The narrative opens with profound wisdom: when fate closes in, caution alone cannot avert destiny, yet valor must ever be paired with wisdom. Rostam the Elephant-Bodied hosted a magnificent feast in the realm of Navand, where the sacred flames of Azar Burzin radiated their guiding light. The illustrious chieftains of Iran assembled: Tus, Gudarz, Bahram, Giv, Gorgin, Zangeh-ye Shavaran, Gostahm, Khorad, Barzin, and the formidable Gorazeh, each leading a proud warlike retinue.
Days were spent in polo, archery, and golden revelry until, flushed with wine, Giv proposed a daring hunt in the private hunting grounds of King Afrasiab of Turan, near the River Shahd and the deserts of Sarakhs. Rostam embraced the challenge, and at dawn, the seven legendary champions rode across the border with falcons, hawks, and hunting leopards. For a full week, they hunted relentlessly, covering the Turanian steppes with slain wild asses and gazelles while enjoying endless feast and song.
On the eighth morning, the vigilant Rostam cautioned his comrades that news of their bold intrusion had surely reached Afrasiab, who would certainly march to trap them. He posted Gorazeh as an armed scout along the border road. Indeed, under the cover of night, word reached Afrasiab. Astonished and enraged by the audacity of the seven Iranian heroes, the Turanian king gathered his veterans and dispatched thirty thousand elite cavalry to launch a surprise attack.
When Gorazeh beheld the horizon black with dust and the sun-bright banner of Afrasiab, he galloped back like a swift wind to warn Rostam, who was merrily drinking wine. Yet Rostam merely laughed with thunderous disdain, declaring that seven Iranian lions were more than a match for tens of thousands of Turanian horsemen. Unshaken by the approaching tempest, the mighty champion raised a goblet of sweet Babylonian wine, toasting first King Kay Kavus, then kissing the earth in honor of Tus and his valiant brother Zovareh, turning imminent war into a triumph of unyielding fortitude.
#1
چه گفت آن سراینده مرد دلیر
✦
که ناگه برآویخت با نره شیر
“What said that brave, eloquent storyteller when he suddenly engaged in fight with a ferocious lion?”
#2
که گر نام مردی بجویی همی
✦
رخ تیغ هندی بشویی همی
“If you seek the reputation of manhood, you must bathe the face of your Indian blade in battle.”
#3
ز بدها نبایدت پرهیز کرد
✦
که پیش آیدت روز ننگ و نبرد
“You must not shrink from hardships, for the day of disgrace and battle will inevitably confront you.”
#4
زمانه چو آمد بتنگی فراز
✦
هم از تو نگردد به پرهیز باز
“When time narrows upon you, destiny will not turn away from you merely through caution.”
#5
چو همره کنی جنگ را با خرد
✦
دلیرت ز جنگ‌آوران نشمرد
“Yet if you make war without wisdom as your companion, the valiant will not count you among true warriors.”
#6
خرد را و دین را رهی دیگرست
✦
سخنهای نیکو به بند اندرست
“Wisdom and faith walk a different path, and noble words are bound in solemn wisdom.”
#7
کنون از ره رستم جنگجوی
✦
یکی داستانست با رنگ و بوی
“Now comes a vibrant, colorful tale concerning the path of warlike Rostam.”
#8
شنیدم که روزی گو پیلتن
✦
یکی سور کرد از در انجمن
“I heard that one day the elephant-bodied hero hosted a feast worthy of a noble assembly,”
#9
به جایی کجا نام او بد نوند
✦
بدو اندرون کاخهای بلند
“In a place whose name was Navand, wherein stood soaring palaces,”
#10
کجا آذر تیز برزین کنون
✦
بدانجا فروزد همی رهنمون
“Where now the bright fire of Burzin blazes as a shining guide.”
#11
بزرگان ایران بدان بزمگاه
✦
شدند انجمن نامور یک سپاه
“The nobles of Iran assembled at that banquet hall, a host of famous warriors.”
