Following the legendary triumphs of Rostam in Egypt and Barbaristan, King Kay Kavus dispatched a swift messenger to the Caesar of Rum, calling upon experienced chieftains and master spearmen to rally under the imperial banner. Meanwhile, tidings of Rostam's formidable feats reached the Spear-bearing Horsemen of the Arab Plain and the realm of Hamavaran. Remembering how Afrasiab of Turan and the hosts of Gurgsaran had previously invaded their lands and sought the Iranian crown, the Arab lords drafted a loyal epistle to Kavus. They declared that now the Shah was restored, their lances were at his command, ready to drench the desert from mountain to mountain with the blood of Turan.
Heartened by their allegiance, Kay Kavus penned a blistering ultimatum to Afrasiab. He castigated the Turanian king for his senseless ambition, warning him that Iran was the sacred throne of the Kianian dynasty. 'Though a leopards be bold,' Kavus declared, 'it cannot face the lion's claws. Be content with Turan and withdraw, lest endless grief engulf you.' Yet Afrasiab's heart burned with malice upon receiving the missive. He hurled back a defiant response, claiming Iran by double right: first as the lineage of Tur, son of Fereydun, and second by the strength of his own blade which had cleared the land. He boasted that he would shear mountain peaks and bring down eagles from the clouds in the coming clash.
Upon receiving this arrogant reply, Kay Kavus arrayed his boundless host and marched from Barbaristan toward Syria. Afrasiab met him on the field of battle, where the roar of war-horns deafened the heavens and churning dust blotted out the sun. A bloodbath ensued; battle-axes shattered armors and rivers of gore flooded the plain. The star of Turan set in gloom as two-thirds of Afrasiab's force were slaughtered. Furious and desperate, boiling like hot wine, Afrasiab implored his remaining champions, promising his daughter's hand and half his realm to any warrior who could unhorse the mighty Rostam of Sagestan. The Turanians made one final, desperate charge, but the Iranian vanguard smashed their ranks. Broken-hearted and tasting poison where he had sought sweet victory, Afrasiab fled with his ruined remnants back into the deep reaches of Turan.
#1
فرستاده شد نزد قیصر ز شاه
✦
سواری که اندر نوردید راه
“A swift rider was dispatched by the King to the Caesar of Rum, traversing the long roads with speed.”
#2
بفرمود کز نامداران روم
✦
کسی کاو بنازد بران مرز و بوم
“He ordered that from among the nobles of Rum, whoever took pride in that realm,”
#3
جهان دیده باید عنان‌دار کس
✦
سنان و سپر بایدش یار بس
“Should be an experienced chieftain, master of the reins, with spear and shield as his sole companions.”
#4
چنین لشکری باید از مرز روم
✦
که آیند با من به آباد بوم
“"Such an army must come forth from the borders of Rum, to join me in reclaiming the prosperous lands."”
#5
پس آگاهی آمد ز هاماوران
✦
بدشت سواران نیزه‌وران
“Then tidings reached Hamavaran and the Plain of Spear-bearing Horsemen,”
#6
که رستم به مصر و به بربر چه کرد
✦
بران شهریاران به روز نبرد
“Of what Rostam had accomplished in Egypt and Barbaristan against their kings on the day of battle.”
#7
دلیری بجستند گرد و سوار
✦
عنان پیچ و مردافگن و نیزه‌دار
“The warriors and chieftains sought out valiant men—masters of horse control, warrior-slayers, and skilled spearmen.”
#8
نوشتند نامه یکی مردوار
✦
سخنهای شایسته و آبدار
“They wrote a manly letter filled with worthy, eloquent, and polished words.”
#9
چو از گرگساران بیامد سپاه
✦
که جویند گاه سرافراز شاه
“"When the host of Gurgsaran marched forth to seize the throne of the exalted King,”
#10
دل ما شد از کار ایشان بدرد
✦
که دلشان چنین برتری یاد کرد
“Our hearts burned with grief over their actions, that they dared harbor such ambitions of superiority.”
#11
همی تاج او خواست افراسیاب
✦
ز راه خرد سرش گشته شتاب
“Afrasiab sought his crown, his mind having strayed far from the path of wisdom.”
