#1
گزین کرد زان لشکر نامدار
✦
سواران شمشیرزن سی‌هزار
“From that renowned host he selected thirty thousand sword-wielding horsemen.”
#2
برفتند نیمی گذشته ز شب
✦
نه بانگ تبیره نه بوق و جلب
“They set forth when midnight had passed, in absolute silence without sound of drum, trumpet, or clarion.”
#3
چو پیران سالار لشکر براند
✦
میان یلان هفت فرسنگ ماند
“As Piran, the leader of the army, spurred forward, seven leagues lay between him and the heroes.”
#4
نخستین رسیدند پیش گله
✦
کجا بود بر دشت توران یله
“First they came upon the herds that grazed untethered across the Turanian plain.”
#5
گرفتند بسیار و کشتند نیز
✦
نبود از بد بخت مانند چیز
“They captured many and slew many as well; from ill fortune no remedy remained.”
#6
گله‌دار و چوپان بسی کشته شد
✦
سر بخت ایرانیان گشته شد
“Many herdsmen and shepherds were slain, and the fortune of the Iranians turned to darkness.”
#7
وزان جایگه سوی ایران سپاه
✦
برفتند برسان گرد سیاه
“And from that place toward the Iranian host they charged like a swirling black dust cloud.”
#8
همه مست بودند ایرانیان
✦
گروهی نشسته گشاده میان
“The Iranians were all intoxicated, a group sitting with their belts unbuckled.”
#9
بخیمه درون گیو بیدار بود
✦
سپهدار گودرز هشیار بود
“Inside his tent, Giv was awake, and Goudarz the army commander was watchful.”
#10
خروش آمد و بانگ زخم تبر
✦
سراسیمه شد گیو پرخاشخر
“Clamor arose and the loud strike of axes; Giv the warlike warrior was startled.”
#11
ستاده ابر پیش پرده‌سرای
✦
یکی اسپ برگستوان‌ور به پای
“Standing before his royal pavilion was an armored steed ready for battle.”
#12
برآشفت با خویشتن چون پلنگ
✦
ز بافیدن پای آمدش ننگ
“He burned within himself like a leopard, holding it a shame to delay even a moment.”
#13
بیامد باسپ اندر آورد پای
✦
بکردار باد اندر آمد ز جای
“He came forward, put his foot in the stirrup, and leaped into motion swift as the wind.”
#14
بپرده‌سرای سپهبد رسید
✦
ز گرد سپه آسمان تیره دید
“He reached the commander's tent and saw the sky darkened by the dust of the approaching host.”
#15
بدو گفت برخیز کامد سپاه
✦
یکی گرد برخاست ز اوردگاه
“He said to him: 'Arise, for the army has arrived! A vast dust cloud has risen from the battlefield!'”
#16
وزان جایگه رفت نزد پدر
✦
به چنگ اندرون گُرزهٔ گاو سر
“Thence he went unto his father, holding in his clutch a bull-headed mace.”
#17
همی گشت بر گرد لشکر چو دود
✦
برانگیخت آن را که هشیار بود
“He circled round the army like smoke, rousing whomever possessed alertness.”
#18
یکی جنگ با بیژن افگند پی
✦
که این دشت رزم است گر باغ می
“He stirred Bizhan to combat, saying: 'Is this plain a battleground or a banquet of wine?'”
#19
وزان پس بیامد سوی کارزار
✦
بره برشتابید چندی سوار
“And thereafter he rushed toward the battlefield, while several horsemen hurried along the way.”
#20
بدان اندکی برکشیدند نخ
✦
سپاهی ز ترکان چو مور و ملخ
“Against those few drawn-up ranks, a host of Turks poured in like ants and locusts.”
#21
همی کرد گودرز هر سو نگاه
✦
سپاه اندر آمد بگرد سپاه
“Goudarz looked in every direction; army after army encircled the camp.”
#22
سراسیمه شد خفته از داروگیر
✦
برآمد یکی ابر بارانش تیر
“The sleeping warriors were bewildered by the clash; a cloud arose that rained down arrows.”
