When nine moons had completed their turn since that night of passion, the daughter of the King of Samangan brought forth a child radiant as the shining moon. In stature and heroic grandeur, he seemed the very image of Rostam the elephant-bodied, or Sam the lion-hearted, or Nariman of ancient glory. As the infant smiled and his face bloomed with vitality, Tahmineh named him Sohrab. Wonder enveloped his growth: a single month rendered him like a youth of a full year, his chest broad and imposing like Rostam son of Zal. By his third year he gripped the polo mallet, by his fifth he mastered the bow and arrow, and by the time he reached ten years of age, no warrior in all the realm dared match strength against him.
The youth approached his mother and addressed her with bold resolve: 'Mother, reveal the truth unto me! I outshine all my peers, my head touches the sky, yet of what lineage am I born? What answer shall I give when men inquire of my father? If you keep this secret from me, I shall not suffer you to live upon this earth!' Tahmineh bade him be at peace and rejoice, then unveiled the glorious truth: 'Listen well and do not give way to anger. You are the son of Rostam, the elephant-bodied champion, descended from the line of Dastan, Sam, and Nariman. That is why your head reaches the heavens—for since the Almighty created the cosmos, no rider like Rostam has trod the earth, nor has any champion equaled Sam son of Nariman.'
Tahmineh then brought forth a secret letter together with three radiant rubies set within three golden beads, sent by Rostam from Iran. Yet she warned her son: 'Keep this strictly hidden from Afrasiab of Turan. For if your father learns of your matchless valor and renown, he will summon you to his side, leaving your mother's heart utterly shattered with grief.'
Sohrab's heart burned with righteous ambition. 'In this world, such noble lineage cannot remain shrouded!' he declared. 'All great champions recite the deeds of Rostam. I shall gather an immense army of brave Turkish fighters, overthrow Kay Kavus from his throne, banish Tus from Iran, and place the mace, throne, and crown upon my father Rostam! Then, turning my warhost from Iran to Turan, I shall depose Afrasiab and raise the tip of my lance beyond the sun! When Rostam is the father and I am the son, no other crown-wearer should exist on earth. When the sun and moon shine bright, why should a mere star wear the crown?' Thus, warriors from every corner rallied beneath his banner, drawn to his royal seed and unrivaled mastery of the blade.
#1
چو نه ماه بگذشت بر دخت شاه
✦
یکی پورش آمد چو تابنده ماه
“When nine months passed for the king's daughter, she gave birth to a son radiant as the shining moon.”
#2
تو گفتی گو پیلتن رستم است
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وگر سام شیرست و گر نیرم است
“You would say he was Rostam the elephant-bodied champion himself, or lion-hearted Sam, or Nariman.”
#3
چو خندان شد و چهره شاداب کرد
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ورا نام تهمینه ، سهراب کرد
“When he smiled and his face bloomed with joy, Tahmineh named him Sohrab.”
#4
چو یک ماه شد ، همچو یک سال بود
✦
برش چون بر رستم زال بود
“At one month he looked like a child of a year; his chest was broad like Rostam son of Zal.”
#5
چو سه ساله شد زخم چوگان گرفت
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به پنجم دل تیر و پیکان گرفت
“At three years he took to the polo mallet; at five years he mastered the bow and arrow.”
#6
چو ده ساله شد زان زمین کس نبود
✦
که یارست با او نبرد آزمود
“By ten years of age, no warrior in all that land dared to test himself against him in battle.”
#7
بر مادر آمد بپرسید زوی
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بدو گفت گستاخ بامن بگوی
“He came to his mother and questioned her, saying boldly: 'Speak openly with me!'”
#8
که من چون ز همشیرگان برترم
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همی بآسمان اندر آید سرم
“'Since I excel beyond all my peers and my head rises up to the sky...'”
#9
ز تخم کیم وز کدامین گهر
✦
چه گویم چو پرسد کسی از پدر
“'From whose seed and noble origin do I hail? What shall I say when someone asks of my father?'”
#10
گر این پرسش از من بماند نهان
✦
نمانم ترا زنده اندر جهان
“'If this question remains hidden from me, I shall not leave you alive in this world!'”
