When the noble soul of Sohrab departed his wounded body, a messenger hastened to Rostam with the shattering news that the young hero no longer sought a palace or a throne, but only a narrow coffin to rest in peace. Upon hearing this, the Elephant-Bodied Champion let out a cold, agonizing sigh, closing his eyes as tears rained down his cheeks. He wailed bitterly at his terrible doom: in his old age, he had slain his own radiant son, a prince of the lineage of Sam, wise and undefeated in battle. He wept for how he could ever face Zal the White-haired, the virtuous Rudabeh, or the heartbroken mother, Tahmineh. He cursed his fate, knowing that this dreadful deed would leave a dark shadow over the house of Sam for all eternity.
Rostam commanded that royal brocade be draped over the young hero's body and that the coffin be carried back to his tents. In a frenzy of intolerable grief, he set fire to his own grand pavilions, his seven-colored silks, and his priceless golden throne covered in leopard skins. As the flames leapt toward the sky, a roar of lamentation arose from the entire army. Rostam tore his royal robes and poured dust upon his head, while the great paladins of King Kay Kavus sat beside him upon the bare earth, sharing in his boundless sorrow. The elders spoke words of ancient wisdom, reflecting on the fickle nature of the high heavens—holding a crown in one hand and a lasso in the other, snatching mortals away regardless of their power or treasure.
King Kay Kavus drew near to Rostam and offered him solace, reminding him that from the heights of Mount Alborz to the smallest blade of grass, everything under the revolving heavens is subject to mortality. Neither tears nor burning rage could recall the departed spirit back from the next realm. Seeing the king's compassion, Rostam made one final request: he begged Kavus to forgo vengeance against Human and the remaining Turanian and Chinese commanders stationed on the plain. He asked that his brother Zavareh be permitted to escort the foreign army safely across the borders. Touched by Rostam's immense grief, King Kavus set aside all past grudges and agreed to spare the Turanian host, bringing a sorrowful close to the bloodshed.
#1
بفرمود رستم که تا پیشکار
✦
یکی جامه افگند بر جویبار
“Rostam commanded his servant to spread a royal garment beside the stream.”
#2
جوان را بران جامه آن جایگاه
✦
بخوابید و آمد به نزدیک شاه
“They laid the young champion upon that cloth, and Rostam returned toward the King.”
#3
گو پیلتن سر سوی راه کرد
✦
کس آمد پسش زود و آگاه کرد
“As the elephant-bodied hero turned onto the road, a messenger came swiftly behind him to report.”
#4
که سهراب شد زین جهان فراخ
✦
همی از تو تابوت خواهد نه کاخ
“'Sohrab has departed from this wide world; he asks of you a coffin now, not a palace.'”
#5
پدر جست و برزد یکی سرد باد
✦
بنالید و مژگان به هم بر نهاد
“The father gasped, uttering a cold sigh; he wept bitterly and closed his eyes in grief.”
#6
همی گفت زار ای نبرده جوان
✦
سرافراز و از تخمه پهلوان
“He wailed mournfully: 'O invincible youth, proud hero of legendary noble seed!'”
#7
نبیند چو تو نیز خورشید و ماه
✦
نه جوشن نه تخت و نه تاج و کلاه
“'Neither sun nor moon shall ever behold the like of you—nor armor, nor throne, nor crown.'”
#8
کرا آمد این پیش کامد مرا
✦
بکشتم جوانی به پیران سرا
“'Upon whom has such a fate descended as upon me? In my old age, I have slain my own young child.'”
#9
نبیره جهاندار سام سوار
✦
سوی مادر از تخمهٔ نامدار
“'Grandson of Sam the horseman on his father's side, and of illustrious lineage through his mother.'”
#10
بریدن دو دستم سزاوار هست
✦
جز از خاک تیره مبادم نشست
“'My hands deserve to be severed! I deserve no seat in this world save upon the dark dust.'”
#11
کدامین پدر هرگز این کار کرد
✦
سزاوارم اکنون به گفتار سرد
“'What father has ever committed such a crime? I am now deserving of every harsh rebuke.'”