#23
بزیر سر مست بالین نرم
✦
ز بر گُرز و گوپال و شمشیر گرم
“Beneath the head of the drunkard was a soft pillow; from above came maces, heavy bludgeons, and warm swords.”
#24
سپیده چو برزد سر از برج شیر
✦
به لشکر نگه کرد گیو دلیر
“When morning raised its head from the palace of the Lion, valiant Giv looked out upon the army.”
#25
همه دشت از ایرانیان کشته دید
✦
سر بخت بیدار برگشته دید
“He saw the whole plain filled with slain Iranians, the head of their vigilant fortune turned away.”
#26
دریده درفش و نگونسار کوس
✦
رخ زندگان تیره چون آبنوس
“Torn were the banners, inverted were the war-drums, and the faces of the living were dark as ebony.”
#27
سپهبد نگه کرد و گردان ندید
✦
ز لشکر دلیران و مردان ندید
“The commander looked and saw no champions left; he saw neither brave men nor warriors of the host.”
#28
همه رزمگه سربسر کشته بود
✦
تنانشان بخون اندر آغشته بود
“The entire battlefield was filled with the slain, their bodies drenched in blood.”
#29
پسر بی‌پدر شد پدر بی‌پسر
✦
همه لشگر گشن زیر و زبر
“Son was left fatherless, father left sonless; the mighty host was completely thrown into upheaval.”
#30
به بیچارگی روی برگاشتند
✦
سراپرده و خیمه بگذاشتند
“In utter helplessness they turned their faces and abandoned their pavilions and tents.”
#31
نه کوس و نه لشکر نه بار و بنه
✦
همه میسره خسته و میمنه
“Neither drums remained, nor army, nor baggage, nor supplies; both left and right wings were shattered.”
#32
ازین گونه لشکر سوی کاسه‌رود
✦
برفتند بی‌مایه و تار و پود
“In such plight the army went toward Mount Kasa-rud, broken, destitute, and shattered.”
#33
چنین آمد این گنبد تیزگرد
✦
گهی شادمانی دهد گاه درد
“Such is the way of this swift-turning vault of heaven: at times it grants joy, and at times grief.”
#34
سواران توران پس پشت طوس
✦
دلان پر ز کین و سران پر فسوس
“The horsemen of Turan came behind Tus, their hearts filled with vengeance and their heads with mockery.”
#35
همی گُرز بارید گویی ز ابر
✦
پس پشت بر جوشن و خود و گبر
“It was as if maces rained from the clouds upon their backs, upon cuirass, helmet, and armor.”
#36
نبد کس برزم اندرون پایدار
✦
همه کوه کردند گردان حصار
“There was no one to stand firm in combat; all the warriors made the mountain their fortress.”
#37
فرومانده اسپان و مردان جنگ
✦
یکی را نبد هوش و توش و نه هنگ
“The horses were exhausted and the warriors broken; none had consciousness, strength, or resolve remaining.”
#38
سپاهی ازین گونه گشتند باز
✦
شده مانده از رزم و راه دراز
“In such a state the host returned, weary from battle and the long march.”
#39
ز هامون سپهبد سوی کوه شد
✦
ز پیکار ترکان بی‌اندوه شد
“From the plain the commander went up into the mountain, escaping the relentless fight of the Turks.”
#40
فراوان کم آمد ز ایرانیان
✦
برآمد خروشی بدرد از میان
“A great number of Iranians were lost, and a painful cry rose from their midst.”
#41
همه خسته و بسته بد هرک زیست
✦
شد آن کشته بر خسته باید گریست
“All who survived were wounded and bound; one had to weep for the wounded as much as the slain.”
#42
نه تاج و نه تخت و نه پرده‌سرای
✦
نه اسپ و نه مردان جنگی بپای
“No crown remained, nor throne, nor pavilions, nor horses, nor battle-ready men on their feet.”
