When Afrasiab returned shaken from the battlefield, recounting the astounding and terrifying feats of the young hero Rostam, Pashang, the King of Turan, filled his eyes with tears and remained in silent astonishment. Realizing that further conflict against an Iran guarded by such an unstoppable warrior would bring only ruin, Pashang summoned a wise and eloquent envoy. He penned an ornate letter painted with vivid flourishes like the legendary art of Artang. Commencing with praises to the Lord of the Sun and Moon and blessings upon the soul of Fereydun, Pashang recalled that though Tur had brought evil upon the fortunate Iraj, Manuchehr had exacted that vengeance in full. He urged that both realms return to Fereydun’s original decree, establishing the Jayhun (Oxus) River as the eternal border so that the earth might no longer be stained vermilion with royal blood.
When the envoy delivered the message to Kay Qobad, the newly crowned Kianian monarch replied that aggression had always originated from Turan, citing Afrasiab's cruel execution of King Nowzar and the senseless murder of the righteous Aghriras. Yet, Qobad declared that his own heart harbored neither greed nor malice, knowing that every sovereign ultimately inherits nothing from this fleeting world but a shroud and a grave. Thus, he accepted the covenant of peace. The Turanian host retreated swiftly back across the Jayhun.
Though young Rostam passionately argued that peace should not be granted on the heels of victory when their maces held the upper hand, Kay Qobad wisely replied that nothing in creation surpasses Justice (Dad), and it is unseemly for a righteous ruler to pursue slaughter when the foe turns from violence. The King then raised a grand feast of honors. Upon fine silk, he wrote a royal charter granting Rostam sovereignty over the lands stretching from Zabulistan to the Sea of Sindh, while reaffirming Mehrab's rule over Kabul. He crowned Zal with gold, turquoise, and rubies, bestowing upon him royal robes and five elephants laden with untold treasures, declaring that the throne of Iran should never be devoid of Zal's wisdom. Furthermore, Qobad bestowed splendid armor, swords, shields, and royal gifts upon Qaran, Keshvad, Barzin, and Khrad, establishing his reign upon the everlasting pillars of justice and glory.
#1
سپهدار ترکان دو دیده پرآب
✦
شگفتی فرو ماند ز افراسیاب
“The commander of the Turanians filled his eyes with tears, remaining in utter astonishment at Afrasiab's report.”
#2
یکی مرد با هوش را برگزید
✦
فرسته به ایران چنان چون سزید
“He selected a wise and prudent messenger, dispatching him to Iran in a manner befitting royalty.”
#3
یکی نامه بنوشت ارتنگ‌وار
✦
برو کرده صد گونه رنگ و نگار
“He wrote an epistle adorned like Artang, painted with a hundred colors and exquisite flourishes.”
#4
به نام خداوند خورشید و ماه
✦
که او داد بر آفرین دستگاه
“'In the name of the Lord of the Sun and the Moon, who granted power and authority over creation,'”
#5
وزو بر روان فریدون درود
✦
کزو دارد این تخم ما تار و پود
“'And peace be upon the soul of Fereydun, from whom our lineage derives its very warp and weft.'”
#6
گر از تور بر ایرج نیک‌بخت
✦
بد آمد پدید از پی تاج و تخت
“'If evil befell the fortunate Iraj from Tur for the sake of the crown and throne,'”
#7
بران بر همی راند باید سخن
✦
بباید که پیوند ماند به بن
“'We must speak wisely of those deeds; the ancient kinship must remain rooted in its foundation.'”
#8
گر این کینه از ایرج آمد پدید
✦
منوچهر سرتاسر آن کین کشید
“'If this vengeance stemmed from Iraj, Manuchehr exacted that revenge in full.'”
#9
بران هم که کرد آفریدون نخست
✦
کجا راستی را به بخشش بجست
“'Let us return to what Fereydun decreed at first, when he sought truth and justice through fair division.'”
#10
سزد گر برانیم دل هم بران
✦
نگردیم از آیین و راه سران
“'It is right that we set our hearts upon that path and turn not from the custom of our noble forefathers.'”
#11
ز جیحون و تا ماورالنهر بر
✦
که جیحون میانچیست اندر گذر
“'From the Jayhun onward unto Transoxiana, let the Jayhun serve as the dividing boundary between us.'”
#12
بر و بوم ما بود هنگام شاه
✦
نکردی بران مرز ایرج نگاه
“'That realm was ours during the great King's reign, and Iraj never cast his gaze upon those borders.'”
#13
همان بخش ایرج ز ایران زمین
✦
بداد آفریدون و کرد آفرین
“'Likewise, the portion of Iran destined for Iraj was bestowed by Fereydun with his blessings.'”