#12
چو طوس و چو گودرز کشوادگان
✦
چو بهرام و چون گیو آزادگان
“Such as Tus, Gudarz of the house of Kashvad, Bahram, and noble Giv,”
#13
چو گرگین و چون زنگهٔ شاوران
✦
چو گستهم و خراد جنگ‌آوران
“And Gorgin, Zangeh of Shavar, Gostahm, and the warlike Khorad,”
#14
چو برزین گردنکش تیغ زن
✦
گرازه کجا بد سر انجمن
“And the proud sword-striker Barzin, along with Gorazeh who sat at the head of the assembly.”
#15
ابا هر یک از مهتران مرد چند
✦
یکی لشکری نامدار ارجمند
“With each of these magnates came several men, forming an illustrious and magnificent army.”
#16
نیاسود لشکر زمانی ز کار
✦
ز چوگان و تیر و نبید و شکار
“The army rested not for a moment from polo, archery, drinking wine, and hunting.”
#17
به مستی چنین گفت یک روز گیو
✦
به رستم که ای نامبردار نیو
“In drunkenness one day, Giv said to Rostam: 'O illustrious hero,”
#18
گر ایدون که رای شکار آیدت
✦
چو یوز دونده به کار آیدت
“'If it be your counsel to go hunting, and if running hunting-leopards suit your pleasure,”
#19
به نخچیرگاه رد افراسیاب
✦
بپوشیم تابان رخ آفتاب
“'Let us veil the bright face of the sun at the hunting grounds of valiant Afrasiab,”
#20
ز گرد سواران و از یوز و باز
✦
بگیریم آرام روز دراز
“'With the dust of riders, cheetahs, and falcons, and take our rest throughout the long day.”
#21
به گور تگاور کمند افگنیم
✦
به شمشیر بر شیر بند افگنیم
“'Let us cast our lassos upon swift wild asses and bind lions with our swords.”
#22
بدان دشت توران شکاری کنیم
✦
که اندر جهان یادگاری کنیم
“'Let us hunt in that plain of Turan, leaving a lasting memorial in the world.'”
#23
بدو گفت رستم که بی‌کام تو
✦
مبادا گذر تا سرانجام تو
“Rostam replied to him: 'May no day pass without your desire until your life's end!”
#24
سحرگه بدان دشت توران شویم
✦
ز نخچیر و از تاختن نغنویم
“'At dawn we shall head to that plain of Turan; we shall not sleep from hunting and riding.'”
#25
ببودند یکسر برین هم سخن
✦
کسی رای دیگر نیفگند بن
“They all agreed upon this word, and no one offered a contrary opinion.”
#26
سحرگه چو از خواب برخاستند
✦
بران آرزو رفتن آراستند
“When they arose from sleep at dawn, they prepared to depart according to that desire.”
#27
برفتند با باز و شاهین و مهد
✦
گرازنده و شاد تا رود شهد
“They rode with falcons, royal hawks, and palanquins, proud and joyful unto the River Shahd,”
#28
به نخچیرگاه رد افراسیاب
✦
ز یک دست ریگ و ز یک دست آب
“To the hunting ground of valiant Afrasiab, bounded on one side by sand and on the other by water,”
#29
دگر سو سرخس و بیابانش پیش
✦
گله گشته بر دشت آهو و میش
“On another side lay Sarakhs and its desert ahead, where herds of deer and wild ewes roamed the plain.”
#30
همه دشت پر خرگه و خیمه گشت
✦
از انبوه آهو سراسیمه گشت
“The whole plain became filled with pavilions and tents, and the abundance of deer caused utter wild astonishment.”
#31
ز درنده شیران زمین شد تهی
✦
به پرنده مرغان رسید آگهی
“The land was emptied of predatory lions, and news reached the flying birds.”
#32
تلی هر سویی مرغ و نخجیر بود
✦
اگر کشته گر خستهٔ تیر بود
“On every side lay heaps of game and fowl, whether slain or wounded by arrows.”
#33
ز خنده نیاسود لب یک زمان
✦
ببودند روشن دل و شادمان
“Their lips rested not a moment from laughter; their hearts were radiant and full of cheer.”
#34
به یک هفته زین‌گونه با می بدست
✦
گهی تاختن گه نشاط نشست
“For a full week they continued thus with wine in hand, sometimes riding to the hunt, sometimes sitting in joy.”
#35
بهشتم تهمتن بیامد پگاه
✦
یکی رای شایسته زد با سپاه
“On the eighth day at early dawn, Tahamtan came forward and held a wise council with the army.”
