The World-Champion Rostam dispatched a vigilant and wise envoy bearing a fiery missile of a letter to the ruler of Hamavaran—a letter echoing with the grim promise of maces, swords, and merciless war. Tahamtan reproached the King for abandoning the noble code of champions, using treacherous ambushes to ensnare King Kay Kavus and the Iranian nobles. Rostam delivered a stark ultimatum: release Kay Kavus immediately to escape the dragon’s maw of Iranian retribution; otherwise, prepare for a cataclysmic battle where death would be the only harvest.
When the envoy delivered the message, the King of Hamavaran felt his mind reel, and the bright world turned pitch-black before his eyes. Yet, consumed by foolish pride, he sent back a defiant reply, declaring that Kay Kavus would never again walk free across the plains, and that Rostam would find only chains, dungeons, and crushing maces should he dare enter Barbarstan.
Upon hearing this insolent refusal, Rostam and his chieftains convened. Knowing the land route was fraught with delays, the elephant-bodied hero ordered his vast host to board ships and galleys, carving a path across the waves straight to the borders of Hamavaran. Like an unleashing storm, the Iranian forces struck the coast, leaving ruin and panic in their wake.
The King of Hamavaran marched out with his army, but the moment Rostam appeared upon Rakhsh, his massive frame towering over the field with a heavy mace resting on his shoulder, absolute terror gripped the enemy. Rostam unleashed a roar that shook the earth and charged. Beholding his terrible power, the courage of Hamavaran’s ranks disintegrated; the host fled in terror, and the King retreated in shame to his citadel.
Desperate and cornered, the ruler of Hamavaran summoned two swift couriers, dispatching desperate letters written in tears of blood to the Kings of Egypt and Barbar. He warned them that should they fail to unite with him, Rostam’s conquest would sweep across all their realms unchecked. Terrified by the looming threat of Tahamtan, the rulers of Egypt and Barbar mobilized their armies, marching to Hamavaran until the earth transformed into endless mountains of men, obliterating even the footprints of ants.
Beholding the massive tripartite coalition, Rostam felt a pang of concern not for himself, but for the safety of Kay Kavus. He dispatched a secret messenger to the captive King, warning him: 'The sovereigns of three realms have united against me. I can shatter their host, yet I fear that in the madness of battle, harm may befall your royal person. The throne of Barbar is worthless to me if the Shah suffers.'
The messenger slipped into the citadel and delivered Tahamtan's words. Hearing this, Kay Kavus remained undaunted, replying with heroic fortitude: 'Worry not for my plight, for the turning heavens have ever mixed poison with nectar and war with love. Above all, Almighty God is my protector! Give radiant Rakhsh his reins, sharpen your spearhead, and leave not a single enemy alive upon the earth!' The messenger returned like wind to Rostam. Reassured by his sovereign's brave spirit, Tahamtan tightened his armor and rode forth to face the vast army in the great battle to come.
#1
یکی مرد بیدار جوینده راه
✦
فرستاد نزدیک کاووس شاه
“A vigilant man, a seeker of the righteous path, he dispatched toward King Kavus's realm.”
#2
به نزدیک سالار هاماوران
✦
بشد نامداری ز کندآوران
“To the ruler of Hamavaran went a renowned hero among brave champions.”
#3
یکی نامه بنوشت با گیر و دار
✦
پر از گرز و شمشیر و پرکارزار
“He wrote a letter filled with strife and grandeur, brimming with maces, swords, and war.”
#4
که بر شاه ایران کمین ساختی
✦
بپیوستن اندر بد انداختی
“"You laid an ambush for the King of Iran, turning a peaceful alliance into calamity."”
#5
نه مردی بود چاره جستن به جنگ
✦
نرفتن به رسم دلاور پلنگ
“"It is not manhood to seek trickery in war, nor to stray from the custom of the valiant panther."”
#6
که در جنگ هرگز نسازد کمین
✦
اگر چند باشد دلش پر ز کین
“"For a true warrior never sets an ambush in battle, no matter how filled with vengeance his heart may be."”
#7
اگر شاه کاووس یابد رها
✦
تو رستی ز چنگ و دم اژدها
“"If King Kay Kavus finds release, you shall escape the claws and breath of the dragon."”
