Cambyses I, king of Anshan and father of little Kourosh, was a man of dramatic presence and powerful bearing who captivated every gaze. He had a tall stature and broad shoulders upon which the royal robe sat, his face often stern and his eyes piercing, as if constantly engaged with the heavy thoughts of governance, courtly intrigues, and forthcoming battles. Beneath that kingly majesty and serious demeanor, however, lay a compassionate and kind heart that beat restlessly, especially for his family and particularly for his strange and calm son, Kourosh. Instead of openly expressing his emotions with affectionate words, which perhaps he did not see as befitting a mighty king, he showed his love in silence, through unwavering support and a deep, hidden attention. He had a special interest in Kourosh's unusual calmness and astonishing intelligence, and in his private moments, he hoped for a brilliant future for him, nurturing grand dreams for his son.
One day, after attending to the affairs of the state and listening to the reports of his generals and ministers, Cambyses sought a moment of peace and solitude and walked into a beautiful garden in Anshan. The sun was at its zenith, and its golden rays shone through the branches of the mighty trees like jewels on green leaves. The delightful scent of jasmine and roses, mingled with the smell of damp earth and ancient wood, filled the air, creating an atmosphere of peace and beauty. Mandane, his beloved wife and the Median princess, was sitting in the vast shade of the mighty trees beside a small pond where the water danced calmly. She was gently caressing little Kourosh, who lay in a wooden cradle, gazing at his surroundings with curious eyes. The peaceful scene of mother and child momentarily freed Cambyses from the worries of governance and drew him toward them. He approached them with quiet, silent steps and sat beside Mandane, his gaze filled with a fatherly affection fixed upon his infant son.
Seeing her husband, Mandane smiled a smile as lovely as blossoming petals in spring and said softly, "Cambyses, your son is as calm and thoughtful as ever today. It is as if he is already pondering the secrets of the world and the mysteries of existence, seeking to uncover hidden truths." Cambyses nodded in agreement and gently placed his large, rough hand, calloused from years of holding a sword and reining a horse, on Kourosh's small, soft cheek with the utmost tenderness. He felt that this child was different from his other children; the intelligence and calmness that shone in his eyes assured him that Kourosh possessed a profound intellect and deep insight, and that a great and unique destiny awaited him—a destiny that might perhaps surpass all the previous kings of Media and Persia.
Cambyses fell into deep thought for a moment. He pondered how he could nurture this hidden wisdom in his son and bestow upon him a lasting legacy. Then, in a voice softer than ever, which seemed to come from the depths of his heart, he turned to little Kourosh and said, "My little son, today I want to tell you about a great ritual, a ritual in which the heart of our people is vested, and its roots go back to the depths of this land's history. An ancient ritual called Mehregan, which is the festival of light and covenant." He paused, and with a glance at the blue sky and the brilliant sun, he continued, "Mehregan is a great festival that we celebrate at the beginning of autumn, on the sixteenth day of the month of Mehr, which is the day of 'Mehr'. This day commemorates Mithra, the great deity of light, truth, and covenant, who is the guardian of the world and the keeper of cosmic order."
He continued softly, "Mithra, the deity of light and the sun, spreads the light of truth in the darkness of night and the gloom of falsehood, illuminating the path for the righteous. He is the one who upholds covenants and contracts and tolerates no lies. Before Ahura Mazda, our wise and great God, Mithra is his assistant in the fight against Ahriman and the forces of darkness. He is the overseer of human actions and leaves no covenant without reward or punishment, for his justice is unparalleled. That is why whenever we make a pact, we swear by Mithra, so that there may be no falsehood in it and truth may always be on our tongues." Cambyses's voice, full of respect and faith, echoed in the garden.
Pointing to the sunlight that streamed through the leaves of the trees onto Kourosh's innocent face, Cambyses added, "Mithra is present everywhere and oversees everything; the plains and the mountains, the rivers and the seas, and the hearts of the people. It is he who purifies our souls from impurities and gives us the strength to walk the path of righteousness. In this ritual, we not only praise him but also ask him to establish cosmic order and bestow blessings upon our land. He is the guardian of truthfulness and the keeper of covenants, and for this reason, we call him the 'pure and benevolent helper,' a deity who is always by the side of the virtuous."
He continued the story by explaining the celebration of Mehregan: "At the festival of Mehregan, our people give thanks to Mithra and Ahura Mazda by wearing new clothes and giving gifts to each other and to the needy. We gather together, eat plentiful food, and are grateful for the generous and bountiful nature. This festival is not only for Mithra but also for the abundance of the harvest, the fertility of the earth, and the victory over evil and demonic forces. Your grandfather, Astyages, also respects this ritual and participates in it, although he may not understand its true meaning. This festival reminds us that order and truth will always triumph over chaos and falsehood, and light will prevail over darkness."
Cambyses ended the story with a deep and loving look at his son. He knew that little Kourosh, with a mind beyond his years, understood these words and registered the wisdom hidden within them in the depths of his soul. He thought of a future in which this calm and thoughtful infant would be king; a king who would be founded on the principles of justice, truth, and covenant-keeping. He hoped that Kourosh, by understanding the deep roots of these rituals and inspired by the principles of Mithra—namely truth, covenant, and light—could build a land where justice and truth would always be stable, and the shadow of oppression would never fall upon it. These beliefs were a legacy that Cambyses, not with complex and dry words, but with simple and meaningful tales, passed on to his son.
Mandane, who had been listening to her husband's words in silence, her gaze shifting between Cambyses and Kourosh, felt her heart fill with joy and hope at the sight of this deep bond between father and son. She knew that these lessons, these tales, were seeds being planted in the fertile soil of Kourosh's mind, and that one day they would grow into mighty trees of wisdom and justice. Her faith in Kourosh's Divine Glory grew stronger, and she became certain that Ahura Mazda had chosen this child for a great purpose. These quiet moments in the garden were, for Mandane, a vision of a bright future in which justice and light would triumph over darkness, and the name of Persia would be made eternal forever.