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

koustکوست

KOOST

The great kettle-drum carried on an elephant or camel, beaten to strike camp and to open battle.

In the poem
First at A6.6, Fereydoon Tests His Sons; last at E5.10, The Second Exchange with King Saveh
Named
179 times, in 116 sections
Main stories
B13 Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign (36); B12 Forood and the Snowstorm Campaign (23); C3 The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs (18)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name koust most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name koust. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B10.32

Gudarz’s Anger at Tus

Gudarz marches out with his sons and grandsons and twelve thousand horsemen, with Khosrow enthroned on an elephant. Tus musters his own men, but seeing the prince’s splendor and fearing civil war, he appeals to Kavus instead.

  • B10.32.3
    His sons and grandsons, seventy-eight in all,He called the koust to meydan from the hall.
  • B10.32.5
    A messenger came straight to Tus with word:“Gudarz has marched; his koust has now been stirred.”
  • B10.32.6
    Then Tus, the battle-chief, came forth in force,With koust on elephants along his course.
koust named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B12.22

The Turanians Defeat the Iranians

The armies meet. Houman breaks the Iranian center and Fariborz flees. Giv shames Gudarz into standing firm; Bijan cuts the Kaviani banner in two to bring half of it back. Rivniz son of Kavus is killed, and Bahram saves his crown, but the Iranians are routed with terrible losses.

  • B12.22.3
    The karnay, koust, and Indian daray cried,While crested chargers surged in ranks allied.
  • B12.22.34
    The koust and standard lay abandoned, lone;Their eyes from battle took a purple tone.
  • B12.22.36
    The koust, spears, standards fell across the plain;No rider knew his stirrup from his rein.
koust named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.6

Afrasiab Sends an Army to Piran

Piran secretly asks Afrasiab for troops. A huge army arrives within ten days, and Piran breaks his word and attacks at the river Shahd. The two armies clash in a bloody, undecided battle, and the poet reflects on death.

  • B13.6.2
    He said: “Iran’s troops have now reached the field,With shawms and koust, their battle ranks revealed.
  • B13.6.13
    A scout rode swiftly up to Tus and cried:“Bind koust on elephants; the pact has died.
  • B13.6.16
    Then Tus arrayed his army on the plain,With elephants and koust in martial train.
koust named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.9

The Second Battle of Iran and Turan

At dawn both armies deploy. Houman orders a close-quarters charge, while Tus and Gudarz, greatly outnumbered, put their trust in God. The chiefs are paired off in single combats, and Tus leads his footmen forward.

  • B13.9.9
    With neighing steeds and koust that shook the sky,High heaven bent and kissed the earth nearby.
  • B13.9.34
    So Tus, the chieftain, drew the battle-line,With koust and elephants in stern design.
  • B13.9.37
    The koust and karnay made the whole sky quake;High heaven seemed to shift and reel and shake.
koust named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.12

The Turanians Besiege Hamavan

The Iranians march for three days without food and occupy Hamavan. Piran urges caution until reinforcements come, but Houman insists on pursuit. Scouts find the Iranians entrenched on the mountain, and Houman taunts them before summoning Piran’s whole army.

  • B13.12.19
    He beat the koust; the shouting rose in might,And led his troops across the plain to fight.
  • B13.12.40
    The Kaviani standard; what a prize!With elephants and koust before our eyes!”
  • B13.12.61
    Tus donned his jowshan, ready for the fight;The horn and koust rang out with all their might.
koust named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.14

The Iranians Make a Night-Attack, Tus, Giv, Rohham Are Surrounded but Are Saved

Short of food, Gudarz urges a night attack. Tus, Giv and Rohham strike Piran’s camp and split his standard, but Houman surrounds them. Bijan and Gostaham ride to the rescue, and at dawn the Iranians withdraw to the mountain.

  • B13.14.39
    The pipe, the koust, Indian daray, and zangAcross the field in brazen clamor rang.
  • B13.14.49
    “Iran will perish!” Then rose the koust’s sound,With gopal blows from Iran’s waiting ground.
  • B13.14.53
    Then from the plain the koust began to sound;Air darkened, earth grew ebony around.
koust named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.27

Iran and Turan Set Their Battle Lines

Houman spots Rostam’s dragon banner and warns Piran, but Kamus scoffs. The allied army deploys around the Khan’s elephants. Rostam views the vast enemy from the mountain, marvels, and orders the Iranian advance, sparing the exhausted Rakhsh.