#12
به گیتی که کشتست فرزند را
✦
دلیر و جوان و خردمند را
“'Who in all the world has slain his own child—one so valiant, young, and wise?'”
#13
نکوهش فراوان کند زال زر
✦
همان نیز رودابهٔ پرهنر
“'Zal Zar will heap endless reproach upon me, as will the accomplished Rudabeh.'”
#14
بدین کار پوزش چه پیش آورم
✦
که دل‌شان به گفتار خویش آورم
“'What apology can I offer for this act, to soften their hearts with my words?'”
#15
چه گویند گردان و گردنکشان
✦
چو زین سان شود نزد ایشان نشان
“'What will the heroes and mighty warriors say when news of this reaches them?'”
#16
چه گویم چو آگه شود مادرش
✦
چه گونه فرستم کسی را برش
“'What shall I say when his mother learns? How can I send anyone to her presence?'”
#17
چه گویم چرا کشتمش بی‌گناه
✦
چرا روز کردم برو بر سیاه
“'What reason can I give for killing him guiltless, for turning his bright day into black darkness?'”
#18
پدرش آن گرانمایهٔ پهلوان
✦
چه گوید بدان پاک‌دخت جوان
“'What will his glorious father say to that pure, noble maiden?'”
#19
برین تخمهٔ سام نفرین کنند
✦
همه نام من نیز بی‌دین کنند
“'They will curse the lineage of Sam, and call my very name faithless and unholy.'”
#20
که دانست کاین کودک ارجمند
✦
بدین سال گردد چو سرو بلند
“'Who knew that this precious child would grow at such an age like a tall cypress,'”
#21
به جنگ آیدش رای و سازد سپاه
✦
به من برکند روز روشن سیاه
“'That he would choose battle, gather an army, and make my bright day turn pitch black?'”
#22
بفرمود تا دیبهٔ خسروان
✦
کشیدند بر روی پور جوان
“He commanded royal brocade to be drawn over the young son's face.”
#23
همی آرزوگاه و شهر آمدش
✦
یکی تنگ تابوت بهر آمدش
“He had sought great domains and cities, but only a narrow coffin became his share.”
#24
ازان دشت بردند تابوت اوی
✦
سوی خیمهٔ خویش بنهاد روی
“They carried his coffin from that battlefield and brought it toward Rostam's own tent.”
#25
به پرده سرای آتش اندر زدند
✦
همه لشکرش خاک بر سر زدند
“They set fire to the grand pavilion, while the whole host cast dust upon their heads.”
#26
همان خیمه و دیبهٔ هفت رنگ
✦
همه تخت پرمایه زرین پلنگ
“The tents, the seven-colored brocades, and the precious throne covered in leopard skin—”
#27
برآتش نهادند و برخاست غو
✦
همی گفت زار ای جهاندار نو
“All were cast into the fire amidst clamorous wailing, as Rostam mourned: 'O young prince of the world!'”
#28
دریغ آن رخ و برز و بالای تو
✦
دریغ آن همه مردی و رای تو
“'Alas for your face, your stature, and your height! Alas for all your valor and wisdom!'”
#29
دریغ این غم و حسرت جان گسل
✦
ز مادر جدا وز پدر داغدل
“'Alas for this soul-rending grief and regret—separated from your mother, leaving your father heartbroken!'”
#30
همی ریخت خون و همی کند خاک
✦
همه جامهٔ خسروی کرد چاک
“He wept tears of blood, scooped up the dust, and tore all his royal garments to shreds.”
#31
همه پهلوانان کاووس شاه
✦
نشستند بر خاک با او به راه
“All the heroes of King Kavus sat down upon the dusty path beside him.”
#32
زبان بزرگان پر از پند بود
✦
تهمتن به درد از جگربند بود
“The words of the elders were filled with counsel, while the champion burned with agony over his flesh and blood.”
#33
چنینست کردار چرخ بلند
✦
به دستی کلاه و به دیگر کمند
“'Such is the way of the high revolving heavens: holding a crown in one hand and a lasso in the other.'”
