Piran Viseh, the consummate strategist of Turan, returned once more to the pavilion of the elephant-bodied champion Rostam. Dismounting his steed, he showered the Iranian hero with high praises, invoking divine blessings upon his frame in hopes of softening his resolute heart. Piran claimed he had conveyed Rostam's demands to both the young and old within the sprawling host—composed of Turanians, Sogdians, Khotlanese, and the armies of China. Yet, he reported that the allied kings and chieftains refused to surrender any transgressors save Afrasiab, declaring themselves eager for battle. He warned Rostam that even the King of Hind was prepared to engage him with bow and tempered Indian steel.
Rostam, however, pierced through Piran's veil of deceit with blazing righteous fury. He thundered against the Turanian commander, exclaiming, 'O wretched man! How long will you stand upon trickery and lie? King Kay Khosrow warned me in secret, and old Goudarz revealed your hidden snares—now I see with my own eyes that you are falsehood from head to toe!' Rostam admonished Piran for remaining bound to the cursed soil of Turan when he could have sought refuge in prosperous Iran, where the just King Kay Khosrow would have honored him like a father. Instead, Piran chose armor and leopard-skins over royal silks, reaping the bitter harvest of his own sowing.
Sensing Rostam's unyielding resolve and mounting anger, Piran skillfully feigned submission. He praised Rostam's incomparable wisdom and requested a single night's reprieve to deliberate with his assembly. With deceit on his tongue and vengeance in his heart, he retreated to the dark vanguard of his host, leaving the earth trembling like a boiling cauldron beneath the marching legions.
Left with the inevitability of war, Rostam turned to the Iranian warriors, girding his waist for battle. He recounted the ominous prophecy of astrologers, who foretold a colossal clash between two mountains—a day of doom where iron maces would melt like wax and world-renowned heroes would perish. Rostam exhorted his troops to discard attachment to the fleeting, transient world, reminding them that enduring honor and glorious fame were the only treasures worth keeping. Inspired by his immortal spirit, the Iranian host swore to fight until the Day of Resurrection under his banner.
When the two massive armies collided, it was as if a dark, tempestuous cloud overspread the sun, raining down steel arrows and flashing blades. The battlefield transformed into a pitch-black sea of blood and smoke. Spearheads glistened crimson, cow-headed maces crashed down like hail from the heavens, and the soil absorbed the blood and brains of fallen champions. Warriors and armored elephants collapsed side by side like felled towers. Even the venerable Goudarz declared that in all his long years of manhood, he had never witnessed or heard of a slaughter so immense and terrifying.
#1
وزان جایگه شد بدان انجمن
✦
بجایی که بد سایهٔ پیلتن
“And from that place he went to that assembly, to where the shade of the Elephant-Bodied hero lay.”
#2
فرود آمد و آفرین کرد چند
✦
که زور از تو گیرد سپهر بلند
“He dismounted and uttered many blessings, saying: 'May the high heavens draw strength from thee!'”
#3
مبادا که روز تو گیرد نشیب
✦
مبادا که آید برویت نهیب
“'May thy day never sink into darkness, nor may any terror touch thy face!'”
#4
دل شاه ایران بتو شاد باد
✦
همه کار تو سربسر داد باد
“'May the heart of Iran's King be joyful through thee, and may all thy deeds be rooted in justice!'”
#5
برفتم ز نزد تو ای پهلوان
✦
پیامت بدادم بپیر و جوان
“'O Champion! I went from thy presence and delivered thy message to both young and old.'”
#6
بگفتم هنرهای تو هرچ بود
✦
بگیتی ترا خود که یارد ستود
“'I recounted all thy valiant arts, though who in all the world is worthy to praise thee adequately?'”
#7
هم از آشتی راندم هم ز جنگ
✦
سخن گفتم از هر دری بی‌درنگ
“'I spoke of peace and of war alike; I addressed every subject without hesitation.'”
#8
بفرجام گفتند کین چون کنیم
✦
که از رای او کینه بیرون کنیم
“'At last they said: How can we do this, to wash the vengeance from his heart?'”
#9
توان داد گنج و زر و خواسته
✦
ز ما هر چه او خواهد آراسته
“'We can grant treasure, gold, and goods—whatever he desires, fully arrayed.'”
#10
نشاید گنهکار دادن بدوی
✦
براندیش و این رازها بازجوی
“'Yet it is not fitting to surrender the guilty to him; reflect upon this and ponder these secrets.'”
#11
گنهکار جز خویش افراسیاب
✦
که دانی سخن را مزن در شتاب
“'There is no culprit other than Afrasiab himself; thou who knowest speech, speak not in haste.'”
#12
ز ما هرک خواهد همه مهترند
✦
بزرگند و با تخت و با افسرند
“'Whoever among us he demands are all chieftains, great ones possessing thrones and crowns.'”
#13
سپاهی بیامد بدین سان ز چین
✦
ز سقلاب و ختلان و توران زمین
“'An army hath arrived of such array from China, Sogdiana, Khotlan, and the land of Turan.'”
