Hearing Esfandiyar's haughty and provocative taunts, Rostam raised his chest and delivered his formidable reply. He urged the young prince to calm his fiery spirit and restrain his pride, reminding him that true monarchs speak only words of truth and nobility, free from the whispers of demons.
Then, Rostam unfolded the epic scroll of his unparalleled ancestry and glorious deeds. He declared himself the son of Zal the White-Haired, whose wisdom is witnessed by the Creator Himself. Zal was the offspring of Sam, son of Nariman, son of King Garshasp. Rostam recounted the legendary exploits of his grandfather Sam—the hero of single blows—who destroyed the monstrous dragon of Tus, a beast so fearsome that even ocean-dwelling crocodiles and mountain leopards fled its breath, and vultures burned their feathers in the sky above it. He spoke of the titan demon whose waist was buried in the Sea of China, who pulled great fish from the depths and roasted them against the sun, until Sam's sword laid the terror low.
Turning to his maternal heritage, Rostam spoke of his mother Rudabeh, daughter of King Mehrab of Kabul, through whom his lineage traced back to Zahhak the Serpent King. He challenged any warrior to claim a grander descent or greater knightly mastery. For over five hundred years, Rostam had stood as the shield of Iran, steadfastly loyal to the ancient covenants of Kay Kavus and Kay Khosrow the Just. He reminded Esfandiyar of how he crossed the treacherous Jayhun river, driving King Afrasiab into Chinese exile, and how he braved the perils of Mazandaran alone to slaughter the White Demon, Arzhang, Sanjeh, Ovlad, and Bid. With a sorrowful heart, he recalled the tragedy of Sohrab—his supreme son, whom he unwittingly sacrificed solely to preserve the Iranian throne.
Finally, Rostam counseled Esfandiyar that despite his royal glory, he remained young and unversed in the secret mysteries of fate. Warning the prince against self-absorption, Rostam invited him to set aside harsh words, lay down anger, and share a golden cup of wine, letting song and fellowship wash away the heavy burdens of the mind.