When the sun entered the sign of Aries, filling the earth with radiance and new birth, Kyumars established the sacred rites of throne and crown from his high seat in the mountains. He and his followers clad themselves in leopard skins, introducing humanity to woven attire and refined sustenance. For thirty golden years he ruled, his royal glory shining like the full moon over a lofty cypress, while every wild beast and living creature of the earth gathered peacefully at his footstool, bowing in reverence to his divine grace.
Kyumars possessed a son of exquisite splendor and heroic nobility named Siamak, upon whom the king's heart was entirely anchored. But as the realm flourished, dark malice stirred in the depths: Ahriman, consumed by bitter envy, reared a demon child like a ravenous wolf and assembled a monstrous host to seize the crown of the world. Prince Siamak remained unaware of this rising shadow until the blessed messenger Soroush descended, veiled in leopard skin, to unveil the demonic plot.
Upon hearing of the foul enemy's treason, Siamak’s soul boiled with warrior rage. Lacking iron mail or war-harness, he wrapped his body in leopard hide and marched out to confront the dark forces. As the two armaments met, Siamak engaged Ahriman's child in single combat. Yet the Black Demon struck with twisted, malevolent claws, tearing open the prince's flank and casting his broken body to the earth. Siamak perished, leaving the host leaderless and the realm plunged into shadow.
When word of his beloved son’s death reached King Kyumars, his world turned pitch black. Wailing in agony, he descended his throne, tearing his hair and scoring his face in blood. The whole army donned garments of turquoise grief, and flocks of birds, beasts of prey, and wild game retreated to the peaks, raising their voices in mourning. For a full year the world sat beneath this shroud of sorrow, until Soroush descended once more with a mandate from the Almighty: to cease lamentation, gather the armies, and purge the evil demon from the face of the earth.
#1
سخن‌گوی دهقان چه گوید نخست
✦
که نام بزرگی به گیتی که جست
“What says the ancient storyteller first, of who sought the crown of greatness in the world?”
#2
که بود آن که دیهیم بر سر نهاد
✦
ندارد کس آن روزگاران به یاد
“Who was he that first placed the diadem upon his head? None holds those ancient ages in living memory,”
#3
مگر کز پدر یاد دارد پسر
✦
بگوید تو را یک به یک در به در
“Save what the son remembers from the father, recounting it to you step by step.”
#4
که نام بزرگی که آورد پیش
✦
که را بود از آن برتران پایه بیش
“Who brought forth the majesty of high renown? Who among those exalted lords held the paramount place?”
#5
پژوهندهٔ نامهٔ باستان
✦
که از پهلوانان زند داستان
“The seeker of the ancient chronicles, who recites the legends of legendary champions—”
#6
چنین گفت کآیین تخت و کلاه
✦
کیومرث آورد و او بود شاه
“Spake thus: that the tradition of throne and crown was established by Kyumars, who was king.”
#7
چو آمد به برج حَمَل آفتاب
✦
جهان گشت با فرَ و آیین و آب
“When the sun entered the sign of Aries, the world turned bright with glory, order, and freshness.”
#8
بتابید از آن سان ز برج بره
✦
که گیتی جوان گشت از آن یک‌سره
“It shone so radiantly from the sign of the Lamb that the whole earth became youthful once more.”
#9
کیومرث شد بر جهان کدخدای
✦
نخستین به کوه اندرون ساخت جای
“Kyumars became ruler of the world, making his first dwelling within the mountain heights.”
#10
سر بخت و تختش بر آمد به کوه
✦
پلنگینه پوشید خود با گروه
“Upon the mountain peak arose his throne and destiny; he and his people arrayed themselves in leopard skins.”
#11
از او اندر آمد همی پرورش
✦
که پوشیدنی نو بُد و نو خورش
“From him began the culture of mankind, introducing novel attire and new foods to eat.”
#12
به گیتی درون سال سی شاه بود
✦
به خوبی چو خورشید بر گاه بود
“For thirty years he reigned over the earth, sitting upon his royal seat as splendidly as the sun.”
#13
همی تافت زو فرّ شاهنشهی
✦
چو ماه دو هفته ز سرو سهی
“The royal glory radiated from him like the full moon beaming over a lofty cypress.”
#14
دد و دام و هر جانور کش بدید
✦
ز گیتی به نزدیک او آرمید
“Wild beasts, cattle, and every creature he beheld came from all the world to rest near him.”
#15
دوتا می‌شدندی بر تخت او
✦
از آن بر شده فرّه و بخت او
“They bowed low before his supreme throne, humbled by his exalted glory and auspicious fortune.”
#16
به رسم نماز آمدندیش پیش
✦
و ز او برگرفتند آیین خویش
“In manner of worship they approached his presence, taking their natural order from his guidance.”
#17
پسر بد مر او را یکی خوب‌روی
✦
هنرمند و همچون پدر نامجوی
“He had a handsome son, accomplished and accomplished, seeking glory just like his father.”
#18
سیامک بُدش نام و فرخنده بود
✦
کیومرث را دل بدو زنده بود
“Siamak was his blessed name; by his life alone was Kyumars' heart kept vivid and joyful.”
#19
به جانش بر از مهر گریان بدی
✦
ز بیم جداییش بریان بدی
“Through tender love the king wept for him; from constant fear of separation his heart burned.”
#20
بر آمد بر این کار یک روزگار
✦
فروزنده شد دولت شهریار
“A long age passed in this peaceful state, and the monarch's reign grew ever more radiant.”
#21
به گیتی نبودش کسی دشمنا
✦
مگر بدکنش ریمن آهرمنا
“He had no enemy in all the world, save for the malicious, deceitful Ahriman.”
