Adorned in his royal helmet and clad in the tiger-skin coat of Babr-e Bayan soaked with sweat, Rostam rode directly toward the camp of Arzhang Div. As he reached the demon vanguard, he let out a thunderous roar so immense it seemed to split the mountains and shatter the sea. Arzhang Div rushed out of his tent upon hearing the terrifying cry. Seeing him, Rostam spurred Rakhsh forward like the blazing fire of Adar Gushasp, seized the demon commander by the hair, ears, and mane, and ripped his head cleanly from his neck like a ravenous lion. He hurled the bloody, severed head straight into the midst of the demonic assembly.
When the demon warriors beheld the gruesome sight of their leader's head and the iron mace of Rostam, terror pierced their hearts. Forgetting home and realm, they fled in complete chaos, fathers trampling over sons in their desperate flight. Rostam unsheathed his vengeful sword and swept the field clear of evil. Victorious and radiant, he returned to Mount Esparuz, untied Avlad, and rested under the shade of a tall tree. There, the champion demanded the location of the city where King Kay Kavus was held captive. Avlad at once ran swiftly on foot before him, guiding the champion toward the royal prison.
As Rostam drew near the city, Rakhsh let out a mighty roar that echoed like thunder across the heavens. Inside the city, King Kay Kavus heard the steed's voice and proclaimed to the blinded Iranian captives that their dark days were over, recognizing the unmistakable cry of Rostam’s horse—a roar unheard since the ancient battles of King Qobad against the Turks. Rostam entered the city, approached Kavus and the gathered Iranian nobles, bowed low in reverence, and inquired of their long suffering. Kavus embraced him, weeping with joy, and asked after Zal and the perils of Rostam's journey.
Yet Kavus quickly warned Rostam in secret: before news of Arzhang's death reached the White Demon and summoned all the demon hosts to war, Rostam had to set off immediately for the lair of the White Demon. The King revealed that the journey lay across seven perilous mountains guarded by savage demon bands, leading to a dreadful cave where the White Demon presided. Furthermore, Kavus shared the tragic secret of their captivity: the sorcery of the demons had struck the king and his warriors completely blind. Wise physicians had foretold that dropping three drops of the White Demon's heart and brain blood into their sightless eyes was the sole remedy to wash away the darkness. Empowered by duty, Rostam readied his weapons and took leave of the captives, promising that if God willed it, he would shatter the demonic host, restore their vision, and return the ancient throne of Iran to its rightful glory.
#1
یکی مغفری خسروی بر سرش
✦
خوی آلوده ببر بیان در برش
“With a royal helmet upon his head, his tiger-skin armor drenched in sweat,”
#2
به ارژنگ سالار بنهاد روی
✦
چو آمد بر لشکر نامجوی
“The renowned champion advanced toward the camp of Arzhang, the demon chieftain.”
#3
یکی نعره زد در میان گروه
✦
تو گفتی بدرید دریا و کوه
“He let out a mighty shout among the host, as though the mountains and seas were torn asunder.”
#4
برون آمد از خیمه ارژنگ دیو
✦
چو آمد به گوش اندرش آن غریو
“Arzhang Div emerged from his tent when that terrifying roar reached his ears.”
#5
چو رستم بدیدش برانگیخت اسپ
✦
بیامد بر وی چو آذر گشسپ
“When Rostam saw him, he spurred his steed, charging at him like the sacred fire of Adar Gushasp.”
#6
سر و گوش بگرفت و یالش دلیر
✦
سر از تن بکندش به کردار شیر
“He seized his head, ears, and mane bravely, ripping his head from his body like a lion.”
#7
پر از خون سر دیو کنده ز تن
✦
بینداخت ز آنسو که بود انجمن
“Tearing off the demon's blood-soaked head, he cast it into the midst of the assembled horde.”
#8
چو دیوان بدیدند گوپال اوی
✦
بدریدشان دل ز چنگال اوی
“When the demons beheld his mace, their hearts were torn with terror at his grasp.”
#9
نکردند یاد بر و بوم و رست
✦
پدر بر پسر بر همی راه جست
“They gave no thought to home or land; father fled over son in utter panic.”
#10
برآهیخت شمشیر کین پیلتن
✦
بپردخت یکباره زان انجمن
“The elephant-bodied hero drew his sword of vengeance and swept that assembly clean at once.”
#11
چو برگشت پیروز گیتی‌فروز
✦
بیامد دمان تا به کوه اسپروز
“When he returned victorious and world-illuminating, he hurried back to Mount Esparuz.”
#12
ز اولاد بگشاد خم کمند
✦
نشستند زیر درختی بلند
“He untied the bonds from Avlad, and they sat down together beneath a tall tree.”
#13
تهمتن ز اولاد پرسید راه
✦
به شهری کجا بود کاووس شاه
“Tahamtan asked Avlad the way to the city where King Kay Kavus was imprisoned.”
#14
چو بشنید ازو تیز بنهاد روی
✦
پیاده دوان پیش او راهجوی
“When Avlad heard him, he set out swiftly, running on foot ahead of him to guide the path.”
#15
چو آمد به شهر اندرون تاجبخش
✦
خروشی برآورد چون رعد رخش
“As the crown-bestower reached the city, Rakhsh let out a roar like thunder.”
