Distressed by the perilous tidings of the young Turanian champion, King Kavus commanded his scribe to draft a magnificent letter of praise and urgent summons to Rostam the Valiant. The epistle opened with blessings upon the Almighty Creator, before hailing Rostam as the invincible shield of Iran, the breaker of Hamavaran's fetters, and the conqueror of Mazandaran. Kavus warned that a dire threat had arisen which only Rostam could match, entreating him to mount his steed without a moment's pause and ride forth from Zabul with his wisest warriors. Charging Gev to speed like swift smoke to Zabulistan without tasting rest by day or night, Kavus dispatched him across the realm. Gev rode relentlessly until the trumpet blasts of the vanguard reached Zal Dastan. Rostam and his chieftains greeted Gev with high honors and conducted him to the royal hall. Upon receiving the royal letter and hearing Gev's dire tales of Sohrab, Rostam marvelled in disbelief, laughing that such a warrior matching Sam could emerge among the Turks. He recalled his own child with the princess of Samangan, yet believed him still an infant tasting milk, far too young for battle. Unaware of the tragic truth, Rostam invited Gev to feast and drink for a day to ease their fatigue, brushing off the urgency. One day of revelry turned into three as the wine flowed, delaying their departure while Kavus's command was temporarily forgotten in drunkenness.
#1
یکی نامه فرمود پس شهریار
✦
نوشتن بر رستم نامدار
“The King then ordered a letter to be penned to Rostam, the hero of renown.”
#2
نخست آفرین کرد بر کردگار
✦
جهاندار و پروردهٔ روزگار
“He opened with praise unto the Creator, the Lord of the world and nurturer of time.”
#3
دگر آفرین کرد بر پهلوان
✦
که بیدار دل باش و روشن روان
“Next he offered praise unto the champion, invoking him to remain vigilant of heart and bright of soul.”
#4
دل و پشت گردان ایران تویی
✦
به چنگال و نیروی شیران تویی
“Thou art the heart and back of Iran's warriors, endowed with the claws and strength of lions.”
#5
گشایندهٔ بند هاماوران
✦
ستانندهٔ مرز مازندران
“The breaker of the chains of Hamavaran, the conqueror of the realm of Mazandaran.”
#6
ز گرز تو خورشید گریان شود
✦
ز تیغ تو ناهید بریان شود
“Before thy mace the sun weeps in fear, and by thy blade Nahid is scorched.”
#7
چو گرد پی رخش تو نیل نیست
✦
هم‌آورد تو در جهان پیل نیست
“The dust of Rakhsh's hoofs outshines the River Nile; no war-elephant in the world is thy match.”
#8
کمند تو بر شیر بندافگند
✦
سنان تو کوهی ز بن برکند
“Thy lasso ensnares the fiercest lion, thy spear-point uproots the mighty mountain.”
#9
تویی از همه بد به ایران پناه
✦
ز تو برفرازند گردان کلاه
“Thou art the refuge of Iran against all evil, through thee the heroes raise their helmets high.”
#10
گزاینده کاری بد آمد به پیش
✦
کز اندیشهٔ آن دلم گشت ریش
“A harrowing crisis hath now befallen us, the mere thought of which wounds my heart.”
#11
نشستند گردان به پیشم به هم
✦
چو خواندیم آن نامهٔ گژدهم
“The noble warriors gathered before me when we read the letter of Ghazdaham.”
#12
چنان باد کاندر جهان جز تو کس
✦
نباشد به هر کار فریادرس
“May it be so ordained that in all the world, none but thee shall be our savior in every plight.”
#13
بدان‌گونه دیدند گردان نیو
✦
که پیش تو آید گرانمایه گیو
“The brave champions deemed it right that noble Gev himself should speed to thee.”
#14
چو نامه بخوانی به روز و به شب
✦
مکن داستان را گشاده دو لب
“When thou readest this letter by day or night, waste not a breath in idle speech,”
#15
مگر با سواران بسیارهوش
✦
ز زابل برانی برآری خروش
“Save to ride forth from Zabul with thy keenest horsemen, raising a mighty war-cry.”
#16
بر اینسان که گژدهم زو یاد کرد
✦
نباید جز از تو ورا هم نبرد
“For as Ghazdaham hath described him, none but thee is worthy to face him in combat.”
#17
به گیو آنگهی گفت برسان دود
✦
عنان تگاور بباید بسود
“The King then said to Gev: 'Speed like swift smoke and tighten the reins of thy steed.”
#18
بباید که نزدیک رستم شوی
✦
به زابل نمانی و گر نغنوی
“Thou must reach Rostam swiftly; delay not in Zabul, nor yield to sleep.”
#19
اگر شب رسی روز را بازگرد
✦
بگویش که تنگ اندرآمد نبرد
“If thou arrivest by night, turn back by day! Tell him that battle is upon our doorstep.”
#20
وگرنه فرازست این مرد گرد
✦
بداندیش را خوار نتوان شمرد
“Otherwise this warrior approaches fast, and a malignant foe must never be held in disdain.'”
#21
ازو نامه بستد به کردار آب
✦
برفت و نجست ایچ آرام و خواب
“Gev took the letter like flowing water, departing instantly without seeking rest or sleep.”
#22
چو نزدیکی زابلستان رسید
✦
خروش طلایه به دستان رسید
“When he drew near to Zabulistan, the shouts of the vanguards reached Zal Dastan.”
#23
تهمتن پذیره شدش با سپاه
✦
نهادند بر سر بزرگان کلاه
“Rostam went forth to welcome him with his army; all the nobles donned their ceremonial headgear.”