#14
ازان گر بگردیم و جنگ آوریم
✦
جهان بر دل خویش تنگ آوریم
“'If we turn away from this division and wage war, we shall narrow the world upon our own hearts.'”
#15
بود زخم شمشیر و خشم خدای
✦
نیابیم بهره به هر دو سرای
“'There will be the strike of the sword and the wrath of God; we shall benefit from neither this world nor the next.'”
#16
و گر همچنان چون فریدون گرد
✦
به تور و به سلم و به ایرج سپرد
“'And if we hold to how valiant Fereydun entrusted the realm to Tur, Salm, and Iraj,'”
#17
ببخشیم و زان پس نجوییم کین
✦
که چندین بلا خود نیرزد زمین
“'We shall divide it and seek vengeance no more, for this earth is not worth so much affliction.'”
#18
سراینده از سال چون برف گشت
✦
ز خون کیان خاک شنگرف گشت
“The storyteller's hair has turned white as snow with age, while the earth turned vermilion with the blood of Kings.”
#19
سرانجام هم جز به بالای خویش
✦
نیابد کسی بهره از جای خویش
“In the end, no man receives more portion of the earth than the measure of his own grave.”
#20
بمانیم روز پسین زیر خاک
✦
سراپای کرباس و جای مغاک
“On the final day we shall abide beneath the dust, wrapped head to foot in cotton linen within a narrow pit.”
#21
و گر آزمندیست و اندوه و رنج
✦
شدن تنگ‌دل در سرای سپنج
“Or if there be greed, grief, and pain, it is merely growing heartsick within this fleeting abode.”
#22
مگر رام گردد برین کیقباد
✦
سر مرد بخرد نگردد ز داد
“'May Kay Qobad yield to this counsel, for the head of a wise man turns not away from justice.'”
#23
کس از ما نبینند جیحون بخواب
✦
وز ایران نیایند ازین روی آب
“'None of us shall cross the Jayhun even in dream, nor shall the Iranians step to this side of the river.'”
#24
مگر با درود و سلام و پیام
✦
دو کشور شود زین سخن شادکام
“'Save with greetings, peace, and messages, so that both kingdoms may rejoice in this pact.'”
#25
چو نامه به مهر اندر آورد شاه
✦
فرستاد نزدیک ایران سپاه
“When the King sealed the letter, he dispatched it toward the host of Iran.”
#26
ببردند نامه بر کیقباد
✦
سخن نیز ازین گونه کردند یاد
“They brought the letter to Kay Qobad and recounted the message in like manner.”
#27
چنین داد پاسخ که دانی درست
✦
که از ما نبد پیشدستی نخست
“He replied: 'You know full well that the initiation of aggression came not from us.'”
#28
ز تور اندر آمد نخستین ستم
✦
که شاهی چو ایرج شد از تخت کم
“'The first cruelty arose from Tur, when a monarch like Iraj was severed from his throne.'”
#29
بدین روزگار اندر افراسیاب
✦
بیامد به تیزی و بگذاشت آب
“'And in recent days, Afrasiab came in impetuous haste and crossed the waters.'”
#30
شنیدی که با شاه نوذر چه کرد
✦
دل دام و دد شد پر از داغ و درد
“'You heard what he inflicted upon King Nowzar, filling the hearts of beast and fowl with pain and grief.'”
#31
ز کینه به اغریرث پرخرد
✦
نه آن کرد کز مردمی در خورد
“'And out of malice toward wise Aghriras, he committed deeds unworthy of humanity.'”
#32
ز کردار بد گر پشیمان شوید
✦
بنوی ز سر باز پیمان شوید
“'Yet if you repent of those evil deeds and renew your covenant afresh,'”
#33
مرا نیست از کینه و آز رنج
✦
بسیچیده‌ام در سرای سپنج
“'I harbor no torment of malice or greed, for I am prepared for departure from this transient abode.'”
#34
شما را سپردم ازان روی آب
✦
مگر یابد آرامش افراسیاب
“'I yield that side of the river to you, so that perchance Afrasiab may find tranquility.'”
#35
بنوی یکی باز پیمان نوشت
✦
به باغ بزرگی درختی بکشت
“He wrote a new treaty once more, planting a tree of peace in the garden of greatness.”
#36
فرستاده آمد بسان پلنگ
✦
رسانید نامه به نزد پشنگ
“The messenger sped like a leopard, delivering the letter directly to Pashang.”
