.

Shahnameh Distichs Featuring this Entity (40)

پسر بد مر این پاکدل را یکی / کش از مهر بهره نبود اندکی

“Yet this pure-hearted lord had a single son, who possessed not even a trace of affection or love.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #463

جهانجوی را نام ضحّاک بود / دلیر و سبکسار و ناپاک بود

“That ambitious youth was named Zahhak—fearless, rash, and impure of heart.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #464

کجا بیور اسپش همی خواندند / چنین نام بر پهلوی راندند

“Whom they also called Bivarasp; such was his title spoken in the Pahlavi tongue.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #465

ز اسپان تازی به زرین ستام / ورا بود بیور که بردند نام

“Ten thousand Arabian horses adorned with golden bridles were his, whence he derived his title.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #467

شب و روز بودی دو بهره به زین / ز روی بزرگی نه از روی کین

“Night and day he spent two-thirds of his time in the saddle, driven by pride rather than malice.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #468

دل مهتر از راه نیکی ببرد / جوان گوش گفتار او را سپرد

“He beguiled the young prince's heart away from goodness, and the youth lent his ear to Satan's words.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #470

بدو گفت پیمانت خواهم نخست / پس آنگه سخن برگشایم درست

“Iblis said to him: 'First I require your solemn oath, and only then shall I speak my mind fully.'”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #471

جوان نیک‌دل گشت فرمانش کرد / چنان چون بفرمود سوگند خورد

“The naive youth assented to his command and swore the oath exactly as instructed.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #472

که راز تو با کس نگویم ز بن / ز تو بشنوم هر چه گویی سخن

“Swearing: 'I shall never reveal your secret to anyone, and I shall obey whatever counsel you give.'”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #473

چو ضحاک بشنید اندیشه کرد / ز خون پدر شد دلش پر ز درد

“When Zahhak heard this, he fell into deep thought, his heart overflowing with anguish at the thought of his father's blood.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #479

به ابلیس گفت این سزاوار نیست / دگر گوی کاین از در کار نیست

“He said to Iblis: 'This is improper! Speak of something else, for this is unworthy of being done.'”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #480

سر مرد تازی به دام آورید / چنان شد که فرمان او برگزید

“Thus he entrapped the mind of the Arab youth, until Zahhak resolved to follow Satan's command.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #483

بپرسید کاین چاره با من بگوی / نتابم ز رای تو من هیچ روی

“Zahhak asked: 'Tell me the remedy, for I shall no longer turn away from your counsel.'”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #484

به هر نیک و بد شاه آزاد مرد / به فرزند بر نازده باد سرد

“In every fortune, good or ill, that noble king had never let a harsh breeze blow upon his son.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #493

همی پروریدش به ناز و به رنج / بدو بود شاد و بدو داد گنج

“He had raised him with tender devotion and toil, rejoicing in him and bestowing his treasures upon him.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #494

چنان بدگهر شوخ فرزند او / بگشت از ره داد و پیوند او

“Yet his vile-natured, audacious son abandoned the path of justice and family devotion.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #495

به خون پدر گشت همداستان / ز دانا شنیدم من این داستان

“He consented to the shedding of his own father's blood; as I heard this tale told by wise men of old.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #496

فرومایه ضحاک بیدادگر / بدین چاره بگرفت جای پدر

“Thus base, tyrannical Zahhak seized his father's domain through this evil ruse.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #499

به سر بر نهاد افسر تازیان / بر ایشان ببخشید سود و زیان

“He placed upon his head the crown of the Arabs, and assumed command over all their gains and losses.”