#14
کجا آشتی خواهد افراسیاب
✦
که چندین سپاه آمد از خشک و آب
“'How should Afrasiab seek peace when such a vast army hath come by land and water?'”
#15
بپاسخ نکوهش بسی یافتم
✦
بدین سان سوی پهلوان تافتم
“'In answer I received much rebuke, and thus I returned toward the champion.'”
#16
وزیشان سپاهی چو دریای آب
✦
گرفتند بر جنگ جستن شتاب
“'And from them a host like an ocean of water hath made haste to seek battle.'”
#17
نبرد تو خواهد همی شاه هند
✦
بتیر و کمان و بهندی پرند
“'The King of Hind desireth to fight thee with arrows, bows, and Indian steel.'”
#18
مرا این درستست کز پیلتن
✦
بفرجام گریان شوند انجمن
“'Yet to me it is certain that because of the Elephant-Bodied, this assembly shall weeping end.'”
#19
چو بشنید رستم برآشفت سخت
✦
بپیران چنین گفت کای شوربخت
“When Rostam heard this, he grew fiercely enraged; he said to Piran: 'O ill-fated wretch!'”
#20
تو با این چنین بند و چندین فریب
✦
کجا پای داری بروز نهیب
“'With such deceit and so many tricks, where canst thou stand on the day of terror?'”
#21
مرا از دروغ تو شاه جهان
✦
بسی یاد کرد آشکار و نهان
“'The King of the World reminded me often, both openly and in secret, of thy falsehoods.'”
#22
وزان پس کجا پیر گودرز گفت
✦
همه بند و نیرنگت اندر نهفت
“'And thereafter, all that old Goudarz said revealed thy secret snares and tricks.'”
#23
بدیدم کنون دانش و رای تو
✦
دروغست یکسر سراپای تو
“'Now I have witnessed thy wisdom and judgment: thou art entirely a lie from top to toe!'”
#24
بغلتی همی خیره در خون خویش
✦
بدست این و زین بدتر آیدت پیش
“'Thou rollest foolishly in thine own blood; this is thy state, and worse shall come upon thee!'”
#25
چنین زندگانی نیارد بها
✦
که باشد سر اندر دم اژدها
“'Such a life hath no value, wherein a man's head rests in the mouth of a dragon.'”
#26
مگر گفتم آن خاک بیداد و شوم
✦
گذاری بیایی به آباد بوم
“'I had hoped thou wouldst leave that unjust, sinister soil and come to a prosperous land,'”
#27
ببینی مگر شاه با داد و مهر
✦
جوان و نوازنده و خوب‌چهر
“'That thou mightest see the King of justice and love—young, nurturing, and of handsome countenance,'”
#28
بدارد ترا چون پدر بی‌گمان
✦
برآرد سرت برتر از آسمان
“'Who would hold thee beyond doubt as a father, raising thy head higher than the skies.'”
#29
ترا پوشش از خود و چرم پلنگ
✦
همی خوشتر آید ز دیبای رنگ
“'Yet armor and leopard-skin seem sweeter to thee than silk of vivid dyes!'”
#30
ندارد کسی با تو این داوری
✦
ز تخم پراکند خود بر خوری
“'None disputeth with thee in this; thou shalt reap the fruit of the seed thou hast sown.'”
#31
بدو گفت پیران که ای نیکبخت
✦
برومند و شاداب و زیبا درخت
“Piran said to him: 'O fortunate hero, fruitful, fresh, and beautiful tree!'”
#32
سخنها که داند جز از تو چنین
✦
که از مهتران بر تو باد آفرین
“'Who else knoweth how to speak such words save thee? May the blessings of the great be upon thee!'”
#33
مرا جان و دل زیر فرمان تست
✦
همیشه روانم گروگان تست
“'My soul and heart are under thy command; my spirit is forever thy hostage.'”
#34
یک امشب زنم رای با خویشتن
✦
بگویم سخن نیز با انجمن
“'Grant me tonight to deliberate with myself, and to speak once more with the assembly.'”
#35
وزانجا بیامد بقلب سیاه
✦
زبان پر دروغ و روان کینه‌خواه
“And from thence he returned to the black center, his tongue laden with lies and his soul with vengeance.”
#36
چو برگشت پیران ز هر دو گروه
✦
زمین شد بکردار جوشنده کوه
“When Piran turned back from both hosts, the earth began to seethe like a boiling mountain.”
#37
چنین گفت رستم بایرانیان
✦
که من جنگ را بسته دارم میان
“Thus spoke Rostam to the Iranians: 'I have girded my waist for war.'”
#38
شما یک بیک سر پر از کین کنید
✦
بروهای جنگی پر از چین کنید
“'Fill your hearts one by one with vengeance, and knit your warrior brows with wrinkles of rage.'”
