#1
بدانگه که رستم ببربر گره
✦
برافگند و زد بر گره بر زره
“When Rostam bound his Babr-e Bayan coat tightly over his armor, tying knot upon knot...”
#2
بشد پیش یزدان خورشید و ماه
✦
بیامد بدو کرد پشت و پناه
“He turned his face toward the Creator of the sun and moon, seeking refuge and divine aid in Almighty Yazdan.”
#3
همی گفت چشم بدان کور باد
✦
بدین کار بیژن مرا زور باد
“Praying, he said: 'May the eye of evil be blinded, and may God grant me supreme strength to rescue Bizhan!'”
#4
بگردان بفرمود تا همچنین
✦
ببستند بر گردگه بند کین
“He commanded the noble champions to likewise tighten their belts of vengeance around their waists.”
#5
بر اسبان نهادند زین خدنگ
✦
همه جنگ را تیز کردند چنگ
“They placed hard wooden saddles upon their steeds and readied their talons for fierce battle.”
#6
تهمتن برخشنده بنهاد روی
✦
همی رفت پیش اندرون راه جوی
“The Elephant-bodied Rostam rode forth upon radiant Rakhsh, taking the lead to search out the path to the pit.”
#7
چو آمد بر سنگ اکوان فراز
✦
بدان چاه اندوه و گرم و گداز
“When he reached the heavy boulder of Akvan Div resting over that pit of sorrow, heat, and agony...”
#8
چنین گفت با نامور هفت گرد
✦
که روی زمین را بباید سترد
“He addressed the seven renowned warriors, saying: 'We must clear the face of the earth here!'”
#9
بباید شما را کنون ساختن
✦
سر چاه از سنگ پرداختن
“'Now you must gather your full strength and clear this stone from the mouth of the well!'”
#10
پیاده شدند آن سران سپاه
✦
کزان سنگ پردخت مانند چاه
“The commanders of the army dismounted, striving to free the well from the weight of that stone.”
#11
بسودند بسیار بر سنگ چنگ
✦
شده مانده گردان و آسوده سنگ
“They dug their hands beneath the rock with all their strength; the heroes grew exhausted, yet the boulder remained unmoved.”
#12
چو از نامداران بپالود خوی
✦
که سنگ از سر چاه ننهاد پی
“Sweat dripped from the bodies of the noble warriors, yet the stone shifted not an inch from the mouth of the pit.”
#13
ز رخش اندر آمد گو شیرنر
✦
زره دامنش را بزد بر کمر
“Then the lion-like hero dismounted from Rakhsh and tucked the hem of his chainmail tightly into his girdle.”
#14
ز یزدان جان آفرین زور خواست
✦
بزد دست و آن سنگ برداشت راست
“Praying to Yazdan, the Creator of Soul, for divine strength, he placed his hands beneath the rock and lifted it straight up!”
#15
بینداخت در بیشهٔ شهر چین
✦
بلرزید ازان سنگ روی زمین
“He hurled it far into the wilderness of the realm of Chin, making the very surface of the earth tremble at its impact!”
#16
ز بیژن بپرسید و نالید زار
✦
که چون بود کارت ببد روزگار
“Rostam peered down and called sorrowfully to Bizhan, asking: 'How has fared your life in this evil destiny?'”
#17
همه نوش بودی ز گیتیت بهر
✦
ز دستش چرا بستدی جام زهر
“'Your lot in the world should have been all sweetness; why did you accept a cup of poison from fate's hand?'”
#18
بدو گفت بیژن ز تاریک چاه
✦
که چون بود بر پهلوان رنج راه
“Bizhan replied from the depths of the dark pit: 'O Champion, how was your arduous journey here?'”
#19
مرا چون خروش تو آمد بگوش
✦
همه زهر گیتی مرا گشت نوش
“'The moment your thunderous voice echoed in my ears, all the world's poison was transformed to sweet nectar for me!'”
#20
بدین سان که بینی مرا خان و مان
✦
ز آهن زمین و ز سنگ آسمان
“'Behold my abode: its floor is made of heavy iron, and its ceiling of solid stone!'”
#21
بکنده دلم زین سرای سپنج
✦
ز بس درد و سختی و اندوه و رنج
“'My heart has severed all ties with this transient world, broken by endless agony, hardship, sorrow, and suffering.'”
#22
بدو گفت رستم که بر جان تو
✦
ببخشود روشن جهانبان تو
“Rostam answered him: 'The radiant Lord of the Universe has shown mercy upon your soul.'”
#23
کنون ای خردمند آزاده خوی
✦
مرا هست با تو یکی آرزوی
“'Now, O wise and noble soul, I have one wish to ask of you.'”
#24
بمن بخش گرگین میلاد را
✦
ز دل دور کن کین و بیداد را
“'Pardon Gorgin, son of Milad, for my sake, and purge your heart of malice and revenge!'”
#25
بدو گفت بیژن که ای یار من
✦
ندانی که چون بود پیکار من
“Bizhan replied: 'O my champion, you know not the full torment of my trial!'”
