Proceeding into the desolate reaches of his Third Labor, Rostam descended into a vast, ominous plain—the hidden lair of a monstrous dragon. So dreadful was this beast that even mighty elephants could not escape its wrath, and neither wild lions nor ferocious divs dared tread upon its grounds. Unaware of the lurking terror, the tired hero fell into a deep slumber, while his magnificent steed Rakhsh grazed nearby.
Emerging from the gloom, the fiery dragon was astonished to behold a warrior sleeping peacefully and a majestic horse standing guard in its dominion. As the beast lunged toward Rakhsh, the intelligent steed struck the earth with his iron hoofs and roared like spring thunder to alert his master. Rostam started awake, but each time he opened his eyes, the cunning serpent sank back into the black shadows. Thrice this occurred, and Rostam, seeing only empty darkness, grew terribly incensed at Rakhsh, threatening to sever the horse's head with his sword if he disturbed his sleep again.
Torn between fear of Rostam's wrath and devotion to his master's safety, Rakhsh stood agonized. When the dragon emerged for the third time, spewing flames and roaring softly through the night, Rakhsh could refrain no longer. He tore up the earth with his shoes and let out a triumphant bellow that shattered the silence, rousing Rostam once more.
By Divine Grace, the cloak of night was lifted, illuminating the hide of the dread beast. Rostam beheld the colossal monster looming before him, drew his gleaming blade, and demanded the creature's name. The dragon boasted that the desert for a hundred leagues belonged to it alone, where eagles dared not fly, and demanded to know who dared challenge it. Rostam boldly declared his lineage: 'I am Rostam, son of Zal, son of Sam, son of Nariman—a one-man army treading the earth upon brave Rakhsh!'
A terrible clash ensued. As the dragon sought to crush the hero, Rakhsh joined the fray with lion-like fury, flattening his ears and sinking his powerful teeth deep into the dragon's shoulder. Amazed by his steed's valor, Rostam raised his heavy sword and struck a fatal blow, severing the dragon's massive head. Rivers of dark, hot blood poured across the barren earth.
Beholding the slain beast and the miraculous aid of his horse, Rostam bathed in a nearby spring, cleansing the dust of battle from his body. Kneeling toward the heavens, he praised the Almighty Yazdan, recognizing that all his strength, wisdom, and royal glory flowed from the Divine, empowering him to face dragons, lions, and demons alike without fear.
#1
ز دشت اندر آمد یکی اژدها
✦
کزو پیل گفتی نیابد رها
“Out of the desert emerged a dragon, from whose grip it was said even an elephant could not escape.”
#2
بدان جایگه بودش آرامگاه
✦
نکردی ز بیمش برو دیو راه
“That place was its quiet lair; out of terror of it, no demon dared pass that way.”
#3
بیامد جهانجوی را خفته دید
✦
بر او یکی اسپ آشفته دید
“It arrived and saw the world-seeker fast asleep, and beside him a restless, agitated horse.”
#4
پر اندیشه شد تا چه آمد پدید
✦
که یارد بدین جایگاه آرمید
“It became filled with wonder as to what had happened, that anyone dared rest in such a place.”
#5
نیارست کردن کس آنجا گذر
✦
ز دیوان و پیلان و شیران نر
“No one had the courage to pass thereby—neither demons, nor elephants, nor ferocious lions.”
#6
همان نیز کامد نیابد رها
✦
ز چنگ بداندیش نر اژدها
“Nor could any who chanced to come escape the claws of that malignant male dragon.”
#7
سوی رخش رخشنده بنهاد روی
✦
دوان اسپ شد سوی دیهیم جوی
“It set its face toward radiant Rakhsh; the horse ran swiftly toward the crown-seeking hero.”
#8
همی کوفت بر خاک رویینه سم
✦
چو تندر خروشید و افشاند دم
“He beat his brass-like hoofs upon the soil, roared like thunder, and flicked his tail.”
