When the radiant sun hoisted its golden banner across the sky and saffron light replaced the violet silk of night, the royal drums echoed from King Kay Kavus's court and the roar of the host ascended to the clouds. At the vanguard of the Turanian army stood Puladvand—a monstrous, mountain-like Div of immense bodily power, armed with a lasso and a crushing mace. As both armies aligned, the sky turned dark with dust and the earth shuddered beneath the weight of footmen and horsemen.
Tahmattan Rostam donned his dragon-skin Babr-e Bayan, mounted Rakhsh, and charged into the enemy's right wing, laying low score upon score of Turanian warriors. But on the opposing flank, Puladvand uncoiled his twisting lasso and descended upon Tus son of Nowzar like a enraged elephant. Grasping the Iranian commander by his girdle, the Div lifted him effortlessly out of his saddle and slammed him to the earth. Seeing Tus overthrown, Gev spurred his dark steed Shabdiz and charged with his bull-headed mace, but Puladvand hurled his lasso, ensnaring Gev's neck. Roham and Bizhan, witnessing the Div's immense stature and brute strength, rode together to bind Puladvand's hands, yet the Div roared, seized them both, and cast them into the dirt, trampling them beneath his horse's hooves.
Flushed with bloodlust, Puladvand charged the sacred Kavian Banner—the holy symbol of Iran—and with a single stroke of his blade, severed the royal standard in two. A cry of despair erupted from the Iranian lines; not a single champion was left confident upon the field. Fariburz, Gudarz, and the remaining chieftains rushed to Rostam in mourning, proclaiming that no noble champion remained mounted and that the battlefield had turned into a place of utter ruin. The aged Gudarz, seeing his sons Gev and Roham and his grandson Bizhan unhorsed and humbled, unbuckled his belt, removed his helmet, and wept toward the heavens: 'O Just Lord! I possessed so many brave sons and grandsons who have fallen before my eyes; shame upon my grey hair that I remain alive while the youths lie in the dust!'
Rostam's heart grew heavy and he trembled like a autumn leaf upon hearing Gudarz's lament and seeing Iran's four premier champions wandering on foot like wild asses while the enemy hunted them like lions. Raising his eyes to the heavens, Rostam prayed: 'O Creator, higher than the revealed and the secret! Would that my eyes were blinded before beholding this dark day, wherein Piran, Homan, and this foul Div rejoice over Iran!' Spurring Rakhsh, he charged directly at Puladvand, shouting: 'O unruly Div, now shall you behold the turn of Fate!'
Puladvand boasted that he would slay Rostam and hand his army over to Afrasiab. But Rostam replied that arrogant words in battle only hasten a fool's demise. Remembering ancient tales of Rostam's thunderous mace in Mazandaran, a shudder passed through Puladvand, yet both behemoths closed in. Puladvand threw his coiled lasso, but Rostam ducked his neck and shattered the magical cord with his blade. The Iranian hero then brought his heavy mace down upon the Div's helm; the blow was so fierce that Puladvand's vision turned black and his hands lost their grip on the reins.
Seeing that weapons alone could not resolve the trial, the two giants agreed to a sacred trial of wrestling, swearing that neither army would intervene. Half a league of open ground separated the hosts while the stars watched the duel. Shideh, son of Afrasiab, beheld Rostam's colossal chest and shoulders and whispered to his father: 'This is Rostam the Div-Binder! Do not fight against fate, for he will slam the Div into the dust!' Afrasiab, enraged by his son's words, cursed him and broke the sacred covenant. Riding up to Puladvand, Afrasiab secretly urged the Div to draw a hidden dagger during the match and pierce Rostam's liver.
Gev rode up to Rostam, warning him of Afrasiab's treachery. But Rostam calmly answered: 'Fear nothing. If that foolish sorcerer breaks his oath to God, he only pours dust upon his own head.' Rostam then lunged like a furious lion, seized Puladvand by the chest and belt, hoisted the giant high above his shoulders, and hurled him down onto the earth with such catastrophic force that the Div's bones shattered. Shouts of triumph and the thunder of kettle-drums erupted from the Iranian army.
Believing Puladvand to be dead, Rostam turned back to his army. But the Div, possessing supernatural resilience, crawled out of the dust, regained his breath, and fled like an arrow back to Afrasiab, bleeding and weeping. Seeing the Div broken and the enemy in disarray, Rostam ordered a massive archery barrage, darkening the sky like spring rain clouds. Bizhan, Gev, Roham, and Gorgin charged forward on foot and horseback. Puladvand gasped to his men: 'Why throw away our lives for nothing?' and retreated. Piran Viseh urged Afrasiab: 'Did I not warn you never to engage Rostam? Over a hundred thousand Iranian cavalry are pressing forward, and the earth is soaked in blood. Abandon the army and flee across the sea!'