#1
یکی راه پیش آمدش ناگزیر
✦
همی‌رفت بایست بر خیره خیر
“An unavoidable path lay before him, through which he had to press forward blindly into the barren waste.”
#2
پی اسپ و گویا زبان سوار
✦
ز گرما و از تشنگی شد ز کار
“The hooves of his horse and the fluent tongue of the rider were both struck helpless by the intense heat and thirst.”
#3
پیاده شد از اسپ و ژوپین به دست
✦
همی‌رفت پویان به کردار مست
“He dismounted, javelin in hand, staggering forward like a drunken man.”
#4
همی‌جست بر چاره جستن رهی
✦
سوی آسمان کرد روی آنگهی
“Seeking a way of salvation, he turned his face toward the heavens above.”
#5
چنین گفت کای داور دادگر
✦
همه رنج و سختی تو آری به سر
“He prayed, 'O Just Judge, Thou art the One who bringeth all toil and hardship to an end!”
#6
گرایدونک خشنودی از رنج من
✦
بدان گیتی آگنده کن گنج من
“If Thou art well-pleased with my suffering, then fill my treasury in the world to come.”
#7
بپویم همی تا مگر کردگار
✦
دهد شاه کاووس را زینهار
“I toil onward so that peradventure the Creator may grant safety to King Kay Kavus,”
#8
هم ایرانیان را ز چنگال دیو
✦
گشاید بی‌آزار گیهان خدیو
“And that the Lord of the World may deliver the Iranians unscathed from the claws of the demons.'”
#9
گنه‌کار و افگندگان تواند
✦
پرستنده و بندگان تواند
“'Though sinners and fallen creatures, they are still Thy worshippers and Thy servants.'”
#10
تن پیلوارش چنان تفته شد
✦
که از تشنگی سست و آشفته شد
“His elephant-like body grew so scorched that he became weak and distraught with thirst.”
#11
بیفتاد رستم بر آن گرم خاک
✦
زبان گشته از تشنگی چاک چاک
“Rostam collapsed upon the burning dust, his tongue cracked and parched with thirst.”
#12
همانگه یکی میش نیکوسرین
✦
بپیمود پیش تهمتن زمین
“At that very moment, a fine, well-favored ewe trotted across the ground before the champion.”
#13
ازان رفتن میش اندیشه خاست
✦
به‌دل گفت که‌آبشخور این کجاست
“Seeing the ewe pass, a thought awoke in his heart: 'Where might its watering-place be?'”
#14
همانا که بخشایش کردگار
✦
فراز آمده‌ست اندرین روزگار
“'Surely the mercy of the Almighty Creator hath reached me in this time of distress!'”
#15
بیفشارد شمشیر بر دست راست
✦
به زور جهان‌دار بر پای خاست
“He gripped his sword in his right hand and, through the power of the World-Lord, rose to his feet.”
#16
بشد بر پی میش و تیغش به چنگ
✦
گرفته به دست دگر پالهنگ
“He followed in the footsteps of the ewe, blade in one hand and holding the rein of his steed in the other.”
#17
به ره بر یکی چشمه آمد پدید
✦
چو میش سراور بدانجا رسید
“As the lead ewe reached a spot upon the path, a fresh spring of clear water appeared.”
#18
تهمتن سوی آسمان کرد روی
✦
چنین گفت کای داور راستگوی
“The champion turned his face toward the sky and said, 'O Truthful Judge!”
#19
هرانکس که از دادگر یک خدای
✦
بپیچد نیارد خرد را به جای
“Whosoever turneth away from the One Just God faileth to fulfill the dictates of wisdom.”
#20
برین چشمه آبشخور میش نیست
✦
همان غُرم دشتی مرا خویش نیست
“This spring is no ordinary drinking hole for a ewe, nor is this wild sheep any relative of mine;”
#21
به جایی که تنگ اندر آید سخن
✦
پناهت به جز پاک یزدان مکن
“When hardship presses hard upon thee, seek no refuge other than the Pure God.'”
#22
بران غرم بر آفرین کرد چند
✦
که از چرخ گردان مبادت گزند
“He showered blessings upon that wild ewe, saying, 'May no harm from the turning sky ever touch thee!”
#23
گیا بر در و دشت تو سبز باد
✦
مباد از تو هرگز دل یوز شاد
“May grass grow green across thy plains, and may the heart of the hunting cheetah never rejoice over thee!”
#24
ترا هرک یازد به تیر و کمان
✦
شکسته کمان باد و تیره گمان
“May whoever aimeth bow and arrow at thee find his bow broken and his thoughts darkened!”
#25
که زنده شد از تو گو پیلتن
✦
وگرنه پراندیشه بود از کفن
“For through thee the elephant-bodied hero was saved, who else was contemplating his own shroud.”
#26
که در سینهٔ اژدهای بزرگ
✦
نگنجد بماند به چنگال گرگ
“Lest he who could not be contained in the jaws of a great dragon fall helpless into the claws of a wolf!”
#27
شده پاره پاره کنان و کشان
✦
ز رستم به دشمن رسیده نشان
“Torn to pieces and dragged along, such had been the mark of Rostam left upon his enemies.'”
#28
روانش چو پردخته شد ز آفرین
✦
ز رخش تگاور جدا کرد زین
“When his soul was finished offering praises, he unbuckled the saddle from swift Rakhsh.”
#29
همه تن بشستش بران آب پاک
✦
به کردار خورشید شد تابناک
“He washed his whole body in that pure water, until he shone radiant as the sun.”
#30
چو سیراب شد ساز نخچیر کرد
✦
کمر بست و ترکش پر از تیر کرد
“Having quenched his thirst, he prepared to hunt; he girded his loins and filled his quiver with arrows.”
#31
بیفگند گوری چو پیل ژیان
✦
جدا کرد ازو چرم پای و میان
“He brought down a wild ass huge as a furious elephant, then flayed its hide from legs and torso.”
#32
چو خورشید تیز آتشی برفروخت
✦
برآورد ز آب اندر آتش بسوخت
“He kindled a blazing fire bright as the sun, pulled the meat from the water and roasted it over the flames.”
#33
بپردخت ز آتش به خوردن گرفت
✦
به خاک استخوانش سپردن گرفت
“When it was cooked over the fire, he ate his fill and buried the remaining bones in the earth.”
#34
سوی چشمهٔ روشن آمد بر آب
✦
چو سیراب شد کرد آهنگ خواب
“He returned to the luminous spring for another drink of water, and once fully refreshed, prepared for sleep.”
#35
تهمتن به رخش سراینده گفت
✦
که با کس مکوش و مشو نیز جفت
“The champion spoke to the eloquent Rakhsh: 'Strive not against any foe, nor seek a companion.”
#36
اگر دشمن آید، سوی من بپوی
✦
تو با دیو و شیران مشو جنگجوی
“If an enemy approacheth, run straight to me; do not attempt to fight with demons or lions yourself.'”
#37
بخفت و بر آسود و نگشاد لب
✦
چمان و چران رخش تا نیم‌شب
“He lay down, rested, and closed his mouth in sleep, while Rakhsh paced and grazed until midnight.”