#1
دل شاه ترکان چنان کم شنود
✦
همیشه به رنج از پی آز بود
“Never had the heart of Turan's king suffered such despair; he was ever trapped in torment, driven by greedy ambition.”
#2
از آن پس که برگشت زان رزمگاه
✦
که رستم بر او کرد گیتی سیاه
“After he retreated from that battlefield where Rostam had turned the sunlit world into dark night before his eyes.”
#3
بشد تازیان تا به خلخ رسید
✦
به ننگ از کیان شد سرش ناپدید
“He rode hard in flight until he reached Khallakh, hiding his head in shame before the glory of the Kianians.”
#4
به کاخ اندر آمد پر آزار دل
✦
ابا کاردانان هشیاردل
“He entered his palace with a heart heavy with grief, gathering around him his prudent, wise-hearted advisors.”
#5
چو پیران و گرسیوز رهنمون
✦
قراخان و چون شیده و گرسیون
“Chieftains like Piran and Garsivaz the guide, Qarakhan, Shideh, and Garsiwan.”
#6
بر ایشان همه داستان برگشاد
✦
گذشته سخنها همه کرد یاد
“He recounted the tale of past events to them, reminding them of all that had transpired.”
#7
که تا برنهادم به شاهی کلاه
✦
مرا گشت خورشید و تابنده ماه
“'Since the moment I placed the crown of kingship upon my head, the sun and bright moon seemed to turn for me.”
#8
مرا بود بر مهتران دسترس
✦
عنان مرا برنتابید کس
“I held sway over all great rulers, and no one dared turn their reins against my command.”
#9
ز هنگام رزم منوچهر باز
✦
نبد دست ایران به توران دراز
“Ever since the time of Manuchehr's wars, Iran had never stretched its aggressive hand into Turan.”
#10
شبیخون کند تا در خان من
✦
از ایران بیازند بر جان من
“Yet now they launch night-raids to the very doorway of my hall; from Iran, they reach out to strike at my life!”
#11
دلاور شد آن مردم نادلیر
✦
گوزن اندر آمد به بالین شیر
“Those faint-hearted people have grown fierce; the deer has crept up to the pillow of the sleeping lion!”
#12
بر این کینه گر کار سازیم زود
✦
وگرنه برآرند زین مرز دود
“If we quickly prepare for this vengeance, well and good; otherwise, they will raise smoke from this borderland!'”
#13
سزد گر کنون گرد این کشورم
✦
سراسر فرستادگان گسترم
“'It is fitting now that I dispatch messengers across this realm to every corner,”
#14
ز ترکان واز چین هزاران هزار
✦
کمربستگان از در کارزار
“Summoning hundreds of thousands of battle-ready, belt-girt warriors from the Turks and from China.”
#15
بیاریم بر گرد ایران سپاه
✦
بسازیم هر سو یکی رزمگاه
“We shall bring an army to encompass Iran, creating battlefields on every front.'”
#16
همه موبدان رای هشیار خویش
✦
نهادند با گفت سالار خویش
“All the prudent counselors laid their wise judgment before the words of their leader,”
#17
که ما را ز جیحون بباید گذشت
✦
زدن کوس شاهی بر آن پهن دشت
“Saying: 'We must cross the River Jayhun and sound the royal war-drums upon that vast plain.”
#18
به آموی لشکرگهی ساختن
✦
شب و روز ناسودن از تاختن
“Establishing an encampment at Amuy, resting neither night nor day from our raids.”
#19
که آن جای جنگست و خون ریختن
✦
چه با گیو و با رستم آویختن
“For that is the place of warfare and bloodshed, where we must clash with Giv and Rostam.”
#20
سرافراز گردان گیرنده شهر
✦
همه تیغ کین آب داده به زهر
“Exalted heroes who conquer cities, all bearing swords of vengeance dipped in poison.'”
#21
چو افراسیاب آن سخنها شنود
✦
برافروخت از بخت و شادی نمود
“When Afrasiab heard those words, his heart brightened with luck and he showed great joy.”
