Bijan and Manijeh

Story:

Firdausi says: “It was a dark and gloomy night, as if the sky was covered with black tar, and in that darkness it was as if demons, from every corner, were showing their black faces to frighten us, or black snakes were opening their mouths to attack us. At that moment I woke up and a kind woman was in the house; I said: “O moon! The face of sleep has been stolen from my eyes; light a candle and celebrate this night, and take a handful and pour wine into a crystal goblet.” She also brought wine with oranges, apples, and betel and poured it into a royal goblet. She did everything I asked and made that dark night more pleasant than the day. But I was thinking about that letter from Khosrow and my heart was restless. When that kind friend saw me fixated on that story, he asked me: “What do you know about the story of Bijan? Have you heard what trouble Bijan has been through at the hands of a woman?” I said to him: “If you know anything about the ancient letter, tell me.” He said: “Now listen to me and forget the other stories.” That kind friend said to me: “Open the cup and drink so that I can tell you the story that I have read from the ancient letter, and it is a story full of charm and kindness as well as deceit and war.” I said: “O Mahrou! Tell me the whole story tonight, where was Manijeh? And what did Bijan do and what happened to him from the treatment of pain?” Then that Mahrou said to me: “I will tell you the story from the Pahlavi letter and I ask you to translate it for me in Chakama and I will be grateful to you. Now, O good-natured friend, hear that story from me…” So Angeh said, “Listen to me in poetry, yes, from the Pahlavi office.” I will agree and accept. Thank you, now listen, O good-natured couple.

The complaint of the people of Arman and the dispatch of Bijan to battle with the boars.

During the reign of Kaykhosrow, Shahinshah Kiani, a group of people from the land of Arman came to the Shah of Iran and complained that their land, which is located on the border of Turan, has been invaded and attacked by boars. Kaykhosrow considers two Iranian heroes for this matter, one is Gergin Milad and the other is Bijan, who is sent on this mission despite his youth and the opposition of his father, Gyu. Gergin Milad, who is known for his wickedness and opportunism in the Shahnameh, sends Bijan alone to battle. That day, Bijan defeats the boars.

Getting to know Manijeh and going to the palace

On his return, in order to prevent his refusal from being revealed to the king, the wolf Milad takes Bijan to a nearby recreation camp for Turanian girls. At this camp, Manijeh, the daughter of Afrasiab, whose beauty is described in the Shahnameh, was camping in the lap of nature with her maids. Bijan is captivated by Manijeh’s beauty and stands behind a tanavari tree, watching Manijeh. Manijeh notices Bijan’s presence through her maid and sends a messenger to him, thinking that he is Siavash who has come back to life. Bijan introduces himself as an Iranian hero and, at Manijeh’s request, enters her tent. After three days in her tent, Manijeh decides to secretly take him to the palace of her father Afrasiab. Bijan refuses and tries to save himself and return to Iran. With the help of his companions, Manijeh drugged Bijan and wrapped him in clothes and took him to the palace.

Bijan’s presence was revealed and he was punished

After a few days of being secretly present in the palace, the story was revealed. Afrasiab’s brother (who in the previous stories of the Shahnameh had plotted to kill Siavash) named Gersioz entered Manijeh’s room and found Bijan without his battle uniform. Bijan had a dagger in his boot with which he threatened Gersioz and his soldiers that if they tried to attack, he would kill a number of Turanians, but he offered to meet with King Afrasiab himself and ask for forgiveness himself. Finally, with Gersioz’s flattery, he was taken handcuffed to Afrasiab. In Afrasiab’s presence, Bijan said that if you give me battle uniforms, I will fight with a hundred of the best Turanian warriors. Afrasiab becomes angry at this and orders his execution. When they were about to erect the gallows, the greatest Turanian hero, Piran Vise, intercedes with Afrasiab to prevent the Iranians from seeking revenge, and frees him from execution. However, he throws Bijan into a deep well and places a stone on the well, so that air, water, and a little food can pass through. Manijeh is also exiled from the palace in humiliation and becomes a refugee. Manijeh, who considers herself the cause of this incident, spends her nights at the well and searches for food for Bijan during the day.

Rostam’s Departure to Turan to Save Bijan

The wolf Milad, who had achieved his goal, returns to Iran and makes up a story that Bijan has been killed. The king becomes angry and orders him to be imprisoned. Despite the acceptance of the wolf’s claim, Gio does not believe in his son’s death. At this time, Kaykhosro, seeing Gio’s grief, brings out his Jahannama and observes the state of the country in it. Following this, Kaykhosro finally sees Bijan in the Jahannama. Gio sends a letter from the Shah to Rostam in Zabulistan. Rostam and a group go to Turan to rescue Bijan, and before that, at the request of the wolf Milad, he intercedes for him with the Shah to have him released. Rostam and his group dress up as merchants and traders so that no one there will notice their intentions. After that, they set up a stall in Turan as merchants.

Manijeh meets Rostam and Rostam learns about Bijan’s story

Manijeh, who was wandering around, barefoot and headless, looking for food for Bijan, arrives at Rostam’s group. He understands from their language that they are Iranians and explains the story to them, asking Gio, Rostam, and Kaykhosro. Rostam, who is suspicious, does not reveal the truth, but Manijeh, who is returning in despair,He gives her a roasted chicken and tells her to take it to her beloved. Meanwhile, Rostam puts his famous ring in the chicken’s belly so that if it is true, Bijan will send Manijeh back to him. While Bijan is eating the chicken, he finds the ring and informs Manijeh. Manijeh comes to Rostam and explains to him what Bijan said, “Are you the owner of Rakhsh?” Rostam, who was convinced of the truth, tells Manijeh that at midnight, a fire will be lit at the well and Rostam will come there to follow the fire.

Bijan’s release and the attack on Afrasiab’s palace

Manijeh gathers firewood at night and lights a large fire. Rostam comes to the well, moves the large stone aside, and sends a rope into the well. Before Bijan comes out of the well, Rostam demands that he swear that he will have nothing to do with the werewolf Milad after his release. Bijan refuses and says that he intends to kill him. Rostam also lets go of the rope and Bijan falls back into the well. Finally, he agrees to let the werewolf pass. Rostam takes Manijeh away from the place with several people and, with other heroes, including Bijan, rushes to Afrasiab’s palace and sets his palace on fire; then returns to Iran with the spoils.

Bijan’s Return to Iran

Bijan returns to his homeland amidst a wide welcome from the Iranians, and the werewolf Milad is also forgiven. Kaykhosro makes Bijan and Manijeh his wife and instructs Bijan to never blame Manijeh for past events, and also sends countless precious gifts to Bijan for Manijeh.