In the depth of the night, a radiant vision illuminated the sleep of the venerable elder Goudarz. He beheld a rain-laden cloud ascending from the heart of Iran, bearing upon it the blessed herald Soroush. The divine messenger called upon Goudarz to open his ears to a cosmic decree: in the distant expanse of Touran, a young king of noble heritage was hidden—Kay Khosrow, the son of the slain Siyavash, bearing the imperial lineage of Kay Qobad from his father and the blood of Tur from his mother. Soroush prophesied that when Kay Khosrow sets foot upon Iranian soil, he will avenge his father's blood, boil the seas with wrath, and shatter the reign of Afrasiab. Yet, among all the champions of Iran, none but Giev, the glorious son of Goudarz, is fated to find the hidden prince.
When the golden sun blazed across the heavens like a shining lamp, Goudarz awoke, pressed his snow-white beard into the dust in devout prayer, and thanked the Almighty Creator. Seated upon his ivory throne, he summoned his heroic son Giev and unfolded the secrets of the heavenly dream. Goudarz assured Giev that his name would achieve immortal glory across all ages, for the heavens had chosen him to unlock the chains of suffering binding the realm. Heartfelt and steadfast, Giev readily pledged his life to his father's bidding, declaring that eternal fame outweighs all mortal treasures.
Giev prepared for the perilous expedition without an army, choosing only a swift, tireless warhorse and a trusty lasso so as to slip unnoticed into enemy lands. Committing his young son Bizhan to the loving care of his grandfather Goudarz, Giev bade a poignant farewell. With tears of blood in his eyes and a heart torn between grief and sacred duty, the elderly Goudarz watched his son depart into the perilous unknown, lifting his hands to the Just Creator to guide Giev safely to the royal heir.
#1
چنان دید گودرز یک شب به خواب
✦
که ابری برآمد ز ایران پرآب
“Thus saw Goudarz in his sleep one night, / That a cloud dense with water rose over Iran.”
#2
بر آن ابر باران خجسته سروش
✦
به گودرز گفتی که بگشای گوش
“Upon that rain-cloud stood blessed Soroush, / Who spake to Goudarz: 'Open thy ears!'”
#3
چو خواهی که یابی ز تنگی رها
✦
وز این نامور ترک نر اژدها
“'If thou seekest freedom from hard distress, / And from this male dragon of a famed Turanian Turk,'”
#4
به توران یکی نامداری نو است
✦
کجا نام آن شاه کیخسرو است
“'In Touran there is a newly renowned noble, / Whose royal name is Kay Khosrow.'”
#5
ز پشت سیاوش یکی شهریار
✦
هنرمند و از گوهر نامدار
“'A monarch sprung from the loins of Siyavash, / Accomplished and of illustrious lineage.'”
#6
از این تخمه از گوهر کیقباد
✦
ز مادر سوی تور دارد نژاد
“'From this line, of the gem of Kay Qobad, / Yet on his mother's side his heritage reaches Tur.'”
#7
چو آید به ایران پی فرخش
✦
ز چرخ آنچه پرسد دهد پاسخش
“'When his auspicious foot enters Iran, / Whatever he asks of the heavens shall be granted.'”
#8
میان را ببندد به کین پدر
✦
کند کشور تور زیر و زبر
“'He shall gird his loins to avenge his father, / And turn the land of Touran upside down.'”
#9
به دریای قلزم به جوش آرد آب
✦
نخارد سر از کین افراسیاب
“'He shall bring the waters of the Qolzum Sea to boil, / And never rest from his vengeance against Afrasiab.'”
#10
همه ساله در جوشن کین بود
✦
شب و روز در جنگ بر زین بود
“'All year long he shall wear the mail of vengeance, / Day and night in battle, mounted on his saddle.'”
#11
ز گردان ایران و گردنکشان
✦
نیابد جز از گیو از او کس نشان
“'Of all the heroes and proud warriors of Iran, / None shall find trace of him save Giev.'”
#12
چنین است فرمان گردان سپهر
✦
بدو دارد از داد گسترده مهر
“'Such is the decree of the revolving sphere, / Which spreads its love over him with justice.'”
#13
چو از خواب گودرز بیدار شد
✦
نیایش کنان پیش دادار شد
“When Goudarz awoke from his slumber, / He bowed in prayer before the Almighty Creator.”
#14
بمالید بر خاک ریش سپید
✦
ز شاه جهاندار شد پرامید
“He rubbed his white beard upon the earth, / And his heart overflowed with hope in the Lord of the world.”
#15
چو خورشید پیدا شد از پشت زاغ
✦
برآمد به کردار زرین چراغ
“When the sun appeared from behind the raven's back, / Ascending like a golden lamp,”
#16
سپهبد نشست از بر تخت عاج
✦
بیاراست ایوان به کرسی ساج
“The commander sat upon the ivory throne, / And adorned the hall with chairs of teakwood.”
#17
پر اندیشه مر گیو را پیش خواند
✦
وز آن خواب چندی سخنها براند
“Full of deep thought, he called Giev before him, / And spoke many words regarding that vision.”
#18
بدو گفت فرخ پی و روز تو
✦
همان اختر گیتی افروز تو
“He said to him: 'O thou of blessed foot and day, / Likewise thy world-illuminating star!'”
#19
تو تا زادی از مادر پاکدین
✦
پر از آفرین شد سراسر زمین
“'Since thou wert born of thy pure mother, / The entire earth hath been filled with thy praise.'”
#20
به فرمان یزدان خجسته سروش
✦
مرا روی بنمود در خواب دوش
“'By Yazdan's command, blessed Soroush / Showed his face to me in a dream last night.'”
#21
نشسته بر ابری پر از باد و نم
✦
بشستی جهان را سراسر ز غم
“'Seated upon a cloud full of wind and mist, / He washed the entire world clean of sorrow.'”