#43
نه آباد بوم نه مردان کار
✦
نه آن خستگانرا کسی خواستار
“No prosperous land remained, nor men of action, nor anyone to tend to those wounded.”
#44
پدر بر پسر چند گریان شده
✦
وزان خستگان چند بریان شده
“How many fathers wept for their sons, and how many hearts burned for those wounded!”
#45
چنین است رسم جهان جهان
✦
که کردار خویش از تو دارد نهان
“Such is the custom of this world: it keeps its inner deeds concealed from thee.”
#46
همی با تو در پرده بازی کند
✦
ز بیرون ترا بی‌نیازی کند
“It plays its game with thee behind the veil, while making thee outwardly independent of all things.”
#47
ز باد آمدی رفت خواهی به گرد
✦
چه دانی که با تو چه خواهند کرد
“From wind thou camest, into dust shalt thou go; how canst thou know what Fate hath in store for thee?”
#48
ببند درازیم و در چنگ آز
✦
ندانیم باز آشکارا ز راز
“Bound in the long chains of destiny and trapped in the clutches of greed, we cannot distinguish the hidden truth from the obvious.”
#49
دو بهره ز ایرانیان کشته بود
✦
دگر خسته از رزم برگشته بود
“Two-thirds of the Iranians had been slain, while the rest turned back from combat, wounded and defeated.”
#50
سپهبد ز پیکار دیوانه گشت
✦
دلش با خرد همچو بیگانه گشت
“The commander grew distracted and crazed by the battle, his heart becoming a total stranger to wisdom.”
#51
بلشکرگه اندر می و خوان و بزم
✦
سپاه آرزو کرد بر جای رزم
“Within the camp, the army had craved wine, feasting, and revelry in place of battle readiness.”
#52
جهاندیده گودرز با پیر سر
✦
نه پور و نبیره نه بوم و نه بر
“The experienced, aged Goudarz stood grief-stricken—bereft of sons, grandsons, land, and possessions.”
#53
نه آن خستگان را خورش نه پزشک
✦
همه جای غم بود و خونین سرشک
“For those wounded, there was neither food nor physician; everywhere was grief and tears of blood.”
#54
جهاندیدگان پیش اوی آمدند
✦
شکسته دل و راه‌جوی آمدند
“The experienced elders approached him, broken-hearted and seeking a way forward.”
#55
یکی دیدبان بر سر کوه کرد
✦
کجا دیدگان سوی انبوه کرد
“He stationed a lookout upon the mountain peak, to gaze attentively toward the enemy host.”
#56
طلایه فرستاد بر هر سویی
✦
مگر یابد آن درد را دارویی
“He dispatched vanguard patrols in every direction, hoping to find a remedy for that dire misfortune.”
#57
یکی نامداری ز ایرانیان
✦
بفرمود تا تنگ بندد میان
“He commanded a renowned noble among the Iranians to gird his loins tightly for a journey,”
#58
دهد شاه را آگهی زین سخن
✦
که سالار لشکر چه افگند بن
“To inform the King of these events, and what disastrous foundation the army commander had laid.”
#59
چه روز بد آمد بایرانیان
✦
سران را ز بخشش سرآمد زیان
“What evil day had fallen upon the Iranians! The leaders suffered ultimate loss from Fate's decree.”
#60
رونده بر شاه برد آگهی
✦
که تیره شد آن روزگار مهی
“The courier brought word to the King that the glorious days of greatness had turned dark and grim.”
#61
چو شاه دلیر این سخنها شنید
✦
بجوشید وز غم دلش بردمید
“When the valiant King heard these words, he boiled with anger and his heart swelled with profound grief.”
#62
ز کار برادر پر از درد بود
✦
بران درد بر درد لشکر فزود
“His heart was already aching for his brother's slain fate; to that anguish was now added the calamity of the army.”
#63
زبان کرد گویا بنفرین طوس
✦
شب تیره تا گاه بانگ خروس
“He gave his tongue to cursing Tus, crying out through the dark night until the rooster's crow at dawn.”