When two-thirds of the dark night had passed, the dusty plain began to throb with the thunder of Turanian hooves. Nastihan, leading a vengeful vanguard, sought to launch a crushing dawn raid upon the Iranian encampment. Yet the vigilant sentinels of Iran espied the moving mountain of troops through the dim light of breaking day and spurred swiftly back to inform General Goudarz.
Goudarz, wise and battle-hardened, summoned young Bizhan, son of Giv. Commending his valor, he bade him choose a thousand elite horseback warriors to intercept the oncoming strike. Bizhan selected a battalion of lion-hearted champions and rode out into the mist. As dark storm clouds descended from the mountains and veiled the valley, Bizhan caught sight of the iconic banner of the House of Viseh fluttering above Nastihan.
Drawing his bow, Bizhan pierced the steed of Nastihan with a swift arrow. The charger stumbled and fell in agony. Before Nastihan could recover, Bizhan closed the distance and brought down a heavy mace directly onto the helmeted skull of the Turanian prince, crushing it instantly. Bizhan then called out to his warriors to put aside their bows and butcher the enemy with heavy maces and swords, declaring the Turanians to be radiant of face but devoid of true combat prowess. Inspired by his prowess, the Iranians charged like furious elephants, routing the Turanian vanguard.
When Piran realized his beloved brother Nastihan had not returned from the fray, the world turned black before his eyes. He dispatched a swift courier to inspect the bloody field. The courier returned with tragic tidings: Nastihan lay dead, his body bruised dark blue like indigo and felled like a slain elephant. Upon hearing this, Piran lost his senses to grief. He tore his royal robes, plucked his hair, and wept bitterly, bewailing the loss of his brother who had been a fierce lion in battle.
Yet revenge burned in Piran's breast. He ordered the brass horns sounded and the giant war drums beaten, leading the Turanian host down from Mount Gonabad. Goudarz raised the sacred Kavian Banner, marshalling his heroes armed with bull-headed maces and glittering blades. A violent battle raged from morning until twilight covered the land. At dusk, both armies withdrew to their camps. Returning to Zibad, Goudarz pondered the day's victory, foreseeing that Piran would now dispatch couriers to King Afrasiab for reinforcements, prompting him to prepare an urgent report for King Kay Khosrow.
#1
دو بهره چو از تیره شب درگذشت
✦
ز جوش سواران بجوشید دشت
“When two parts of the dark night had passed, the plain bubbled with the turmoil of horsemen.”
#2
گرفتند ترکان همه تاختن
✦
بدان تاختن گردن افراختن
“The Turanians launched a full assault, lifting their heads high in that swift charge.”
#3
چو نستیهن آن لشکر کینه‌خواه
✦
بیاورد نزدیک ایران سپاه
“When Nastihan brought that vengeful host close to the Iranian army,”
#4
سپیده‌دمان تا بدانجا رسید
✦
چو از دیده گه دیده‌بانش بدید
“As dawn broke and he reached that spot, the lookouts caught sight of his force from their posts.”
#5
چو کارآگهان آگهی یافتند
✦
سبک سوی گودرز بشتافتند
“When the scouts gained intelligence of this, they hurried swiftly to Goudarz,”
#6
که آمد سپاهی چو کوه روان
✦
که گویی ندارند گویا زبان
“Reporting: 'An army approaches like a moving mountain, silent as though they possess no speaking tongue,”
#7
بر آن سان که رسم شبیخون بود
✦
سپهدار داند که آن چون بود
“'Arrayed according to the custom of night ambushes; the general knows well how such raids are wrought.'”
#8
به لشکر بفرمود پس پهلوان
✦
که بیدار باشید و روشن‌روان
“The commander then ordered the troops: 'Be alert and vigilant of spirit!'”
#9
بخواند آن زمان بیژن گیو را
✦
ابا تیغ‌زن لشکر نیو را
“He then summoned Bizhan, son of Giv, along with his brave sword-wielding host.”
#10
بدو گفت نیک اختر و کام تو
✦
شکسته دل دشمن از نام تو
“He said to him: 'May your star be auspicious and your desire met; the enemy's heart is shattered by your very name.”
#11
ببر هرک باید ز گردان من
✦
از این نامداران و مردان من
“'Take whichever of my warriors you require—these renowned champions and men of valor.”
