#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.”