GAIUMART
Page
3
Chapter
1
The Beginning of History - The Pishdadian Dynasty
Gaiumart
The
Greaness of Gaiumart and the Envy of Ahriman :
What saith the rustic bard? Who first designed To gain the crown
of power among mankind? Who placed the diadem upon his brow? The
record of those days hath perished now Unless one, having borne
in memory Tales told by sire to son, declare to thee Who was the
first to use the royal style And stood the head of all the mighty
file. He who compiled the ancient legendary, And tales of paladins,
saith Gaiumart Invented crown and throne, and was a Shah.
This order, Grace, and lustre came to earth When Sol was dominant
in Aries And shone so brightly that the world grew young. Its lord
was Gaiumart, who dwelt at first Upon a mountain; thence his throne
and fortune Rose. He and all his troop wore leopard-skins, And under
him the arts of life began, For food and dress were in their infancy.
He reigned o'er all the earth for thirty years, In goodness like
a sun upon the throne, And as a full moon o'er a lofty cypress So
shone he from the seat of king of kings. The cattle and the divers
beasts of prey Grew tame before him; men stood not erect Before
his throne but bent, as though in prayer, Awed by the splendour
of his high estate, And thence received their Faith.
He had a son Named Siyamak, ambitious like his sire, A youth well
favoured, skilled, and fortunate, His father's Life, whose joy was
gazing on him, That fruitful offshoot of the ancient stem. That
Life the father cherished tenderly, And wept for love, consumed
by dread of parting. Thus time passed onward and the kingdom prospered,
For Gaiumart had not an enemy Except, in secret, wicked Ahriman,
Who led by envy sought the upper hand. He had a son too, like a
savage wolf Grown fearless, and a host of warriors. The son assembled
these and sought his sire, Resolved to win the great Shah's throne
and crown, Whose fortune joined with that of Siyamak Made the world
black to him. He told his purpose To every one and filled the world
with clamour; But who told Gaiumart about the foe?
The blest Surush appeared in fairy-form, Bedight with leopard-skin,
and told the king The projects that his foes were harbouring.
How Siyamak was Slain by the Hand of the Div :
News of that foul div's acts reached Siyamak, Who listened eagerly;
his heart seethed up With rage. He gathered troops, arrayed himself
In leopard-skin, for mail was yet unworn, And went to fight. When
host met host he came In front unarmed to grapple with the son Of
Ahriman. That horrible Black Div Clutched at, bent down that prince
of lofty stature And rent him open. Thus died Siyamak By that foul
hand and left the army chiefless. When Gaiumart heard this the world
turned black To him, he left his throne, he wailed aloud And tore
his face and body with his nails; His cheeks were smirched with
blood, his heart was broken, And life grew sombre. All the soldiers
wept, Consumed upon the flames of woe, and wailed As clad in turquoise-coloured
garb they stood Before the portal of the Shah. All cheeks Were wine-red,
for all eyes shed tears of blood. Birds, timid beasts and fierce,
flocked to the mountain With doleful cries in anguish, and dust
rose Before the court-gate of the mighty Shah. When one year had
passed thus the blest Surush Was sent by God; he greeted Gaiumart
And said: "Lament no more, control thyself, Do as I bid, collect
thy troops and turn Thy foemen into dust, relieve earth's surface
Of that vile div and thine own heart of vengeance." The famous
Shah looked up and cursed his foes, Then, calling by the highest
of all names Upon his God, he wiped his tears away And prosecuted
vengeance night and day.
How Hushang and Gaiumart went to Fight the Black Div :
The blessed Siyamak had left a son, His grandsire's minister, a
prince by name Hushang - a name implying sense and wisdom. It was
the lost restored and fondly cherished, And therefore being set
on war the Shah Sent for the prince and frankly told him all :-
"I mean to gather troops and raise the war-cry, But thou being
young shalt lead for I am spent." He raised a host of fairies,
lions, pards, And raveners, as wolves and fearless tigers, But took
the rear, his grandson led the host. The Black Div though in terror
raised the dust To heaven, but his claws were hanging slack Frayed
by the roaring beasts. Hushang saw this And putting forth his hands
like lion's paws Made earth too narrow for the lusty div, Then flayed
him, lopping off his monstrous head, And trampled him in scorn thus
flayed and shent. The days of Gaiumart had reached their close When
he achieved this vengeance on his foes; He passed away, the world
was for his heir, But see who hath had glory to compare With his!
He owned this tricky world and made The path of gain his path, and
yet he stayed Not to enjoy, for like a story done Is this world:
good and ill abide with none.
Source
:
http://www.heritageinstitute.com/
zoroastrianism/shahnameh/
page03.htm