#12
پذیره شو این تاختن را چو شیر
✦
سپاه اندر آور به مردی به زیر
“'Go meet this raid like a lion, and bring down their army with your manly prowess.'”
#13
گزین کرد بیژن ز لشکر سوار
✦
دلیران و پرخاشجویان هزار
“Bizhan selected a thousand riders from the host—brave warriors eager for battle.”
#14
رسیدند پس یک به دیگر فراز
✦
دو لشکر پر از کینه و رزمساز
“The two armies drew near one another, both filled with vengeance and ready for combat.”
#15
همه گُرزها برکشیدند پاک
✦
یکی ابر بست از بر تیره خاک
“They unsheathed all their maces cleanly; a dark cloud of dust rose above the black earth.”
#16
فرود آمد از کوه ابر سیاه
✦
بپوشید دیدار توران سپاه
“A black cloud descended from the mountain, obscuring the sight of the Turanian host.”
#17
سپهدار چون گرد تیره بدید
✦
کزو لشکر ترک شد ناپدید
“When the commander saw the dark dust wherein the Turkish army vanished from view,”
#18
کمانها بفرمود کردن به زه
✦
برآمد خروش از مهان و ز که
“He ordered bows to be strung, and shouts arose from great and small alike.”
#19
چو بیژن به نستیهن اندر رسید
✦
درفش سر ویسگان را بدید
“As Bizhan reached Nastihan, he caught sight of the banner of the House of Viseh.”
#20
هوا سر به سر گشته زنگارگون
✦
زمین شد به کردار دریای خون
“The air turned pitch-black like rust, and the earth became like a sea of blood.”
#21
ز ترکان دو بهره فتاده نگون
✦
به زیر پی اسب غرقه به خون
“Two parts of the Turanians fell upside down, drowned in blood beneath the horses' hooves.”
#22
یکی تیر بر اسب نستیهنا
✦
رسید از گشاد و بر بیژنا
“An arrow shot from Bizhan's bow struck the steed of Nastihan.”
#23
ز درد اندر آمد تگاور به روی
✦
رسید اندر او بیژن جنگجوی
“The charger collapsed on its face in agony, and warrior Bizhan reached him instantly.”
#24
عمودی بزد بر سر ترگ‌دار
✦
تهی ماند از او مغز و برگشت کار
“He struck a heavy mace upon his helmeted head; his brain shattered, and his fate was reversed.”
#25
چنین گفت بیژن به ایرانیان
✦
که هر کو ببندد کمر بر میان
“Bizhan spoke thus to the Iranians: 'Whoever girds his waist tight for battle,”
#26
بجز گُرز و شمشیر گیرد به دست
✦
کمان بر سرش بر کنم پاک پست
“'Let him take only mace and sword in hand; I shall break the bow over the head of anyone who uses it!”
#27
که ترکان به دیدن پری چهره‌اند
✦
به جنگ از هنر پاک بی‌بهره‌اند
“'For the Turanians are fair-faced like fairies to behold, but in combat they are utterly devoid of skill.'”
#28
دلیری گرفتند کنداوران
✦
کشیدند لشکر پرندآوران
“The brave champions took courage and drew their shining swords.”
#29
چو پیلان همه دشت بر یکدگر
✦
فگنده ز تنها جدا مانده سر
“Like giant elephants, the dead covered the plain, their heads severed from their bodies.”
#30
از آن رزمگه تا به توران سپاه
✦
دمان از پس اندر گرفتند راه
“From that battlefield all the way back to the Turanian army, they pursued them fiercely.”
#31
چو پیران ندید آن زمان با سپاه
✦
برادر بدو گشت گیتی سیاه
“When Piran did not see his brother among the returning troops, the world turned black before his eyes.”
#32
به کارآگهان گفت ز این رزمگاه
✦
هیونی بتازد به آوردگاه
“He said to his scouts: 'Let a swift messenger ride to the battlefield at once,”
#33
که آرد نشانی ز نستیهنم
✦
وگرنه دو دیده ز سر برکنم
“'To bring me news of Nastihan, or else I shall tear my two eyes from my head!'”