#37
بنه برنهاد و سپه را براند
✦
همی گرد بر آسمان برفشاند
“Pashang packed the camp baggage and moved his army, raising clouds of dust to the heavens.”
#38
ز جیحون گذر کرد مانند باد
✦
وزان آگهی شد بر کیقباد
“He crossed the Jayhun swift as the wind, and news thereof reached Kay Qobad.”
#39
که دشمن شد از پیش بی‌کارزار
✦
بدان گشت شادان دل شهریار
“That the enemy had retreated without battle, which made the King's heart rejoice.”
#40
بدو گفت رستم که ای شهریار
✦
مجو آشتی درگه کارزار
“Rostam said to him: 'O Sovereign! Seek not peace upon the very field of battle!'”
#41
نبد پیشتر آشتی را نشان
✦
بدین روز گرز من آوردشان
“'There was no sign of peace before; it was my mace today that brought them to submission!'”
#42
چنین گفت با نامور کیقباد
✦
که چیزی ندیدم نکوتر ز داد
“Renowned Kay Qobad answered him: 'I have seen nothing finer than Justice.'”
#43
نبیره فریدون فرخ پشنگ
✦
به سیری همی سر بپیچد ز جنگ
“'Pashang, the grandson of blessed Fereydun, turns his head in weariness away from war.'”
#44
سزد گر هر آنکس که دارد خرد
✦
بکژی و ناراستی ننگرد
“'It is fitting that whoever possesses wisdom should not look toward deceit and injustice.'”
#45
ز زاولستان تا بدریای سند
✦
نوشتیم عهدی ترا بر پرند
“'From Zabulistan unto the Sea of Sindh, we have written a charter for you upon silk.'”
#46
سر تخت با افسر نیمروز
✦
بدار و همی باش گیتی فروز
“Hold the throne and crown of Nimruz, and continue to illuminate the world with thy rule.”
#47
وزین روی کابل به مهراب ده
✦
سراسر سنانت به زهر آب ده
“And entrust Kabul on this side to Mehrab, while keeping the tips of thy lances tempered with poison.”
#48
کجا پادشاهیست بی‌جنگ نیست
✦
وگر چند روی زمین تنگ نیست
“For wherever there is kingship, conflict is never absent, though the surface of the earth is far from narrow.”
#49
سرش را بیاراست با تاج زر
✦
همان گردگاهش به زرین کمر
“He adorned his head with a golden crown, and bound his waist with a girdle of gold.”
#50
ز یک روی گیتی مرو را سپرد
✦
ببوسید روی زمین مرد گرد
“He entrusted one realm of the earth to him, and the valiant warrior kissed the ground before the throne.”
#51
ازان پس چنین گفت فرخ قباد
✦
که بی‌زال تخت بزرگی مباد
“Thereupon blessed Qobad declared: "May the throne of greatness never be bereft of Zal!"”
#52
به یک موی دستان نیرزد جهان
✦
که او ماندمان یادگار از مهان
“"The whole world is not worth a single hair of Dastan, for he remains our sole living memory of the great forefathers."”
#53
یکی جامهٔ شهریاری به زر
✦
ز یاقوت و پیروزه تاج و کمر
“He prepared a royal robe woven with gold, alongside a crown and belt embellished with rubies and turquoises.”
#54
نهادند مهد از بر پنج پیل
✦
ز پیروزه رخشان بکردار نیل
“They mounted a royal litter upon five elephants, gleaming blue with turquoise like the waters of the Nile.”
#55
بگسترد زر بفت بر مهد بر
✦
یکی گنج کش کس ندانست مر
“They draped gold brocade over the litter—a treasure so vast that none could reckon its wealth.”
#56
فرستاد نزدیک دستان سام
✦
که خلعت مرا زین فزون بود کام
“He sent all this to Dastan, son of Sam, saying: "My desire to grant thee robes of honor was even greater than this."”
#57
اگر باشدم زندگانی دراز
✦
ترا دارم اندر جهان بی‌نیاز
“"If a long life be granted to me, I shall render thee free of all want in this world."”
#58
همان قارن نیو و کشواد را
✦
چو برزین و خراد پولاد را
“Likewise to the brave Qaran and Keshvad, as well as Barzin, Khorrad, and Pulad,”
#59
برافگند خلعت چنان چون سزید
✦
کسی را که خلعت سزاوار دید
“He bestowed robes of honor as befitted each hero, rewarding everyone who was worthy of such distinction.”
#60
درم داد و دینار و تیغ و سپر
✦
کرا در خور آمد کلاه و کمر
“He distributed silver, gold, swords, and shields, bestowing crowns and girdles of rank upon all who merited them.”