When darkness and dark sorcery blinded King Kay Kavus and bound the Iranian army in the depths of Mazandaran, the despairing sovereign dispatched a messenger as fleet as a winged bird to Zabolistan. The letter was a bitter testament of regret—a fallen monarch lamenting that he had spurned the wise counsel of Zal, only to see his crown dragged through the dust and his soul trapped in the iron grip of Ahriman.
Upon hearing the harrowing courier, Zal tore his robes in anguish. Though he hid his immense grief from friend and foe alike, his illuminated spirit had long foreseen this dark omen. Turning to his legendary son, Rostam, Zal declared that the scabbard could no longer hold the sword: the King of the World lay in the very jaws of the dragon, and God had nurtured Rostam specifically for this fateful hour. He urged the hero to don the impenetrable Babr-e Bayan, cast aside all thought of rest, and crush the demonic host of Mazandaran with his irresistible mace.
When Rostam asked of the road ahead, Zal revealed two paths to the fell realm: the first was the long, six-month march taken by Kavus, while the second was a shortcut of fourteen terrifying stages—a realm of dense darkness, ravenous beasts, sorcerous demons, and unimaginable trials. Zal counselled his son to choose the perilous shortcut, trusting utterly in the Almighty. He promised to lift his hands in continuous prayer to Yazdan, adding that even if fate decreed Rostam's fall, a glorious death in pursuit of a grand name was far nobler than a languishing life.
Rostam bowed to his father's command and swore a mighty oath. He vowed to break the sorceries of Mazandaran, free every captive Iranian knight, and trample the heads of Arzhang, Bid, Sanjeh, Pulad-e Ghundi, and the fearsome Div-e Sepid beneath the hooves of Rakhsh. Donning his mythic armor, Rostam mounted his faithful steed. His mother Rudabeh rushed forward, her eyes brimming with tears, dreading that she might never see her glorious son again. With loving words of solace, Rostam commended his mother and house to the protection of God, turning his face toward the dark unknown of the Seven Trials.
#1
ازان پس جهانجوی خسته جگر
✦
برون کرد مردی چو مرغی به پر
“Thereafter, the heart-wounded seeker of the world dispatched a man as fleet as a winged bird.”
#2
سوی زابلستان فرستاد زود
✦
به نزدیک دستان و رستم درود
“He sent him swiftly toward Zabolistan, carrying greetings to Dastan and Rostam.”
#3
کنون چشم شد تیره و تیره بخت
✦
به خاک اندر آمد سر تاج و تخت
“'Now my eyes are darkened and my fortune rendered bleak; the majesty of crown and throne lies in the dust.”
#4
جگر خسته در چنگ آهرمنم
✦
همی بگسلد زار جان از تنم
“My heart is wounded in the clutches of Ahriman, and my soul departs miserably from my body.”
#5
چو از پندهای تو یادآورم
✦
همی از جگر سرد باد آورم
“Whenever I recall your wise counsels, cold sighs of remorse burst forth from my breast.”
#6
نرفتم به گفتار تو هوشمند
✦
ز کم دانشی بر من آمد گزند
“I did not act upon your wise words, and thus through my own ignorance, disaster has befallen me.”
#7
اگر تو نبندی بدین بد میان
✦
همه سود را مایه باشد زیان
“If you do not gird yourself to remedy this evil, all our past gain shall turn into utter ruin.'”
#8
چو پوینده نزدیک دستان رسید
✦
بگفت آنچ دانست و دید و شنید
“When the messenger reached Dastan, he recounted all that he knew, saw, and had heard.”
#9
هم آن گنج و هم لشکر نامدار
✦
بیاراسته چون گل اندر بهار
“He told how that famed treasure and army, decorated like flowers in spring, were lost,”
#10
همه چرخ گردان به دیوان سپرد
✦
تو گویی که باد اندر آمد ببرد
“And how the turning sky surrendered all to the demons, as though a sudden tempest blew them away.”
#11
چو بشنید بر تن بدرید پوست
✦
ز دشمن نهان داشت این هم ز دوست
“When Zal heard this, he tore the skin on his body in grief, yet concealed this distress from foe and friend alike.”
