#1
دگر باره اسپان ببستند سخت
✦
به سر بر همی گشت بدخواه بخت
“Once more they tied fast their steeds, while ill-omened destiny turned above their heads.”
#2
به کشتی گرفتن نهادند سر
✦
گرفتند هر دو دوال کمر
“They turned their hearts to wrestling, each grasping the other's belt-strap.”
#3
هرآنگه که خشم آورد بخت شوم
✦
کند سنگ خارا به کردار موم
“Whenever ill fortune brings forth its wrath, it turns hard granite into soft wax.”
#4
سرافراز سهراب با زور دست
✦
تو گفتی سپهر بلندش ببست
“The proud Sohrab possessed immense strength, yet you would say the high heavens bound his arms.”
#5
غمی بود رستم بیازید چنگ
✦
گرفت آن بر و یال جنگی پلنگ
“Rostam, heavy of heart, stretched forth his grip and seized the neck and mane of that warlike leopard.”
#6
خم آورد پشت دلیر جوان
✦
زمانه بیامد نبودش توان
“He bent the back of the brave youth, for destiny had arrived and left him no strength.”
#7
زدش بر زمین بر به کردار شیر
✦
بدانست کاو هم نماند به زیر
“Like a lion he slammed him to the earth, knowing full well that Sohrab would not remain beneath him for long.”
#8
سبک تیغ تیز از میان برکشید
✦
بر شیر بیدار دل بردرید
“Swiftly he drew his sharp blade from his waist and tore open the chest of the vigilant lion.”
#9
بپیچید زانپس یکی آه کرد
✦
ز نیک و بد اندیشه کوتاه کرد
“Sohrab writhed and let out a sigh, severing his thoughts from all good and evil in this world.”
#10
بدو گفت کاین بر من از من رسید
✦
زمانه به دست تو دادم کلید
“He said to him: 'This fate came upon me from myself; destiny handed you the key to my doom.'”
#11
تو زین بیگناهی که این کوژپشت
✦
مرابرکشید و به زودی بکشت
“'You are blameless in this, for this crooked-backed sky raised me up only to slay me so soon.'”
#12
به بازی بکویند همسال من
✦
به خاک اندر آمد چنین یال من
“'My peers will say in sport: How came such mighty shoulders to lie in the dust?'”
#13
نشان داد مادر مرا از پدر
✦
ز مهر اندر آمد روانم بسر
“'My mother gave me signs of my father; my soul departed solely out of love for him.'”
#14
هرآنگه که تشنه شدستی به خون
✦
بیالودی آن خنجر آبگون
“'Whenever you grew thirsty for blood, you have stained that steel blade of yours.'”
#15
زمانه به خون تو تشنه شود
✦
براندام تو موی دشنه شود
“'Time itself shall become thirsty for your blood, and every hair upon your body shall turn into a dagger against you.'”
#16
کنون گر تو در آب ماهی شوی
✦
و گر چون شب اندر سیاهی شوی
“'Now, though you become a fish in the waters, or cloak yourself like night in pitch darkness,'”
#17
وگر چون ستاره شوی بر سپهر
✦
ببری ز روی زمین پاک مهر
“'Or turn into a star upon the heavens, severing all affection from the face of the earth,'”
#18
بخواهد هم از تو پدر کین من
✦
چو بیند که خاکست بالین من
“'My father will still demand vengeance for me from you when he sees that the dust has become my pillow!'”
#19
ازین نامداران گردنکشان
✦
کسی هم برد سوی رستم نشان
“'From among these famous chieftains, someone will surely bear word to Rostam,'”
#20
که سهراب کشتست و افگنده خوار
✦
ترا خواست کردن همی خواستار
“'That Sohrab has been slain and cast down low, he who was ever searching for you!'”
#21
چو بشنید رستم سرش خیره گشت
✦
جهان پیش چشم اندرش تیره گشت
“When Rostam heard this, his senses reeled, and the world grew pitch black before his eyes.”
#22
بپرسید زان پس که آمد به هوش
✦
بدو گفت با ناله و با خروش
“When he regained consciousness, he asked him with groans and cries:”
#23
که اکنون چه داری ز رستم نشان
✦
که کم باد نامش ز گردنکشان
“'What token do you possess of Rostam?—May his name be erased from among the valiant!'”
#24
بدو گفت ار ایدونکه رستم تویی
✦
بکشتی مرا خیره از بدخویی
“Sohrab said: 'If indeed you are Rostam, you have slain me out of sheer wickedness!'”
#25
ز هر گونه‌ای بودمت رهنمای
✦
نجنبید یک ذره مهرت ز جای
“'In every manner I showed you the path, yet not a grain of affection stirred within your heart.'”
#26
چو برخاست آواز کوس از درم
✦
بیامد پر از خون دو رخ مادرم
“'When the sound of drums echoed from my gates, my mother came with faces bathed in tears.'”
