The Sasanian kings were renowned for their wisdom and justice, and the Sasanian state served as a template for later Islamic empires.
In this thread, we will focus on the teachings of Ardeshir I in the Shahnameh, which Ferdowsi divides into 5 parts.
In this thread, we will focus on the teachings of Ardeshir I in the Shahnameh, which Ferdowsi divides into 5 parts.
Ardeshir gathers the members of his court and beseeches them to heed his advice:
All of you who are within my borders
Listen to my advice
Listen to the words of the renowned Ardashir
All of you, young and old.
All of you who are within my borders
Listen to my advice
Listen to the words of the renowned Ardashir
All of you, young and old.
Part 1:
1) Belief in God.
2) Knowledge should not be taken lightly, neither by the king nor by the subjects.
3) To a wise man, wise words never become outdated.
4) Fear of committing sins should be worse than the fear of punishment.
5) Slanderers are not respected by anyone.
1) Belief in God.
2) Knowledge should not be taken lightly, neither by the king nor by the subjects.
3) To a wise man, wise words never become outdated.
4) Fear of committing sins should be worse than the fear of punishment.
5) Slanderers are not respected by anyone.
Part 2:
1) To make the world prosperous.
2) To speak softly and pleasantly while maintaining wisdom and respect.
3) Not to spend money boastfully and in vain
4) To choose the mean between the two extremes.
1) To make the world prosperous.
2) To speak softly and pleasantly while maintaining wisdom and respect.
3) Not to spend money boastfully and in vain
4) To choose the mean between the two extremes.
Part 3 (1/2):
1) To know that by greed and endeavour one cannot exceed the lot that God has assigned to him; he who is contented becomes wealthy.
2) To avoid greed, and not to tell secrets to women.
3) To avoid rivalry in reputation and battles.
1) To know that by greed and endeavour one cannot exceed the lot that God has assigned to him; he who is contented becomes wealthy.
2) To avoid greed, and not to tell secrets to women.
3) To avoid rivalry in reputation and battles.
Part 3 (2/2):
4) To keep oneโs heart away from sorrow, and not to worry about ills that have not come.
5) Not to strive for things that are not within oneโs reach.
4) To keep oneโs heart away from sorrow, and not to worry about ills that have not come.
5) Not to strive for things that are not within oneโs reach.
Part 4:
1) Never to take a rest from learning if one wishes to enlighten the soul.
2) To have oneโs children educated and limit their time to play.
3) Not to avoid marrying/socializing with one another.
1) Never to take a rest from learning if one wishes to enlighten the soul.
2) To have oneโs children educated and limit their time to play.
3) Not to avoid marrying/socializing with one another.
Part 5:
1) To have fear of God and to show modesty towards Him.
2) To be oneโs own judge, to keep the faith from corruption, to obey God and the king, and to like the king just like oneself.
3) To seek the truth and to avoid falsehood
4) To be obedient to the king.
1) To have fear of God and to show modesty towards Him.
2) To be oneโs own judge, to keep the faith from corruption, to obey God and the king, and to like the king just like oneself.
3) To seek the truth and to avoid falsehood
4) To be obedient to the king.
If there is a ruler like him (i.e., Ardashir) in the world
The memory of him will remain after his death.
- Shahnameh, 6:221, line 401.
The memory of him will remain after his death.
- Shahnameh, 6:221, line 401.
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