#8
وگرنه بیارای جنگ مرا
✦
به گردن بپیمای هنگ مرا
“"Otherwise, array your forces for my battle, and measure my overwhelming might upon your neck!"”
#9
فرستاده شد نزد هاماوران
✦
بدادش پیام یکایک سران
“The messenger was dispatched to Hamavaran, delivering the message of each and every chieftain.”
#10
چو پیغام بشنید و نامه بخواند
✦
ز کردار خود در شگفتی بماند
“When the ruler heard the message and read the letter, he remained bewildered by his own deed.”
#11
چو برخواند نامه سرش خیره شد
✦
جهان پیش چشمش همه تیره شد
“As he read the letter, his mind grew dazed, and the world turned dark before his eyes.”
#12
چنین داد پاسخ که کاووس کی
✦
به هامون دگر نسپرد نیز پی
“Yet he answered thus: "Kay Kavus shall never tread upon the plains again!"”
#13
تو هرگه که آیی به بربرستان
✦
نبینی مگر تیغ و گرز گران
“"Whenever you come to Barbarstan, you shall see naught but sharp swords and heavy maces!"”
#14
همین بند و زندانت آراستست
✦
اگر رایت این آرزو خواستست
“"These very chains and dungeons are prepared for you, should your heart desire such a fate!"”
#15
بیایم بجنگ تو من با سپاه
✦
برین گونه سازیم آیین و راه
“"I shall come to fight you with my army; in this manner shall we set our custom and path."”
#16
چو بشنید پاسخ‌گو پیلتن
✦
دلیران لشکر شدند انجمن
“When the elephant-bodied champion heard this response, the brave warriors of the army gathered in council.”
#17
سوی راه دریا بیامد به جنگ
✦
که بر خشک بر بود ره با درنگ
“He marched toward the sea route for war, for the land passage was full of delay.”
#18
به کشتی و زورق سپاهی گران
✦
بشد تا سر مرز هاماوران
“With ships and vessels carrying a massive host, he advanced to the very border of Hamavaran.”
#19
به تاراج و کشتن نهادند روی
✦
ز خون روی کشور شده جوی جوی
“They turned to pillage and slaying, until streams of blood ran across the face of the land.”
#20
خبر شد به شاه هماور ازین
✦
که رستم نهادست بر رخش زین
“News reached the King of Hamavaran that Rostam had laid the saddle upon Rakhsh.”
#21
ببایست تا گاهش آمد به جنگ
✦
نبد روزگار سکون و درنگ
“The hour for him to fight had arrived; it was no longer a time for rest or delay.”
#22
چو بیرون شد از شهر خود با سپاه
✦
به روز درخشان شب آمد سیاه
“When he marched out of his city with his army, the bright day turned to pitch-black night.”
#23
چپ و راست لشکر بیاراستند
✦
به جنگ اندرون نامور خواستند
“Left and right wings of the armies were arrayed, and in the battle, renowned champions were called forth.”
#24
گو پیلتن گفت جنگی منم
✦
به آوردگه بر درنگی منم
“The elephant-bodied hero proclaimed: "I am the warrior of renown! On the battlefield, I am the one who tarries not!"”
#25
برآورد گرز گران را به دوش
✦
برانگیخت رخش و برآمد خروش
“He raised his heavy mace upon his shoulder, spurred Rakhsh, and a mighty roar erupted.”
#26
چو دیدند لشکر بر و یال اوی
✦
به چنگ اندرون گرز و گوپال اوی
“When the enemy army beheld his chest and neck, and in his grip the heavy mace and battle-ax,”
#27
تو گفتی که دلشان برآمد ز تن
✦
ز هولش پراگنده شد انجمن
“You would say their hearts burst from their bodies; in sheer terror, their ranks scattered.”
#28
همان شاه با نامور سرکشان
✦
ز رستم چو دیدند یک یک نشان
“The King and his exalted chieftains, seeing these signs of Rostam one by one,”
#29
گریزان بیامد به هاماوران
✦
ز پیش تهمتن سپاهی گران
“Fled in terror back toward Hamavaran, a vast host scattering before Tahamtan.”
#30
چو بنشست سالار با رایزن
✦
دو مرد جوان خواست از انجمن
“When the ruler sat with his counselor, he summoned two swift young men from the assembly,”
#31
بدان تا فرستد هم اندر زمان
✦
به مصر و به بربر چو باد دمان
“To send them immediately to Egypt and Barbar like a rushing wind.”
