Having swept the battlefield of Kamus and the armies of the Khaqan of Chin, Rostam called forth an elder scribe to write a royal dispatch in the Pahlavi tongue, perfumed with precious ambergris. The letter opened with magnificent praises to God Almighty—the Fashioner of the moon, Saturn, and the sun, the Bestower of glory, crowns, and strength, and the Creator of the heavens, time, earth, soul, and faith. Rostam recounted the battle fought between two mighty mountains, where a hundred thousand sword-wielders from Kushan, Shagnan, Chin, and India had gathered. For forty days the earth was constricted; rivers of blood soaked the soil for forty leagues, and the fortunes of enemy kings withered before the Iranian onslaught. He detailed how he had bound the enemy monarchs with his lasso from atop their war elephants, and declared his resolve to press forward until Ghoroy too was brought low.
Once the letter was sealed, Rostam entrusted it to Fariburz, son of Kay Kavoos, along with a thousand burden-bearing elephants, noble steeds, and the royal captives. With tears of admiration and reluctance to leave the heroic champion, Fariburz departed for the Iranian court. Rostam and his warlords spent the night in festive revelry, singing and drinking to their triumph. As dawn painted the sky in yellow silks, the war drums sounded, and Rostam mounted Rakhsh to journey onwards alongside Tus, Goudarz, and Gev, vowing to make the earth the burial ground for Siyavash's murderers.
Meanwhile, word reached King Kay Khosrow of Fariburz's arrival. The monarch rode out to meet him amidst the thunder of warhorns and drums. But when Khosrow's eyes fell upon the chained enemy kings and the vast spoils, he removed his royal crown, descended from his steed, and prostrated himself upon the bare dust before the Almighty. With a heart brimming with gratitude, he prayed: "O Pure Creator, Thou hast raised me from the grief of fatherlessness to the height of sovereignty. All the world is subject to my crown, yet I ask of Thee but one grace—spare the life of Rostam, my champion!" Rising from the earth, the King blessed the matchless defender of Iran and surveyed the fallen majesty of the captive lords.
#1
دبیر جهاندیده را پیش خواند
✦
سخن هرچ بایست با او براند
“He summoned an experienced scribe and spoke to him all that was required.”
#2
بفرمود تا نامهٔ خسروی
✦
ز عنبر نوشتند بر پهلوی
“He commanded that a royal letter be written in ambergris in the Pahlavi script.”
#3
سرنامه کرد آفرین خدای
✦
کجا هست و باشد همیشه بجای
“He opened the letter with praises to God, Who is eternal and forever enduring.”
#4
برازندهٔ ماه و کیوان و هور
✦
نگارندهٔ فر و دیهیم و زور
“Adorner of the moon, Saturn, and the sun; Creator of glory, the crown, and divine might.”
#5
سپهر و زمان و زمین آفرید
✦
روان و خرد داد و دین آفرید
“He created the sky, time, and the earth; He granted soul, wisdom, and faith.”
#6
وزو آفرین باد بر شهریار
✦
زمانه مبادا ازو یادگار
“And from Him let blessings rain upon the King; may time never be bereft of his memory.”
#7
رسیدم بفرمان میان دو کوه
✦
سپاه دو کشور شده همگروه
“By thy command, I arrived between two mountains, where the hosts of two realms had assembled.”
#8
همانا که شمشیرزن صد هزار
✦
ز دشمن فزون بود در کارزار
“Truly, more than a hundred thousand enemy swordsmen stood in the fray.”
#9
کشانی و شگنی و چینی و هند
✦
سپاهی ز چین تا بدریای سند
“Forces from Kushan, Shagnan, Chin, and India—an army stretching from China to the River Indus.”
#10
ز کشمیر تا دامن رود شهد
✦
سراپرده و پیل دیدیم و مهد
“From Kashmir to the banks of the river Shahd, we saw royal pavilions, elephants, and litters.”
#11
نترسیدم از دولت شهریار
✦
کزین رزمگاه اندر آید نهار
“Yet by the King's auspicious fortune, I feared not that dawn would break upon this field of war.”
#12
چهل روز با هم همی جنگ بود
✦
تو گفتی بریشان جهان تنگ بود
“For forty days battle raged between us, as though the whole world had grown too narrow for them.”
