To Zal the White-Haired and his lovely bride Rudabeh was born a beautiful baby boy, whom they called Rustam. Rustam was a strong and healthy baby, perfect in every way. When the people of Seistan heard that a son had been born to their prince, they broke into a frenzy of happiness and joy, and the sound of feasting and dancing resounded throughout the land.

But Saum the mighty hero, father of Zal and grandfather to the baby Rustam, was away from his country, fighting to protect the borders of Persia. So Zal sent messengers to Saum to tell him of the birth of his grandson, carrying with them a portrait of the baby embroidered in fine silk.

Saum received the messengers joyfully and showered them with gold, and thought himself fortunate to have seen his grandson’s face. But it was to be eight long years before Saum returned home and finally saw Rustam.

As Saum and his army approached his country, they saw a mighty procession riding out to greet them. At the head was a huge elephant, richly caparisoned, and riding high upon it a boy of eight. Saum’s heart leaped for joy when he saw the child, for he knew that this was no other than Rustam, his beloved grandchild.

Rustam climbed down from the great elephant, and bowing low to the ground, greeted his grandfather with great respect. Saum embraced Rustam and held him close, and made him ride beside him. And so the two rode into the city together where cheering crowds lined the streets to welcome home their chieftain.

Rustam had grown into a tall, handsome, and clever little boy. Saum spent all his time with his grandson, telling him of his campaigns and battles, and listening to what he had to say. Rustam was intelligent, thoughtful and sensible, as well as strong and handsome.

“O Grandfather,” said Rustam one day to Saum. “I am happy that I am your grandson, for it is like you that I wish to be. I find no joy in feasting or toys, nor am I looking for a life of ease and rest. All that I want is a horse of my own, armour and arrows and a shield. I want to ride into battle the way you do, and to fight all our enemies, every one, till the last of them lies defeated in the sand.”

Saum heard his little grandson speak so seriously of such matters with astonishment, and then with growing joy. “Truly this child will do great deeds,” thought Saum to himself, and blessed the boy.

At last, after a month, it became necessary once again for Saum to return to the battlefield.  Before he left, he took his son Zal aside and said, “My son, one parting favour I ask of you. When Rustam your son, my grandchild, is as tall as you, let him choose a horse for himself, and the weapons that he desires. Do this, for my sake, and in my honour.”  Zal promised to do as his father asked, and soon Saum left for the battlefield again.

Rustam continued to grow in strength and wisdom under the care of his mother and the wise guidance of his father. Almost two years passed since Saum’s visit, and Rustam was now almost ten years old.

One night Rustam was woken from a peaceful sleep by a great rumbling and roaring. Rustam sat up in bed and wondered what it could be. Outside the closed door of his room he could hear the sound of people running and screaming and shouting as though in fear of their lives.

“What is it? What is happening?” called Rustam. His servants, shaking with fright answered that the Shah’s white elephant had gone mad and broken its chains, and the people in the palace were in danger.

Rustam jumped out of bed and ordered the guards to let him out, so that he may subdue the animal. But the guards barred his way. “What will we say to the Shah if you run into danger?” they cried. “We cannot let you, a mere boy, go out to face that giant elephant!”

But Rustam would not listen. He forced a way through the guards, and breaking down the door ran out into the courtyard. There stood the huge white elephant, mad with rage. The warriors and soldiers stood huddled in a corner, terrified of the great animal, and unable to do a thing to stop its madness.

Rustam ran towards the elephant. The elephant saw the boy, and trumpeting furiously charged at him with its trunk raised, its eyes gleaming with madness. Rustam stood his ground without flinching, and, raising his club, struck the elephant on its head, so that it fell down dead. Satisfied that the animal was really dead and no longer a danger, Rustam returned to his room and went to bed, and slept peacefully till morning.

But the story of his heroic deed flew through the city and the whole of the land. The people rejoiced that once again a hero had risen in Persia.

Soon after this, it happened that Minuchihir, the good and wise Shah of Persia, died. Civil war broke out in the land, as rival factions tried to capture the throne. In the middle of this strife, and while trying to bring peace to the land and ensure the accession of the rightful heir to the throne of Persia, Saum died as well. Zal was plunged into grief, and mourned his father greatly. Seeing that the mighty Saum was dead, and that Zal too overcome with grief, the enemies of the rightful successor to Minuchihir grew bolder and the war increased in intensity.

The people of Persia turned to Zal, and first blamed him for their sorrow and then begged him to save their land. Then Zal spoke to them and said, “I have always done what is right for my people and for the land of Persia. I have feared no enemy except old age. But sadly, that enemy is now with me, for I have grown too old to go into battle. But I give to you Rustam, my son. He is only a boy, but he has the signs of greatness about him. And what’s more, he shall be supported by all my wisdom and experience, for I shall be ever available to advise and guide him.” The people of Persia bowed their heads and accepted with gratitude Rustam as their leader.

Then Zal called Rustam to him and said, “My son, you are still so young. But Persia has need of you, and I must send you out to face its enemies, warriors of great prowess and skill.”

Rustam saw that his father was troubled. He smiled and said to him, “O Father, you know that I take no pleasure in the games that children play. All I want is to go to war. So give to me the mace of Saum, your father, and let me choose a horse of my own liking. Then let me go to war, so that I may vanquish our enemies, and bring peace to our land again.”

Rustam’s brave words reassured Zal. Honouring Saum’s parting request that Rustam be allowed to choose his own horse when the time came, and respecting the boy’s own wishes as well, Zal ordered that all the finest horses in the land be brought before Rustam.  The word went out that Rustam, son of Zal, was choosing his horse, and men came from far and wide bringing their herds with them.

One by one the finest horses in the land were paraded in front of the boy. Rustam looked at each, and as they passed before him, placed his hand on their backs to see if they could bear his weight. But every horse that he so tested sank shuddering to the ground before him – till he came to the herds of Kabul.

Among the herds of Kabul, Rustam saw a mare tall and strong. And behind her there followed a colt, high-spirited and strong, and its colour was that of rose leaves scattered on a saffron background. Rustam liked the colt, and snared it neatly, pulling it out of the herd. The mare fought to protect her colt, but Rustam’s will prevailed.

The keeper of the herd saw Rustam, and not recognizing him came running up to warn him not to take the colt, for it belonged to someone else. “Whom does the horse belong to?” asked Rustam. “I do not see its owner’s mark upon the animal.”

“We do not know his master,” said the keeper. “But it has been said that this horse belongs to Rustam. Its mother does not allow any man to ride it. For three years now it has been ready to wear a saddle, but no man has been able to tame it.”

When Rustam heard this, he swung himself onto the colt’s back in a single bound. The mare came charging, as though she would knock Rustam off, but when he spoke to her she calmed down. And the rose-coloured colt flew across the plain, with Rustam on his back, as easily as the wind.

When Rustam returned he said to the keeper, “What price do you want for this marvellous animal?”

The keeper answered, “If you are Rustam, then take this horse and mounted on his back, deliver Persia from strife and war. Its price is the land of Persia, and seated upon him, you will save the world.”

So Rustam took the horse, which was named Rakush, meaning ‘Lightning’. Then Zal and Rustam prepared to take their stand against the enemies of Persia.

Thus Rustam found his horse Rakush. Rustam cared for Rakush as he would have for a brother. Rakush carried Rustam into many battles, and was his companion in many great deeds of valour.