Realizing that resistance was futile before the overwhelming presence of Rostam, Afrasiab saw no choice but to retreat. Abandoning his royal standard and war chest, the monarch of Touran fled swiftly toward the distant realms of Chin and Machin to save his life. Seeing the enemy leader flee, Tahamtan Rostam rallied the Iranian host, calling upon his warriors to put aside their bows and meet the foe face-to-face with mace and blade.
Like ravenous panthers, the Iranians descended upon the leaderless Turanians. The battlefield turned into a dire slaughter; blood washed the earth, and piles of fallen foes choked the paths. Some Turanians begged for mercy, while others fled into the wilderness like a shepherdless flock. Seeing the utter collapse of the enemy, Rostam called a halt to the slaughter, declaring that enough blood had been shed.
He paused to reflect upon the transient nature of the mortal world, reminding his warriors that destiny yields both poison and elixir, turning at times dark as Ahriman and at times radiant as a bride. He urged them to turn away from oppression, to embrace generosity and kindness, and not to bind their hearts to this passing inn. The spoils of war—gold, jewels, steeds, swords, and armor—were meticulously gathered. Rostam sent a grand portion to Shah Kay Khosrow, distributed the rest among his brave soldiers, and sent scouts to hunt for Afrasiab; yet no trace of the fleeing king could be found across land, mountain, or sea.
#1
سپهبد چنان کرد کو راه دید
✦
همی دست ازان رزم کوتاه دید
“The commander did so when he saw the path open, cutting short his hand from that conflict.”
#2
چو رستم بیامد مرا پای نیست
✦
جز از رفتن از پیش او رای نیست
“'Since Rostam has arrived, I have no footing left; I have no counsel but to flee before him.'”
#3
بباید شدن تا بدان روی چین
✦
گر ایدونک گنجد کسی در زمین
“'One must depart to the far side of Chin, if indeed anyone can find refuge on this earth.'”
#4
درفشش بماندند و او خود برفت
✦
سوی چین و ماچین خرامید تفت
“They left his royal banner behind, and he himself departed, hastening swiftly toward Chin and Machin.”
#5
سپاه اندر آمد بپیش سپاه
✦
زمین گشت برسان ابر سیاه
“Host charged against host; the earth grew dark as a black cloud.”
#6
تهمتن به آواز گفت آن زمان
✦
که نیزه مدارید و تیر و کمان
“At that moment, Tahamtan shouted aloud: 'Hold back your spears, arrows, and bows!'”
#7
بکوشید و شمشیر و گرز آورید
✦
هنرها ز بالای برز آورید
“'Strive hand-to-hand with sword and heavy mace; bring forth valiant skills from your noble stature!'”
#8
پلنگ آن زمان پیچد از کین خویش
✦
که نخچیر بیند ببالین خویش
“A panther writhes in vengeful fury only when it sees its prey beside its pillow.”
#9
سپه سربسر نعره برداشتند
✦
همه نیزه بر کوه بگذاشتند
“The entire army raised a mighty roar, setting aside their spears upon the mountain.”
#10
چنان شد در و دشت آوردگاه
✦
که از کشته جایی ندیدند راه
“The mountain pass and plain became such a battleground that no path could be seen for the fallen slain.”
#11
برفتند یک بهره زنهار خواه
✦
گریزان برفتند بهری براه
“One part of the enemy surrendered begging for quarter; another fled along the road in terror.”
#12
شد از بی‌شبانی رمه تال و مال
✦
همه دشت تن بود بی‌دست و یال
“Deprived of its shepherd, the flock was scattered and destroyed; the whole plain was filled with headless bodies.”
#13
چنین گفت رستم که کشتن بسست
✦
که زهر زمان بهر دیگر کسست
“Rostam declared: 'Enough of killing! For at every hour, fate deals a different measure.'”
#14
زمانی همی بار زهر آورد
✦
زمانی ز تریاک بهر آورد
“'At times, time brings forth a yield of poison; at other times, it grants a portion of sweet elixir.'”
#15
همه جامهٔ رزم بیرون کنید
✦
همه خوبکاری بافزون کنید
“'Strip off your garments of war, and abundantly practice virtuous deeds.'”
#16
چه بندی دل اندر سرای سپنج
✦
که دانا نداند یکی را ز پنج
“'Why bind your heart to this transient inn, where even the wise cannot discern one day from five?'”
#17
زمانی چو آهرمن آید بجنگ
✦
زمانی عروسی پر از بوی و رنگ
“'At times it comes to battle like Ahriman; at times it is like a bride full of fragrance and color.'”
#18
بی‌آزاری و جام می‌برگزین
✦
که گوید که نفرین به از آفرین
“'Choose harm to none and the goblet of wine; for who would say a curse is better than praise?'”
#19
بخور آنچ داری و انده مخور
✦
که گیتی سپنج است و ما بر گذر
“'Consume what you possess and harbor no grief, for the world is a temporary inn and we are merely passing through.'”
#20
میازار کس را ز بهر درم
✦
مکن تا توانی بکس بر ستم
“'Do not distress anyone for the sake of coin; commit no oppression against anyone as far as you are able.'”
#21
بجست اندران دشت چیزی که بود
✦
ز زرین وز گوهر نابسود
“They searched that plain for whatever lay there—uncounted gold and precious gems.”
#22
سراسر فرستاد نزدیک شاه
✦
غلامان و اسپان و تیغ و کلاه
“They sent all of it to the Shah—servants, horses, swords, and helmets.”
#23
وزان بهرهٔ خویشتن برگرفت
✦
همه افسر و مشک و عنبر گرفت
“And from that, Rostam took his own rightful share: crowns, musk, and ambergris.”
#24
ببخشید دیگر همه بر سپاه
✦
ز چیزی که بود اندران رزمگاه
“The rest of all that remained in that battlefield he bestowed upon the army.”
#25
نشان خواست از شاه توران سپاه
✦
ز هر سو بجستند بی راه و راه
“They sought trace of the Shah of the Turanian army, searching in every direction, off paths and on.”
#26
نشانی نیامد ز افراسیاب
✦
نه بر کوه و دریا نه بر خشک و آب
“No trace of Afrasiab was found, neither upon mountain nor sea, nor on dry land nor water.”