Kay Qobad ascended the throne of sovereign majesty, placing the gem-encrusted crown of the Kianians upon his head. The grandees and champions of Iran gathered in solemn assembly—zal Dastan, Qaren the warrior, alongside Keshvad, Kharrad, and Borzin—showering emeralds and pearls upon the newly anointed king. Kay Qobad hearkened to the wisdom of his lords before casting his stern gaze toward the encamped hosts of Afrasiab. When morning broke, the roar of war-trumpets echoed from the royal pavilions as the Iranian army mobilized. Rostam donned his heavy battle-gear, transforming into a roaring behemoth as dust billowed to the heavens. The Iranian ranks deployed in formidable order, girding themselves for ruthless slaughter. On one flank stood Mehrab, lord of Kabul, and on the other stood the veteran Gozhdaham. At the center of the formation stood Qaren the battle-hardened alongside Keshvad, breaker of hosts; behind them stood Zal alongside King Kay Qobad, moving like fire and wind. Before them floated the sacred Kavian Banner, its ribbons of crimson, gold, and violet illuminating the field. The earth quaked beneath the march like a vessel tossed upon the stormy Sea of China; shields locked into shields across the meadows, and bared blades gleamed like torches in the pitch-black night. So deafening was the blare of horns and the battle-cries of troops that the very sun seemed to have lost its celestial path. Seeing this vast confluence of war, Qaren let out a thunderous roar from his chest and plunged into the enemy lines like a famished lion. Sweeping left and right with mace, sword, and long spear, he carved through the Turanian champions, heaping corpses into mountains until the Turkish brave grew paralyzed with dread. Midst the carnage, Qaren sighted Shamasas, the valiant warrior of Turan, who was roaring like a male lion. Qaren charged like a whirlwind, drew his sharp poison-tempered blade, and struck Shamasas full upon the helmet, shouting, 'I am Qaren the renowned!' Headlong Shamasas tumbled to the dust, yielding his life, demonstrating anew the unpredictable wheel of fate—bending now like a bow, and striking now swift as an arrow.
#1
به شاهی نشست از برش کیقباد
✦
همان تاج گوهر به سر برنهاد
“Kay Qobad ascended the throne of kingship and placed the jewel-studded crown upon his head.”
#2
همه نامداران شدند انجمن
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چو دستان و چون قارن رزم‌زن
“All the illustrious figures assembled, like Dastan and Qaren the warrior.”
#3
چو کشواد و خراد و برزین گو
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فشاندند گوهر بران تاج نو
“Champions such as Keshvad, Kharrad, and Borzin showered gems upon that new crown.”
#4
قباد از بزرگان سخن بشنوید
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پس افراسیاب و سپه را بدید
“Qobad listened to the words of the elders, then turned his gaze toward Afrasiab and his host.”
#5
دگر روز برداشت لشکر ز جای
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خروشیدن آمد ز پرده‌سرای
“On the following day, the host set forth, and a mighty roar arose from the royal pavilions.”
#6
بپوشید رستم سلیح نبرد
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چو پیل ژیان شد که برخاست گرد
“Rostam donned his armor of war, becoming like a raging elephant as the dust billowed high.”
#7
رده بر کشیدند ایرانیان
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ببستند خون ریختن را میان
“The Iranians formed their battle ranks and girded themselves to spill blood.”
#8
به یک دست مهراب کابل خدای
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دگر دست گژدهم جنگی به پای
“On one flank stood Mehrab, lord of Kabul, and on the other stood the warrior Gozhdaham.”
#9
به قلب اندرون قارن رزم‌زن
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ابا گرد کشواد لشگر شکن
“In the center was Qaren the warrior, alongside Keshvad, breaker of armies.”
#10
پس پشت‌شان زال با کیقباد
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به یک دست آتش به یک دست باد
“Behind them stood Zal with Kay Qobad, like fire on one side and wind on the other.”
#11
به پیش اندرون کاویانی درفش
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جهان زو شده سرخ و زرد و بنفش
“Before them flew the Kavian Banner, casting red, yellow, and violet hues over the world.”
#12
ز لشکر چو کشتی سراسر زمین
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کجا موج خیزد ز دریای چین
“The ground quaked beneath the host like a ship tossed upon the churning waves of the Sea of China.”
#13
سپر در سپر بافته دشت و راغ
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درفشیدن تیغها چون چراغ
“Shield locked in shield across field and plain, the gleam of swords flashing like lanterns.”
#14
جهان سر به سر گشت دریای قار
✦
برافروخته شمع ازو صدهزار
“The entire realm turned into a pitch-black sea, whereupon a hundred thousand candles blazed.”
#15
ز نالیدن بوق و بانگ سپاه
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تو گفتی که خورشید گم کرد راه
“At the wailing of war-horns and the roar of armies, one would say the sun had lost its way.”
#16
سبک قارن رزم‌زن کان بدید
✦
چو رعد از میان نعره‌ای برکشید
“Seeing this, Qaren the warrior let out a roar from his chest like thunder.”
#17
میان سپاه اندر آمد دلیر
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سپهدار قارن به کردار شیر
“The brave leader Qaren charged into the midst of the battle array like a ferocious lion.”
#18
گهی سوی چپّ و گهی سوی راست
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بران گونه از هر سویی کینه خواست
“Sweeping now to the left, now to the right, he sought vengeance from every quarter.”
#19
به گرز و به تیغ و سنان دراز
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همی کُشت از ایشان گو سرفراز
“With mace, sword, and long spear, he slaughtered their exalted heroes.”
#20
ز کشته زمین کرد مانند کوه
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شدند آن دلیران ترکان ستوه
“He raised mountains of the dead upon the earth, until the brave Turks were overwhelmed with dread.”
#21
شماساس را دید گرد دلیر
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که می‌برخروشید چون نرّه شیر
“He caught sight of Shamasas, the valiant warrior, who was roaring like a male lion.”
#22
بیامد دمان تا بر او رسید
✦
سبک تیغ تیز از میان برکشید
“Qaren swept down upon him like a tempest and swiftly drew his sharp sword from his belt.”
#23
بزد بر سرش تیغ زهر آبدار
✦
بگفتا منم قارن نامدار
“He struck his head with a poison-tempered blade, shouting: 'I am the renowned Qaren!'”
#24
نگون اندر آمد شماساس گرد
✦
چو دید او ز قارن چنان دست برد
“The valiant Shamasas tumbled headlong to the dust when he felt the prowess of Qaren's hand.”
#25
چنین است کردار گردون پیر
✦
گهی چون کمانست و گاهی چو تیر
“Such is the manner of the ancient heavens: now bent like a bow, and now flying swift like an arrow.”