#9
تهمتن چو از خواب بیدار شد
✦
سر پر خرد پر ز پیکار شد
“When Tahamtan awoke from his sleep, his wise mind turned toward thoughts of battle.”
#10
به گرد بیابان یکی بنگرید
✦
شد آن اژدهای دژم ناپدید
“He looked across the desert wide, but that gloomy dragon had vanished into darkness.”
#11
ابا رخش بر خیره پیکار کرد
✦
ازان کاو سرخفته بیدار کرد
“He quarreled with Rakhsh to no avail, angry that he had stirred him from his rest.”
#12
دگر باره چون شد به خواب اندرون
✦
ز تاریکی آن اژدها شد برون
“When once again he sank into deep sleep, out from the dark shadows emerged the dragon.”
#13
به بالین رستم تگ آورد رخش
✦
همی کند خاک و همی کرد پخش
“Rakhsh rushed to Rostam's pillow, pawing the earth and raising clouds of dust.”
#14
دگرباره بیدار شد خفته مرد
✦
برآشفت و رخسارگان کرد زرد
“Once more the sleeping man awoke, flared in anger, and his cheeks turned pale with rage.”
#15
بیابان همه سر به سر بنگرید
✦
بجز تیرگی شب به دیده ندید
“He surveyed the desert from end to end, yet saw nothing with his eyes save the gloom of night.”
#16
بدان مهربان رخش بیدار گفت
✦
که تاریکی شب بخواهی نهفت
“He spoke to faithful Rakhsh: 'It seems you wish to pay no heed to the gloom of night,'”
#17
سرم را همی باز داری ز خواب
✦
به بیداری من گرفتت شتاب
“'You keep my head from taking rest, making haste to force me into wakefulness!'”
#18
گر این‌بار سازی چنین رستخیز
✦
سرت را ببرم به شمشیر تیز
“'If you cause such havoc once more, I shall sever your head with my sharp blade!'”
#19
پیاده شوم سوی مازندران
✦
کشم ببر و شمشمیر و گرز گران
“'I will march on foot toward Mazandaran, bearing my tiger-hide, sword, and heavy mace!'”
#20
سیم ره به خواب اندر آمد سرش
✦
ز ببر بیان داشت پوشش برش
“For the third time sleep claimed his head; he lay clad in his tiger-skin Babr-e Bayan.”
#21
بغرید باز اژدهای دژم
✦
همی آتش افروخت گفتی بدم
“Again the gloomy dragon roared, breathing forth what seemed like flashes of fire.”
#22
چراگاه بگذاشت رخش آنزمان
✦
نیارست رفتن بر پهلوان
“Rakhsh abandoned his pasture in that hour, not daring to approach the hero.”
#23
دلش زان شگفتی به دو نیم بود
✦
کش از رستم و اژدها بیم بود
“His heart was split in twain with dread, fearing both Rostam's rage and the dragon's beastly power.”
#24
هم از بهر رستم دلش نارمید
✦
چو باد دمان نزد رستم دوید
“Yet for Rostam's sake he could not rest; like a surging wind he ran to Rostam's side.”
#25
خروشید و جوشید و برکند خاک
✦
ز نعلش زمین شد همه چاک چاک
“He neighed, raged, and tore up the ground; under his hoofs the earth split asunder.”
#26
چو بیدار شد رستم از خواب خوش
✦
برآشفت با بارهٔ دستکش
“When Rostam awoke from sweet sleep, he flared in fury at his beloved steed.”
#27
چنان ساخت روشن جهان‌آفرین
✦
که پنهان نکرد اژدها را زمین
“Then the World-Creator made the world so bright that the earth could hide the dragon no longer.”
#28
برآن تیرگی رستم او را بدید
✦
سبک تیغ تیز از میان برکشید
“In that faint light Rostam beheld the beast; swiftly he drew his sharp sword from his waist.”
#29
بغرید برسان ابر بهار
✦
زمین کرد پر آتش از کارزار
“The dragon roared like a spring raincloud, turning the battleground into a pit of fire.”
