When Sohrab retired from the battlefield and night draped over the White Fortress, the aged Gozhdaham summoned his scribe to draft a grave dispatch to King Kay Kavus. After rendering high praises unto the Almighty, Gozhdaham revealed the terrible turn of Fortune and the arrival of a vast Turanian host. At its helm stood a youth no older than twelve years, whose cypress-like stature surpassed tall trees and whose countenance shone like the blazing sun. Gozhdaham wrote that this young titan possessed the chest of an elephant and the ferocious grace of Sam the Rider; when he brandished his Indian blade, neither mountains nor oceans could constrain him. He recounted how the brave Hajir had galloped forth, only for Sohrab to pluck him effortlessly from his saddle in the blinking of an eye, holding him captive yet unharming his life. Gozhdaham warned the King of Kings that unless Iran's armies marched immediately, no warrior on earth could withstand this force, and fortress walls would crumble before his unstoppable haste.
Once the dispatch was sealed under the cover of darkness, Gozhdaham dispatched a fleet-footed courier with strict instructions to slip past the enemy lines before dawn. Thereafter, Gozhdaham and his people packed their belongings, silently abandoning the fortress via secret mountain paths and fleeing toward the heartland of Iran. As the sun rose over the dark peaks, Sohrab gripped his spear and rode out toward the ramparts, only to find the battlements eerily deserted. The remaining townsfolk opened the gates, submitting willingly to his mercy.
Meanwhile, the messenger reached the royal court, and when the letter was read before Kay Kavus, profound dread gripped the monarch's heart. He convened the great paladins of the realm—Tus, Goudarz, Giv, Gurgin, Bahram, and Farhad—and read the alarming report. Realizing that no living warrior in Iran save Rostam could match such monstrous power, the realm's elders unanimously agreed that Giv must ride post-haste to Zabulistan. There, he would deliver the news to the elephant-bodied Rostam, summoning the great champion to stand once more as the unbreakable shield of the Kiānian throne.
#1
چو برگشت سهراب گژدهم پیر
✦
بیاورد و بنشاند مردی دبیر
“When Sohrab withdrew, the aged Gozhdaham summoned a scribe and sat him down.”
#2
یکی نامه بنوشت نزدیک شاه
✦
برافگند پوینده مردی به راه
“He wrote a letter addressed to the King, and set a swift courier upon the road.”
#3
نخست آفرین کرد بر کردگار
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نمود آنگهی گردش روزگار
“First he offered praise unto the Almighty Creator, then depicted the turns of Fortune.”
#4
که آمد بر ما سپاهی گران
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همه رزم جویان کندآوران
“Writing: 'A vast host hath come upon us, all battle-seeking champions and brave warriors.”
#5
یکی پهلوانی به پیش اندرون
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که سالش ده و دو نباشد فزون
“'At their head leads a heroic champion whose age exceedeth not twelve years.”
#6
به بالا ز سرو سهی برترست
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چو خورشید تابان بدو پیکرست
“'In stature taller than the upright cypress, his body radiant as the shining sun.”
#7
برش چون بر پیل و بالاش برز
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ندیدم کسی را چنان دست و گرز
“'His chest like that of an elephant, his frame heroic; I have seen none with such grip and mace.”
#8
چو شمشیر هندی به چنگ آیدش
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ز دریا و از کوه تنگ آیدش
“'When he clutcheth his Indian blade, both sea and mountain become too narrow for him.”
#9
چو آواز او رعد غرنده نیست
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چو بازوی او تیغ برنده نیست
“'There is no roaring thunder like his voice, nor any sharp blade like his mighty arm.”
#10
هجیر دلاور میان را ببست
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یکی بارهٔ تیزتگ برنشست
“'Brave Hajir girded his loins and mounted a swift, fleet-footed charger.”
#11
بشد پیش سهراب رزم‌آزمای
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بر اسپش ندیدم فزون زان به پای
“'He went forth against battle-tested Sohrab, yet I saw him last no time upon his steed.”
#12
که بر هم زند مژه را جنگ‌جوی
✦
گراید ز بینی سوی مغز بوی
“'In less time than a warrior blinks an eye or scent travels from nose to brain,”
#13
که سهرابش از پشت زین برگرفت
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برش ماند زان بازو اندر شگفت
“'Sohrab plucked him off the back of his saddle; all marvelled at the power of that arm.”
#14
درست‌ست و اکنون به زنهار اوست
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پراندیشه جان از پی کار اوست
“'Hajir is unharmed, currently held in his captivity, though his soul is full of angst for his fate.”
#15
سواران ترکان بسی دیده‌ام
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عنان پیچ زین‌گونه نشنیده‌ام
“'I have seen many horsemen among the Turks, but never heard of such rein-turning mastery.”
#16
مبادا که او در میان دو صف
✦
یکی مرد جنگ‌آور آرد بکف
“'Lest he catch between the two battle-lines a single warrior in his grasp!”
#17
بران کوه بخشایش آرد زمین
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که او اسپ تازد برو روز کین
“'The very earth taketh pity upon the mountain over which he gallopeth his steed on the day of battle.”
