Following the wondrous victories of Rostam and the liberation of the Iranian host, King Kay Kavus ordered a grand scribe to write a fateful letter upon fine white silk, woven with threads of hope and dread. The missive opened with solemn praise to Yazdan, the Just Creator who endowed humanity with intellect, established the rotating heavens, and bestowed capacity for both good and evil. Kavus warned the monarch of Mazandaran to take heed of how the Almighty had crushed the malevolent sorcerers and demons. He demanded that the ruler set aside his crown, travel to the Kianian court as a humble vassal, and pay royal tribute—for no mortal or demon could withstand the terrible grasp of Rostam. Should he refuse, Kavus promised that the same doom which erased Arzhang Div and the White Demon would surely claim his life.
Kavus then summoned Farhad, a renowned Iranian paladin famed for his steel blade and steadfast spirit. Farhad kissed the earth in allegiance, accepted the scroll, and rode straight toward the grim realm of Mazandaran—a land inhabited by ruthless, iron-jawed warriors. Upon hearing of the Iranian envoy's arrival, the King of Mazandaran assembled a host of his fiercest demons and champions, instructing them to adopt the fierce demeanor of leopards to strike terror into the heart of the messenger.
When the demon warriors met Farhad, their brows were furrowed in menace. One colossal demon gripped Farhad's hand and squeezed it with monstrous force, intending to crush his bones. Yet Farhad's resolve was absolute; his countenance did not pale, nor did he utter a single groan. Unbroken, he was escorted into the presence of the demon king. There, Farhad laid the silk scroll, scented with musk and wine, before the royal scribe.
As the letter was read aloud, disclosing how Rostam had slain Arzhang Div, the White Demon, Bid Div, and Pulad-Ghandi, the King of Mazandaran was overwhelmed with grief and dread. His eyes wept tears of blood as he realized the world would know no peace while Rostam lived. Mourning his fallen demon commanders, the king sat in quiet terror, realizing the storm of Iranian vengeance had arrived at his gates.
#1
یکی نامه‌ای بر حریر سپید
✦
بدو اندرون چند بیم و امید
“A letter was written upon white silk, containing within it much fear and hope.”
#2
دبیری خردمند بنوشت خوب
✦
پدید آورید اندرو زشت و خوب
“A wise scribe recorded it beautifully, setting forth clearly both the good and the bad.”
#3
نخست آفرین کرد بر دادگر
✦
کزو دید پیدا به گیتی هنر
“First, he praised the Just Creator, from whom all wisdom and excellence in the world manifest.”
#4
خرد داد و گردان سپهر آفرید
✦
درشتی و تندی و مهر آفرید
“He who bestowed intellect and created the turning sphere, who fashioned sternness, fury, and love.”
#5
به نیک و به بد دادمان دستگاه
✦
خداوند گردنده خورشید و ماه
“He gave us free will for good and evil, the Lord of the turning sun and moon.”
#6
اگر دادگر باشی و پاک دین
✦
ز هر کس نیابی به جز آفرین
“If you are righteous and pure of faith, you shall receive nothing from anyone except praise.”
#7
وگر بدنشان باشی و بدکنش
✦
ز چرخ بلند آیدت سرزنش
“But if you are evil-natured and malevolent, reproof shall rain down upon you from the high heavens.”
#8
جهاندار اگر دادگر باشدی
✦
ز فرمان او کی گذر باشدی
“If the ruler of the world is just, who would ever stray from his divine command?”
#9
سزای تو دیدی که یزدان چه کرد
✦
ز دیو و ز جادو برآورد گرد
“You saw what God deservedly wrought: how He raised dust from the demons and sorcerers.”
#10
کنون گر شوی آگه از روزگار
✦
روان و خرد بادت آموزگار
“Now, if you become aware of the turn of times, let wisdom and soul be your true teachers.”
#11
همانجا بمان تاج مازندران
✦
بدین بارگاه آی چون کهتران
“Leave the crown of Mazandaran where it is, and come to this court as a humble servant,”
#12
که با چنگ رستم ندارید تاو
✦
بده زود بر کام ما باژ و ساو
“For you have no power against Rostam's claw; surrender your tribute and tax willingly and swiftly.”
#13
وگر گاه مازندران بایدت
✦
مگر زین نشان راه بگشایدت
“And if you wish to retain the throne of Mazandaran, perhaps this path of submission will open the way for you.”
