Place · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II, III

Bostبست

BOST

A city of Sistan.

In the poem: First at A7.5, Zal Returns to Zabulistan; last at E10.5, Yazdegard Withdraws to Khorasan
Named: 10 times, in 9 sections
Main stories: D1 The Reign of Bahman, Son of Esfandiyar (2); A7 The First Kings: Manuchehr (1); C3 The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs (1)

In the poem’s own words

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

A7.5

Zal Returns to Zabulistan

The court astrologers foretell a great future for Zal. Manuchehr loads Sahm with gifts and grants him a charter over Kabul, Hind, Sind and Zabul. Sahm returns home, and Sistan is decked like paradise to greet him and his son.

A7.5.18
From Zabul to the Sea of Bost it ran;By royal form they sealed the charter’s span.

Bost named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes

C3.20

Piran’s Letter to Gudarz

Alarmed by Iran’s mobilization, Piran writes to Gudarz offering peace: every province from Sistan to Sughd returned, treasure and hostages sent, or else the war decided by paired champions. His son Ruyin carries the letter, and Gudarz feasts him for a week without answering.

C3.20.31
First, from Iran the boundary climbs the heightOf Gharchagan, with Bost below in sight;

Bost named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes

C4.57

Zal Petitions Khosrow for Rostam

Zal recites Rostam’s services — Mazandaran, Hamavaran, Sohrab, Kamus — and asks what reward the departing Shah will leave him. Kay Khosrow grants a sealed patent making Rostam lord of Nimruz, from Zabulistan to Sind, and gives robes and gold to Zal’s companions.

C4.57.28
Bost, Ghaznin, Zabulistan formed his domain;Through Ravar to Kabulistan ran his reign.

Bost named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes

C8.3

Goshtasb Replies to His Son

Goshtasb grants that his son has no peer but Rostam, then names his price for the crown: march to Sistan and bring back Rostam, Zal, Zavareh and Faramarz in bonds. Esfandiyar protests the injustice, is refused twice, and leaves in anger.

C8.3.5
He holds Zabulistan and Kabul’s plain,With Ghaznin, Bost, and all their wide domain.

Bost named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes

C9.6

Faramarz Avenges Rostam

Faramarz arms his father’s treasury and marches on Kabul. He takes the king captive, flays a strip from his back and hangs him head down in the pit, burns forty of his kin and then Shaghad with the plane tree, and installs a new ruler.

C9.6.31
All Bost and Zabul raised their cries of grief;Their clothes were torn, their sorrow past relief.

Bost named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes

D1.3

Faramarz Fights Bahman

Faramarz marches from Bost to avenge his grandfather. After three days of battle a wind turns against him and his army breaks; he fights on until his horse falls under the arrows. Taken alive, he is hung head-down on a gibbet and shot dead.

D1.3.1
At Bost, Faramarz mourned his grandfather’s plight,And bound himself to vengeance and the fight.
D1.3.13
The men of Bost, Zabul’s advancing band,And Kabul’s swordsmen could no longer stand.

Bost named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

D5.33

Iskandar Wars against the Sindians

After resting a month, Iskandar takes the submission of Chaghavan, then beats the Sindians and their Indian allies under Bandavar, gaining elephants and captives. He refuses the pleas of the women and the old, marches by Bost and Nimruz, and receives the king of Yemen’s gifts.