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

nush-daruنوشدارو

noosh-dah-ROO

A healing antidote, above all the cure for a serpent's bite, proverbially kept back or come too late.

In the poem
First at B8.22, Rostam Seeks the Elixir; last at E5.2, Hormizd’s Slaughter of the Ministers
Named
19 times, in 16 sections
Main stories
D5 The Iskandar Cycle (3); D12 Qobad and the Mazdakite Revolution (3); B13 Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign (2)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name nush-daru most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name nush-daru. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B8.22

Rostam Seeks the Elixir

Rostam sends Gudarz to beg Kavus for the nush-daru, the healing elixir kept in the royal treasury. Kavus refuses: Sohrab alive at Rostam’s side would threaten his throne, and he has not forgotten Rostam’s insults. Gudarz returns and urges Rostam to plead in person.

  • B8.22.5
    Within your treasury you keep in storeThe nush-daru that heals the deepest sore.
nush-daru named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
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.

  • B9.22.28
    Why does Afrasiab now sue for peace?What nush-daru can cure this poison’s lease?
nush-daru named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B10.16

Giv Seeks Kay Khosrow in Turan

Giv sets out alone, leaving his young son Bijan in Gudarz’s care. The poet reflects on death and God’s power. In Turan, Giv questions everyone he meets and kills those who cannot tell him where Kay Khosrow is.

  • B10.16.30
    At last no bed remains except the dust;No nush-daru can cure its fatal thrust.
nush-daru named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.5

Piran’s Message to the Army of Iran

Piran, grieved by the new invasion, sends an envoy to Tus reminding him of his kindness to Farangis and Khosrow. Tus invites him to come over to the Shah and be rewarded. Piran promises, but only to gain time.

  • B13.5.11
    But now the nush-daru has turned to bane;From all my good has come but grief and pain.”
nush-daru named 1 time 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.

  • B13.6.28
    Unwilling, each must leave what he may gain,Whether his lot be nush-daru or bane.
nush-daru named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B14.26

Afrasiab Flees before Rostam

Piran tells Afrasiab that all is lost and he must flee. Leaving his banner and army behind, Afrasiab escapes towards Chin and Machin. Rostam’s men fight on with gorz and sword until the enemy breaks; then Rostam stops the slaughter, shares the spoil and burns Afrasiab’s towns.

  • B14.26.23
    At times it brings us poison in its wake;At times a nush-daru for us to take.
nush-daru named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
D5.11

Iskandar Tests the Sage, the Physician, and the Cup

Iskandar tests the philosopher with a bowl of ghee, answered with needles, then a mirror, then rust; the sage explains every step and refuses his gifts. The physician’s regimen and his shrewd diagnosis delight the Shah, and the sage explains that the cup draws water like a loadstone.

  • D5.11.61
    He knew each nush-daru and deadly bane,His knowledge marked the difference clear and plain.
  • D5.11.63
    He chose pure nush-daru, and with his artMixed medicine to play its proper part.
nush-daru named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
D12.6

Qobad Adopts the Faith of Mazdak

Mazdak rises at court as Qobad’s minister and treasurer. When drought brings famine he draws two judgments from the king, that withholding a remedy or food is murder, then tells the crowd to take the grain stores. Qobad, persuaded, adopts his faith.

  • D12.6.14
    Another has the nush-daru nearby,Yet will not give it, though the victim die.
  • D12.6.42
    I asked about the serpent’s fatal bite,And one who kept the nush-daru from sight.
  • D12.6.45
    Bread is the nush-daru for hungry men;The well-fed have no need to take it then.
nush-daru named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 16 sections that name nush-daru
  1. B8.22 Rostam Seeks the Elixir
  2. B9.22 Garsivaz Comes before Siavash
  3. B10.16 Giv Seeks Kay Khosrow in Turan
  4. B13.5 Piran’s Message to the Army of Iran
  5. B13.6 Afrasiab Sends an Army to Piran
  6. B14.26 Afrasiab Flees before Rostam
  7. C3.47 Piran Is Honored, and Gurvi Is Slain
  8. C4.51 Zal Admonishes Kay Khosrow
  9. C4.60 Kay Khosrow Names Lohrasp Shah
  10. C9.8 Bahman Receives the Kingdom
  11. D5.11 Iskandar Tests the Sage, the Physician, and the Cup
  12. D5.13 Foor Answers Iskandar’s Letter
  13. D9.9 Bahram Goor Marches to Claim the Throne
  14. D12.6 Qobad Adopts the Faith of Mazdak
  15. D13.19 The Death of Nushzad
  16. E5.2 Hormizd’s Slaughter of the Ministers

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
B8The Tragedy of Rostam & Sohrab1B9The Story of Siavash1B10Vengeance for Siavash and the Retrieval of Kay Khosrow1B13Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign2B14The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin1C3The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs1C4The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow2C9Rostam and Shaghad1D5The Iskandar Cycle3D9Yazdegard I and the Rise of Bahram Goor1D12Qobad and the Mazdakite Revolution3D13Anooshirvan and the Road to the End-time1E5Hormizd, Son of Anooshirvan1

More in the Glossary and the index of objects.