Rostam, the greatest hero of Persia, once wandered into the kingdom of Samangan while hunting. There, he met Princess Tahmineh and fell deeply in love. They married, but duty called Rostam to defend Persia, forcing him to depart shortly after their union. Before leaving, he gave Tahmineh a precious gem bracelet, instructing her: “If you have a daughter, braid this into her hair; if a son, tie it around his arm, so I may one day recognize my own flesh and blood.”
Tahmineh gave birth to a son, Sohrab, who inherited his father’s extraordinary strength. To protect him from Rostam being called to war, she deceived Rostam with a letter claiming the child was a girl. As Sohrab grew, he discovered the identity of his legendary father. Filled with ambition and a desire to unite their powers, he led the Turanian army against Persia, not to conquer, but to overthrow a weak king and place Rostam on the throne, so that father and son could rule together.
As the armies clashed at the border, Rostam, unaware he had a son, was summoned to defend Persia. Father and son met on the battlefield, strangers yet inexplicably connected. Sohrab sensed something familiar and asked, “Are you Rostam?” Out of caution and honor, Rostam denied his identity, fearing a trap set by the enemy.
They fought fiercely for three days. On the first day, Sohrab gained the upper hand but spared Rostam’s life. By the third day, Rostam, using his experience and cunning, overpowered Sohrab and struck him with a mortal blow to the side. As Sohrab lay dying, he cried, “My father, Rostam, will avenge me! He will know me by the bracelet on my arm.” When Rostam saw the jewel bracelet he had given Tahmineh, he fell into despair, realizing he had killed his only son, the hope of his life.
Rostam desperately sent for the mythical elixir Nushdaru to save Sohrab, but the Persian king, fearing the union of two heroes might threaten his throne, deliberately delayed the delivery. By the time the potion arrived, Sohrab had already died. In grief and rage, Rostam burned his camp, destroyed his weapons, and spent the rest of his life haunted by guilt.
This tragic tale highlights the inexorable power of fate, showing that even the greatest heroes cannot escape destiny. It illustrates the peril of blind honor and rigid pride, as Rostam’s hesitation to reveal himself led to catastrophe. The story also explores the generational divide: Sohrab embodies youthful vigor and change, while Rostam represents the old order and unwavering loyalty, demonstrating how conflict between experience and ambition can have devastating consequences.