#27
همی جانش از رفتن من بخست
✦
یکی مهره بر بازوی من ببست
“'Her soul was wounded by my departure, so she bound a jewel upon my arm.'”
#28
مرا گفت کاین از پدر یادگار
✦
بدار و ببین تا کی آید به کار
“'She told me: Keep this remembrance of your father, and see when it shall serve its purpose.'”
#29
کنون کارگر شد که بیکار گشت
✦
پسر پیش چشم پدر خوار گشت
“'Now it has taken effect by becoming useless, for the son lies humiliated before the father's eyes!'”
#30
همان نیز مادر به روشن روان
✦
فرستاد با من یکی پهلوان
“'Likewise, my mother with an enlightened soul sent a chieftain alongside me,'”
#31
بدان تا پدر را نماید به من
✦
سخن برگشاید به هر انجمن
“'So that he might point out my father to me and speak open truth in every assembly.'”
#32
چو آن نامور پهلوان کشته شد
✦
مرا نیز هم روز برگشته شد
“'When that renowned hero was slain, my fortune too turned black and doomed.'”
#33
کنون بند بگشای از جوشنم
✦
برهنه نگه کن تن روشنم
“'Now unbuckle the fastenings of my coat of mail, and look upon my radiant body.'”
#34
چو بگشاد خفتان و آن مهره دید
✦
همه جامه بر خویشتن بردرید
“When Rostam opened the armor and beheld that jewel, he tore all his garments upon his body.”
#35
همی گفت کای کشته بر دست من
✦
دلیر و ستوده به هر انجمن
“He cried out: 'O noble youth slain by my own hand! Valiant and praised in every council!'”
#36
همی ریخت خون و همی کند موی
✦
سرش پر ز خاک و پر از آب روی
“He poured tears of blood and tore his hair, his head covered in dust and his face wet with wept streams.”
#37
بدو گفت سهراب کین بدتریست
✦
به آب دو دیده نباید گریست
“Sohrab said to him: 'This mourning is even worse; you ought not weep with tearful eyes.'”
#38
ازین خویشتن کشتن اکنون چه سود
✦
چنین رفت و این بودنی کار بود
“'What profit is there now in slaying yourself? Thus it was destined, and this was bound to happen.'”
#39
چو خورشید تابان ز گنبد بگشت
✦
تهمتن نیامد به لشکر ز دشت
“As the radiant sun turned from the sky's vault, Tahmatan had not returned to the host from the plain.”
#40
ز لشکر بیامد هشیوار بیست
✦
که تا اندر آوردگه کار چیست
“Twenty wise warriors rode forth from the army to see what had transpired upon the battlefield.”
#41
دو اسپ اندر آن دشت برپای بود
✦
پر از گرد رستم دگر جای بود
“Two warhorses stood waiting upon the plain, while another spot was thick with dust raised by Rostam.”
#42
گو پیلتن را چو بر پشت زین
✦
ندیدند گردان بران دشت کین
“When the warriors did not see the elephant-bodied champion atop his saddle upon the field of battle,”
#43
گمانشان چنان بد که او کشته شد
✦
سرنامداران همه گشته شد
“Their suspicion grew that he had been slain, and the minds of all the nobles turned upside down with dread.”
#44
به کاووس کی تاختند آگهی
✦
که تخت مهی شد ز رستم تهی
“They rushed news to King Kay Kavus that the throne of greatness had been emptied of Rostam.”
#45
ز لشکر برآمد سراسر خروش
✦
زمانه یکایک برآمد به جوش
“A mighty clamor arose from the entire army, and fate itself plunged into turmoil.”
#46
بفرمود کاووس تا بوق و کوس
✦
دمیدند و آمد سپهدار طوس
“Kay Kavus commanded the clarions and drums to sound, and Tus, commander of the host, stepped forward.”
#47
ازان پس بدو گفت کاووس شاه
✦
کز ایدر هیونی سوی رزمگاه
“Then King Kay Kavus said to him, "Dispatch a swift courier from here toward the battlefield,"”
#48
بتازید تا کار سهراب چیست
✦
که بر شهر ایران بباید گریست
“"Gallop fast to see what has become of Sohrab, for all the realm of Iran may have to weep."”
#49
اگر کشته شد رستم جنگجوی
✦
از ایران که یارد شدن پیش اوی
“"If Rustam the warrior hero has been slain, who in Iran will dare to stand against him?"”
#50
به انبوه زخمی بباید زدن
✦
برین رزمگه بر نشاید بدن
“"We must strike in a massive, unified body; it is no longer safe to tarry on this battlefield."”
#51
چو آشوب برخاست از انجمن
✦
چنین گفت سهراب با پیلتن
“As uproar arose from the gathering, Sohrab spoke thus to the elephant-bodied warrior:”
#52
که اکنون که روز من اندر گذشت
✦
همه کار ترکان دگرگونه گشت
“"Now that my day is spent and done, the destiny of the Turanian army has turned completely upside down."”
