#1
برفت از لب رود نزد پشنگ
✦
زبان پر ز گفتار و کوتاه چنگ
“He departed from the river's edge to Pashang, his tongue full of words yet his hands bound in defeat.”
#2
بدو گفت کای نامبردار شاه
✦
ترا بود ازین جنگ جستن گناه
“He said to him, 'O renowned king! Seeking this war was a sin on your part.'”
#3
یکی آنکه پیمان شکستن ز شاه
✦
بزرگان پیشین ندیدند راه
“'First, the ancient sovereigns never deemed it wise for a king to break his covenant.'”
#4
نه از تخم ایرج جهان پاک شد
✦
نه زهر گزاینده تریاک شد
“'Neither was the world ever cleansed of the seed of Iraj, nor did biting poison ever turn into an antidote.'”
#5
یکی کم شود دیگر آید به جای
✦
جهان را نمانند بی‌کدخدای
“'When one perishes, another arises in his place; they never leave the world without a master.'”
#6
قباد آمد و تاج بر سر نهاد
✦
به کینه یکی نو در اندر گشاد
“'Now Qobad has come and placed the crown upon his head, opening a new portal of vengeance.'”
#7
سواری پدید آمد از تخم سام
✦
که دستانش رستم نهاده‌ست نام
“'A warrior has appeared from the lineage of Sam, whom Zal has named Rostam.'”
#8
بیامد بسان نهنگ دژم
✦
که گفتی زمین را بسوزد به دم
“'He advanced like a furious sea-monster, as if his breath alone could scorch the earth.'”
#9
همی تاخت اندر فراز و نشیب
✦
همی زد به گُرز و به تیغ و رکیب
“'He charged across the high and low grounds, striking fiercely with mace, sword, and stirrup.'”
#10
ز گُرزش هوا شد پر از چاک چاک
✦
نیرزید جانم به یک مشت خاک
“'From his mace the very air cleaved apart; my life felt worth no more than a handful of dust.'”
#11
همه لشکر ما به هم بردرید
✦
کس اندر جهان این شگفتی ندید
“'He tore our entire army to pieces; no one in this world has ever witnessed such a marvel.'”
#12
درفش مرا دید بر یک کران
✦
به زین اندر آورد گُرز گران
“'He spied my banner on the flank, and readied his heavy mace upon his saddle.'”
#13
چنان برگرفتم ز زین خدنگ
✦
که گفتی ندارم به یک پشه سنگ
“'He plucked me from my wooden saddle so easily, as though I weighed no more than a gnat.'”
#14
کمربند بگسست و بند قبای
✦
ز چنگش فتادم نگون زیر پای
“'My belt snapped and my coat tore open; I slipped from his grasp, falling headlong beneath his feet.'”
#15
بدان زور هرگز نباشد هژبر
✦
دو پایش به خاک اندر و سر به ابر
“'Even a lion possesses no such might—his feet rooted in the soil, his head touching the clouds.'”
#16
سواران جنگی همه همگروه
✦
کشیدندم از پیش آن لخت کوه
“'The warriors in full force rushed together and dragged me away from before that mountain of a man.'”
#17
تو دانی که شاهی دل و چنگ من
✦
به جنگ اندرون زور و آهنگ من
“'You know well my courage, my prowess in battle, and the force of my assault.'”
#18
به دست وی اندر یکی پشه‌ام
✦
وزان آفرینش پر اندیشه‌ام
“'Yet in his hands I was a mere gnat, and at such a creation I am filled with awe and foreboding.'”
#19
یکی پیلتن دیدم و شیرچنگ
✦
نه هوش و نه دانش نه رای و درنگ
“'I saw an elephant-bodied champion with lion-like claws, possessing neither hesitation nor doubt, nor any delay in strike.'”
#20
عنان را سپرده بران پیل مست
✦
یکی گُرزهٔ گاو‌پیکر بدست
“'Giving full rein to his maddened beast, he held a bull-headed mace in his hand.'”
#21
همانا که کوپال سیصدهزار
✦
زدندش بران تارک ترگ‌دار
“'Verily, it seemed as if three hundred thousand maces had struck his helmeted crown, yet he stood unmoved.'”
#22
تو گفتی که از آهنش کرده‌اند
✦
ز سنگ و ز رویش برآورده‌اند
“'You would say he was forged of iron, wrought from solid stone and bronze.'”
#23
چه دریاش پیش و چه ببر بیان
✦
چه درنده شیر و چه پیل ژیان
“'To him, a roaring sea, a ferocious dragon-leopard, a ravenous lion, or a furious elephant are all the same.'”
#24
همی‌تاخت یکسان چو روز شکار
✦
به بازی همی‌آمدش کارزار
“'He rode as smoothly as though on a hunt; the battle seemed like mere child's play to him.'”
