When King Kay Kavus plummeted to the earth following his foolish attempt to conquer the heavens upon his eagle-borne throne, the Iranian host searched frantically in every direction for their fallen monarch. News reached the titan Rostam, along with Giv and Tus, who set out with a massive army and the deep thunders of war drums to locate the king.
Upon finding him, the venerable hero Gudarz confronted the monarch with blistering disdain. Gudarz declared that in all his long years he had never witnessed a king so devoid of wisdom, intellect, and sound counsel—a ruler for whom an asylum was far more fitting than a royal capital. He recounted Kavus's thrice-repeated follies: his disastrous campaign in Mazandaran, his humiliating captivity in Hamavaran, and now his mad assault on the firmament to count the stars. Gudarz urged the king to abandon his arrogant pretensions and seek nothing save humble servitude before the Almighty Divine.
Overwhelmed by deep shame, Kavus acknowledged the absolute truth of Gudarz's harsh words. Broken and contrite, he retreated into a covered litter and returned to his palace. There, he barred his court, cast off his pride, distributed vast riches to the needy, and spent forty full days prostrating himself upon the dark dust, weeping tears of blood and imploring Yazdan for forgiveness.
Seeing his genuine repentance and prolonged sorrow, the Creator bestowed His mercy upon Kavus. Returning to his throne as a transformed ruler, Kavus established a reign of profound justice and righteousness. The world blossomed in prosperity under his renewed rule, and sovereign lords from every realm returned to his court, washing their faces in the waters of loyalty and offering willing vassalage.