#53
همه مهربانی بران کن که شاه
✦
سوی جنگ ترکان نراند سپاه
“"Show all your benevolence in this: convince the Shah not to march his army against the Turanians,"”
#54
که ایشان ز بهر مرا جنگجوی
✦
سوی مرز ایران نهادند روی
“"For it was solely for my sake that those brave men set out toward the borders of Iran."”
#55
بسی روز را داده بودم نوید
✦
بسی کرده بودم ز هر در امید
“"For many days I gave them bright promises, and filled their hearts with hopes of every kind."”
#56
نباید که بینند رنجی به راه
✦
مکن جز به نیکی بر ایشان نگاه
“"Let them not suffer hardship on their journey home; look upon them with nothing but loving-kindness."”
#57
نشست از بر رخش رستم چو گرد
✦
پر از خون رخ و لب پر از باد سرد
“Rustam mounted Rakhsh like a dust-storm, his face stained with blood and his lips filled with cold, sorrowful sighs.”
#58
بیامد به پیش سپه با خروش
✦
دل از کردهٔ خویش با درد و جوش
“He came before the army crying aloud, his heart burning and boiling with agony over what he had done.”
#59
چو دیدند ایرانیان روی اوی
✦
همه برنهادند بر خاک روی
“When the Iranians beheld his countenance, they all bowed their faces to the earth in gratitude.”
#60
ستایش گرفتند بر کردگار
✦
که او زنده باز آمد از کارزار
“They offered praises unto the Creator that he had returned alive from the bloody fray.”
#61
چو زان گونه دیدند بر خاک سر
✦
دریده برو جامه و خسته بر
“Yet when they saw his head bent down in dust, his garments rent, and his breast wounded with grief,”
#62
به پرسش گرفتند کاین کار چیست
✦
ترادل برین گونه از بهر کیست
“They began to ask him: "What is this calamity? For whose sake is your heart so shattered?"”
#63
بگفت آن شگفتی که خود کرده بود
✦
گرامی‌تر خود بیازرده بود
“He recounted the awful wonder he had wrought—how he had slain his own most precious child.”
#64
همه برگرفتند با او خروش
✦
زمین پر خروش و هوا پر ز جوش
“All raised their voices in mourning with him; the earth rang with wailing and the sky turned tumultuous with grief.”
#65
چنین گفت با سرفرازان که من
✦
نه دل دارم امروز گویی نه تن
“He said to the exalted chieftains, "Today it seems I have neither heart nor body left within me."”
#66
شما جنگ ترکان مجویید کس
✦
همین بد که من کردم امروز بس
“"Seek no battle with the Turanians, any of you; the evil I have committed today is more than enough."”
#67
چو برگشت ازان جایگه پهلوان
✦
بیامد بر پور خسته روان
“When the paladin turned back from that place, he returned to his wounded, dying son.”
#68
بزرگان برفتند با او بهم
✦
چو طوس و چو گودرز و چون گستهم
“The nobles went alongside him—warriors such as Tus, Goudarz, and Gustahm.”
#69
همه لشکر از بهر آن ارجمند
✦
زبان برگشادند یکسر ز بند
“The entire army loosened their tongues in lamentation for that illustrious youth,”
#70
که درمان این کار یزدان کند
✦
مگر کاین سخن بر تو آسان کند
“Saying, "Only God can heal this agony; may He ease this heavy burden upon your heart."”
#71
یکی دشنه بگرفت رستم به دست
✦
که از تن ببرد سر خویش پست
“Rustam grasped a dagger in his hand, intent on smiting his own wretched head from his body.”
#72
بزرگان بدو اندر آویختند
✦
ز مژگان همی خون فرو ریختند
“The chieftains threw themselves upon him to stay his hand, shedding tears of bloody agony from their eyes.”
#73
بدو گفت گودرز کاکنون چه سود
✦
که از روی گیتی برآری تو دود
“Goudarz said to him: "What profit is there now, if you bring smoke and destruction upon the world?"”
#74
تو بر خویشتن گر کنی صدگزند
✦
چه آسانی آید بدان ارجمند
“"Though you inflict a hundred harms upon yourself, what ease will it bring to that noble soul?"”
#75
اگر ماند او را به گیتی زمان
✦
بماند تو بی‌رنج با او بمان
“"If time remains for him in this world, he shall survive, and you may live beside him free of pain."”
#76
وگر زین جهان این جوان رفتنیست
✦
به گیتی نگه کن که جاوید کیست
“"And if this youth must depart from this world, look upon creation—who is there that lives forever?"”
#77
شکاریم یکسر همه پیش مرگ
✦
سری زیر تاج و سری زیر ترگ
“"We are all prey before the stalk of Death—whether a head rests beneath a royal crown or a helm of war."”