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In the Gulistan, why does the king scold the bad vizier?

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Final answer:

Kings in the Shahnama represent just and moral rule, and a king scolding a bad vizier would typically occur due to failures or unethical behavior. Such stories emphasize the importance of good governance and serve as moral lessons. The exact reason for the scolding in the Gulistan is not detailed, but it would align with these recurring themes.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the collection of stories known as the Gulistan, which is part of the larger work Shahnama, there are various instances where leaders must deal with subordinates. While the details provided do not specify a particular incident involving a king and a bad vizier in the Gulistan, the overarching themes in the Shahnama involve leadership, justice, and morality. When a king scolds a bad vizier, it is typically due to a failure in the vizier's duties, unethical behavior, or causing harm to the kingdom. Leaders like Bahram Gur represent the ideal of a just and moral rule. In these tales, bad viziers or advisors are often depicted as corrupt or inept, leading to their reprimand by the king to demonstrate the importance of good governance and moral behavior. A king's actions towards a vizier would serve as a lesson in leadership and justice, elements which the Shahnama aims to convey through its stories.

In a related instance within the Khamsah, Harun al-Rashid scolds his barber for presuming to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage, prompting the caliph to seek advice from his vizier. Similarly, this exemplifies the test of a leader's patience and justice in face of inappropriate behaviors by those in their service. Thus, while the exact reason for a king scolding a bad vizier in the Gulistan is not provided, the context of the times and literature suggests it would be a pedagogical moment reinforcing the roles of those in power to maintain order and morality.

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