New Naqqaliشاهنامه
Character · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II, III

Mahmudمحمود

mah-MOOD

Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, Ferdowsi's patron, praised in the prologue and in the poet's asides.

In the poem
First at A0.12, Praise for Sultan Mahmud; last at E11, The Epilogue
Named
21 times, in 14 sections
Main stories
D6 The Ashkanian Dynasty (3); E3 Bozorgmehr’s Fall and Restoration (3); A0 The Prelude (2)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Mahmud most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Mahmud. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
A0.12

Praise for Sultan Mahmud

The poet sees a dream-vision of a moon-like king on a turquoise throne whose rule runs from Rum to Hind. He praises Sultan Mahmud, his brother and the lord of Tus, and turns at last to his tale.

  • A0.12.23
    Great Mahmud rules with justice everywhere;At one same water wolf and lamb may share.
  • A0.12.25
    The child just weaned from mother’s milk will frameFrom cradle first great Mahmud’s honored name.
Mahmud named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C4.1

Praise for Sultan Mahmud

Ferdowsi praises Mahmud and his vizier Fazl son of Ahmad, laments his own age and poverty, claims his poem will outlast any building, and turns to Kay Khosrow’s wars, warning that the avenger of Siavash was himself cast off by the world.

  • C4.1.25
    Great Mahmud, who brings mighty chieftains down,And grinds their heads to dust beneath his crown.
  • C4.1.63
    Great Mahmud, radiant sun of royal light,A lion with a scimitar in fight,
Mahmud named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C6.1

Ferdowsi’s Dream of Daqiqi

Ferdowsi dreams of wine like rosewater in his cup, and of Daqiqi, who praises Mahmud, wishes him long years, and asks that his own thousand couplets on Goshtasb and Arjasp be kept in the book. The poet wakes and gives them, noting that Daqiqi is dust.

  • C6.1.5
    Mahmud, the conquering king whom realms acclaim,Brings joy to mighty and to poor the same.
Mahmud named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C6.26

Ferdowsi Takes Up the Tale Again

Ferdowsi breaks off the story to speak for himself: he found the old prose book unversified, a predecessor had begun it and left weak verses that Ferdowsi copied out anyway for comparison, he waited twenty years for a patron, and at last Mahmud came.

  • C6.26.26
    At last came Mahmud, master of the earth,Endowed with grace and overflowing worth:
Mahmud named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C7.1

Praise for Mahmud the Great King

Ferdowsi opens the Seven Stages with praise of Mahmud, a spring of thunder, tulips and narcissus, and the claim that the Shah’s open hand outdoes the rain. He then calls for the elder’s tale of the Ruyin Dezh.

  • C7.1.4
    With Mahmud’s royal backing I shall sing,His farr and crown sustaining all I bring.
  • C7.1.24
    May Mahmud rule the world with justice crowned,And spread prosperity the whole world round.
Mahmud named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
D6.1

Praise for Mahmud

Ferdowsi praises Mahmud as the age’s greatest king, blesses his house and his commander Nasr, and reports a decree remitting a year’s taxes. He promises that this book will outlast every age, then lists the great dynasties that have vanished.

  • D6.1.4
    Great Mahmud rules with counsel firm and sound,Through him the name of greatness holds its ground.
  • D6.1.7
    Bless Nasr, Mahmud’s sepahbod and amir,The joy of time’s revolving, circling sphere.
  • D6.1.10
    May Shah Mahmud live safe forevermore,And hold his throne above his golden store.
Mahmud named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E2.4

The Kalila and Dimna Comes to Iran

The physician Barzvi goes to Hind for a herb said to raise the dead, and finds none. An old sage reads the riddle: the herb is wisdom, the corpse the ignorant man, the cure a book. Barzvi memorizes the Kalila chapter by chapter and sends it home.

  • E2.4.130
    Long life to Mahmud; may his name endure,With time and earth beneath his rule secure.
  • E2.4.131
    How glad the heart, if men of evil waysReceived less bounty in Shah Mahmud’s days.
Mahmud named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E3.3

Anooshirvan’s Wise Replies

Reports reach the Shah and he rules on each: a hardened sinner hanged, a careless captain dismissed, Roman captives freed, extorted taxes returned to Marv and Balkh, pensions fixed for a dead warrior’s children. Ferdowsi closes by thanking Mahmud for noticing his poem.

  • E3.3.162
    But since Mahmud has crowned my verse, its nameHas filled the world with praise and ringing fame.
  • E3.3.164
    The preacher names Mahmud; the cross bows downBefore his throne in homage to his crown.
Mahmud named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 14 sections that name Mahmud
  1. A0.12 Praise for Sultan Mahmud
  2. C4.1 Praise for Sultan Mahmud
  3. C6.1 Ferdowsi’s Dream of Daqiqi
  4. C6.26 Ferdowsi Takes Up the Tale Again
  5. C7.1 Praise for Mahmud the Great King
  6. C9.1 The Prelude
  7. D3.1 Darab Builds the City of Darabgird
  8. D6.1 Praise for Mahmud
  9. D7.11 Praise of God and of Mahmud, the Great King
  10. D13.19 The Death of Nushzad
  11. E2.4 The Kalila and Dimna Comes to Iran
  12. E3.3 Anooshirvan’s Wise Replies
  13. E3.4 Anooshirvan’s Counsel to Hormizd
  14. E11 The Epilogue

On the maps

D3.1–D3.4Darab's Reign and the Two Births

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
A0The Prelude2C4The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow2C6Goshtasb, Zardosht, and the War with Arjasp2C7Esfandiyar’s Seven Stages and the Ruyin Dezh2C9Rostam and Shaghad1D3Darab1D6The Ashkanian Dynasty3D7The Early Sasanians1D13Anooshirvan and the Road to the End-time1E2Chess, Wisdom, and the Kalila and Dimna2E3Bozorgmehr’s Fall and Restoration3E11The Epilogue1

More in the Glossary and the index of characters.