#36
چنین گفت رستم بدان سرکشان
✦
بدان گرزداران مردم‌کشان
“Thus spoke Rostam to those proud chieftains, those mace-wielding, warrior-slaying heroes:”
#37
که از ما به افراسیاب این زمان
✦
همانا رسید آگهی بی‌گمان
“'Undoubtedly news of our presence has by now reached Afrasiab without a doubt.”
#38
یکی چاره سازد بیاید بجنگ
✦
کند دشت نخچیر بر یوز تنگ
“'He will devise a plan and march to battle, seeking to turn this hunting ground tight upon our hunting cheetahs.”
#39
بباید طلایه به ره بر یکی
✦
که چون آگهی یابد او اندکی
“'A vanguard must be set upon the road, so that as soon as he receives the slightest news,”
#40
بیاید دهد آگهی از سپاه
✦
نباید که گیرد بداندیش راه
“'He may return and give warning of the army, lest the evil-minded enemy block our path.'”
#41
گرازه به زه بر نهاده کمان
✦
بیامد بران کار بسته میان
“Gorazeh, with bowstring drawn and belt tightly bound, came forward for that duty.”
#42
سپه را که چون او نگهدار بود
✦
همه چارهٔ دشمنان خوار بود
“For an army that had a guardian such as he, all enemies' stratagems were held in contempt.”
#43
به نخچیر و خوردن نهادند روی
✦
نکردند کس یاد پرخاشجوی
“They turned back to hunting and eating, and no one remembered battle or warlike strife.”
#44
پس آگاهی آمد به افراسیاب
✦
ازیشان شب تیره هنگام خواب
“Then word reached Afrasiab concerning them in the dark night while men slept.”
#45
ز لشکر جهان‌دیدگان را بخواند
✦
ز رستم بسی داستانها براند
“He summoned the experienced elders of his army and recounted many tales regarding Rostam,”
#46
وزان هفت گرد سوار دلیر
✦
که بودند هر یک به کردار شیر
“And of those seven valiant, mounted warriors, each brave and fierce as a lion,”
#47
که ما را بباید کنون ساختن
✦
بناگاه بردن یکی تاختن
“He said: 'We must make ready now and launch a sudden raid upon them.”
#48
گراین هفت یل را بچنگ آوریم
✦
جهان پیش کاووس تنگ آوریم
“If we can capture these seven heroes, we shall make the world narrow and dark for Kay Kavus.'”
#49
بکردار نخچیر باید شدن
✦
بناگاه لشکر برایشان زدن
“We must fall upon them like hunters after prey, casting our army suddenly over them.”
#50
گزین کرد شمشیر زن سی‌هزار
✦
همه رزمجو از در کارزار
“He selected thirty thousand swordsmen, all seasoned fighters fit for battle.”
#51
چنین گفت با نامداران جنگ
✦
که ما را کنون نیست جای درنگ
“He spoke thus to the renowned champions of war: 'This is no time for us to tarry!'”
#52
به راه بیابان برون تاختند
✦
همه جنگ را گردن افراختند
“They galloped forth onto the desert path, all eager and intent upon the fight.”
#53
ز هر سو فرستاد بی‌مر سپاه
✦
بدان سرکشان تا بگیرند راه
“He dispatched countless troops from every side to block the path of those brave nobles.”
#54
گرازه چو گرد سپه را بدید
✦
بیامد سپه را همه بنگرید
“When Gurazeh saw the dust of the approaching army, he rode out to observe their forces.”
#55
بدید آنک شد روی گیتی سیاه
✦
درفش سپهدار توران سپاه
“He saw the face of the earth grow dark with troops, and beheld the banner of the Turanian commander.”
#56
ازانجا چو باد دمان گشت باز
✦
تو گفتی به زخم اندر آمد گراز
“From there he galloped back swift as a roaring wind; you would say Gurazeh flew back in wounded anger.”
#57
بیامد دمان تا به نخچیرگاه
✦
تهمتن همی خورد می با سپاه
“He came rushing back to the hunting grounds, where Rostam was drinking wine with his army.”
#58
چنین گفت با رستم شیرمرد
✦
که برخیز و از خرمی بازگرد
“He spoke thus to Rostam, the lion-hearted hero: 'Rise up and abandon this festivity!”