  • B13.27.9
    There Fariborz, the son of Kavus, stayedNear Tus, with elephants and koust arrayed.
  • B13.27.42
    Stay with the elephants where koust resound;Guard well my rear when battle closes round.
  • B13.27.58
    He bade Tus sound the koust and form the line,A rooster’s eye in colors, bright and fine.
koust named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C3.3

Kay Khosrow Sends Gudarz against Turan

Warned that Turan is massing, Kay Khosrow takes counsel, pays and arms his troops, and sends out four armies: Rostam to Sistan and Hind, Lohrasp westward, Ashkash to Khwarazm against Shideh, and Gudarz against Piran, with careful orders on conduct.

  • C3.3.43
    At cockcrow, koust rang out on every side,Their thunder sounded through the country wide.
  • C3.3.55
    Then sound the brazen koust with all your might;Let shaypur sound and ney ring clear and bright.
  • C3.3.63
    His wolf-like troops to Khwarazm took their way,And bore the mighty koust in their array.
koust named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 116 sections that name koust
  1. A6.6 Fereydoon Tests His Sons
  2. A6.13 Fereydoon Receives the Tragic News
  3. A6.18 Fereydoon Answers His Sons
  4. A6.19 Manuchehr Marches for Vengeance
  5. A6.26 Fereydoon Receives the Head of Salm
  6. A7.3 Sahm Dreams of His Son
  7. A7.5 Zal Returns to Zabulistan
  8. A8.8 Sahm Seeks Counsel
  9. A8.22 Zal Returns to Kabul, Sahm and Rudabeh
  10. A9.1 A Hero Is Born
  11. A9.2 Sahm Comes to Meet Rostam
  12. B1.1 Nohzar Accedes to the Throne
  13. B1.4 Barman and Qobad in Single Combat
  14. B1.5 Afrasiab Battles Nohzar Again
  15. B1.6 Nohzar’s Third Battle with Afrasiab
  16. B1.8 Viseh Finds His Son Slain
  17. B1.10 Zal Comes to Mehrab’s Aid
  18. B1.13 Aghriras Is Slain by His Brother
  19. B2.3 Zal Leads Iran against Afrasiab
  20. B3.2 Rostam Fights Afrasiab
  21. B4.3 Kay Kavus Ventures to Mazandaran
  22. B5.11 Kavus Returns to Iran
  23. B6.1 Kavus Wars with Hamavaran
  24. B6.3 Hamavaran’s King Imprisons Kavus
  25. B6.7 Kavus’s Message to Afrasiab
  26. B6.10 Rostam Brings Back Kay Kavus
  27. B8.7 Afrasiab Sends Envoys to Sohrab
  28. B8.14 Kavus and Rostam Take the Field
  29. B8.21 The Tragedy of Sohrab
  30. B8.24 Rostam Returns to Zabulistan
  31. B9.4 Siavash Arrives from Zabulistan
  32. B9.16 Siavash Leads the Army
  33. B9.23 Siavash’s Treaty with Afrasiab
  34. B9.26 Kavus Dispatches Rostam to Sistan
  35. B9.28 Siavash Consults Bahram and Zangeh
  36. B9.31 Siavash Yields Command to Bahram
  37. B9.33 Siavash Displays His Prowess before Afrasiab
  38. B9.38 Afrasiab Grants Siavash a Province
  39. B9.41 Piran Is Sent to the Provinces
  40. B10.4 Rostam Takes Vengeance
  41. B10.7 Afrasiab Marches to Avenge His Son
  42. B10.8 The Death of Pilsam
  43. B10.21 Giv Puts Kulbad and Nastihan to Flight
  44. B10.31 Tus Refuses Allegiance to Kay Khosrow
  45. B10.32 Gudarz’s Anger at Tus
  46. B10.34 Bahman Castle Defies Tus and Fariborz
  47. B10.36 Kay Khosrow’s Triumphant Return
  48. B11.2 Iran’s Nobles Honor Kay Khosrow
  49. B11.5 The Mustering of the Pahlevans
  50. B11.8 Kay Khosrow Inspects the Army
  51. B12.2 Tus Goes to Turkistan
  52. B12.3 News of Tus Reaches Forood
  53. B12.4 Forood and Tokhvar Survey the Troops
  54. B12.5 Bahram Meets Forood on the Mountain
  55. B12.6 Bahram Returns to Tus
  56. B12.12 The Death of Forood
  57. B12.13 The Death of Jarireh
  58. B12.14 The March to Kasa Rud
  59. B12.17 The Iranians Battle Tazhav
  60. B12.18 News of Tus Reaches Afrasiab
  61. B12.19 Piran’s Night Attack
  62. B12.20 Kay Khosrow Recalls Tus
  63. B12.22 The Turanians Defeat the Iranians
  64. B13.2 Khosrow’s Rebuke of Tus
  65. B13.4 Khosrow Dispatches Tus to Turan
  66. B13.5 Piran’s Message to the Army of Iran
  67. B13.6 Afrasiab Sends an Army to Piran
  68. B13.7 Tus Slays Arzhang
  69. B13.8 Tus and Houman Meet in Combat
  70. B13.9 The Second Battle of Iran and Turan
  71. B13.10 The Turanians Use Sorcery
  72. B13.12 The Turanians Besiege Hamavan
  73. B13.13 Piran’s March to Mount Hamavan
  74. B13.14 The Iranians Make a Night-Attack, Tus, Giv, Rohham Are Surrounded but Are Saved
  75. B13.22 The Khan Surveys the Iranian Army
  76. B13.24 Piran Consults the Khan of Chin
  77. B13.27 Iran and Turan Set Their Battle Lines
  78. B13.31 Kamus Slays Alva
  79. B14.7 Rostam Exhorts the Troops
  80. B14.8 The Battle Lines Are Drawn
  81. B14.12 Rostam Battles Sava
  82. B14.13 Rostam Slays Gahar of Gahan
  83. B14.14 The Khan Is Taken Prisoner
  84. B14.17 Rostam’s Letter to Kay Khosrow
  85. B14.20 Rostam Fights Kafur the Maneater
  86. B14.21 Afrasiab Hears of Rostam’s Coming
  87. B14.22 Afrasiab Writes to Puladvand
  88. B14.27 Rostam’s Return to Court
  89. C1.6 Rostam Returns to Iran
  90. C2.26 Afrasiab Comes against Rostam
  91. C2.28 Rostam’s Return to Kay Khosrow
  92. C3.2 Afrasiab Summons the Army of Turan
  93. C3.3 Kay Khosrow Sends Gudarz against Turan
  94. C3.5 Giv’s Visit to Piran
  95. C3.6 The Armies Are Set in Array
  96. C3.16 Nastihan Is Slain in a Night-Attack
  97. C3.18 Khosrow Sends His Reply
  98. C3.19 Khosrow Musters the Army
  99. C3.23 Afrasiab Replies to Piran
  100. C3.26 The Battle of Eleven Rukhs Is Arranged
  101. C3.40 Gudarz Returns from Battle
  102. C4.2 Kay Khosrow Musters against Afrasiab
  103. C4.10 The Armies Meet in Battle
  104. C4.11 Afrasiab Is Put to Flight
  105. C4.21 Gang-Behesht Falls to Kay Khosrow
  106. C4.35 Khosrow Battles the King of Makran
  107. C4.38 Khosrow Returns to His Father’s City
  108. C6.20 Goshtasb Returns to Balkh
  109. D5.34 Iskandar Finds the Treasure of Kay Khosrow
  110. D6.5 Golnar Falls in Love with Ardeshir
  111. D6.13 Ardeshir Fights Haftvad and Is Defeated
  112. D11.4 Balawsh
  113. E1.5 Anooshirvan Marches against the Khan
  114. E2.3 Gav, Talkhand, and Chess
  115. E4.1 Anooshirvan Prepares to March on Rum
  116. E5.10 The Second Exchange with King Saveh