#25
چنو گر بدی سام را دستبرد
✦
به ترکان نماندی سرافراز گرد
“'If Sam himself possessed such prowess as his, not a single proud Turanian hero would remain alive.'”
#26
جز از آشتی جستنت رای نیست
✦
که با او سپاه ترا پای نیست
“'You have no choice now but to seek peace, for your army cannot stand against him.'”
#27
زمینی کجا آفریدون گرد
✦
بدانگه به تور دلاور سپرد
“'The land that Fereydun the Valiant anciently assigned to the brave Tur...'”
#28
به من داده بودند و بخشیده راست
✦
ترا کین پیشین نبایست خواست
“'...was rightly given to us; you ought not to have stirred up that ancient grudge!'”
#29
تو دانی که دیدن نه چون آگهیست
✦
میان شنیدن همیشه تهیست
“'You know that seeing is not like hearing, and a vast gulf ever lies between report and reality.'”
#30
گلستان که امروز باشد ببار
✦
تو فردا چنی گل نیاید بکار
“'If the rose-garden is in bloom today, plucking the blossom tomorrow will avail you nothing.'”
#31
از امروز کاری بفردا ممان
✦
که داند که فردا چه گردد زمان؟
“'Delay not today's task until tomorrow, for who knows what fate tomorrow may bring?'”
#32
ترا جنگ ایران چو بازی نمود
✦
ز بازی سپه را درازی فزود
“'War with Iran seemed a game to you, but from this play, long suffering has fallen upon the army.'”
#33
نگر تا چه مایه ستام بزر
✦
هم از ترگ زرین و زرین سپر
“'Consider how many golden harnesses, golden helmets, and gilded shields were lost!'”
#34
همان تازی اسپان زرین لگام
✦
همان تیغ هندی به زرین نیام
“'Likewise, how many Arab steeds with golden bridles and Indian swords in gilded scabbards...'”
#35
ازین بیشتر نامداران گرد
✦
قباد اندر آمد به خواری ببرد
“'...and more than these, how many glorious chieftains did Qobad humiliate and destroy!'”
#36
چو کلباد و چون بارمان دلیر
✦
که بودی شکارش همه نره شیر
“'Heroes like Kolbad and the brave Barman, whose prey were ferocious lions...'”
#37
خزروان کجا زال بشکست خرد
✦
نمودش به گُرز گران دستبرد
“'...and Khazravan, whom Zal shattered to pieces, showing his prowess with his heavy mace...'”
#38
شماساس کین‌توز لشکر‌پناه
✦
که قارن بکشتش به آوردگاه
“'...and Shamasas the vengeful defender of the host, whom Qaran slew upon the field of battle!'”
#39
جزین نامدران کین صدهزار
✦
فزون کشته آمد گه کارزار
“'Besides these chieftains, more than a hundred thousand warriors were slain in battle.'”
#40
بتر زین همه نام و ننگ شکست
✦
شکستی که هرگز نشایدش بست
“'Worse than all this is the dishonor and shame of defeat—a fracture that can never be mended.'”
#41
گر از من سر نامور گشته‌شد
✦
که اغریرث پرخرد کشته‌شد
“'If my illustrious head has been turned to misfortune, it is because the wise Aghriras was slain!'”
#42
جوانی بد و نیکی روزگار
✦
من امروز را دی گرفتم شمار
“'It was youthful folly and the prosperity of time; today I count the cost of yesterday's deeds.'”
#43
که پیش آمدندم همان سرکشان
✦
پس پشت هر یک درفشی کشان
“'For now those proud Iranian warlords advanced upon me, each dragging a victorious banner behind him.'”
#44
بسی یاد دادندم از روزگار
✦
دمان از پس و من دوان زار و خوار
“'They taught me harsh lessons of fortune, charging after me while I fled in misery and shame.'”
#45
کنون از گذشته مکن هیچ یاد
✦
سوی آشتی یاز با کیقباد
“'Now recall no more the past; reach out instead in peace toward Kay Qobad!'”
#46
گرت دیگر آید یکی آرزوی
✦
به گرد اندر آید سپه چارسوی
“Should another desire for war awaken within you, an army shall surround you from all four quarters.”
#47
به یک دست رستم که تابنده هور
✦
گه رزم با او نتابد به زور
“On one side stands Rostam, whom even the radiant sun cannot withstand in power during the thick of battle.”
#48
به روی دگر قارن رزم‌زن
✦
که چشمش ندیده‌ست هرگز شکن
“On the other side is Qaran the warrior, whose eye has never seen defeat or retreat on the field.”
#49
سه دیگر چو کشواد زرین‌کلاه
✦
که آمد به آمل ببرد آن سپاه
“Thirdly is Kashvad of the golden helm, who came to Amol and led that mighty host.”
#50
چهارم چو مهراب کابل خدای
✦
که دستور شاهست و زابل خدای
“Fourthly is Mehrab, lord of Kabul, who is advisor to the King and sovereign of Zabol.”