From high atop his royal war elephant, the Khagan of China surveyed the bloody battlefield, watching the vast expanse throb like the surging waters of the Nile. Amidst the carnage stood Rostam, the demon-binder, steadfast as an unyielding mountain, while dark vultures circled the sky as if awed by the hero's fateful stars. Trembling with apprehension, the Khagan summoned a noble warrior fluent in the Persian tongue and dispatched him with a message of peace to the Elephant-bodied champion.
The Khagan urged Rostam to abate his wrath, declaring that the men of Chaghnan, Shaghn, China, and Vahr harbored no ancient malice toward Iran. It was Afrasiab alone whose blind greed had ignited this disastrous conflict, drawing foreign monarchs into a war that brought only ruin. With Kamous slain and terror striking the hearts of the allied hosts, the Khagan pleaded for an end to bloodshed and the opening of a grand feast of reconciliation.
The messenger arrived before Rostam with an anxious heart and eloquent speech, presenting the Khagan's entreaty and cautioning the champion against dividing the uncaught gazelle of the wild, for none could foresee the turns of fate. But Rostam, spurring Rakhsh forward, thundered back with fierce pride. He declared himself the lion-overthrowing bestowal of crowns and cast aside all pleas for truce. Demanding the immediate surrender of the enemy's war elephants, ivory throne, and royal crown, Rostam asserted that an invader who sought the plunder of Iran could not now escape through desperate words. Arming his mighty loop, he vowed that neither the Khagan nor the fiercest lions could withstand the unyielding vengeance of his arm.
#1
نگه کرد خاقان ازان پشت پیل
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زمین دید برسان دریای نیل
“The Khagan looked down from atop his elephant's back, beholding the earth like the surging River Nile.”
#2
یکی پیل بر پشت کوه بلند
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ورا نام بد رستم دیو بند
“He saw a war-elephant upon a high mountain's back; his name was Rostam the Demon-Binder.”
#3
همی کرگس آورد ز ابر سیاه
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نظاره بران اختر و چرخ ماه
“Even the vulture swooped down from the dark clouds to gaze upon that radiant star and sphere of the moon.”
#4
یکی نامداری ز لشکر بجست
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که گفتار ایران بداند درست
“The Khagan sought a chieftain from his army who knew the Persian tongue well.”
#5
بدو گفت رو پیش آن شیر مرد
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بگویش که تندی مکن در نبرد
“He said to him: 'Go unto that lion-like hero, and bid him not to show such fierceness in battle.”
#6
چغانی و شگنی و چینی و وهر
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کزین کینه هرگز ندارند بهر
“'For the men of Chaghan, Shagnan, China, and Vahr have no share or interest in this enmity.”
#7
یکی شاه ختلان یکی شاه چین
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ز بیگانه مردم ترا نیست کین
“'The King of Khuttalan and the King of China—against foreign peoples you have no rightful grudge.”
#8
یکی شهریارست افراسیاب
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که آتش همی بد شناسد ز آب
“'It is King Afrasiab alone who cannot distinguish fire from water in his arrogance.”
#9
جهانی بدین گونه کرد انجمن
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بد آورد ازین رزم بر خویشتن
“'He gathered the whole world in this manner and brought evil upon himself through this strife.”
#10
کسی نیست بی‌آز و بی نام و ننگ
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همان آشتی بهتر آید ز جنگ
“'No man is devoid of greed, honor, or shame; yet peace is ever better than war.'”
#11
فرستاده آمد بر پیلتن
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زبان پر ز گفتار و دل پر شکن
“The envoy came before the Elephant-bodied hero, his tongue laden with speeches, his heart full of anxiety.”
#12
بدو گفت کای مهتر رزمجوی
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چو رزمت سرآمد کنون بزم جوی
“He said: 'O mighty warrior, now that battle has reached its crest, seek ye the banquet of peace.”
#13
نداری همانا ز خاقان چین
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ز کار گذشته بدل هیچ کین
“'Surely you bear no grudge in your heart against the Khagan of China for what has passed.”
#14
چنو باز گردد تو زو باز گرد
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که اکنون سپه را سرآمد نبرد
“'If he turns back, turn you back also, for now the armies' clash has come to an end.”
#15
چو کاموس بر دست تو کشته شد
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سر رزمجویان همه گشته شد
“'Since Kamous was slain by your hand, the minds of all warlike men have turned in dismay.'”
#16
چنین داد پاسخ که پیلان و تاج
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بنزدیک من باید و تخت عاج
“Rostam answered thus: 'The elephants, the crown, and the ivory throne must all be surrendered to me!”
#17
بتاراج ایران نهادست روی
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چه باید کنون لابه و گفت و گوی
“'He set his face toward plundering Iran; what use now are entreaties, words, and pleadings?”
#18
چو داند که لشکر بجنگ آمدست
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شتاب سپاه از درنگ آمدست
“'When he knows that the army has come for war, the haste of battle comes from delay.'”
#19
فرستاده گفت ای خداوند رخش
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بدشت آهوی ناگرفته مبخش
“The envoy said: 'O Lord of Rakhsh, do not divide an uncaught gazelle upon the plain!”
#20
که داند که خود چون بود روزگار
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که پیروز برگردد از کارزار
“'For who knows how Fortune will turn, or who shall return victorious from the fray?'”
#21
چو بشنید رستم برانگیخت رخش
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منم گفت شیراوژن تاج‌بخش
“When Rostam heard this, he spurred Rakhsh and cried: 'I am the lion-feller, the bestowal of crowns!”
#22
تنی زورمند و ببازو کمند
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چه روز فریبست و هنگام بند
“'With a mighty body and a lasso on my arm, what time is this for deceit and trickery?”
#23
چه خاقان چینی کمند مرا
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چه شیر ژیان دست بند مرا
“'What is the Khagan of China to my lasso? What is a fierce lion to the grip of my hands?'”