#13
همه شهریاران کشور بدند
✦
به فرجام با بخت لاغر بدند
“They were all rulers of their realms, yet in the end, their fortune withered and failed.”
#14
میان دو کوه از بر راغ و دشت
✦
ز خون و ز کشته نشاید گذشت
“Between the two mountains, across meadow and plain, none could pass for the blood and the slain.”
#15
همانا که فرسنگ باشد چهل
✦
پراگنده از خون زمین بود گل
“For surely forty leagues around, the earth was turned to crimson mud with scattered blood.”
#16
سرانجام ازین دولت دیریاز
✦
سخن گویم این نامه گردد دراز
“If I recount the full measure of this enduring victory, this letter will grow too long.”
#17
همه شهریاران که دارند بند
✦
ز پیلان گرفتم بخم کمند
“All the captive kings now bound in chains, I dragged down from their elephants with the loop of my lasso.”
#18
سوی جنگ دارم کنون رای و روی
✦
مگر پیش گرز من آید گروی
“Now I turn my face and mind back to the battle, that perchance Ghoroy may face my heavy mace.”
#19
زبانها پر از آفرین تو باد
✦
سر چرخ گردان زمین تو باد
“May all tongues overflow with thy praises, and may the crown of the revolving heavens be thy footstool!”
#20
چو نامه بمهر اندر آمد بداد
✦
بمهتر فریبرز خسرو نژاد
“When the letter was sealed, he gave it to the noble prince Fariburz of royal lineage.”
#21
ابا شاه و پیل و هیونی هزار
✦
ازان رزمگه برنهادند بار
“With the captive king, elephants, and a thousand swift camels, they set forth from that battleground.”
#22
فریبرز کاوس شادان برفت
✦
بنزدیک خسرو بسیچید و تفت
“Fariburz, son of Kavoos, set off joyfully and made haste toward King Khosrow.”
#23
همی رفت با او گو پیلتن
✦
بزرگان و گردان آن انجمن
“The elephant-bodied hero went with him a ways, along with the lords and champions of that assembly.”
#24
به پدرود کردن گرفتش کنار
✦
ببارید آب از غم شهریار
“In parting, he embraced him closely, weeping tears out of sorrow for the King.”
#25
وزان جایگه سوی لشکر کشید
✦
چو جعد دو زلف شب آمد پدید
“From there he led his host back, just as the black curls of night appeared in the sky.”
#26
نشستند با آرامش و رود و می
✦
یکی دست رود و دگر دست نی
“They sat in peace with harps and wine, one hand on the lute, the other holding the reed-flute.”
#27
برفتند هر کس بآرام خویش
✦
گرفته ببر هر کسی کام خویش
“Then each departed to his rest, every man embracing his heart's desire.”
#28
چو خورشید با رنگ دیبای زرد
✦
ستم کرد بر تودهٔ لاژورد
“When the sun, clad in yellow silk, struck down the lapis lazuli mass of night...”
#29
همانگه ز دهلیز پرده‌سرای
✦
برآمد خروشیدن کرنای
“At once from the portal of the royal pavilion rose the blare of war-horns.”
#30
تهمتن میان تاختن را ببست
✦
بران بارهٔ تیزتگ برنشست
“Tahamtan girded his loins for the charge and mounted his fleet-footed steed.”
#31
بفرمود تا توشه برداشتند
✦
همی راه دشوار بگذاشتند
“He commanded provisions to be taken, and they traversed the rugged path.”
#32
بیابان گرفتند و راه دراز
✦
بیامد چنان لشکری رزمساز
“They took to the desert and the long road—such a battle-ready host advanced.”
#33
چنین گفت با طوس و گودرز و گیو
✦
که ای نامداران و گردان نیو
“Thus he spoke to Tus, Goudarz, and Gev: "O renowned and valiant heroes!”
#34
من این بار چنگ اندر آرم بچنگ
✦
بداندیشگان را شود کار تنگ
“This time I shall seize victory in my grasp, and affairs will grow dire for our foes.”
#35
که دانست کین چاره‌گر مرد سند
✦
سپاه آرد از چین و سقلاب و هند
“Who knew that this resourceful Sindian man would bring armies from China, Saqlab, and India?”