#12
برفتیم با نیزه‌های دراز
✦
برو تلخ کردیم آرام و ناز
“We marched with long spears and turned his peace and luxury into bitterness.”
#13
ازیشان و از ما بسی کشته شد
✦
زمانه به هر نیک و بد گشته شد
“Many were slain from both sides, as Time turned through good and evil fortunes.”
#14
کنون کآمد از کار او آگهی
✦
که تازه شد آن تخت شاهنشهی
“Now that news has come of his deeds, and that the imperial throne has been renewed,”
#15
همه نامداران شمشیرزن
✦
برین کینه گه بر شدند انجمن
“All the sword-wielding nobles gathered together on this battleground of vengeance.”
#16
چو شه برگراید ز بربر عنان
✦
به گردن برآریم یکسر سنان
“When the King turns his reins from Barbaristan, we shall all raise our spears upon our shoulders,”
#17
زمین کوه تا کوه پرخون کنیم
✦
ز دشمن بیابان چو جیحون کنیم
“We shall fill the earth with blood from mountain to mountain, turning the desert into a river of enemy gore."”
#18
فرستاده تازی برافگند و رفت
✦
به بربرستان روی بنهاد و تفت
“The Arab messenger set out swiftly and rode post-haste toward Barbaristan.”
#19
چو نامه بر شاه ایران رسید
✦
بران گونه گفتار بایسته دید
“When the letter reached the Shah of Iran, he saw those worthy words and loyalty.”
#20
ازیشان پسند آمدش کارکرد
✦
به افراسیاب آن زمان نامه کرد
“He approved of their allegiance and actions, and straightway wrote a letter to Afrasiab.”
#21
که ایران بپرداز و بیشی مجوی
✦
سر ما شد از تو پر از گفت‌وگوی
“"Vacate Iran and seek no more excess! Our heads are full of weary talk because of you.”
#22
ترا شهر توران بسندست خود
✦
به خیره همی دست یازی ببد
“The land of Turan is quite enough for you; in vain do you stretch out your hand to evil!”
#23
فزونی مجوی ار شدی بی‌نیاز
✦
که درد آردت پیش رنج دراز
“Seek not greed if you have enough, lest it bring you endless grief and prolonged suffering.”
#24
ترا کهتری کار بستن نکوست
✦
نگه داشتن بر تن خویش پوست
“It behoves you to observe vassalage and preserve your own skin upon your body!”
#25
ندانی که ایران نشست من‌ست
✦
جهان سر به سر زیر دست من‌ست
“Know you not that Iran is my royal seat, and the whole world lies subject beneath my command?”
#26
پلنگ ژیان گرچه باشد دلیر
✦
نیارد شدن پیش چنگال شیر
“Though the ferocious leopard be fierce and bold, it dares not step before the claws of the lion!"”
#27
چو آگاهی آمد به افراسیاب
✦
سرش پر ز کین گشت و دل پرشتاب
“When tidings of this letter reached Afrasiab, his head filled with malice and his heart with fury.”
#28
فرستاد پاسخش کاین گفت‌وگوی
✦
نزیبد جز از مردم زشت خوی
“He sent a response: "Such arrogant discourse ill becomes anyone save those of foul nature!”
#29
ترا گر سزا بودی ایران بدان
✦
نیازت نبودی به مازندران
“If Iran were truly rightfully yours, you would have had no need to wander off to Mazandaran!”
#30
چنین گفت کایران دو رویه مراست
✦
بباید شنیدن سخنهای راست
“Know the truth: Iran belongs to me by a double claim!”
#31
که پور فریدون نیای من‌ست
✦
همه شهر ایران سرای من‌ست
“For the son of Fereydun (Tur) is my forefather; hence all the land of Iran is my native home!”
#32
و دیگر به بازوی شمشیرزن
✦
تهی کردم از تازیان انجمن
“And secondly, by the strength of my sword-wielding arm, I cleared the realm of the Arab host.”
#33
به شمشیر بستانم از کوه تیغ
✦
عقاب اندر آرم ز تاریک میغ
“With my blade I shall shear the peaks off mountains and bring down eagles from the dark clouds!”
