In an era when fortune and splendor smiled upon the realm under King Ardashir, the monarch rode forth at dawn to hunt alongside his wise and valiant son, Prince Shapur. As horsemen scattered across the wild plains, Shapur spurred his steed toward a distant, lush village adorned with elegant halls, gardens, and a cool well.
There beside the well stood a maiden of breathtaking beauty, leaning over a heavy wooden wheel to draw water from the deep earth. As her eyes fell upon Prince Shapur, she offered praises for his sovereign fortune and kindly offered to draw cool water to slake the thirst of his steed. Unwilling to see so delicate a maiden toil, Shapur commanded his servant to haul the bucket instead. Yet the servant strained in vain, overwhelmed by the bucket's immense weight. Stepping forward, Shapur seized the rope himself and felt the surprising heaviness of the vessel. Amazed by her strength and noble bearing, Shapur realized that such beauty and vigor could only belong to a highborn line.
The maiden lauded the prince, comparing his strength to a wild elephant, his generosity to the flooded River Nile, and his stature to a towering cypress. Shapur pressed her to reveal her true lineage, refusing to believe a mere farmer's daughter possessed such royal grace. Seeking Shapur's pledge of safety against the wrath of King Ardashir, she confessed her secret: she was the daughter of Mihrak Nushzad—Ardashir's slain foe whose bloodline the king had sought to extinguish. Saved in childhood by a pious guardian, she had lived hidden as a humble drawer of water. Moved by her noble blood, grace, and honesty, Shapur granted her sanctuary and married her in accordance with ancient Zoroastrian traditions.