#36
من او را چنان مست و بیهش کنم
✦
تنش خاک گور سیاوش کنم
“I shall render him so stunned and senseless that his flesh becomes the dust of Siyavash's grave!”
#37
که از هند و سقلاب و توران و چین
✦
نخوانند ازین پس برو آفرین
“So that from India, Saqlab, Touran, and China, none shall ever chant his praises again!"”
#38
بزد کوس وز دشت برخاست گرد
✦
هوا پر ز گرد و زمین پر ز مرد
“He struck the war-drum and dust rose from the plain; the air grew thick with dust and the earth filled with men.”
#39
ازان نامداران پرخاشجوی
✦
بابر اندر آمد یکی گفت و گوی
“From those belligerent warriors, a roar of voices rose up into the clouds.”
#40
دو منزل برفتند زان جایگاه
✦
که از کشته بد روی گیتی سیاه
“They marched two stages away from that place where the face of the earth had turned black with the dead.”
#41
یکی بیشه دیدند و آمد فرود
✦
سیه شد ز لشکر همه دشت و رود
“They came upon a forest and dismounted; the whole plain and river turned dark with the troops.”
#42
همی بود با رامش و می بدست
✦
یکی شاد و خرم یکی خفته مست
“They rested there with ease, wine-cup in hand—one joyful and glad, another sleeping in drunkenness.”
#43
فرستاده آمد ز هر کشوری
✦
ز هر نامداری و هر مهتری
“Envoys arrived from every realm, sent by every renowned chieftain and lord.”
#44
بسی هدیه و ساز و چندی نثار
✦
ببردند نزدیک آن نامدار
“Bringing many gifts, war-gear, and offerings to present before that famed hero.”
#45
چو بگذشت ازین داستان روز چند
✦
ز گردش بیاسود چرخ بلند
“When several days had passed after these events, and the high heavens rested from their turnings...”
#46
کس آمد بر شاه ایران سپاه
✦
که آمد فریبرز کاوس شاه
“A courier arrived before the King of Iran's host, announcing that Fariburz, son of King Kay Kavus, had returned.”
#47
پذیره شدش شاه کنداوران
✦
ابا بوق و کوس و سپاهی گران
“The king of valiant warriors went forth to welcome him, accompanied by trumpets, battle drums, and a mighty host.”
#48
فریبرز نزدیک خسرو رسید
✦
زمین را ببوسید کو را بدید
“As Fariburz drew near to Khosrow, he fell to the earth and kissed the ground upon beholding him.”
#49
نگه کرد خسرو بران بستگان
✦
هیونان و پیلان و آن خستگان
“Khosrow gazed upon the captives bound, the swift dromedaries, the elephants, and those who were wounded.”
#50
عنان را بپیچید و آمد براه
✦
ز سر برگرفت آن کیانی کلاه
“He turned his reins and set off along the path, removing the royal Kayanid crown from his head.”
#51
فرود آمد و پیش یزدان بخاک
✦
بغلتید و گفت ای جهاندار پاک
“He dismounted and groveled in the dust before the Almighty, crying: "O Pure Ruler of the World!"”
#52
ستمکاره‌ای کرد بر من ستم
✦
مرا بی‌پدر کرد با درد و غم
“"A cruel tyrant did me bitter wrong; he rendered me fatherless and steeped me in grief and pain."”
#53
تو از درد و سختی رهانیدیم
✦
همی تاج را پرورانیدیم
“"Yet You delivered me from pain and hardship, and nurtured me until I attained this royal crown."”
#54
زمین و زمان پیش من بنده شد
✦
جهانی ز گنج من آگنده شد
“"Earth and time have become my obedient servants, and the whole world is filled with my treasure."”
#55
سپاس از تو دارم نه از انجمن
✦
یکی جان رستم تو مستان ز من
“"My gratitude belongs to You alone, not to any mortal host; I pray, take not the life of Rustam from me!"”
#56
بزد اسپ و زان جایگه بازگشت
✦
بران پیل وان بستگان برگذشت
“He spurred his steed and turned back from that place, passing by the elephants and the bound captives.”
#57
بسی آفرین کرد بر پهلوان
✦
که او باد شادان و روشن‌روان
“He showered countless blessings upon the paladin, praying that he might ever be joyful and bright of soul.”