#32
یکی نامه هر یک به چنگ اندرون
✦
نوشته به درد دل از آب خون
“In the hands of each was a letter, written from the anguish of a heart bleeding tears of blood.”
#33
کزین پادشاهی بدان نیست دور
✦
بهم بود نیک و بد و جنگ و سور
“"This kingdom is not far from yours; we shared good and ill, war and feast alike."”
#34
گرایدونک باشید با من یکی
✦
ز رستم نترسم به جنگ اندکی
“"If you stand united with me now, I shall not fear Rostam in battle even a little."”
#35
وگرنه بدان پادشاهی رسد
✦
درازست بر هر سویی دست بد
“"Otherwise, he will conquer this realm, and the hand of evil will reach far in every direction."”
#36
چو نامه به نزدیک ایشان رسید
✦
که رستم بدین دشت لشکر کشید
“When the letter reached them, telling that Rostam had led an army into this plain,”
#37
همه دل پر از بیم برخاستند
✦
سپاهی ز کشور بیاراستند
“Hearts filled with dread, they arose and assembled armies from their lands.”
#38
نهادند سر سوی هاماوران
✦
زمین کوه گشت از کران تا کران
“They set off toward Hamavaran, until the earth became mountains of men from horizon to horizon.”
#39
سپه کوه تا کوه صف برکشید
✦
پی مور شد بر زمین ناپدید
“The army drew up ranks from mountain to mountain; the footprint of an ant was lost upon the ground.”
#40
چو رستم چنان دید نزدیک شاه
✦
نهانی برافگند مردی به راه
“When Rostam saw this near the King, he secretly dispatched a swift messenger on the road,”
#41
که شاه سه کشور برآراستند
✦
بر این گونه از جای برخاستند
“Saying: "The kings of three realms have arrayed their hosts and arisen from their places."”
#42
اگر جنگ را من بجنبم ز جای
✦
ندانند سر را بدین کین ز پای
“"If I move to strike in battle, they will not know head from foot in this vengeance."”
#43
نباید کزین کین به تو بد رسد
✦
که کار بد از مردم بد رسد
“"Yet I fear lest harm come to you in this strife, for evil deeds come from evil men."”
#44
مرا تخت بربر نیاید به کار
✦
اگر بد رسد بر تن شهریار
“"The throne of Barbar is of no use to me if ill befalls the body of the Shah."”
#45
فرستاده بشنید و آمد دوان
✦
به نزدیک کاووس کی شد نهان
“The messenger heard and ran swiftly, secretly reaching King Kay Kavus.”
#46
پیام تهمتن همه باز راند
✦
چو بشنید کاووس خیره بماند
“The messenger delivered Tahamtan's message in full; when Kavus heard it, he was left astounded.”
#47
چنین داد پاسخ که مندیش ازین
✦
نه گسترده از بهر من شد زمین
“He replied: 'Be not anxious on this account, for the earth was not spread out solely for my ease.'”
#48
چنین بود تا بود گردان سپهر
✦
که با نوش زهرست با جنگ مهر
“'Thus has the revolving sphere been from the start: poison ever attends its nectar, and strife is entwined with love.'”
#49
و دیگر که دارنده یار منست
✦
بزرگی و مهرش حصار منست
“'Furthermore, the Almighty Creator is my ally; His greatness and His loving-kindness are my fortress.'”
#50
تو رخش درخشنده را ده عنان
✦
بیارای گوشش به نوک سنان
“'Give free rein to gleaming Rakhsh, and adorn his ears with the sharp point of your spear.'”
#51
ازیشان یکی زنده اندر جهان
✦
ممان آشکارا نه اندر نهان
“'Leave not a single one of them alive upon the earth, neither openly nor in secret.'”
#52
فرستاده پاسخ بیاورد زود
✦
بر رستم زال زر شد چو دود
“The messenger swiftly brought back the answer, speeding like smoke to Rostam, the son of Zal of the Golden Hair.”
#53
تهمتن چو بشنید گفتار اوی
✦
بسیچید و زی جنگ بنهاد روی
“When Tahamtan heard his sovereign's words, he made swift preparation and set his face toward the battlefield.”