#30
بدان اژدها گفت بر گوی نام
✦
کزین پس تو گیتی نبینی به کام
“Rostam cried to the dragon: 'Declare your name! For after this hour you shall not see the world to your desire!'”
#31
نباید که بی‌نام بر دست من
✦
روانت برآید ز تاریک تن
“'Lest your soul depart nameless from your dark body at my hands!'”
#32
چنین گفت دژخیم نر اژدها
✦
که از چنگ من کس نیابد رها
“The cruel dragon replied: 'None has ever escaped from my ferocious claws!'”
#33
صداندرصد از دشت جای منست
✦
بلند آسمانش هوای منست
“'For a hundred parasangs this desert is my domain, and the high heavens are my air!'”
#34
نیارد گذشتن به سر بر عقاب
✦
ستاره نبیند زمینش به خواب
“'No eagle dares soar above this ground, nor do the stars see its earth in sleep!'”
#35
بدو اژدها گفت نام تو چیست
✦
که زاینده را بر تو باید گریست
“The dragon said to him: 'What is your name? For she who birthed you must now weep over you!'”
#36
چنین داد پاسخ که من رستمم
✦
ز دستان و از سام و از نیرمم
“Rostam answered: 'I am Rostam, son of Dastan, son of Sam, son of Nariman!'”
#37
به تنها یکی کینه‌ور لشکرم
✦
به رخش دلاور زمین بسپرم
“'Single-handedly a vengeful army, treading the earth upon valiant Rakhsh!'”
#38
برآویخت با او به جنگ اژدها
✦
نیامد به فرجام هم زو رها
“The dragon plunged into battle with him, yet in the end could not escape his fate.”
#39
چو زور تن اژدها دید رخش
✦
کزان سان برآویخت با تاجبخش
“When Rakhsh saw the dragon's terrible power grappling so fiercely with the crown-bestower,”
#40
بمالید گوش اندر آمد شگفت
✦
بلند اژدها را به دندان گرفت
“He flattened his ears, stepped forward wondrously, and seized the tall dragon with his teeth!”
#41
بدرید کتفش بدندان چو شیر
✦
برو خیره شد پهلوان دلیر
“Like a lion he tore its shoulder with his teeth, leaving the brave hero struck with wonder!”
#42
بزد تیغ و بنداخت از بر سرش
✦
فرو ریخت چون رود خون از برش
“Rostam struck with his blade and severed its head from its body; blood poured down like a rushing river.”
#43
زمین شد به زیر تنش ناپدید
✦
یکی چشمه خون از برش بردمید
“The earth vanished beneath its bulk, and a spring of blood erupted from its neck.”
#44
چو رستم برآن اژدهای دژم
✦
نگه کرد برزد یکی تیز دم
“When Rostam gazed upon that ferocious dragon, he drew a deep, heavy breath.”
#45
بیابان همه زیر او بود پاک
✦
روان خون گرم از بر تیره خاک
“The desert lay cleared beneath him, while warm blood flowed over the dark earth.”
#46
تهمتن ازو در شگفتی بماند
✦
همی پهلوی نام یزدان بخواند
“Tahamtan stood in wonderment, and chanted the divine name of Yazdan in Pahlavi.”
#47
به آب اندر آمد سر و تن بشست
✦
جهان جز به زور جهانبان نجست
“He stepped into the water and washed his head and body, seeking victory in the world only through the Lord's strength.”
#48
به یزدان چنین گفت کای دادگر
✦
تو دادی مرا دانش و زور و فر
“He prayed to Yazdan: 'O Just Lord, You bestowed upon me wisdom, strength, and Divine Glory,'”
#49
که پیشم چه شیر و چه دیو و چه پیل
✦
بیابان بی‌آب و دریای نیل
“'So that before me, lion, demon, or elephant, waterless desert or the river Nile are all as one!'”
#50
بداندیش بسیار و گر اندکیست
✦
چو خشم آورم پیش چشمم یکیست
“'Whether enemies be many or few, when my wrath is kindled, they are all as one in my eyes!'”