#22
به رشک اندر آهرمن بدسگال
✦
همی رای زد تا ببالید بال
“In malignant envy evil-minded Ahriman plotted continuously until his strength expanded.”
#23
یکی بچه بودش چو گرگ سترگ
✦
دلاور شده با سپاه بزرگ
“He had a child like a monstrous wolf, grown bold and commanding a vast demon army.”
#24
جهان شد بر آن دیو بچّه سیاه
✦
ز بخت سیامک و زان پایگاه
“The world turned dark to that demon-child out of envy for Siamak’s rank and supreme fortune.”
#25
سپه کرد و نزدیک او راه جست
✦
همی تخت و دیهیم کی شاه جست
“He mustered a host and sought a path against him, hungering for the King's throne and royal crown.”
#26
همی گفت با هر کسی رای خویش
✦
جهان کرد یک‌سر پر آوای خویش
“He voiced his dark designs to all around, filling the whole world with his menacing clamor.”
#27
کیومرث زین خود کی آگاه بود
✦
که تخت مهی را جز او شاه بود
“Yet how could Kyumars have known of this, that another claimed sovereignty over the great throne?”
#28
یکایک بیامد خجسته سروش
✦
به سان پری پلنگینه پوش
“Suddenly, blessed Soroush arrived, appearing like a celestial angel clad in leopard skin.”
#29
بگفتش ورا زین سخن در به در
✦
که دشمن چه سازد همی با پدر
“He revealed the plot to him line by line: what the enemy was preparing against his father.”
#30
سخن چون به گوش سیامک رسید
✦
ز کردار بدخواه دیو پلید
“When word of the treacherous demon's deeds reached the ears of prince Siamak—”
#31
دل شاه بچّه بر آمد به جوش
✦
سپاه انجمن کرد و بگشاد گوش
“The prince's heart boiled with noble rage; he assembled an army and hearkened to battle.”
#32
بپوشید تن را به چرم پلنگ
✦
که جوشن نبود و نه آیین جنگ
“He clad his body in leopard hide, for armor was not yet known, nor the gear of war.”
#33
پذیره شدش دیو را جنگجوی
✦
سپه را چو روی اندر آمد به روی
“The warrior prince advanced to encounter the demon, as the two armies stood face to face.”
#34
سیامک بیامد برهنه تنا
✦
بر آویخت با پور آهرمنا
“Siamak stepped forward unarmored, grappling directly with the spawn of Ahriman.”
#35
بزد چنگ وارونه دیو سیاه
✦
دوتا اندر آورد بالای شاه
“The sinister Black Demon struck with reverse claws, bending double the prince's tall stature.”
#36
فکند آن تن شاهزاده به خاک
✦
به چنگال کردش کمرگاه چاک
“He dashed the prince's body to the dust, ripping open his waist with savage claws.”
#37
سیامک به دست خروزان دیو
✦
تبه گشت و ماند انجمن بی‌خدیو
“Siamak perished at the hands of the roaring demon, leaving the gathering without a lord.”
#38
چو آگه شد از مرگ فرزند شاه
✦
ز تیمار گیتی بر او شد سیاه
“When news reached the king of his son's fall, the world turned black to him in grief.”
#39
فرود آمد از تخت ویله کنان
✦
زنان بر سر و موی و رخ را کَنان
“Wailing, he stepped down from his throne, striking his head, tearing hair and scoring cheeks.”
#40
دو رخساره پر خون و دل سوگوار
✦
دو دیده پر از نم چو ابر بهار
“With bloody cheeks and mourning heart, his eyes streamed tears like spring clouds.”
#41
خروشی بر آمد ز لشکر به زار
✦
کشیدند صف بر در شهریار
“A woeful lament arose from the army, as they stood in solemn ranks before the king’s court.”
#42
همه جامه‌ها کرده پیروزه رنگ
✦
دو چشم ابر خونین و رخ بادرنگ
“All arrayed their garments in turquoise blue, eyes weeping bloody tears and faces pale as citrus.”
#43
دد و مرغ و نخچیر گشته گروه
✦
برفتند ویله کنان سوی کوه
“Beasts, birds, and game assembled in wild flocks, journeying toward the mountain with mournful cries.”
#44
برفتند با سوگواری و درد
✦
ز درگاه کی شاه برخاست گرد
“They marched in anguish and grief, as clouds of sorrow arose from the monarch's threshold.”
#45
نشستند سالی چنین سوگوار
✦
پیام آمد از داور کردگار
“For a full year they sat thus in sorrow, until a holy message came from the Lord Creator.”
#46
درود آوریدش خجسته سروش
✦
کز این بیش مخروش و باز آر هوش
“The blessed angel Soroush brought him divine greetings, saying: 'Lament no more, and regain your wits.'”
#47
سپه ساز و برکش به فرمان من
✦
بر آور یکی گرد از آن انجمن
“'Assemble an army and march forth at my command; raise a swirling cloud of dust from that demon host!'”
#48
از آن بد کنش دیو روی زمین
✦
بپرداز و پردخته کن دل ز کین
“'Purge the face of the earth of that evil-doing demon, and thereby cleanse your heart of vengeance.'”
#49
کی نامور سر سوی آسمان
✦
بر آورد و بدخواست بر بدگمان
“That renowned king raised his head toward the heavens, wishing ill upon his treacherous, malicious foe.”
#50
بر آن برترین نام یزدانش را
✦
بخواند و بپالود مژگانش را
“He invoked the supreme name of God Almighty, as tears washed down from his eyelashes.”
#51
و زان پس به کین سیامک شتافت
✦
شب و روز آرام و خفتن نیافت
“Thereafter, he hastened to seek vengeance for Siamak, finding neither rest nor sleep by day or night.”