Character · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II, III

Garsivazگرسیوز

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Afrasiab's brother, whose slander brings about Siavash's death; Kay Khosrow puts him to death beside Afrasiab.

In the poem: First at B1.2, Pashang Hears of Manuchehr’s Death; last at E10.10, The Plot against Yazdegard
Named: 121 times, in 46 sections
Main stories: B9 The Story of Siavash (84); C4 The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow (19); C2 The Tale of Bijan and Manijeh (12)
Parents: Pashang of Turan
Plates: Vol I: VI, Vol II: III

Genealogical plate: The House of Tur — Volume I, Plate VI: The House of Tur. Tap to open the genealogies.

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Garsivaz most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Garsivaz. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.

B9.22

Garsivaz Comes before Siavash

Garsivaz crosses the Jihun and presents Afrasiab’s gifts at Balkh. Rostam puts off the answer for a week. Suspicious of the envoy’s haste, he and Siavash decide to demand a hundred of Afrasiab’s kinsmen as hostages and to consult Kavus.

B9.22.1
So Garsivaz set out with treasures grand,Whose splendor lit the road on either hand.
B9.22.3
“Go tell the prince,” he said, “that I am near,And bear him word that Garsivaz is here.”
B9.22.7
He cleared the way as Garsivaz drew near,Then rose with smiles and welcomed him with cheer.

Garsivaz named 6 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

B9.23

Siavash’s Treaty with Afrasiab

Siavash gives Garsivaz his terms: a hundred of Afrasiab’s kin as hostages, the return of Iranian towns and a withdrawal to Turan. Afrasiab reluctantly agrees, sends the men Rostam named and pulls his army back from Bukhara, Sughd and Samarkand to Gang.

B9.23.1
At dawn Garsivaz appeared before the throne,With cap and belt, in courtly bearing shown.
B9.23.17
Then Garsivaz dispatched a rider fast,Who rode as swiftly as the driving blast.
B9.23.34
Then Rostam said: “The terms are fully met;Let Garsivaz depart without regret.”

Garsivaz named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

B9.46

Siavash Shows His Skill at Polo

Siavash outplays Garsivaz at polo, lifts five coats of mail on his father’s spear and shoots arrows through four shields. Pressed to wrestle, he declines to fight Garsivaz and instead unhorses two champions, Gurvi and Damur, at once. Garsivaz departs humiliated and resentful.

B9.46.3
Then Garsivaz rode forth and struck the ball,And sent it flashing past the nobles all.
B9.46.12
Then Garsivaz spoke out in tones of praise:“O king whose name shall live through countless days,
B9.46.23
Then Garsivaz with riders pressed ahead,Long spears in hand, around the jowshans sped.

Garsivaz named 9 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

B9.47

Garsivaz Returns and Slanders Siavash

Envious of Afrasiab’s pleasure at Siavash’s letter, Garsivaz tells the king that Siavash is plotting with Kavus, Rum and Chin. Afrasiab hesitates, unwilling to wrong his son-in-law, but Garsivaz keeps pressing until the king sends him to summon Siavash to court.

B9.47.2
Afrasiab questioned him on every side,And Garsivaz at length to him replied.
B9.47.4
Garsivaz saw his face grow bright with cheer,And marked the joy that now was written clear.
B9.47.8
They sat apart where none could hear them speak,And Garsivaz began his counsel bleak:

Garsivaz named 6 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

B9.48

Garsivaz Returns to Siavash

Garsivaz tells Siavash not to ride out to greet him, then weeps false tears and warns that Afrasiab has turned murderous, like the king who killed his own brother Aghriras. He urges Siavash to write instead of going to court, and to be ready to flee. Siavash trusts him.

B9.48.1
With practiced guile, Garsivaz set his snare,Revenge and hidden secrets claimed his care.
B9.48.12
When Garsivaz arrived, the prince went out,On foot to greet him, though beset by doubt.
B9.48.14
Then Garsivaz conveyed the king’s decree,And joy returned; Siavash’s heart was free.

Garsivaz named 7 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

B9.53

Siavash Is Taken by Afrasiab

Siavash rides towards Iran but meets Afrasiab’s army. He refuses to fight his king, and the Turanians kill his thousand Iranians. Wounded by arrows, he is bound by Gurvi. Pilsam urges Afrasiab to wait for Piran, but Garsivaz, Damur and Gurvi urge death, and the king wavers.

B9.53.6
He buckled on his jowshan; then he knew:“Garsivaz spoke the truth; the war is due.”
B9.53.22
Then Garsivaz replied in scornful tone:“Do such soft words become a prince well known?
B9.53.33
But Garsivaz, whose heart was false and cold,Grew fiercer as the prince his plea retold,

Garsivaz named 7 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

B9.55

Siavash Falls by Gurvi’s Hand

Gurvi drags Siavash to the archery ground and cuts his throat over a golden basin, and a plant springs from the blood poured on barren earth. Darkness covers the world. Afrasiab orders Farangis beaten to kill her unborn child, the nobles protest, and Pilsam rides to warn Piran.

B9.55.1
Garsivaz cast a glance that Gurvi knew,And Gurvi toward the captive prince then drew.
B9.55.14
But now on foot before Garsivaz I go,Abased and dark of heart beneath this woe.
B9.55.17
Then Gurvi Zereh took Garsivaz’s blade,A water-colored khanjar keenly made.

Garsivaz named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

C2.8

Bijan Is Brought before Afrasiab

Garsivaz breaks into the revel, finds Bijan among the women and taunts him. Bijan draws a hidden khanjar but yields on oath and is bound. Before Afrasiab he blames a pari for carrying him off; the king rejects the tale and orders a gallows set at the gate.

C2.8.1
When Garsivaz approached the palace gate,He heard the revel sounding high and late.
C2.8.4
When Garsivaz beheld the portal barred,He saw the wine and heard the shouting hard.
C2.8.11
Then Garsivaz cried out to him from far:“You that disown your kin, base-born you are!