#34
کنون آمدم جنگ را ساخته
✦
درفش درفشان برافراخته
“Now I have come prepared for battle, with radiant banners unfurled!"”
#35
فرستاده برگشت مانند باد
✦
سخنها به کاووس کی کرد یاد
“The messenger returned swift as the wind and recounted all those fierce words to Kay Kavus.”
#36
چو بشنید کاووس گفتار اوی
✦
بیاراست لشکر به پیکار اوی
“When Kavus heard his speech, he arrayed his army to march into battle against him.”
#37
ز بربر بیامد سوی سوریان
✦
یکی لشکری بی‌کران و میان
“From Barbaristan he marched toward Syria with a host boundless and immense.”
#38
به جنگش بیاراست افراسیاب
✦
به گردون همی خاک برزد ز آب
“Afrasiab arrayed his host for war, kicking dust from the waters up into the heavens.”
#39
جهان کر شد از نالهٔ بوق و کوس
✦
زمین آهنین شد هوا آبنوس
“The world grew deafened by the wail of clarions and war-drums; the earth turned to iron, the air to ebony.”
#40
ز زخم تبرزین و از بس ترنگ
✦
همی موج خون خاست از دشت جنگ
“From the blows of battle-axes and the clash of blades, waves of blood surged across the battlefield.”
#41
سر بخت گردان افراسیاب
✦
بران رزم‌گاه اندر آمد بخواب
“The fortune of Afrasiab's champions sank into deep sleep upon that battlefield.”
#42
دو بهره ز توران سپه کشته شد
✦
سرسرکشان پاک برگشته شد
“Two-thirds of the Turanian army were slain, and the minds of their proud leaders completely turned.”
#43
سپهدار چون کار زان‌گونه دید
✦
بی‌آتش بجوشید همچون نبید
“When the Turanian commander saw the battle turning thus, he boiled without fire like fermenting wine.”
#44
به آواز گفت ای دلیران من
✦
گزیده یلان نره شیران من
“He cried aloud: "O my brave warriors! My chosen heroes and male lions!”
#45
شما را ز بهر چنین روزگار
✦
همی پرورانیدم اندر کنار
“I have nurtured and cherished you in my arms for precisely such a dire day as this!”
#46
بکوشید و هم پشت جنگ آورید
✦
جهان را به کاووس تنگ آورید
“Strive with all your might and unite in battle, to turn the wide world into a suffocating place for Kavus.”
#47
یلان را به ژوپین و خنجر زنید
✦
دلیرانشان سر به سر بفگنید
“Strike down their warriors with javelins and daggers, and sever the heads of all their valiant heroes.”
#48
همان سگزی رستم شیردل
✦
که از شیر بستد به شمشیر دل
“Above all Rostam, that lion-hearted man of Sistan, who tore courage from the hearts of wild lions with his sword.”
#49
بود کز دلیری ببند آورید
✦
سرش را به دام گزند آورید
“It may be that through your courage you bring him in bonds, and entangle his head in the snare of ruin.”
#50
هرآنکس که او را به روز نبرد
✦
ز زین پلنگ اندر آرد به گرد
“Whosoever among you, on the day of battle, casteth him down from his leopard-skin saddle into the dust,”
#51
دهم دختر خویش و شاهی ورا
✦
برآرم سر از برج ماهی ورا
“I shall grant him my own daughter and my kingdom, raising his stature high above the stars of Pisces.”
#52
چو ترکان شنیدند گفتار اوی
✦
سراسر سوی رزم کردند روی
“When the Turks heard his exhortation, they turned their faces toward the field of battle as one.”
#53
بشد تیز با لشکر سوریان
✦
بدان سود جستن سرآمد زیان
“He rode forth swiftly with the army of Turan, yet his quest for profit ended in utter calamity.”
#54
چو روشن زمانه بران گونه دید
✦
ازانجا سوی شهر توران کشید
“When he perceived that fortune had turned grim against him, he retreated from that field toward the realm of Turan.”
#55
دلش خسته و کشته لشکر دو بهر
✦
همی نوش جست از جهان یافت زهر
“With a wounded heart and two-thirds of his host slain, he sought sweet wine from fate but swallowed bitter poison.”