Manuchehr Commands the Burning of Kabul

From A8.12, Sahm Comes to Manuchehr. It illustrates A8.12.45–56:

A8.12.45
At dawn the court was opened to the light;Sahm stood before the throne in royal sight.
A8.12.46
Peerless Sahm blessed the Shah with words of grace,And sought to speak of Mehrab and Zal’s case.
A8.12.47
But Manuchehr forestalled the words he planned,And turned the speech at once to his command:
A8.12.48
“Go with my chosen chiefs without delay;Throughout Hind then let fire mark your way.
A8.12.49
Burn Mehrab’s palace, Kabul with its wall;Let none of dragon-seed escape at all.
A8.12.50
From time to time that blood will raise its cry,And war and tumult fill the earth thereby.
A8.12.51
Kill all who stand connected to his line,The nobles bound to him by bond and sign.
A8.12.52
And all who spring from his accursed seed,Or trace to sorcerer Zahhak their breed.
A8.12.53
Sever their heads, and cleanse the earth’s domainOf Zahhak’s kin and all his tainted strain.”
A8.12.54
The Shah showed such sharp anger in his face,Sahm dared not add one word within that place.
A8.12.55
He kissed the throne, his face against its base,Before the vengeful Shah, in fear’s embrace.
A8.12.56
He answered, “I will do as you require,And clear the Shah’s heart of avenging fire.”