Shangal, the arrogant champion of Hind, rode out before the ranks of the Turanian host, roaring a boastful challenge and demanding the whereabouts of the champion he mocked as Segzi. Hearing the audacious cry, Rostam spurred Rakhsh forward, his voice echoing over the battlefield as he declared that Zal had named him Rostam, and that Shangal's shroud would be his own mail and helmet. With terrifying swiftness, Rostam thrust his lance into Shangal's waist, lifting him clean out of the saddle and slamming him onto the hard earth before slashing his lion-like arms. Bleeding and overwhelmed by terror, Shangal barely escaped Rostam's grasp and fled to the pavilion of the Khaqan of Chin, warning the sovereign that Rostam was no mere mortal man, but a raging mountain-elephant and an unyielding dragon whom no single warrior could face.
Realizing the futility of single combat, the Khaqan ordered his entire host—an unending sea of warriors from Chin, Suqlab, and Hind—to envelop the Iranian champion like a dark mountain of steel. The sky darkened beneath the tempest of arrows, spears, and dust as they closed in upon Rostam. Yet Rostam stood unbroken, shattering ten spears with a single blow and carving a path through the dense ranks like fire through dry reed beds. Turning to the Iranian heroes who stood resolute behind him, Rostam exhorted them to strike like blacksmiths upon an anvil, sounding the kettledrums and trumpets to sweep the enemy away. Gripping his sacred ox-headed mace, Rostam charged into the right wing of the enemy host like a mad elephant, rending their formations asunder, trampling helmets into the dust, and spreading panic through the vast armies of the Khaqan and Afrasiab.
#1
بغرید شنگل ز پیش سپاه
✦
منم گفت گرداوژن رزمخواه
“Shangal roared from before the host, saying: 'I am the battle-seeking, brave warrior!'”
#2
بگویید کان مرد سگزی کجاست
✦
یکی کرد خواهم برو نیزه راست
“'Tell me, where is that man of Sistan (Segzi), that I may point my spear straight at him?'”
#3
چو آواز شنگل برستم رسید
✦
ز لشکر نگه کرد و او را بدید
“When the sound of Shangal reached Rostam, he looked through the army and spotted him.”
#4
بدو گفت هان آمدم رزمخواه
✦
نگر تا نگیری بلشکر پناه
“He said to him: 'Lo, I have come seeking battle! Beware that you do not take shelter in your army!'”
#5
چنین گفت رستم که از کردگار
✦
نجستم جزین آرزوی آشکار
“Rostam said: 'From the Creator, I desired nothing clearer than this...'”
#6
که بیگانه‌ای زان بزرگ انجمن
✦
دلیری کند رزم جوید ز من
“'...That a stranger from that great assembly should show boldness and seek battle with me!'”
#7
نه سقلاب ماند ازیشان نه هند
✦
نه شمشیر هندی نه چینی پرند
“'Neither Suqlab nor Hind shall remain of them, nor Indian sword, nor Chinese silk!'”
#8
پی و بیخ ایشان نمانم بجای
✦
نمانم بترکان سر و دست و پای
“'I will leave no root or trace of them, nor leave head, hands, or feet to the Turks!'”
#9
بر شنگل آمد به آواز گفت
✦
که ای بدنژاد فرومایه جفت
“He rode up to Shangal and called out: 'O ill-bred, ignoble fellow!'”
#10
مرا نام رستم کند زال زر
✦
تو سگزی چرا خوانی ای بدگهر
“'Zal the Golden named me Rostam! Why do you call me Segzi, O evil-natured one?'”
#11
نگه کن که سگزی کنون مرگ تست
✦
کفن بی‌گمان جوشن و ترگ تست
“'Look closely, for Segzi is now your death, and your shroud will surely be your mail and helmet!'”
#12
همی گشت با او به آوردگاه
✦
میان دو صف برکشیده سپاه
“He circled with him upon the battlefield, between the two drawn-up ranks of armies.”
#13
یکی نیزه زد برگرفتش ز زین
✦
نگونسار کرد و بزد بر زمین
“He struck him with a lance, lifted him out of the saddle, turned him upside down, and slammed him to the ground.”