#34
چو شادان نشیند کسی با کلاه
✦
بخم کمندش رباید ز گاه
“'When a man sits joyfully wearing a crown, fate snatches him from his throne with its lasso.'”
#35
چرا مهر باید همی بر جهان
✦
چو باید خرامید با همرهان
“'Why place your heart's love upon this world, when one must inevitably depart alongside one's companions?'”
#36
چو اندیشهٔ گنج گردد دراز
✦
همی گشت باید سوی خاک باز
“'When thoughts of worldly treasure stretch out endlessly, one must still return to the earth.'”
#37
اگر چرخ را هست ازین آگهی
✦
همانا که گشتست مغزش تهی
“'If the revolving heavens possess awareness of this, then surely its mind has grown empty;'”
#38
چنان دان کزین گردش آگاه نیست
✦
که چون و چرا سوی او راه نیست
“'Know that it is blind to its own rotations, for no path leads to questioning its how and why.'”
#39
بدین رفتن اکنون نباید گریست
✦
ندانم که کارش به فرجام چیست
“'We should not weep over this departure, for none knows what the ultimate end of his fate shall be.'”
#40
به رستم چنین گفت کاووس کی
✦
که از کوه البرز تا برگ نی
“Kay Kavus spoke thus to Rostam: 'From Mount Alborz to a slender reed's leaf,'”
#41
همی برد خواهد به گردش سپهر
✦
نباید فگندن بدین خاک مهر
“'The heavens will sweep all away in their turn; one must not bind one's heart to this dust.'”
#42
یکی زود سازد یکی دیرتر
✦
سرانجام بر مرگ باشد گذر
“'One departs sooner, another later; in the end, all must pass through the portal of death.'”
#43
تو دل را بدین رفته خرسند کن
✦
همه گوش سوی خردمند کن
“'Console your heart over what has passed, and give your ear entirely to the wise.'”
#44
اگر آسمان بر زمین بر زنی
✦
وگر آتش اندر جهان در زنی
“'Even if you strike the sky down upon the earth, or set the whole world ablaze with fire,'”
#45
نیابی همان رفته را باز جای
✦
روانش کهن شد به دیگر سرای
“'You cannot bring back the one who is gone; his soul has grown aged in another realm.'”
#46
من از دور دیدم بر و یال اوی
✦
چنان برز و بالا و گوپال اوی
“From afar I beheld his broad chest and neck, his mighty stature, tall height, and heavy mace.”
#47
زمانه برانگیختش با سپاه
✦
که ایدر به دست تو گردد تباه
“Fate itself impelled him forth with an army, so that here, by your own hand, he should be destroyed.”
#48
چه سازی و درمان این کار چیست
✦
برین رفته تا چند خواهی گریست
“What remedy can you now devise for this deed? How long will you continue to weep over what is already done?”
#49
بدو گفت رستم که او خود گذشت
✦
نشستست هومان درین پهن دشت
“Rostam replied to him, 'He himself has now passed away; yet Human still sits stationed in this vast plain.'”
#50
ز توران سرانند و چندی ز چین
✦
ازیشان بدل در مدار ایچ کین
“'There are chieftains from Turan and a few from China; entertain no vengeance in your heart against them.'”
#51
زواره سپه را گذارد به راه
✦
به نیروی یزدان و فرمان شاه
“'Zavareh shall lead their army safely on their way, by the Almighty’s power and the King’s command.'”
#52
بدو گفت شاه ای گو نامجوی
✦
ازین رزم اندوهت آید به روی
“The King said to him, 'O renowned hero, grief from this battle has cast its heavy shadow upon your face.'”
#53
گر ایشان به من چند بد کرده‌اند
✦
و گر دود از ایران برآورده‌اند
“'Though they have wrought much evil against me, and though they brought ruin upon the land of Iran...'”
#54
دل من ز درد تو شد پر ز درد
✦
نخواهم از ایشان همی یاد کرد
“'My heart is so consumed with sorrow for your pain that I no longer wish to seek vengeance or even speak of them.'”