#22
ابر پهلوانان و بر موبدان
✦
بکرد آفرینی به رسم ردان
“He bestowed praise upon the heroes and wise councilors after the custom of noble chieftains.”
#23
نویسندهٔ نامه را پیش خواند
✦
سخنهای بایسته چندی براند
“He summoned the court scribe before him and dictated several necessary royal decrees.”
#24
فرستادگان خواست از انجمن
✦
به نزدیک فغفور و شاه ختن
“He chose emissaries from the assembly to send unto the Faghmur of China and the King of Khotan.”
#25
فرستاد نامه به هر کشوری
✦
به هر نامداری و هر مهتری
“He dispatched letters to every realm, to every renowned chieftain and noble leader.”
#26
سپه خواست کاندیشهٔ جنگ داشت
✦
ز بیژن بدان گونه دل تنگ داشت
“He demanded armies, for his mind was fixed on war, his heart distressed because of Bijan.”
#27
دو هفته برآمد ز چین و ختن
✦
ز هر کشوری شد سپاه انجمن
“Two weeks passed, and from China and Khotan, armies gathered from every realm.”
#28
چو دریای جوشان زمین بردمید
✦
چنان شد که کس روز روشن ندید
“The earth churned like a boiling sea; such dust arose that none could see the bright day.”
#29
گله هرچ بودش ز اسبان یله
✦
به شهر اندر آورد یکسر گله
“Whatever herds of loose warhorses he possessed, he brought them all into the city.”
#30
همان گنجها کز گه تور باز
✦
پدر بر پسربر همی داشت راز
“Likewise the hoards of treasure which, since Tur's day, fathers had kept secret from sons.”
#31
سر بدره‌ها را گشادن گرفت
✦
شب و روز دینار دادن گرفت
“He began unsealing the treasure-bags, bestowing gold dinars day and night.”
#32
چو لشکر سراسر شد آراسته
✦
بدان بی‌نیازی شد از خواسته
“When the entire army was fully arrayed, they were enriched beyond all need by that wealth.”
#33
ز گردان گزین کرد پنجه هزار
✦
همه رزم‌جویان سازنده کار
“From the warriors he selected fifty thousand elite, all battle-eager men of action.”
#34
به شیده که بودش نبرده پسر
✦
ز گردان جنگی برآورده سر
“He called Shideh, his warrior son who stood head and shoulders above the brave.”
#35
بدو گفت کین لشکر سرفراز
✦
سپردم ترا راه خوارزم ساز
“He said to him: 'I entrust this exalted army to you; set your path towards Khwarazm.”
#36
نگهبان آن مرز خوارزم باش
✦
همیشه کمربستهٔ رزم باش
“Be the guardian of that Khwarazm border, always girded for battle.'”
#37
دگر پنجه از نامداران چین
✦
بفرمود تا کرد پیران گزین
“Another fifty thousand elite warriors of China were selected by Piran at his command.”
#38
بدو گفت تا شهر ایران برو
✦
ممان رخت و مه تخت سالار نو
“Afrasiab said to Piran: 'March toward the realm of Iran; leave no goods, throne, or power to their new monarch.”
#39
در آشتی هیچ گونه مجوی
✦
سخن جز به جنگ و به کینه مگوی
“Seek no peace in any way; speak of nothing but war and vengeance.”
#40
کسی کو برد آب و آتش بهم
✦
ابر هر دوان کرده باشد ستم
“For whoever attempts to join water and fire together does violence unto both.”
#41
دو پر مایه بیدار و دو پهلوان
✦
یکی پیر و باهوش و دیگر جوان
“Two noble, vigilant warlords—one an experienced elder, the other a valiant youth.”
#42
برفتند با پند افراسیاب
✦
به آرام پیر و جوان بر شتاب
“They departed following Afrasiab's counsel, the old man moving deliberately, the youth charging ahead.”
#43
ابا ترگ زرین و کوپال و تیغ
✦
خروشان به کردار غرنده میغ
“With golden helmets, maces, and swords, roaring like thunderous storm-clouds.”