#26
ندانی تو ای مهتر شیرمرد
✦
که گرگین میلاد با من چه کرد
“'You know not, O lion-hearted leader, what foul treachery Gorgin Milad brought upon me!'”
#27
گرافتد بروبر جهانبین من
✦
برو رستخیز آید از کین من
“'If my eyes should ever fall upon him, a fiery doom of vengeance shall rain upon his head!'”
#28
بدو گفت رستم که گر بدخوی
✦
بیاری و گفتار من نشنوی
“Rostam sternly replied: 'If you display an obstinate temper and refuse to heed my words...'”
#29
بمانم ترا بسته در چاه پای
✦
برخش اندر آرم شوم باز جای
“'...I shall leave your feet bound inside this pit, mount Rakhsh, and return home!'”
#30
چو گفتار رستم رسیدش بگوش
✦
ازان تنگ زندان برآمد خروش
“When Rostam's harsh words reached Bizhan's ears, a lamenting cry echoed from that narrow dungeon.”
#31
چنین داد پاسخ که بد بخت من
✦
ز گردان وز دوده و انجمن
“He answered: 'My evil fortune came not from the heroes, nor from my lineage or kin...'”
#32
ز گرگین بدان بد که بر من رسید
✦
چنین روز نیزم بباید کشید
“'...Whatever ill came upon me through Gorgin was my fate, and such a day of hardship was ordained for me.'”
#33
کشیدیم و گشتیم خشنود ازوی
✦
ز کینه دل من بیاسود ازوی
“'I have suffered it and am now content; my heart is at peace and cleansed of vengeance toward him.'”
#34
فروهشت رستم بزندان کمند
✦
برآوردش از چاه با پای‌بند
“Rostam lowered his lasso into the dungeon pit and pulled Bizhan up, though his feet were still in fetters.”
#35
برهنه تن و موی و ناخن دراز
✦
گدازیده از رنج و درد و نیاز
“His body was bare, his hair and nails long and unkempt, his frame wasted away by agony, pain, and deprivation.”
#36
همه تن پر از خون و رخساره زرد
✦
ازان بند زنجیر زنگار خورد
“His body was covered in blood, his cheeks pale and yellowed from the rusted iron chains that bound him.”
#37
خروشید رستم چو او را بدید
✦
همه تن در آهن شده ناپدید
“Rostam wept and roared aloud when he saw him, his whole body buried beneath heavy iron chains.”
#38
بزد دست و بگسست زنجیر و بند
✦
رها کرد ازو حلقهٔ پای بند
“He reached out his hands and snapped the heavy chains and fetters, freeing his ankles from the iron rings.”
#39
سوی خانه رفتند زان چاهسار
✦
بیک دست بیژن بدیگر زوار
“They returned to their lodging from the pit, Rostam supporting Bizhan with one hand and Zavar with the other.”
#40
تهمتن بفرمود شستن سرش
✦
یکی جامه پوشید نو بر برش
“The Elephant-bodied Rostam ordered his head and body to be washed, and clad him in fresh, noble robes.”
#41
ازان پس چو گرگین بنزدیک اوی
✦
بیامد بمالید بر خاک روی
“Thereafter, when Gorgin approached Bizhan, he fell down and rubbed his face in the dust before him.”
#42
ز کردار بد پوزش آورد پیش
✦
بپیچید زان خام کردار خویش
“He offered sincere apologies for his villainous deed, writhing in deep shame over his raw and disgraceful behavior.”
#43
دل بیژن از کینش آمد براه
✦
مکافات ناورد پیش گناه
“Bizhan's heart relented of its vengeance, and he exacted no retribution for Gorgin's sin.”
#44
شتر بار کردند و اسبان بزین
✦
بپوشید رستم سلیح گزین
“They loaded the camels and saddled the horses, while Rostam put on his choice war gear.”
#45
نشستند بر باره نام آوران
✦
کشیدند شمشیر و گرز گران
“The renowned heroes mounted their battle steeds, drawing their sharp swords and heavy maces.”
#46
گسی کرد بار و برآراست کار
✦
چنانچون بود در خور کارزار
“He dispatched the baggage train and ordered all affairs, precisely as befitted a great battle.”
#47
بشد با بنه اشکش تیزهوش
✦
که دارد سپه را بهرجای گوش
“Sharp-witted Ashkash went with the baggage train, he who kept a watchful eye over the army at every turn.”
#48
به بیژن بفرمود رستم که شو
✦
تو با اشکش و با منیژه برو
“Rostam commanded Bijan: "Depart now; go with Ashkash and Manijeh."”
#49
که ما امشب از کین افراسیاب
✦
نیابیم آرام و نه خورد و خواب
“"For tonight, in our vengeance against Afrasiab, we shall know neither rest, nor food, nor sleep."”
#50
یکی کار سازم کنون بر درش
✦
که فردا بخندد برو کشورش
“"I shall now deal him such a blow at his very gate that tomorrow his own realm will laugh him to scorn."”
#51
بدو گفت بیژن منم پیش‌رو
✦
که از من همی کینه سازند نو
“Bijan answered him: "Let me be the vanguard, for it was through my plight that this feud was reignited afresh!"”