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The pregnant Rudabeh was in great pain and unable to give birth. Suddenly, Zal remembered the Simorgh's magic feather. Burning it, the magical bird Simorgh appeared. The bird arranged for a caesarean birth - according to the story, the first ever performed. She healed Rudabeh's wound with her magical feathers, and delivered Rudabeh son, a baby so big he is described as 'a lion cub'. He will be named Rostam.
Rostam was a miracle baby. Within 5 days he had grown into a boy, and within weeks he had grown to the height and strength of a young man. As a child, he was the only person able to kill a white elephant that was rampaging through the palace.
