Shahnameh Stories

Siavash and Sudabeh

Now, Sudabeh has fallen in love with Siavash and she is doing her best to make him come to her palace. Sudabeh tells King Kaykavoos that it is time for Siavash to choose a wife and the best place he can find a suitable girl is at the palace that all King Kaykavoos” wives and daughters live. Siavash kept telling the king that he prefers to know more about Kaykavoos’ kingdom but Sudabeh made Kaykavoos to persuade Siavash to go to the palace. At last Siavash gave in and went to see all his step sisters. Everyone looked beautiful but Sudabeh was the most beautiful one. Privately, Sudabeh asked Siavash which one of the girls he liked the most. Siavash said none of them. Sudabeh privately told Siavash, “ I know why you can’t choose anyone because my beauty has blinded you and I’m the only one you want and tried to threw herself into Siavash’s arm but Siavash didn’t give in to her and said “don’t you have any shame; I’m your step son”. With that Sudabeh started yelling and ripped off her clothes. Siavash amazed of Sudabeh’s action, left the palace. The whole kingdom heard Sudabeh’s screaming. King Kaykavoos asked Siavash, what happened and he told the truth. Then, Kaykavoos asked Sudabeh and of course she lied that Siavash tried to force himself on her. Sudabeh wore so much perfume. King Kaykavoos smelled Siavash and knew that Siavash never forced himself on her (Kaykavoos didn’t smell any Sudabeh’s perfume on Siavash). Now the king knew that Sudabeh is lying. Siavash asked his father to forgive Sudabeh for the big lies.