Jamshid • Merdas the Pious Arab and His Wicked Son Zahhak بیت #500

بدو گفت گر سوی من تافتی / ز گیتی همه کام دل یافتی

“He said to him, 'Since you turned toward me, you have obtained all the heart's desires of the world.'”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #502

همیدون به ضحاک بنهاد روی / نبودش به جز آفرین گفت و گوی

“Thus he presented himself before Zahhak, speaking nothing but praise and admiration.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #507

چو بشنید ضحاک بنواختش / ز بهر خورش جایگه ساختش

“When Zahhak heard this, he welcomed him and granted him a place to prepare food.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #509

به خونش بپرورد بر سان شیر / بدان تا کند پادشا را دلیر

“He nourished the king with meat and blood like a fierce lion, to make him bold and ferocious.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #513

سخن هر چه گویدش فرمان کند / به فرمان او دل گروگان کند

“So that whatever Iblis commanded, Zahhak would obey, surrendering his heart completely to his will.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #514

بخورد و بر او آفرین کرد سخت / مزه یافت خواندش ورا نیک‌بخت

“Zahhak ate and praised him fervently; delighting in the flavor, he called him fortunate.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #516

شه تازیان چون به نان دست برد / سر کم خرد مهر او را سپرد

“As the Arab king reached for the food, his foolish head surrendered its affection entirely to him.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #521

چو ضحاک دست اندر آورد و خورد / شگفت آمدش زان هشیوار مرد

“When Zahhak tasted it, he marvelled at the wisdom and skill of that man.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #525

بدو گفت بنگر که از آرزوی / چه خواهی بگو با من ای نیک‌خوی

“He said to him, 'Consider what wish you hold in your heart, and speak it to me, O good-natured man!'”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #526

چو ضحاک بشنید گفتار اوی / نهانی ندانست بازار اوی

“When Zahhak heard his words, he did not discern the secret evil behind his display.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #531

بدو گفت دارم من این کام تو / بلندی بگیرد از این نام تو

“He said, 'I grant your request; your name shall be exalted by this.'”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #532

بفرمود تا دیو چون جفت او / همی بوسه داد از بر سفت او

“He allowed the demon, like a companion, to plant kisses upon both his shoulders.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #533

دو مار سیه از دو کتفش برست / غمی گشت و از هر سویی چاره جست

“Two black serpents sprouted from his two shoulders; he grew distraught and sought remedies from every side.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #535

چو شاخ درخت آن دو مار سیاه / برآمد دگر باره از کتف شاه

“Like tree branches, those two black serpents grew forth once again from the king's shoulders.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #537

به سان پزشکی پس ابلیس تفت / به فرزانگی نزد ضحاک رفت

“Then Iblis swiftly returned in the guise of a wise physician and approached Zahhak.”

Jamshid • The Sprouting of the Serpents upon Zahhak's Shoulders بیت #540

شنودند کان‌جا یکی مهتر است / پر از هول شاه اژدها پیکر است

“For they had heard that a formidable chieftain ruled there—a terrifying king with the body of a dragon.”

Jamshid • The Fall of Jamshid بیت #552

سواران ایران همه شاه‌جوی / نهادند یک‌سر به ضحاک روی

“All the horsemen of Iran, seeking a true king, turned their faces as one toward Zahhak.”

Jamshid • The Fall of Jamshid بیت #553

به شاهی بر او آفرین خواندند / ورا شاه ایران زمین خواندند

“They praised him as their sovereign and hailed him as the king of the land of Iran.”

Jamshid • The Fall of Jamshid بیت #554

کی اژدهافش بیامد چو باد / به ایران زمین تاج بر سر نهاد

“That dragon-like monarch arrived swift as the wind and placed the crown upon his head in the land of Iran.”

Jamshid • The Fall of Jamshid بیت #555

نهان گشته بود از بد اژدها / نیامد به فرجام هم ز او رها

“He had hidden long from the dragon's malice, yet in the end he could not escape his clutches.”

Jamshid • The Fall of Jamshid بیت #562

چو ضحاکش آورد ناگه به چنگ / یکایک ندادش زمانی درنگ

“When Zahhak suddenly snared him in his grasp, he granted him not a single moment's respite.”

Jamshid • The Fall of Jamshid بیت #563