#1
چو رستم بدید آنک قارن چه کرد
✦
چه‌گونه بود ساز ننگ و نبرد
“When Rostam saw what Qaran had accomplished, and how the stage for conflict and glory was set,”
#2
به پیش پدر شد بپرسید از وی
✦
که با من جهان پهلوانا بگوی
“He stepped before his father and asked of him: 'O World-Champion, tell me now,'”
#3
که افراسیاب آن بد اندیش مرد
✦
کجا جای گیرد به روز نبرد
“'Where does Afrasiab, that evil-minded man, take his stand on the day of battle?'”
#4
چه پوشد کجا برافرازد درفش
✦
که پیداست تابان درفش بنفش
“'What garments does he wear, and where raises he his banner? For the violet banner is clearly shining.'”
#5
من امروز بند کمرگاه اوی
✦
بگیرم کشانش بیارم بروی
“'Today I shall seize the clasp of his belt, and drag him bound before the king's presence!'”
#6
بدو گفت زال ای پسر گوش‌دار
✦
یک امروز با خویشتن هوش‌دار
“Zal said to him: 'O son, pay heed! Keep your wits about you on this day,'”
#7
که آن ترک در جنگ نر اژدهاست
✦
در آهنگ و در کینه اَبر بلاست
“'For that Turk in war is a fierce dragon—in attack and vengeance, a cloud of calamity!'”
#8
درفشش سیاهست و خفتان سیاه
✦
ز آهنش ساعد ز آهن کلاه
“'His banner is black and his coat of mail is black; steel are his gauntlets, steel his helm.'”
#9
همه روی آهن گرفته به زر
✦
نشانی سیه بسته بر خود بر
“'All clad in iron overlaid with gold, bearing upon himself a dark emblem.'”
#10
ازو خویشتن را نگه‌دار سخت
✦
که مردی دلیرست و پیروز بخت
“'Protect yourself fiercely against him, for he is a valiant champion of victorious fortune.'”
#11
بدو گفت رستم که ای پهلوان
✦
تو از من مدار ایچ رنجه روان
“Rostam replied: 'O hero, let not your soul be burdened with anxiety for me.'”
#12
جهان آفریننده یار منست
✦
دل و تیغ و بازو حصار منست
“'The Creator of the World is my helper; my heart, my blade, and my arm are my fortress.'”
#13
برانگیخت آن رخش رویینه سم
✦
برآمد خروشیدن گاو دم
“He spurred that bronze-hoofed Rakhsh, as the bellowing sound of cow-horn trumpets rose.”
#14
چو افراسیابش به هامون بدید
✦
شگفتید ازان کودک نارسید
“When Afrasiab beheld him upon the plain, he marvelled at that youth who had not yet reached full age.”
#15
ز ترکان بپرسید کین اژدها
✦
بدین گونه از بند گشته رها
“He asked the Turanians: 'Who is this dragon, freed in this manner from its bonds?'”
#16
کدامست کین را ندانم به نام
✦
یکی گفت کاین پور دستان سام
“'Which of them is he? For I know not his name.' One replied: 'This is the son of Dastan-e Sam!'”
#17
نبینی که با گرز سام آمدست
✦
جوانست و جویای نام آمدست
“'Do you not see he comes with Sam's heavy mace? Young he is, and seeking renown!'”
#18
به پیش سپاه آمد افراسیاب
✦
چو کشتی که موجش برآرد ز آب
“Afrasiab rode forth before the host, like a ship tossed upon churning waves.”
#19
چو رستم ورا دید بفشارد ران
✦
بگردن برآورد گرز گران
“When Rostam saw him, he pressed his thighs against his steed and raised his heavy mace upon his shoulder.”
#20
چو تنگ اندر آورد با او زمین
✦
فرو کرد گرز گران را به زین
“As he closed the space between them, he set down his heavy mace upon the saddle-bow.”
#21
به بند کمرش اندر آورد چنگ
✦
جدا کردش از پشت زین پلنگ
“He hooked his clutch into the clasp of Afrasiab's belt and lifted him clean off his leopard-skin saddle!”
#22
همی خواست بردنش پیش قباد
✦
دهد روز جنگ نخستینش داد
“He intended to carry him away captive before Kayqubad, to present him as the spoils of his first battle.”
#23
ز هنگ سپهدار و چنگ سوار
✦
نیامد دوال کمر پایدار
“Yet under the massive force of the leader and the champion's grip, the belt strap could not hold.”
#24
گسست و به خاک اندر آمد سرش
✦
سواران گرفتند گرد اندرش
“It snapped, and Afrasiab's head tumbled to the dirt; immediately horsemen swarmed round to protect him.”
#25
سپهبد چو از چنگ رستم بجست
✦
بخائید رستم همی پشت دست
“When the commander escaped from Rostam's grasp, Rostam bit the back of his hand in vexation,”
#26
چرا گفت نگرفتمش زیرکش
✦
همی بر کمر ساختم بند خوش
“Saying: 'Why did I not tuck him beneath my arm, instead of relying on the clasp of his belt?'”
#27
چو آوای زنگ آمد از پشت پیل
✦
خروشیدن کوس بر چند میل
“Then came the sound of bells from elephant backs and the roar of war-drums resounding for miles.”
#28
یکی مژده بردند نزدیک شاه
✦
که رستم بدرید قلب سپاه
“Glad tidings were brought unto the King, that Rostam had torn through the heart of the enemy army,”
#29
چنان تا بر شاه ترکان رسید
✦
درفش سپهدار شد ناپدید
“Reaching even to the King of the Turks himself, causing the commander's banner to vanish.”
#30
گرفتش کمربند و بفگند خوار
✦
خروشی ز ترکان برآمد بزار
“He seized his belt and cast him down in disgrace, whereupon a bitter wail arose from the Turanians.”
#31
ز جای اندر آمد چو آتش قباد
✦
بجنبید لشگر چو دریا ز باد
“Kayqubad leaped up like blazing fire, and the host stirred like a sea whipped by the wind.”
#32
برآمد خروشیدن دار و کوب
✦
درخشیدن خنجر و زخم چوب
“The clamor of weapons and blows resounded; daggers flashed and heavy maces struck.”
#33
بران ترگ زرین و زرین سپر
✦
غمی شد سر از چاک چاک تبر
“Upon golden helmets and golden shields, heads grew weary beneath the shattering blows of battle-axes.”
#34
تو گفتی که ابری برآمد ز کنج
✦
ز شنگرف نیرنگ زد بر ترنج
“You would say a cloud arose from the mountain peak, splashing vermilion magic over oranges.”
#35
ز گرد سواران در آن پهن دشت
✦
زمین شش شد و آسمان گشت هشت
“From the dust of horsemen on that sprawling plain, Earth became six layers and Sky became eight.”
#36
هزار و صد و شصت گرد دلیر
✦
به یک زخم شد کشته چون نره شیر
“One thousand one hundred and sixty brave warriors were slain with a single blow, like raging lions.”
#37
برفتند ترکان ز پیش مغان
✦
کشیدند لشگر سوی دامغان
“The Turanians fled before the Iranian Mobads, retreating with their army toward Damghan.”
#38
وزانجا به جیحون نهادند روی
✦
خلیده دل و با غم و گفت‌وگوی
“And from there they set their faces toward the River Jayhun, hearts pierced, filled with grief and sorrow.”
#39
شکسته سلیح و گسسته کمر
✦
نه بوق و نه کوس و نه پای و نه سر
“With shattered weapons and broken belts, with neither trumpets nor drums, without leader or order left.”