#18
عنان‌دار چون او ندیدست کس
✦
تو گفتی که سام سوارست و بس
“'None hath ever seen such a rider; thou wouldst say he is none other than Sam the Horseman himself!”
#19
بلندیش بر آسمان رفته گیر
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سر بخت گردان همه خفته گیر
“'Consider his stature as reaching the heavens, and the luck of all heroes as fallen asleep.”
#20
اگر خود شکیبیم یک چند نیز
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نکوشیم و دیگر نگوییم چیز
“'If we endure a while longer and fight no more, nor utter another word,”
#21
اگر دم زند شهریار زمین
✦
نراند سپاه و نسازد کمین
“'And if the Sovereign of the Earth delayeth, sending no host nor laying an ambush,”
#22
دژ و باره گیرد که خود زور هست
✦
نگیرد کسی دست او را به دست
“'He will seize fortress and wall by his sheer force; none can withstand his power hand-to-hand.”
#23
که این باره را نیست پایاب اوی
✦
درنگی شود شیر زاشتاب اوی
“'For this fortress hath no strength against him; even a lion would grow sluggish before his swift onset.'”
#24
چو نامه به مهر اندر آمد به شب
✦
فرستاده را جست و بگشاد لب
“When the letter was sealed at night, Gozhdaham sought the messenger and spoke:”
#25
بگفتش چنان رو که فردا پگاه
✦
نبیند ترا هیچکس زان سپاه
“He told him: 'Depart in such manner that tomorrow at dawn, none from that host shall behold thee.'”
#26
فرستاد نامه سوی راه راست
✦
پس نامه آنگاه بر پای خاست
“He sent the letter upon the direct path, and following the dispatch, he himself arose.”
#27
بنه برنهاد و سراندر کشید
✦
بران راه بی‌راه شد ناپدید
“He packed their goods, drew back his head, and vanished along secret, trackless mountain paths.”
#28
سوی شهر ایران نهادند روی
✦
سپردند آن بارهٔ دژ بدوی
“They turned their faces toward the land of Iran, leaving the fortress to him.”
#29
چو خورشید بر زد سر از تیره‌کوه
✦
میان را ببستند ترکان گروه
“When the sun raised its head above the dark mountain, the host of the Turks girded their loins.”
#30
سپهدار سهراب نیزه بدست
✦
یکی بارکش باره‌ای برنشست
“Commander Sohrab, spear in hand, mounted a strong warhorse.”
#31
سوی باره آمد یکی بنگرید
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به باره درون بس کسی را ندید
“He came toward the ramparts and looked, but saw not a soul within the fortress.”
#32
بیامد در دژ گشادند باز
✦
ندیدند در دژ یکی رزمساز
“He approached, and they opened wide the gates; no warriors were seen inside.”
#33
به فرمان همه پیش او آمدند
✦
به جان هرکسی چاره‌جو آمدند
“By his command all came before him, seeking refuge and salvation for their lives.”
#34
چو نامه به نزدیک خسرو رسید
✦
غمی شد دلش کان سخنها شنید
“When the letter reached King Kavus, his heart grew sorrowful at hearing those tidings.”
#35
گرانمایگان را ز لشکر بخواند
✦
وزین داستان چندگونه براند
“He summoned the nobles of his host and spoke at length concerning this tale.”
#36
نشستند با شاه ایران به هم
✦
بزرگان لشکر همه بیش و کم
“They sat together with the King of Iran, all the commanders of the army, great and small.”
#37
چو طوس و چو گودرز کشواد و گیو
✦
چو گرگین و بهرام و فرهاد نیو
“Commanders like Tus, Goudarz son of Kashvad, Giv, Gurgin, Bahram, and valiant Farhad.”
#38
سپهدار نامه بر ایشان بخواند
✦
بپرسید بسیار و خیره بماند
“The King read the letter unto them; he asked many questions and remained bewildered.”
#39
چنین گفت با پهلوانان براز
✦
که این کار گردد به ما بر دراز
“He spoke secretly to the heroes: 'This affair shall become long and dire for us.”
#40
برین سان که گژدهم گوید همی
✦
از اندیشه دل را بشوید همی
“'As Gozhdaham portrayeth it, anxiety washeth all hope from the heart.”
#41
چه سازیم و درمان این کار چیست
✦
از ایران هم آورد این مرد کیست
“'What measure shall we devise, and what is the remedy? Who in Iran can match this warrior?'”
#42
بر آن برنهادند یکسر که گیو
✦
به زابل شود نزد سالار نیو
“They all agreed together that Giv should go to Zabulistan to the brave Lord Rostam.”
#43
به رستم رساند از این آگهی
✦
که با بیم شد تخت شاهنشهی
“To convey this message to Rostam that the royal throne is imperiled and full of dread.”
#44
گو پیلتن را بدین رزمگاه
✦
بخواند که اویست پشت سپاه
“To summon that elephant-bodied hero to this battlefield, for he is the true pillar of the host.”
#45
نشست آنگهی رای زد با دبیر
✦
که کاری گزاینده بد ناگزیر
“The King then sat and consulted with his scribe, for a pressing and vital task lay ahead.”