Folio 83v: Mihrab Vents His Anger Upon Sindukht

Mehran DHN

When Mihrab of Kabul first heard of his daughter Rudaba’s secret love affair with Zal, he wanted to kill her, but his wife Sindukht persuaded him that Sam, Zal’s father, had agreed to the alliance. Now, when Mihrab learned that Shah Manuchihr had ordered Sam to destroy his house, Mihrab’s anger arose anew against his wife for falsely quelling his former fears. Sindukht then suggested that she visit Sam at his camp, bringing gifts from Mihrab’s treasury. Desperate to save his kingdom, Mihrab allowed his wife to undertake the mission. The decorous depiction of Sindukht and Mihrab in her chamber gives little indication of the heated emotions of their exchange.