#34
هیونی برون تاختند آن زمان
✦
برفت و بدید و بیامد دمان
“A courier rode out instantly; he went, saw, and returned swiftly,”
#35
که نستیهن آنک بدان رزمگاه
✦
ابا نامداران توران سپاه
“Reporting that Nastihan lay on that battlefield among the renowned dead of Turan,”
#36
بریده سرافگنده بر سان پیل
✦
تن از گُرز خسته به کردار نیل
“Head severed and fallen like an elephant, his body wounded by maces until it turned indigo.”
#37
چو بشنید پیران برآمد به جوش
✦
نماند آن زمان با سپهدار هوش
“When Piran heard this, he burst into violent anguish, and no sense remained in the general's mind.”
#38
همی کند موی و همی ریخت آب
✦
از او دور شد خورد و آرام و خواب
“He tore his hair and shed bitter tears; food, rest, and sleep fled from him.”
#39
بزد دست و بدرید رومی قبای
✦
برآمد خروشیدن های های
“He reached out and tore his Roman robe, while loud lamentations broke from his throat.”
#40
همی گفت کای کردگار جهان
✦
همانا که با تو بدستم نهان
“He kept saying: 'O Creator of the world! Truly what secret sin have I committed against Thee?”
#41
که بگسست از بازوان زور من
✦
چنین تیره شد اختر و هور من
“'That the strength has broken from my arms, and my star and sun have turned so dark?”
#42
دریغ آن هژبر افگن گردگیر
✦
جوان دلاور سوار هژیر
“'Alas for that lion-overthrowing warrior, that young, brave, and valiant knight!”
#43
گرامی برادر جهانبان من
✦
سر ویسگان گرد هومان من
“'My beloved brother, my world-protector, chief of the House of Viseh, hero beside Homan!”
#44
چو نستیهن آن شیر شرزه به جنگ
✦
که روباه بودی به جنگش پلنگ
“'Nastihan was a fierce lion in war, before whom a leopard was but a helpless fox!”
#45
کرا یابم اکنون بدین رزمگاه
✦
به جنگ اندر آورد باید سپاه
“'Whom shall I now find in this arena to lead the army into combat?'”
#46
بزد نای رویین و بربست کوس
✦
هوا نیلگون شد زمین آبنوس
“He sounded the brass trumpets and bound the heavy war-drums; the sky turned indigo with dust, and the earth grew dark as ebony.”
#47
ز کوه کنابد برون شد سپاه
✦
بشد روشنایی ز خورشید و ماه
“Out from Mount Gonabad the vast army marched forth, so thick that light vanished from both the sun and the moon.”
#48
سپهدار ایران بزد کرنای
✦
سپاه اندر آورد و بگرفت جای
“The commander of Iran blew the clarion horn; he advanced his forces and took his position upon the field.”
#49
میان سپه کاویانی درفش
✦
به پیش اندرون تیغهای بنفش
“In the center of the host fluttered the Kavian Banner, while in the vanguard gleamed violet-tempered blades.”
#50
همه نامداران پرخاشخر
✦
ابا نیزه و گُرزهٔ گاوسر
“All were renowned and war-loving chieftains, armed with long lances and ox-headed maces.”
#51
سپیده‌دمان اندر آمد سپاه
✦
به پیکار تا گشت گیتی سیاه
“At the first break of dawn the armies clashed in battle, fighting fiercely until dark night enveloped the world.”
#52
برفتند زان پس به بنگاه خویش
✦
به خیمه شد این، آن به خرگاه خویش
“Thereafter they withdrew to their respective encampments; one army retired to its tents, the other to its royal pavilion.”
#53
سپهدار ایران به زیبد رسید
✦
از اندیشه کردن دلش بردمید
“When the general of Iran arrived back at Zibad, his heart swelled and throbbed with deep anxiety and forethought.”
#54
همی گفت کامروز رزمی گران
✦
بکردیم و کشتیم از ایشان سران
“He pondered within himself: "Today we fought a heavy fight and slaughtered many of their chief commanders.”
#55
گمانی برم زانک پیران کنون
✦
دواند سوی شاه ترکان هیون
“"Yet I suspect that Piran will now dispatch swift messengers riding fast dromedaries unto the King of the Turks,”
#56
وز او یار خواهد به جنگ سپاه
✦
رسانم کنون آگهی من به شاه
“"To seek fresh reinforcements for the war; I too must straightway send word and intelligence to my King."”