#39
که امروز رزمی بزرگست پیش
✦
پدید آید اندازهٔ گرگ و میش
“'For today a mighty battle lies ahead; the true measure of wolf and sheep shall be revealed.'”
#40
مرا گفته بود آن ستاره‌شناس
✦
ازین روز بودم دل اندر هراس
“'The astrologer had foretold to me of this day, and my heart was in dread of its coming:'”
#41
که رزمی بود در میان دو کوه
✦
جهانی شوند اندر آن همگروه
“'That a battle would take place between two mountains, wherein a whole world would join in mass.'”
#42
شوند انجمن کاردیده مهان
✦
بدان جنگ بی‌مرد گردد جهان
“'Battle-tested nobles shall gather, and through that combat the world shall be emptied of men.'”
#43
پی کین نهان گردد از روی بوم
✦
شود گُرز پولاد برسان موم
“'In the trace of vengeance the earth's face shall be hidden, and maces of steel shall turn soft as wax.'”
#44
هر آنکس که آید بر ما بجنگ
✦
شما دل مدارید از آن کار تنگ
“'Whosoever cometh against us in battle, let not your hearts be constrained with fear.'”
#45
دو دستش ببندم بخم کمند
✦
اگر یار باشد سپهر بلند
“'I shall bind both his hands in the loop of my lasso, if the high heaven be my ally.'”
#46
شما سربسر یک بیک همگروه
✦
مباشید از آن نامداران ستوه
“Do not, all of you together in this host, grow weary or dismayed of those renowned warriors.”
#47
مرا گر برزم اندر آید زمان
✦
نمیرم ببزم اندرون بی‌گمان
“If my destined time should arrive in battle, I shall surely not die lying in a feast.”
#48
همی نام باید که ماند دراز
✦
نمانی همی کار چندین مساز
“It is an enduring name that must remain; since you yourself will not endure, do not attach your heart so greatly to this worldly toil.”
#49
دل اندر سرای سپنجی مبند
✦
که پر خون شوی چون ببایدت کند
“Bind not your heart to this transitory inn, lest your spirit bleed with grief when you must part from it.”
#50
اگر یار باشد روان با خرد
✦
بنیک و ببد روز را بشمرد
“If wisdom be the companion of the soul, a person properly weighs the days of good and ill.”
#51
خداوند تاج و خداوند گنج
✦
نبندد دل اندر سرای سپنج
“Neither the master of the crown nor the possessor of treasure should attach his heart to this fleeting abode.”
#52
چنین داد پاسخ به رستم سپاه
✦
که فرمان تو برتر از چرخ ماه
“The army thus gave answer to Rostam: 'Your command is exalted far above the sphere of the moon.'”
#53
چنان رزم سازیم با تیغ تیز
✦
که ماند ز ما نام تا رستخیز
“We shall fight so fiercely with sharp swords that our fame will endure until the day of Resurrection.”
#54
ز دو رویه تنگ اندر آمد سپاه
✦
یکی ابر گفتی برآمد سیاه
“From both sides the armies closed in tightly; you would have said a dark cloud had arisen.”
#55
که باران او بود شمشیر و تیر
✦
جهان شد بکردار دریای قیر
“A cloud whose rain was arrows and swords, turning the world into a sea of pitch.”
#56
ز پیکان پولاد و پر عقاب
✦
سیه گشت رخشان رخ آفتاب
“With steel arrowheads and eagle feathers in the sky, the shining face of the sun turned dark.”
#57
سنانهای نیزه بگرد اندرون
✦
ستاره بیالود گفتی بخون
“Amidst the swirling dust, the spearheads gleamed so that you would say the stars were stained with blood.”
#58
چرنگیدن گُرزهٔ گاوچهر
✦
تو گفتی همی سنگ بارد سپهر
“From the clashing sound of bull-headed maces, you would say the heavens were raining stones.”
#59
بخون و بمغز اندرون خار و خاک
✦
شده غرق و برگستوان چاک چاک
“Thorns and soil were soaked in blood and brains, and horse-armor was torn to shreds.”
#60
همه دشت یکسر پر از جوی خون
✦
بهر جای چندی فگنده نگون
“The entire plain became filled with streams of blood, and everywhere warriors lay fallen headlong.”
#61
چو پیلان فگنده بهم میل میل
✦
به رخ چون زریر و به لب همچو نیل
“Fallen like massive elephants mile after mile, their faces turned yellow as saffron and their lips blue as indigo.”
#62
چنین گفت گودرز با پیر سر
✦
که تا من ببستم بمردی کمر
“Thus spoke Goudarz in his old age: 'Ever since I girded my loins in valor,'”
#63
ندیدم که رزمی بود زین نشان
✦
نه هرگز شنیدم ز گردنکشان
“'I have never seen a battle of such fury, nor ever heard of the like from heroic warlords,'”
#64
که از کشته گیتی برین سان بود
✦
یکی خوار و دیگر تن‌آسان بود
“'Where the world should be so strewn with dead, leaving one fallen low in ruin and another resting in cold death.'”