Turn your tongue to none but God, the radiant guide of good and evil, by whose will the revolving heavens endure. Human days pass swiftly, and a realm beyond this world is the ultimate resting place. As the ancient tales of the sages unfold, the tragedy of war reveals itself anew...
Dark tidings swept across the battle-plain to the Khagan of China: Kamos, the titan-bodied champion, had fallen in the dust of combat. Grief shrouded the Kashani, Shaghni, and Balkhi warriors, blackening their days. Houman, his spirit crushed, confessed to Piran that his soul was weary of battle—for if Kamos, an invincible giant who could wrestle wild elephants and whom no lasso could bind, had been slain, who among them could stand?
Weeping and desolate, the commanders gathered before the Khagan, urging him to devise a secret strategy. They asked him to dispatch covert spies into the Iranian lines to uncover the identity of the mysterious lion-hearted warrior who had brought down Kamos, so they might know against whom they waged their final, desperate stand.
The Khagan of China comforted Piran, reminding his captains that mortality is the inescapable decree of the heavens for all born of woman. Yet he swore a solemn vow to drag Kamos’s slayer to the dust in lassos of vengeance and lay waste to the realm of Iran to fulfill the heart’s desire of King Afrasiab. Gathering his finest swordsmen, the Khagan sought a warrior to scout the enemy's flanks and discover the stranger's name.
Step forward did a proud champion named Changash—a relentless fighter devoted to his sovereign. Bowing before the Khagan, Changash pledged to ride out alone, face this fierce lion of Iran, avenge the fallen Kamos, and bring shame upon the enemy’s head. Honoring his devotion, the Khagan showered blessings upon Changash, promising him boundless treasures of gold and jewels from the royal vaults should he return victorious.
#1
کنون ای خردمند روشن‌روان
✦
بجز نام یزدان مگردان زبان
“Now, O wise one of enlightened soul, turn your tongue to none but the name of God,”
#2
که اویست بر نیک و بد رهنمای
✦
وزویست گردون گردان بجای
“For He alone is the guide to both good and evil, and by Him the revolving heavens stand.”
#3
همی بگذرد بر تو ایام تو
✦
سرایی جزین باشد آرام تو
“Your days pass swiftly over you; a dwelling other than this world shall be your resting place.”
#4
چو باشی بدین گفته همداستان
✦
که دهقان همی گوید از باستان
“When you agree with this chronicle which the chronicler recounts from ancient times:”
#5
ازان پس خبر شد بخاقان چین
✦
که شد کشته کاموس بر دشت کین
“Thereafter news reached the Khagan of China that Kamos had been slain upon the plain of vengeance.”
#6
کشانی و شگنی و گردان بلخ
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ز کاموس‌شان تیره شد روز و تلخ
“The Kashanis, the Shaghnis, and the heroes of Balkh found their days turned dark and bitter because of Kamos.”
#7
همه یک بدیگر نهادند روی
✦
که این پرهنر مرد پرخاشجوی
“They all turned to one another, asking: 'Who is this warrior of skill and warlike might?”
#8
چه مردست و این مرد را نام چیست
✦
هم آورد او در جهان مرد کیست
“What kind of man is he, and what is his name? Who in the world could be his match in battle?'”
#9
چنین گفت هومان به پیران شیر
✦
که امروز شد جانم از رزم سیر
“Thus spoke Houman to the lion-like Piran: 'Today my heart has grown weary of battle,”
#10
دلیران ما چون فرازند چنگ
✦
که شد کشته کاموس جنگی بجنگ
“How can our brave champions raise their claws in combat, now that warlike Kamos has been slain in battle?”
#11
بگیتی چنو نامداری نبود
✦
وزو پیلتن تر سواری نبود
“There was no hero in the world like him, nor was there any rider more elephant-bodied than he.”
#12
چو کاموس گو را بخم کمند
✦
به آوردگه بر توان کرد بند
“Who could ever bind the hero Kamos in the loops of a lasso upon the field of conflict?”
#13
سزد گر سر پیل را روز کین
✦
بگیرد برآرد زند بر زمین
“He was worthy to seize the head of an elephant on the day of battle and hurl it to the ground!'”
#14
سپه سربسر پیش خاقان شدند
✦
ز کاموس با درد و گریان شدند
“The entire host went before the Khagan, weeping and filled with anguish over Kamos,”
#15
که آغاز و فرجام این رزمگاه
✦
شنیدی و دیدی بنزد سپاه
“Saying: 'You have heard and seen the beginning and the end of this battlefield before the army.”
#16
کنون چارهٔ کار ما بازجوی
✦
بتنها تن خویش و کس را مگوی
“Now seek a remedy for our affair by your own counsel alone, and reveal it to no one.”