#59
که چندان سپاهست کاندازه نیست
✦
ز لشکر بلندی و پستی یکیست
“For here is an army beyond all measure; high ground and low are alike covered in troops.”
#60
درفش جفاپیشه افراسیاب
✦
همی تابد از گرد چون آفتاب
“The standard of the tyrannical Afrasiab shines through the dust like the bright sun.'”
#61
چو بشنید رستم بخندید سخت
✦
بدو گفت با ماست پیروز بخت
“When Rostam heard this, he laughed aloud and said to him: 'Victorious fortune is on our side!”
#62
تو از شاه ترکان چه ترسی چنین
✦
ز گرد سواران توران زمین
“Why do you fear the king of the Turks so greatly, and the dust raised by Turanian horsemen?”
#63
سپاهش فزون نیست از صدهزار
✦
عنان پیچ و برگستوان‌ور سوار
“His host is no more than a hundred thousand rein-turning, barded cavalry.”
#64
بدین دشت کین بر گر از ما یکیست
✦
همی جنگ ترکان بچشم اندکی‌ست
“In this battlefield of vengeance, even if there were only one of us, the war against the Turks would seem a minor thing.”
#65
شده هفت گرد سوار انجمن
✦
چنین نامبردار و شمشیرزن
“Now seven mounted champions have gathered here, each so famed and skilled with the sword.”
#66
یکی باشد از ما وزیشان هزار
✦
سپه چند باید ز ترکان شمار
“Each one of us matches a thousand of them; what matter then the count of the Turkish army?”
#67
برین دشت اگر ویژه تنها منم
✦
که بر پشت گلرنگ در جوشنم
“Even if I were all alone on this plain, clad in armor atop Golrang...”
#68
چنو کینه خواهی بیاید مرا
✦
از ایران سپاهی نباید مرا
“...when an avenger like him comes against me, I need no army from Iran!'”
#69
تو ای می‌گسار از می بابلی
✦
بپیمای تا سر یکی بلبلی
“'O cupbearer! Fill to the brim a goblet of Babylonian wine, like the singing of a nightingale!'”
#70
بپیمود می ساقی و داد زود
✦
تهمتن شد از دادنش شاد زود
“The cupbearer measured out the wine and served it quickly; the heroic Rostam was gladdened by his offering.”
#71
به کف بر نهاد آن درخشنده جام
✦
نخستین ز کاووس کی برد نام
“He took that shining goblet in his hand, and first invoked the name of Kay Kavus:”
#72
که شاه زمانه مرا یاد باد
✦
همیشه بروبومش آباد باد
“'May the king of the age be remembered by me, and may his realm and lands be ever prosperous!'”
#73
ازان پس تهمتن زمین داد بوس
✦
چنین گفت کاین باده بر یاد طوس
“Then Rostam kissed the ground and said: 'Let this goblet of wine be drunk in honor of Tus!'”
#74
سران جهاندار برخاستند
✦
ابا پهلوان خواهش آراستند
“The world-conquering leaders stood up, offering their earnest request to the grand hero:”
#75
که ما را بدین جام می جای نیست
✦
به می با تو ابلیس را پای نیست
“'There is no place for us at this cup of wine; not even Iblis could stand against wine in your company!'”
#76
می و گرز یک زخم و میدان جنگ
✦
جز از تو کسی را نیامد به چنگ
“'Wine, a single-strike mace, and the battlefield of war—none but you has ever mastered all three!'”
#77
می بابلی سرخ در جام زرد
✦
تهمتن بروی زواره بخورد
“Red Babylonian wine in a golden cup: Tahamtan drank it to the health of Zourah.”
#78
زواره چو بلبل به کف برنهاد
✦
هم از شاه کاووس کی کرد یاد
“When Zourah took the nightingale-shaped goblet in his hand, he too remembered King Kay Kavus.”
#79
بخورد و ببوسید روی زمین
✦
تهمتن برو برگرفت آفرین
“He drank and kissed the ground, and Tahamtan showered praises upon him.”
#80
که جام برادر برادر خورد
✦
هژبر آنک او جام می بشکرد
“'A brother drinks to his brother's honor; fierce is the lion who empties the cup of wine!'”