Object · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II, III

kamandکمند

ka-MAND

The coiled noose-rope thrown in battle to snare a foe.

In the poem: First at A5.9, Fereydoon Binds Zahhak; last at E9.4, The Reign of Poorandokht
Named: 229 times, in 147 sections
Main stories: B14 The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin (34); B8 The Tragedy of Rostam & Sohrab (21); B10 Vengeance for Siavash and the Retrieval of Kay Khosrow (18)

In the poem’s own words

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

A8.5

Zal and Rudabeh: A Secret Visit

At dusk Rudabeh appears on the palace roof and lets down her hair for Zal to climb. He kisses it but will not hurt her, and climbs by his own kamand. They feast, embrace and swear to marry, and part in tears at dawn.

A8.5.20
She lowered them from battlement to wall,A fragrant kamand hanging through their fall.
A8.5.28
He took his kamand from his servant’s hand,And cast it upward where the walls did stand.
A8.5.58
Then from the height he let his kamand fall,And swiftly climbed down from the palace wall.

kamand named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

B2.2

Rostam Catches Rakhsh

Zal parades the horses of Zabul and Kabul, and Rostam tests each by pressing on its back. Only a fiery bay-piebald colt, guarded by its fierce dam, withstands him. Rostam catches it with his kamand, and the herdsman names the price: Iran itself.

B2.2.14
When Rostam saw the colt, his heart was stirred;He bent his Kayan kamand without a word.
B2.2.20
At sight of any rider’s cast kamand,His dam comes lion-like to make her stand.
B2.2.23
The warning entered Rostam’s mind, but stillHe cast Kayanian kamand with iron will.

kamand named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

B5.5

Rostam Takes Ulad Captive

Rostam crosses a land of total darkness and lets Rakhsh graze in a planted field. He tears off the ears of the angry watchman, routs the local lord Ulad and his men, catches Ulad with his kamand and forces him to guide him to Kavus and the White Div.

B5.5.3
A star seemed caught within a kamand’s snare,While darkness sealed the road and blinded air.
B5.5.39
Have you not heard what bow and kamand madeOf chiefs whose battle ranks were left dismayed?
B5.5.50
Rostam cast out the long kamand ahead,And caught the fleeing Ulad by the head.

kamand named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

B13.32

Rostam Slays Kamus

Rostam comes out with his kamand to avenge Alva. Kamus mocks it as a thread and slashes Rakhsh’s armor, but Rostam snares him with the kamand, drags him from the saddle and carries him bound to the Iranian lines, where the warriors hack him to pieces.

B13.32.1
The peerless Rostam mourned for Alva slain,And loosed his twisted kamand in his pain.
B13.32.6
You call my kamand thread; now learn its hold,How tight its knotted coils can grip and fold.
B13.32.11
Yet Rakhsh was safe and whole beneath the blow;The hero coiled his kamand for the throw.

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

B14.14

The Khan Is Taken Prisoner

Under a storm of arrows, with Rohham guarding his back, Rostam sweeps enemy chiefs from their saddles with his kamand. The Khan sends a smooth-tongued envoy to ask for peace; Rostam snares the envoy, then drags the Khan from his white elephant. The poet reflects on fortune.

B14.14.23
He loosed the kamand from his saddle’s side,And on the pommel laid the coiled rawhide.
B14.14.27
Whenever Rostam in that raging fightUnhorsed a chieftain with his kamand’s bite,
B14.14.31
Rostam, an elephant upon a hill,Held heroes in his kamand, bound and still.

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

B14.20

Rostam Fights Kafur the Maneater

Fariborz returns with the Shah’s gifts. Rostam marches to Sughd, then to Bidad, whose man-eating king Kafur overwhelms Gostaham’s force until Rostam kills him. Rostam undermines and burns the walls of Tur’s ancient fortress, takes it, and sends Giv raiding towards Khutan.

B14.20.29
Use sword and gorz and kamand in the fight,And bind those leaders’ heads before our sight.”
B14.20.41
Kafur next flung his kamand, casting loose;Then Rostam mocked the throw as of no use.
B14.20.111
Caught in the Dragon’s breath, we cried aloud,Until your kamand freed us from that cloud.

kamand named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

B14.23

Puladvand Battles Giv and Tus

Puladvand throws Tus from his saddle, catches Giv in his kamand, hurls down Rohham and Bijan, and slashes the Kaviani standard with his khanjar. The Iranians wail and call on Rostam. Old Gudarz, believing his sons and grandson dead, takes off his belt and cap.

B14.23.3
Strong-limbed Puladvand, his kamand on his arm,Stood at the army’s head amid alarm.
B14.23.7
Then Puladvand grew troubled at the view;His saddle’s coiled kamand he loosed and drew.
B14.23.8
Like some mad elephant he charged in might,With kamand on his arm and gorz gripped tight.

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

C1.3

Rostam’s Quest for the Div

Rostam rides to the pasture and on the fourth day finds the golden creature. His kamand and then his arrow fall on empty ground, and he knows it is Akvan in a gur’s skin. Worn out with searching, he waters Rakhsh at a spring and lies down armed.

C1.3.1
He went forth like a lion to the chase,With kamand coiled, and Rakhsh at dragon-pace.
C1.3.7
He thought: “No sword is needed for this prey;My kamand’s coil will seize the beast today.
C1.3.9
He cast the royal kamand through the air,Intent to seize the creature unaware.