#11
بدو گفت مادر که بشنو سخن
✦
بدین شادمان باش و تندی مکن
“His mother said to him: 'Listen to my words; rejoice in this and do not be harsh.'”
#12
تو پور گو پیلتن رستمی
✦
ز دستان سامی و از نیرمی
“'You are the son of Rostam, the elephant-bodied warrior, descended from Dastan, Sam, and Nariman.'”
#13
ازیرا سرت ز آسمان برترست
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که تخم تو زان نامور گوهرست
“'That is why your head rises above the heavens, for your seed springs from that illustrious stock.'”
#14
جهان‌آفرین تا جهان آفرید
✦
سواری چو رستم نیامد پدید
“'Since the Creator made the world, no warrior like Rostam has ever appeared upon it.'”
#15
چو سام نریمان به گیتی نبود
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سرش را نیارست گردون بسود
“'And when Sam son of Nariman lived in the world, the heavens themselves could not bow his head.'”
#16
یکی نامه از رستم جنگ جوی
✦
بیاورد و بنمود پنهان بدوی
“She brought a secret letter sent by battle-seeking Rostam and showed it secretly to him.”
#17
سه یاقوت رخشان به سه مهره زر
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از ایران فرستاده بودش پدر
“Three radiant rubies set in three golden beads had been sent to her from Iran by his father.”
#18
بدو گفت افراسیاب این سخن
✦
نبایدکه داند ز سر تا به بن
“She said to him: 'Afrasiab must never learn of this matter from top to bottom.'”
#19
پدر گر شناسد که تو زین نشان
✦
شدستی سرافراز گردنگشان
“'If your father knows you have grown into such an exalted warrior of renown...'”
#20
چو داند بخواندت نزدیک خویش
✦
دل مادرت گردد از درد ریش
“'Once he learns, he will summon you to his side, and your mother's heart will bleed with aching sorrow.'”
#21
چنین گفت سهراب کاندر جهان
✦
کسی این سخن را ندارد نهان
“Sohrab replied: 'In all the world, no one keeps such a truth concealed!'”
#22
بزرگان جنگ‌آور از باستان
✦
ز رستم زنند این زمان داستان
“'Great war-seasoned heroes of antiquity recite epic tales of Rostam even now.'”
#23
نبرده نژادی که چونین بود
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نهان کردن از من چه آیین بود
“'When one comes from such a battle-proven lineage, what manner of custom is it to keep it hidden from me?'”
#24
کنون من ز ترکان جنگ‌آوران
✦
فراز آورم لشکری بی کران
“'Now I shall assemble a boundless army from the war-loving warriors of the Turks.'”
#25
برانگیزم از گاه کاووس را
✦
از ایران ببرم پی طوس را
“'I shall dethrone Kavus from his royal seat, and sever the footholds of Tus from Iran.'”
#26
به رستم دهم تخت و گرز و کلاه
✦
نشانمش بر گاه کاووس شاه
“'I shall bestow the throne, mace, and crown upon Rostam, seating him upon King Kavus's throne.'”
#27
از ایران به توران شوم جنگ‌جوی
✦
ابا شاه روی اندر آرم بروی
“'Then from Iran I shall march against Turan, confronting the king face-to-face in battle.'”
#28
بگیرم سر تخت افراسیاب
✦
سر نیزه بگذارم از آفتاب
“'I shall seize the crown of Afrasiab's throne and raise the point of my lance beyond the sun!'”
#29
چو رستم پدر باشد و من پسر
✦
نباید به گیتی کسی تاجور
“'When Rostam is the father and I am the son, no other crown-wearer ought to exist on earth!'”
#30
چو روشن بود روی خورشید و ماه
✦
ستاره چرا برفرازد کلاه
“'When the face of the sun and moon shine bright, why should a mere star raise its crown?'”
#31
ز هر سو سپه شد براو انجمن
✦
که هم باگهر بود هم تیغ زن
“Warriors gathered round him from every side, for he possessed both noble blood and sword-striking mastery.”