For sixty glorious years, King Kay Khosrow ruled supreme over all the realms of the earth—from China and India to Turan and Rome, and from the sunrise in the East to the setting sun in the West. All evil adversaries had been vanquished, and Ahriman’s heart was rent in twain. Having achieved every quest and fulfilled his sacred vengeance for his father Siyavash, the King looked upon his boundless wealth and dominion. Yet, in the zenith of his worldly triumph, a profound spiritual fear seized his noble soul.
He pondered the tragic fates of ancient monarchs—Jamshid, Zahhak, and even his own grandfather Kay Kavus—who had fallen into hubris, ungratefulness, and darkness, thereby forfeiting the sacred Divine Glory (Farr-e Izadi). Realizing that crowns fade and flesh turns to dust, Kay Khosrow resolved not to let pride corrupt his spirit. He swore to turn to the Maker while his name remained pure and his soul unblemished.
Determined to abandon worldly arrogance, Kay Khosrow commanded his court chamberlain to bar the palace gates to all visitors, bidding them to turn people away with gentle words. The King bathed himself, clothed his body in pure white garments, and entered his private chamber of prayer. Guided by the luminous lamp of wisdom, he bowed his head before Yazdan, weeping and entreating Almighty God to shield him from the wiles of the demon of pride, to forgive his past sins, and to lead his immortal spirit to the eternal realm of the righteous.