#12
به روشن دل از دور بدها بدید
✦
که زین بر زمانه چه خواهد رسید
“With an enlightened heart, he had foreseen from afar what hardships fortune would bring upon the era.”
#13
به رستم چنین گفت دستان سام
✦
که شمشیر کوته شد اندر نیام
“Thus spoke Dastan, son of Sam, to Rostam: 'The sword must no longer remain rusted in its sheath!”
#14
نشاید کزین پس چمیم و چریم
✦
وگر تخت را خویشتن پروریم
“It is not fitting for us to walk at ease and feast, or to tend only to our own throne,”
#15
که شاه جهان در دم اژدهاست
✦
به ایرانیان بر چه مایه بلاست
“While the King of the World lies in the breath of the dragon, and such immense calamity has befallen the Iranians.”
#16
کنون کرد باید ترا رخش زین
✦
بخواهی به تیغ جهان بخش کین
“Now you must saddle Rakhsh and exact vengeance with your world-bestowing blade.”
#17
همانا که از بهر این روزگار
✦
ترا پرورانید پروردگار
“Surely, for the sake of such a dark day did the Creator cherish and raise you!”
#18
نشاید بدین کار آهرمنی
✦
که آسایش آری و گر دم زنی
“In the face of this demonic menace, it is unbecoming to seek comfort or even draw a calm breath.”
#19
برت را به ببر بیان سخت کن
✦
سر از خواب و اندیشه پردخت کن
“Gird your chest tight with the cuirass of Babr-e Bayan, and clear your head of sleep and idle thoughts.”
#20
هران تن که چشمش سنان تو دید
✦
که گوید که او را روان آرمید
“Whosoever's eye has seen the tip of your spear—who could say that his soul ever found peace again?”
#21
اگر جنگ دریا کنی خون شود
✦
از آوای تو کوه هامون شود
“If you wage war upon the sea, it will turn to blood; at the roar of your voice, mountains will flatten into plains.”
#22
نباید که ارژنگ و دیو سپید
✦
به جان از تو دارند هرگز امید
“Arzhang and the White Demon must never harbor hope of escaping you with their lives.”
#23
کنون گردن شاه مازندران
✦
همه خرد بشکن بگرز گران
“Now break the neck of the King of Mazandaran completely with your heavy mace!'”
#24
چنین پاسخش داد رستم که راه
✦
درازست و من چون شوم کینه خواه
“Rostam answered him thus: 'The road is long; how shall I travel it to seek vengeance?'”
#25
ازین پادشاهی بدان گفت زال
✦
دو راهست و هر دو به رنج و وبال
“Zal said to him: 'To that kingdom there lie two roads, and both are fraught with hardship and calamity.”
#26
یکی از دو راه آنک کاووس رفت
✦
دگر کوه و بالا و منزل دو هفت
“One is the path that Kavus traversed, while the other crosses steep mountains and consists of fourteen stages.”
#27
پر از دیو و شیرست و پر تیرگی
✦
بماند بدو چشمت از خیرگی
“It is filled with demons, lions, and sheer darkness, such that your eyes will be stunned with amazement.”
#28
تو کوتاه بگزین شگفتی ببین
✦
که یار تو باشد جهان‌آفرین
“Choose the shorter path, behold its marvels, and may the Creator of the World be your guardian!”
#29
اگرچه به رنجست هم بگذرد
✦
پی رخش فرخ زمین بسپرد
“Though it be filled with pain, it too shall pass as blessed Rakhsh treads the earth.”
#30
شب تیره تا برکشد روز چاک
✦
نیایش کنم پیش یزدان پاک
“From the dark of night until day breaks open, I shall pray before Holy God,”
#31
مگر باز بینم بر و یال تو
✦
همان پهلوی چنگ و گوپال تو
“Hoping that I may gaze again upon your stature and neck, and your mighty arms and heavy mace.”
#32
و گر هوش تو نیز بر دست دیو
✦
برآید به فرمان گیهان خدیو
“Yet if your death is destined by the hands of a demon by command of the Sovereign of the World,”
#33
تواند کسی این سخن بازداشت
✦
چنان کاو گذارد بباید گذاشت
“Who can avert such a fate? As it has been decreed, so must it pass.”