#24
پیاده شدش گیو و گردان بهم
✦
هر آنکس که بودند از بیش و کم
“Gev dismounted, and all the warriors dismounted together, both great and small.”
#25
ز اسپ اندرآمد گو نامدار
✦
از ایران بپرسید وز شهریار
“The famous knight stepped down from his charger, inquiring after Iran and the Sovereign King.”
#26
ز ره سوی ایوان رستم شدند
✦
ببودند یکبار و دم برزدند
“From the road they proceeded straight to Rostam's hall, where they rested and drew breath.”
#27
بگفت آنچ بشنید و نامه بداد
✦
ز سهراب چندی سخن کرد یاد
“Gev recounted all he had heard and delivered the letter, speaking at length of Sohrab.”
#28
تهمتن چو بشنید و نامه بخواند
✦
بخندید و زان کار خیره بماند
“When Rostam heard this and read the letter, he laughed and stood amazed at the affair,”
#29
که مانندهٔ سام گرد از مهان
✦
سواری پدید آمد اندر جهان
“Reflecting how a rider resembling Sam the Mighty could have suddenly appeared in the world.”
#30
از آزادگان این نباشد شگفت
✦
ز ترکان چنین یاد نتوان گرفت
“'Such a feat were no surprise from noble Iranians, but from the Turks one expecteth it not!”
#31
من از دخت شاه سمنگان یکی
✦
پسر دارم و باشد او کودکی
“I have indeed a son by the Princess of Samangan, but he is yet a young child.”
#32
هنوز آن گرامی نداند که جنگ
✦
توان کرد باید گه نام و ننگ
“That beloved child knoweth not yet how to wage war when the hour of fame and honor cometh.”
#33
فرستادمش زر و گوهر بسی
✦
بر مادر او به دست کسی
“I sent him vast gold and jewels through a messenger to his mother.”
#34
چنین پاسخ آمد که آن ارجمند
✦
بسی برنیاید که گردد بلند
“The answer came that the noble youth will soon grow tall and mighty.”
#35
همی می خورد با لب شیربوی
✦
شود بی‌گمان زود پرخاشجوی
“Though he still drinketh wine with lips smelling of milk, he shall doubtless soon become a fiercer warrior.”
#36
بباشیم یک روز و دم برزنیم
✦
یکی بر لب خشک نم برزنیم
“Let us tarry for a day and rejoice, moistening our dry lips with wine,”
#37
ازان پس گراییم نزدیک شاه
✦
به گردان ایران نماییم راه
“Thereafter we shall proceed unto the Shah and show the Iranian warriors the path.”
#38
مگر بخت رخشنده بیدار نیست
✦
وگرنه چنین کار دشوار نیست
“Unless radiant Fortune be asleep, such a task is by no means formidable.”
#39
چو دریا به موج اندرآید ز جای
✦
ندارد دم آتش تیزپای
“When the ocean heaveth with surges, even the fiery blast cannot withstand its power.”
#40
درفش مرا چون ببیند ز دور
✦
دلش ماتم آرد به هنگام سور
“When he beholdeth my banner from afar, his heart shall turn to mourning in the midst of his feast.”
#41
بدین تیزی اندر نیاید به جنگ
✦
نباید گرفتن چنین کار تنگ
“He shall not rush into battle with such haste; we need not take this matter so grimly.'”
#42
به می دست بردند و مستان شدند
✦
ز یاد سپهبد به دستان شدند
“They reached for the goblets and grew drunk, forgetting the Commander's haste in Zal's feast.”
#43
دگر روز شبگیر هم پرخمار
✦
بیامد تهمتن برآراست کار
“On the next day at early dawn, heavily hungover, Rostam arose and prepared the feast once more.”
#44
ز مستی هم آن روز باز ایستاد
✦
دوم روز رفتن نیامدش یاد
“Sunk in drunkenness, he stayed that day as well, and on the second day he remembered not to depart.”
#45
سه دیگر سحرگه بیاورد می
✦
نیامد ورا یاد کاووس کی
“On the third morning he brought forth wine again, giving no thought to Kay Kavus.”
#46
به روز چهارم برآراست گیو
✦
چنین گفت با گرد سالار نیو
“Upon the fourth day Giv made ready to depart, and spoke thus to the brave champion and leader:”
#47
که کاووس تندست و هشیار نیست
✦
هم این داستان بر دلش خوار نیست
“"Kay Kavus is tempestuous and lacks wisdom, nor does he take this matter lightly at heart."”
#48
غمی بود ازین کار و دل پرشتاب
✦
شده دور ازو خورد و آرام و خواب
“"Sorrowful is he over this threat, his mind in wild haste; food, rest, and sleep have all departed from him."”
#49
به زابلستان گر درنگ آوریم
✦
ز می باز پیگار و جنگ آوریم
“"If we tarry further in Zabolestan, we shall exchange our feast of wine for battle and strife."”
#50
شود شاه ایران به ما خشمگین
✦
ز ناپاک رایی درآید بکین
“"The King of Iran will grow enraged with us, and out of his twisted judgment, he will turn to vengeance."”
#51
بدو گفت رستم که مندیش ازین
✦
که با ما نشورد کس اندر زمین
“Rostam replied to him: "Trouble not your mind with this, for none on earth dares rise in defiance against us."”
#52
بفرمود تا رخش را زین کنند
✦
دم اندر دم نای رویین کنند
“He commanded that Rakhsh be saddled forthwith, and that blast upon blast be sounded on the brass trumpets.”
#53
سواران زابل شنیدند نای
✦
برفتند با ترگ و جوشن ز جای
“Hearing the trumpets, the mounted warriors of Zabol sprang to action, clad in helmets and coats of mail.”