#16
به ایرانیان گفت پس شهریار
✦
که بر ما سرآمد بد روزگار
“The monarch then said to the Iranians, 'Our ill fortune has come to an end!'”
#17
خروشیدن رخشم آمد به گوش
✦
روان و دلم تازه شد زان خروش
“'The roar of my Rakhsh has reached my ears; my soul and heart are made fresh by that cry!'”
#18
به گاه قباد این خروشش نکرد
✦
کجا کرد با شاه ترکان نبرد
“'He has not roared like this since the time of Qobad, when he fought the King of the Turks.'”
#19
بیامد هم اندر زمان پیش اوی
✦
یل دانش‌افروز پرخاشجوی
“At that moment, the wise and warlike hero came forward before him.”
#20
به نزدیک کاووس شد پیلتن
✦
همه سرفرازان شدند انجمن
“The elephant-bodied hero went before Kavus, and all the nobles gathered around.”
#21
غریوید بسیار و بردش نماز
✦
بپرسیدش از رنجهای دراز
“He wept bitterly and paid homage, asking about their long sufferings.”
#22
گرفتش به آغوش کاووس شاه
✦
ز زالش بپرسید و از رنج راه
“King Kavus took him into his embrace, inquiring of Zal and the hardships of the road.”
#23
بدو گفت پنهان ازین جادوان
✦
همی رخش را کرد باید روان
“He whispered secretly to him: 'You must spur Rakhsh forward away from these sorcerers,'”
#24
چو آید به دیو سپید آگهی
✦
کز ارژنگ شد روی گیتی تهی
“'Before word reaches the White Demon that the face of the earth is freed of Arzhang,'”
#25
که نزدیک کاووس شد پیلتن
✦
همه نره دیوان شوند انجمن
“'And that the elephant-bodied hero has reached Kavus, lest all the male demons assemble.'”
#26
همه رنجهای تو بی‌بر شود
✦
ز دیوان جهان پر ز لشکر شود
“'Lest all your labors come to naught, and the world be filled with a demonic army.'”
#27
تو اکنون ره خانهٔ دیو گیر
✦
به رنج اندرآور تن و تیغ و تیر
“'Now make your way toward the home of the demon; put your body, blade, and arrow to the toil.'”
#28
مگر یار باشدت یزدان پاک
✦
سر جادوان اندر آری به خاک
“'May pure God be your helper, so that you bring the chief of sorcerers down to the dust.'”
#29
گذر کرد باید بر هفت کوه
✦
ز دیوان به هر جای کرده گروه
“'You must cross over seven mountains, where bands of demons are stationed everywhere.'”
#30
یکی غار پیش آیدت هولناک
✦
چنان چون شنیدم پر از بیم و باک
“'A fearful cave will lie ahead of you, so dread-filled as I have heard.'”
#31
گذارت بران نره دیوان جنگ
✦
همه رزم را ساخته چون پلنگ
“'Your path lies through those warlike male demons, all arrayed for battle like panthers.'”
#32
به غار اندرون گاه دیو سپید
✦
کزویند لشکر به بیم و امید
“'In that cave is the lair of the White Demon, upon whom their army rests its fear and hope.'”
#33
توانی مگر کردن او را تباه
✦
که اویست سالار و پشت سپاه
“'Perhaps you can destroy him, for he is the chief and pillar of their host.'”
#34
سپه را ز غم چشمها تیره شد
✦
مرا چشم در تیرگی خیره شد
“'The eyes of our army have been darkened with grief; my own vision has been blinded by the dark.'”
#35
پزشکان به درمانش کردند امید
✦
به خون دل و مغز دیو سپید
“'The physicians gave hope for cure through the heart's blood and brain of the White Demon.'”
#36
چنین گفت فرزانه مردی پزشک
✦
که چون خون او را بسان سرشک
“Thus spoke a wise physician: 'When his blood, like teardrops,'”
#37
چکانی سه قطره به چشم اندرون
✦
شود تیرگی پاک با خون برون
“'Is dropped three drops into the eye, the darkness will be completely banished with the blood.'”
#38
گو پیلتن جنگ را ساز کرد
✦
ازان جایگه رفتن آغاز کرد
“The elephant-bodied champion prepared for battle and began his departure from that place.”
#39
به ایرانیان گفت بیدار بید
✦
که من کردم آهنگ دیو سپید
“He said to the Iranians: 'Be vigilant, for I have set out against the White Demon!'”
#40
یکی پیل جنگی و چاره‌گرست
✦
فراوان به گرداندرش لشکرست
“'He is a war-elephant and full of wiles, with a vast army surrounding him.'”
#41
گر ایدونک پشت من آرد به خم
✦
شما دیر مانید خوار و دژم
“'If perchance my back is bent in defeat, you will remain in misery and sorrow for long.'”
#42
وگر یار باشد خداوند هور
✦
دهد مر مرا اختر نیک زور
“'But if the Lord of the Sun be my helper, He will grant my star mighty power,'”
#43
همان بوم و بر باز یابید و تخت
✦
به بار آید آن خسروانی درخت
“'And you shall regain this land and the royal throne; that princely tree shall bear fruit once more.'”