#14
وگرنه چو ارژنگ و دیو سپید
✦
دلت کرد باید ز جان ناامید
“Otherwise, like Arzhang and the White Demon, you must sever all hope from your life.”
#15
بخواند آن زمان شاه فرهاد را
✦
گرایندهٔ تیغ پولاد را
“Then the king summoned Farhad, the fierce wielder of the steel sword.”
#16
گزین بزرگان آن شهر بود
✦
ز بی‌کاری و رنج بی‌بهر بود
“He was among the elite grandees of that city, untainted by weakness or hardship.”
#17
بدو گفت کاین نامهٔ پندمند
✦
ببر سوی آن دیو جسته ز بند
“Kavus said to him: 'Carry this counsel-filled letter to that demon who has escaped his bounds.'”
#18
چو از شاه بشنید فرهاد گرد
✦
زمین را ببوسید و نامه ببرد
“When warrior Farhad heard the king's command, he kissed the ground and took the letter.”
#19
به شهری کجا سست پایان بدند
✦
سواران پولادخایان بدند
“He rode toward a city where even weak riders became steel-chewing horsemen,”
#20
هم آنکس که بودند پا از دوال
✦
لقبشان چنین بود بسیار سال
“Where men were bound so constantly to the stirrup strap that this epithet remained with them for years.”
#21
بدان شهر بد شاه مازندران
✦
هم آنجا دلیران و کندآوران
“In that city dwelt the King of Mazandaran, surrounded by valiant and formidable champions.”
#22
چو بشنید کز نزد کاووس شاه
✦
فرستاده‌ای باهش آمد ز راه
“When he heard that an intelligent envoy had arrived from King Kay Kavus,”
#23
پذیره شدن را سپاه گران
✦
دلیران و شیران مازندران
“A heavy host of warriors and fierce lions of Mazandaran went out to greet him.”
#24
ز لشکر یکایک همه برگزید
✦
ازیشان هنر خواست کاید پدید
“The king selected them one by one from the army, seeking to display their martial prowess.”
#25
چنین گفت کامروز فرزانگی
✦
جدا کرد نتوان ز دیوانگی
“He spoke thus: 'Today wisdom cannot be sundered from demonic wildness.'”
#26
همه راه و رسم پلنگ آورید
✦
سر هوشمندان به چنگ آورید
“'Adopt the fearsome custom of leopards, and capture the heart of this wise envoy in your grip.'”
#27
پذیره شدندش پر از چین به روی
✦
سخنشان نرفت ایچ بر آرزوی
“They met him with deeply cut frowns upon their faces, their words offering no warm welcome.”
#28
یکی دست بگرفت و بفشاردش
✦
پی و استخوانها بیازاردش
“One demon seized Farhad's hand and squeezed it so hard that his sinews and bones were agonized.”
#29
نگشت ایچ فرهاد را روی زرد
✦
نیامد برو رنج بسیار و درد
“Yet Farhad's face did not turn pale at all, nor did he display any mark of great pain or suffering.”
#30
ببردند فرهاد را نزد شاه
✦
ز کاووس پرسید و ز رنج راه
“They brought Farhad before the king, who inquired about Kavus and the hardships of his journey.”
#31
پس آن نامه بنهاد پیش دبیر
✦
می و مشک انداخته پر حریر
“Then Farhad placed that letter before the scribe—a silk scroll steeped in wine and fragrant musk.”
#32
چو آگه شد از رستم و کار دیو
✦
پر از خون شدش دیده دل پرغریو
“When the king learned of Rostam and the fate of the demon lords, his eyes filled with blood and his heart with turmoil.”
#33
به دل گفت پنهان شود آفتاب
✦
شب آید بود گاه آرام و خواب
“He said secretly in his heart: 'The sun will hide itself, and night shall come for rest and sleep.'”
#34
ز رستم نخواهد جهان آرمید
✦
نخواهد شدن نام او ناپدید
“'Yet the world will find no rest from Rostam, nor will his glorious name ever vanish.'”
#35
غمی گشت از ارژنگ و دیو سپید
✦
که شد کشته پولاد غندی و بید
“He grew deeply grieved for Arzhang and the White Demon, that Pulad-Ghandi and Bid had been slain.”
#36
چو آن نامهٔ شاه یکسر بخواند
✦
دو دیده به خون دل اندر نشاند
“When he had read the king's letter completely from end to end, his two eyes wept the blood of his heavy heart.”