#34
نخواهد همی ماند ایدر کسی
✦
بخوانند اگرچه بماند بسی
“No one shall abide in this world forever, though they remain for a lengthy span.”
#35
کسی کاو جهان را بنام بلند
✦
گذارد به رفتن نباشد نژند
“He who leaves this world with a glorious name shall not be sorrowful upon departing.'”
#36
چنین گفت رستم به فرخ پدر
✦
که من بسته دارم به فرمان کمر
“Thus spoke Rostam to his fortunate father: 'I have bound my waist tightly in obedience to your command.”
#37
ولیکن بدوزخ چمیدن به پای
✦
بزرگان پیشین ندیدند رای
“Yet to step willingly into hell on foot is not a course the ancient elders deemed wise,”
#38
همان از تن خویش نابوده سیر
✦
نیاید کسی پیش درنده شیر
“Nor does anyone who is not yet sated with life stride right into the jaws of a ferocious lion.”
#39
کنون من کمربسته و رفته‌گیر
✦
نخواهم جز از دادگر دستگیر
“Yet now I gird my loins and count myself as departed; I seek no helper save the Just Creator.”
#40
تن و جان فدای سپهبد کنم
✦
طلسم دل جادوان بشکنم
“I shall sacrifice my body and soul for the Commander, and I will shatter the sorcery of the sorcerers' hearts.”
#41
هرانکس که زنده است ز ایرانیان
✦
بیارم ببندم کمر بر میان
“Whoever among the Iranians remains alive, I shall bring back with girded loins.”
#42
نه ارژنگ مانم نه دیو سپید
✦
نه سنجه نه پولاد غندی نه بید
“I shall leave neither Arzhang nor the White Demon, nor Sanjeh, nor Pulad-e Ghundi, nor Bid alive!”
#43
به نام جهان‌آفرین یک خدای
✦
که رستم نگرداند از رخش پای
“By the name of the One God, Creator of the World, Rostam shall not dismount from Rakhsh,”
#44
مگر دست ارژنگ بسته چو سنگ
✦
فگنده به گردنش در پالهنگ
“Until Arzhang's hands are bound as hard as stone, and a heavy halter is cast around his neck,”
#45
سر و مغز پولاد را زیر پای
✦
پی رخش برده زمین را ز جای
“And the head and brain of Pulad are crushed beneath feet, while Rakhsh's hooves tear the earth from its place!'”
#46
بپوشید ببر و برآورد یال
✦
برو آفرین خواند بسیار زال
“He donned his tiger-skin cuirass and reared his tall stature; and Zal bestowed upon him bountiful blessings.”
#47
چو رستم برخش اندر آورد پای
✦
رخش رنگ بر جای و دل هم به جای
“As Rostam placed his foot in the stirrup of Rakhsh, the steed remained firm and resolute, steadfast in color and heart.”
#48
بیامد پر از آب رودابه روی
✦
همی زار بگریست دستان بروی
“Rudabeh came with a face bathed in tears, while Dastan wept bitterly beside her.”
#49
بدو گفت کای مادر نیکخوی
✦
نه بگزیدم این راه برآرزوی
“Rostam said to her: 'O noble-natured mother, I did not choose this path of my own desire.'”
#50
مرا در غم خود گذاری همی
✦
به یزدان چه امیدداری همی
“'If you abandon me to your sorrow, what hope do you then place in the Almighty?'”
#51
چنین آمدم بخشش روزگار
✦
تو جان و تن من به زنهار دار
“'Such is the decree allotted to me by Time; do thou entrust my soul and body to God's protection.'”
#52
به پدرود کردنش رفتند پیش
✦
که دانست کش باز بینند بیش
“They stepped forward to bid him farewell, for who knew if they would ever behold him again?”
#53
زمانه بدین سان همی بگذرد
✦
دمش مرد دانا همی بشمرد
“Thus passes the relentless tide of Time; and the wise man treasures its every breath.”
#54
هران روز بد کز تو اندر گذشت
✦
بر آنی کزو گیتی آباد گشت
“Whatever evil day has passed over thee, consider it as though the world was rendered prosperous thereby.”