#14
برو بر گذر کرد و او را نخست
✦
بشمشیر برد آنگهی شیر دست
“He rode over him, and first struck his lion-like arm with his sword.”
#15
برفتند زان روی کنداوران
✦
بزهر آب داده پرندآوران
“The brave champions rushed forward from that side, bearing poison-dipped swords.”
#16
چو شنگل گریزان شد از پیلتن
✦
پراگنده گشتند زان انجمن
“As Shangal fled from the elephant-bodied Rostam, that assembly scattered.”
#17
دو بهره ازیشان بشمشیر کشت
✦
دلیران توران نمودند پشت
“Two-thirds of them he slew with the sword, and the brave warriors of Turan turned their backs in flight.”
#18
بجان شنگل از دست رستم بجست
✦
زره بود و جوشن تنش را نخست
“Shangal escaped with his life from Rostam's hand, for his chainmail and armor protected his body at first.”
#19
چنین گفت شنگل که این مرد نیست
✦
کس او را بگیتی هم آورد نیست
“Shangal spoke thus: 'This is no man! No one in the world is a match for him!'”
#20
یکی ژنده پیلست بر پشت کوه
✦
مگر رزم سازند یکسر گروه
“'He is a giant elephant upon a mountain peak; unless the entire host fights him together...'”
#21
بتنها کسی رزم با اژدها
✦
نجوید چو جوید نیابد رها
“'No one alone seeks battle with a dragon; if he does, he finds no escape.'”
#22
بدو گفت خاقان ترا بامداد
✦
دگر بود رای و دگر بود یاد
“The Khaqan said to him: 'In the morning, your counsel and your thoughts were quite different!'”
#23
سپه را بفرمود تا همگروه
✦
برانند یکسر بکردار کوه
“He commanded the host to advance all together, like a solid mountain.”
#24
سرافراز را در میان آورند
✦
تنومند را جان زیان آورند
“To encircle that proud champion, and bring doom upon that mighty hero.”
#25
بشمشیر برد آن زمان شیر دست
✦
چپ لشکر چینیان برشکست
“Rostam laid hand to his sword like a lion and shattered the left wing of the Chinese army.”
#26
هر آنگه که خنجر برانداختی
✦
همه ره تن بی سر انداختی
“Whenever he swung his blade, he littered the entire path with headless bodies.”
#27
نه با جنگ او کوه را پای بود
✦
نه با خشم او پیل را جای بود
“Neither could a mountain withstand his battle, nor an elephant stand before his wrath.”
#28
بدان سان گرفتند گرد اندرش
✦
که خورشید تاریک شد از برش
“They surrounded him in such vast numbers that the sun grew dark above him.”
#29
چنان نیزه و خنجر و گُرز و تیر
✦
که شد ساخته بر یل شیرگیر
“Such a shower of spears, daggers, maces, and arrows rained down upon the lion-capturing hero.”
#30
گمان برد کاندر نیستان شدست
✦
ز خون روی کشور میستان شدست
“You would think he had entered a dense reed bed, while the land turned red as wine with blood.”
#31
بیک زخم ده نیزه کردی قلم
✦
خروشان و جوشان و دشمن دژم
“With a single blow he snapped ten lances like pens, roaring, raging, while the enemy grew dismal.”
#32
دلیران ایران پس پشت اوی
✦
بکینه دل آگنده و جنگ جوی
“The heroes of Iran stood behind him, their hearts filled with vengeance and eager for battle.”
#33
ز بس نیزه و گُرز و گوپال و تیغ
✦
تو گفتی همی ژاله بارد ز میغ
“From so many spears, maces, heavy clubs, and swords, you would say hail was raining from a cloud.”
#34
ز کشته همه دشت آوردگاه
✦
تن و پشت و سر بود و ترگ و کلاه
“The whole battlefield was strewn with the slain—bodies, backs, heads, armor, and helmets.”
#35
ز چینی و شگنی و از هندوی
✦
ز سقلاب و هری و از پهلوی
“Of Chinese, Shaghnani, and Indian warriors, of Suqlabian, Herati, and Pahlavi men...”
#36
سپه بود چون خاک در پای کوه
✦
ز یک مرد سگزی شده همگروه
“The host lay like dust at the foot of the mountain, all united against a single warrior of Sistan.”