#22
مرا دید و گفت این همه غم چراست
✦
جهانی پر از کین و بی‌نم چراست
“'He saw me and said: Why all this grief? / Why is the world so full of spite and dry of comfort?'”
#23
ازیرا که بی‌فر و برزست شاه
✦
ندارد همی راه شاهان نگاه
“'Because the king lacks divine Glory and grandeur, / And keeps not the path of former kings.'”
#24
چو کیخسرو آید ز توران زمین
✦
سوی دشمنان افگند رنج و کین
“'When Kay Khosrow comes forth from Touran land, / He shall cast pain and vengeance upon the foe.'”
#25
نبیند کس او را ز گردان نیو
✦
مگر نامور پور گودرز گیو
“'None among the gallant warriors shall see him, / Save Giev, the famed son of Goudarz.'”
#26
چنین کرد بخشش سپهر بلند
✦
که از تو گشاید غم و رنج بند
“'High heaven hath ordained this glory for thee, / That the bond of grief and pain be loosened by thy hand.'”
#27
همی نام جستی میان دو صف
✦
کنون نام جاویدت آمد به کف
“'Thou didst seek a name between the two battle-lines; / Now eternal renown hath fallen into thy grasp.'”
#28
که تا در جهان مردم است و سخن
✦
چنین نام هرگز نگردد کهن
“'So long as men endure and speech remains, / Such a name shall never grow old.'”
#29
زمین را همان با سپهر بلند
✦
به دست تو خواهد گشادن ز بند
“'The earth, together with high heaven, / Shall be unbound from its shackles through thy hand.'”
#30
به رنج است گنج و به نام است رنج
✦
همانا که نامت به آید ز گنج
“'In hard labor is treasure, and in hardship lies renown; / Truly thy name is better than any treasure.'”
#31
اگر جاودانه نمانی به جای
✦
همی نام به زین سپنجی سرای
“'Though thou shalt not abide forever in this world, / A goodly name is best in this transient inn.'”
#32
جهان را یکی شهریار آوری
✦
درخت وفا را به بار آوری
“'Thou shalt bring forth a sovereign for the world, / And cause the tree of loyalty to bear its fruit.'”
#33
بدو گفت گیو ای پدر بنده‌ام
✦
بکوشم به رای تو تا زنده‌ام
“Giev spake to him: 'O father, I am thy servant! / I shall strive according to thy counsel as long as I live.'”
#34
خریدارم این را گر آید به جای
✦
به فرخنده نام و پی رهنمای
“'I eagerly embrace this task if it come to pass, / Under the guidance of a blessed name and leader.'”
#35
به ایوان شد و ساز رفتن گرفت
✦
ز خواب پدر مانده اندر شگفت
“He entered his hall and prepared for the journey, / Astonished at his father's mystic vision.”
#36
چو خورشید رخشنده آمد پدید
✦
زمین شد به سان گل شنبلید
“When the resplendent sun appeared once more, / The earth became as vibrant as yellow fenugreek blossoms.”
#37
بیامد کمربسته گیو دلیر
✦
یکی بارکش بادپایی به زیر
“Brave Giev came forth, his belt tightly girded, / Riding upon a swift, strong steed.”
#38
به گودرز گفت ای جهان پهلوان
✦
دلیر و سرافراز و روشن روان
“He said to Goudarz: 'O world champion! / Valiant, exalted, and bright of soul!'”
#39
کمندی و اسپی مرا یار بس
✦
نشاید کشیدن بدان مرز کس
“'A lasso and a steed are companion enough for me; / I must not lead a host into that distant borderland.'”
#40
چو مردم برم خواستار آیدم
✦
از آن پس مگر کارزار آیدم
“'If I take men, suspicions will arise, / And after that, only warfare would await me.'”
#41
مرا دشت و کوه است یک چند جای
✦
مگر پیشم آید یکی رهنمای
“'Desert and mountain shall be my abode for a time, / Perchance a guide may cross my path.'”
#42
به پیروزبخت جهان پهلوان
✦
نیایم جز از شاد و روشن روان
“'By the victorious fortune of the world champion, / I shall return only with a joyful and bright spirit.'”
#43
تو مر بیژن خرد را در کنار
✦
بپرور نگهدارش از روزگار
“'Do thou hold young Bizhan close in thy bosom, / Nurture him and guard him from the turns of fate.'”
#44
ندانم که دیدار باشد جز این
✦
که داند چنین جز جهان آفرین
“'I know not if we shall ever meet again; / Who can know such things save the Creator of the world?'”
#45
تو پدرود باش و مرا یاد دار
✦
روان را ز درد من آزاد دار
“'Farewell to thee, and keep me in thy memory; / Free thy soul from the grief of my parting.'”
#46
چو شویی ز بهر پرستش رخان
✦
به من بر جهان آفرین را بخوان
“'When thou washest thy face for holy worship, / Call upon the World-Creator on my behalf,'”
#47
مگر باشدم دادگر رهنمای
✦
به نزدیک آن نامور کدخدای
“'Perchance the Just Lord may be my guiding light, / Leading me to that famous noble prince.'”
#48
به فرمان بیاراست آمد برون
✦
پدر دل پر از درد و رخ پر ز خون
“Equipped at his command, he stepped outside; / His father's heart was filled with grief, his face wet with bloody tears.”
#49
پدر پیر سر بود و برنا دلیر
✦
دهن جنگ را باز کرده چو شیر
“The father was aged in head yet young in courage, / His mouth opened for battle like a fierce lion.”
#50
ندانست کاو باز بیند پسر
✦
ز رفتن دلش بود زیر و زبر
“He knew not whether he would ever see his son again; / At his departure, his heart was utterly overturned.”