As Tous, raging like a moving mountain, charged up the heights of Mount Spand-Asya, the eloquent Tokhvar rushed to Prince Farud's side to sound the alarm. He warned the prince that the vengeful commander of Iran was approaching—a warrior as formidable as a seasoned sea-monster against whom no single youth could stand. Tokhvar urged Farud to bar the fortress gates tight and await the unfolding of fate, reminding him that having slain Tous’s son Zarasp and son-in-law Rivniz, all thoughts of feast and peace were now shattered.
Young Farud flared with hot anger at Tokhvar’s words, declaring that when battle arises, a warrior’s heart must be steeled with courage rather than dampened with fear. To him, whether it were Tous, a ferocious lion, a mad elephant, or a sea-monster, a warrior must receive bravery from his counselor, not cold mud thrown upon a raging flame.
Tokhvar spake again with deference, reminding the prince that mighty kings never despise counsel. Even if Farud were forged of iron and capable of uprooting granite mountains, he remained but a solitary rider against thirty thousand renowned Iranian warriors ready to sweep the mountain bare. Furthermore, Tokhvar revealed the fateful political truth: should harm befall Tous, Shah Kay Khosrow would be plunged into deep grief, causing an irreparable rift in the holy campaign of vengeance for Siyavash. He implored the prince to turn his reins, sheath his bow, and withdraw into the fortress. Yet, tragic miscommunication and bad counsel had already set the wheels of fate in motion.
#1
تخوار سراینده گفت آن زمان
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که آمد بر کوه کوهی دمان
“Tokhvar the eloquent spake at that moment, as a roaring mountain advanced upon the heights:”
#2
سپهدار طوسست کامد بجنگ
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نتابی تو با کار دیده نهنگ
“"It is Tous the army commander who comes to battle; you cannot withstand such an experienced sea-monster!"”
#3
برو تا در دژ ببندیم سخت
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ببینیم تا چیست فرجام بخت
“"Go, let us lock the fortress doors tight, and see what the ultimate end of fate shall bring."”
#4
چو فرزند و داماد او را برزم
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تبه کردی اکنون میندیش بزم
“"Since you destroyed his son and son-in-law in battle, think no more of feasts and celebration!"”
#5
فرود جوان تیز شد با تخوار
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که چون رزم پیش آید و کارزار
“Young Farud grew sharp and fierce with Tokhvar, saying: "When conflict and battle arise,”
#6
چه طوس و چه شیر و چه پیل ژیان
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چه جنگی نهنگ و چه ببر بیان
“"What matters Tous, or a ferocious lion, or a furious elephant, or a warlike crocodile, or Babr-e Bayan?”
#7
بجنگ اندرون مرد را دل دهند
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نه بر آتش تیز بر گل نهند
“"In battle, men give courage to a warrior's heart; they do not place cold mud upon a fiery blaze!"”
#8
چنین گفت با شاهزاده تخوار
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که شاهان سخن را ندارند خوار
“Tokhvar said thus to the prince: "Kings never despise wise counsel.”
#9
تو هم یک سواری اگر ز آهنی
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همی کوه خارا ز بن برکنی
“"You are but a single horseman, even if made of iron, even if you uproot granite mountains from their base.”
#10
از ایرانیان نامور سی هزار
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برزم تو آیند بر کوهسار
“"Thirty thousand renowned Iranians will come upon the mountain to wage battle against you.”
#11
نه دژ ماند اینجا نه سنگ و نه خاک
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سراسر ز جا اندر آرند پاک
“"Neither fortress, nor stone, nor earth will remain here; they will sweep everything utterly clean away.”
#12
وگر طوس را زین گزندی رسد
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به خسرو ز دردش نژندی رسد
“"And if harm should befall Tous, Shah Kay Khosrow will suffer deep anguish from his pain,”
#13
بکین پدرت اندر آید شکست
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شکستی که هرگز نشایدش بست
“"And a fatal breach will enter the vengeance for your father—a breach that can never be mended!”
#14
بگردان عنان و مینداز تیر
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بدژ شو مبر رنج بر خیره‌خیر
“"Turn your reins and shoot no arrows; enter the citadel and do not labor in vain."”
#15
سخن هرچ از پیش بایست گفت
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نگفت و همی داشت اندر نهفت
“Whatever words ought to have been spoken beforehand were left unsaid and kept in secrecy.”
#16
ز بی‌مایه دستور ناکاردان
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ورا جنگ سود آمد و جان زیان
“From an unworthy and inexperienced advisor, war brought profit to none, and life to ruin!”