When the wise and affectionate words of Dastan reached the ears of Kay Khosrow, the king offered a response steeped in profound wisdom and royal grace. Addressing Zal as a noble and pure-minded elder, the monarch recalled how, from the era of King Manuchehr to the present day, Zal had walked only the path of virtue, wishing nothing but peace and good for the realm. Kay Khosrow then turned his devotion to the elephant-bodied Rostam, celebrating him as the pillar of the Kianian dynasty, the mentor who had lovingly nurtured Prince Siyavash, and a champion whose very helm, posture, and heavy mace struck such terror into enemy hosts that they fled the battlefield before a single arrow was loosed.
Having honored the endless sacrifices of the house of Sam, Khosrow unveiled the mystery of his prolonged seclusion. He assured Dastan that denying audience to his chieftains stemmed from no grievance or ill will, but from a soul-consuming desire before Yazdan God. For thirty-five straight days, the king had stood in continuous prayer and supplication before the Divine Judge, begging for the remission of his shortcomings, the purification of his spirit, and a peaceful passage out of this transient world—lest the toxic arrogance that ruined previous monarchs corrupt his own heart. His prayer was answered at dawn: as a light slumber touched his eyes, the blessed angel Surosh appeared with divine tidings, announcing that Khosrow’s earthbound sorrow and sleepless vigils were complete, and that the time had come to relinquish the throne, crown, and earthly cares in preparation for his heavenly journey.