On the maps

A6.19Manuchehr Marches for VengeanceA7.5Zal Returns to ZabulistanA8.22Zal Returns to Kabul, Sahm and RudabehB4.3Kay Kavus Ventures to MazandaranB6.1The Hamavaran Sea-War and Kavus's CaptivityB8.7–B8.18The Fatal Convergence: Sohrab's March to the White CastleB9.31–B9.32Siavash Crosses the Jihun into ExileB10.34–B10.37Bahman Castle and Kay Khosrow's Accession

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
A6The First Kings: Fereydoon6A7The First Kings: Manuchehr2A8The Story of Zal and Rudabeh2A9The Birth and Early Feats of Rostam; Manuchehr’s Closing Counsel2B1The Crisis after Manuchehr8B2Garshasp and the Transition to Kayanian Kingship1B3Kay Qobad2B4The War with Mazandaran1B5The Seven Labors of Rostam1B6The Folly of Kay Kavus4B8The Tragedy of Rostam & Sohrab6B9The Story of Siavash11B10Vengeance for Siavash and the Retrieval of Kay Khosrow13B11Kay Khosrow’s Kingship8B12Forood and the Snowstorm Campaign23B13Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign36B14The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin12C1Rostam and the Div Akvan1C2The Tale of Bijan and Manijeh2C3The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs18C4The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow8C6Goshtasb, Zardosht, and the War with Arjasp1D5The Iskandar Cycle2D6The Ashkanian Dynasty2D11Short Reigns and a Crisis with Khoshnavaz2E1The Story of Mahbud and Other Matters1E2Chess, Wisdom, and the Kalila and Dimna2E4Anooshirvan’s Last Years1E5Hormizd, Son of Anooshirvan1

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