#37
که با او بجنگ اندرون پای نیست
✦
چنو در جهان لشکر آرای نیست
“For no one can stand against him in battle, and there is no battle-arrayer like him in the world.”
#38
کسی کو کند زین سخن داستان
✦
نباشد خردمند همداستان
“Whosoever recounts this tale, no wise man would dispute it...”
#39
که پرخاشخر نامور صد هزار
✦
بسنده نبودند با یک سوار
“...That a hundred thousand famous fighters were not enough to withstand a single rider!”
#40
ازین کین بد آمد بافراسیاب
✦
ز رستم کجا یابد آرام و خواب
“From this vengeance, evil came upon Afrasiab; how could he find rest or sleep because of Rostam?”
#41
چنین گفت رستم بایرانیان
✦
کزین جنگ دشمن کند جان زیان
“Rostam said thus to the Iranians: 'In this battle, the enemy shall forfeit their lives!'”
#42
هم‌اکنون ز پیلان و از خواسته
✦
همان تخت و آن تاج آراسته
“'Right now, from the elephants, wealth, decorated thrones, and crowns...'”
#43
ستانم ز چینی بایران دهم
✦
بدان شادمان روز فرخ نهم
“'...I shall seize from the Chinese and give to Iran, setting down a happy, auspicious day.'”
#44
نباشد جز ایرانیان شاد کس
✦
پی رخش و ایزد مرا یار بس
“'None shall be glad except the Iranians; the hoofs of Rakhsh and God are enough aid for me!'”
#45
یکی را ز شگنان و سقلاب و چین
✦
نمانم که پی برنهد بر زمین
“'Not one of the Shaghnanis, Suqlabians, or Chinese will I allow to step foot upon this land!'”
#46
که امروز پیروزی روز ماست
✦
بلند آسمان لشکر افروز ماست
“For today is the day of our victory; the high heavens shall empower and illuminate our host.”
#47
گر ایدونک نیرو دهد دادگر
✦
پدید آورد رخش رخشان هنر
“If the Just Creator grants strength this day, Rakhsh shall display his brilliant prowess in full glory.”
#48
برین دشت من گورستانی کنم
✦
برومند را شارستانی کنم
“Upon this battlefield I shall build a vast graveyard, and turn their thriving army into a city of the dead.”
#49
یکی از شما سوی لشکر شوید
✦
بکوشید و با باد همبر شوید
“Let one of you hasten unto our main host; strive with all speed to rival the swiftness of the wind.”
#50
بکوبید چون من بجنبم ز جای
✦
شما برفرازید سنج و درای
“The moment I move from my position, beat the drums and raise high the cymbals and war-bells.”
#51
زمین را سراسر کنید آبنوس
✦
بگرد سواران و آوای کوس
“Darken the entire earth like ebony, with the dust of cavalry and the roaring thunder of war-drums.”
#52
بکوبید گوپال و گُرز گران
✦
چو پولاد را پتک آهنگران
“Strike hard with heavy maces and iron clubs, as blacksmiths hammer steel upon the anvil.”
#53
از انبوه ایشان مدارید باک
✦
ز دریا بابر اندر آرید خاک
“Fear not their vast numbers; raise dust from the ocean to the sky.”
#54
همه دیده بر مغفر من نهید
✦
چو من بر خروشم دمید و دهید
“Keep all your eyes fixed upon my helmet; when I roar, sound your trumpets and raise your battle cry.”
#55
بدرید صفهای سقلاب و چین
✦
نباید که بیند هوا را زمین
“Tear asunder the ranks of Saqlab and China, so that the churning dust conceals the sky from the earth.”
#56
وزان جایگه رفت چون پیل مست
✦
یکی گُرزهٔ گاوپیکر به دست
“Then Rostam charged from that spot like an enraged elephant, grasping the ox-headed mace in his hand.”
#57
خروشان سوی میمنه راه جست
✦
ز لشکر سوی کندر آمد نخست
“Roaring, he carved his path toward the right flank, attacking Kondor first among the host.”
#58
همه میمنه پاک بر هم درید
✦
بسی ترگ و سر بد که تن را ندید
“He shattered their entire right wing; countless were the helmets and heads severed from their bodies.”