The young hero Bijan went to the border to hunt wild boars that were ravaging the fields. His envious companion Gorgin then lured him to a feast in Turan, where Manijeh, Afrasiab’s daughter, was celebrating with her maids. The two fell in love at first sight. Manijeh secretly took Bijan to her palace.
When Afrasiab found out, he had Bijan thrown into a deep pit and sealed it with an enormous stone. He cast Manijeh out; barefoot, she begged for bread and passed it down to Bijan through a crack.
In Iran, King Kay Khosrow looked into his wondrous cup, the Jam-e Jam, which showed the whole world, and saw Bijan alive in the pit. He sent Rostam, who came to Turan disguised as a merchant. Manijeh asked him for help, and Rostam hid his ring in a roast chicken that she took to Bijan. So Bijan knew that rescue was near. At night Rostam lifted the stone, freed Bijan, and the lovers fled together to Iran.