#17
بلشکر نگه کن ز کارآگهان
✦
کسی کو سخن باز جوید نهان
“Look upon the army for experienced spies who can secretly uncover the truth of the matter,”
#18
ببیند که این شیر دل مرد کیست
✦
وزین لشکر او را هم آورد کیست
“To see who this lion-hearted champion is, and who in our host could be his match.”
#19
از آن پس همه تن بکشتن دهیم
✦
به آوردگه بر سر و تن نهیم
“Thereafter, we shall all give our bodies to death and lay down our heads and lives upon the battle-ground.'”
#20
بپیران چنین گفت خاقان چین
✦
که خود درد ازینست و تیمار ازین
“The Khagan of China spoke thus to Piran: 'This indeed is the source of our sorrow and affliction,”
#21
که تا کیست زان لشکر پرگزند
✦
کجا پیل گیرد بخم کمند
“To know who this warrior from that destructive army is, who can bind an elephant with his lasso.”
#22
ابا آنک از مرگ خود چاره نیست
✦
ره خواهش و پرسش و یاره نیست
“Yet, though there is no escape from death, nor any path of pleading, questioning, or capability,”
#23
ز مادر همه مرگ را زاده‌ایم
✦
بناکام گردن بدو داده‌ایم
“We are all born of mothers unto death, and involuntarily have surrendered our necks to it.”
#24
کس از گردش آسمان نگذرد
✦
وگر بر زمین پیل را بشکرد
“None can escape the turnings of the sky, even if he hunts wild elephants upon the earth.”
#25
شما دل مدارید ازو مستمند
✦
کجا کشته شد زیر خم کمند
“Do not lose heart over him because he was slain beneath the coils of a lasso.”
#26
مر آن را که کاموس ازو شد هلاک
✦
ببند کمند اندر آرم بخاک
“I shall bring down to the dust with lasso bonds the very man who brought about Kamos's demise!”
#27
همه شهر ایران کنم رود آب
✦
بکام دل خسرو افراسیاب
“I shall turn every city of Iran into a river of water, according to the heart's desire of King Afrasiab.'”
#28
ز لشکر بسی نامور گرد کرد
✦
ز خنجرگزاران و مردان مرد
“He gathered many renowned warriors from his host—blade-wielders and valiant men of war.”
#29
چنین گفت کین مرد جنگی بتیر
✦
سوار کمندافگن و گردگیر
“Thus he spoke: 'This warrior who fights with arrows, this lasso-throwing rider and conqueror of heroes—”
#30
نگه کرد باید که جایش کجاست
✦
بگرد چپ لشکر و دست راست
“We must watch to see where his place is, whether on the left wing of the army or on the right.”
#31
هم از شهر پرسد هم از نام او
✦
ازانپس بسازیم فرجام او
“Let us inquire of his city and his name, and thereafter we shall determine his end.'”
#32
سواری سرافراز و خسروپرست
✦
بیامد ببر زد برین کار دست
“A proud and king-revering rider came forward and set his hand to this task;”
#33
که چنگش بدش نام و جوینده بود
✦
دلیر و به هر کار پوینده بود
“His name was Changash, a seeker of glory, brave and energetic in every endeavor.”
#34
بخاقان چنین گفت کای سرفراز
✦
جهان را بمهر تو بادا نیاز
“He spoke to the Khagan, saying: 'O exalted ruler, may the world ever be in need of your favor!”
#35
گر او شیر جنگیست بیجان کنم
✦
بدانگه که سر سوی ایران کنم
“Though he be a fierce lion, I will render him lifeless when I turn my face toward Iran.”
#36
بتنها تن خویش جنگ‌آورم
✦
همه نام او زیر ننگ آورم
“Single-handedly I shall do battle with him, and bring all his fame under the shadow of disgrace.”
#37
ازو کین کاموس جویم نخست
✦
پس از مرگ نامش بیارم درست
“First I shall seek vengeance for Kamos from him, and after his death I shall bring back his true name.'”
#38
برو آفرین کرد خاقان چین
✦
بپیشش ببوسید چنگش زمین
“The Khagan of China bestowed praises upon him, and Changash kissed the ground before him.”
#39
بدو گفت ار این کینه بازآوری
✦
سوی من سر بی‌نیاز آوری
“The Khagan said to him: 'If you accomplish this vengeance and bring back a head free of need to me,”
#40
ببخشمت چندان گهرها ز گنج
✦
کزان پس نباید کشیدنت رنج
“I shall grant you so many jewels from the royal treasury that you shall never suffer hardship again.'”