As the Fifth Duel of the Twelve Battles commenced, the villainous Gurevi-ye Zereh—the dark-souled Turanian champion whose hands were stained with the innocent blood of Prince Siyavash—strode into the arena like a ferocious div. Against him rode Giv, the valiant son of Goudarz. Without a word of hesitation, the two warriors spurred their warhorses, driving their lances into each other with such fury that it seemed they were blending venom with blood. The sheer force of their collision was so tremendous that the iron spearheads snapped cleanly from their shafts under the terrifying shock.
Dropping the broken lances, they reached for their bows of tough poplar wood, circling and charging at one another like ravenous leopards. Yet Giv harbored a fierce, singular purpose in his heart: he sought not to slay Gurevi outright, but to drag the murderer alive from his saddle. He vowed to bring Siyavash’s butcher back in heavy chains to Shah Kay Khosrow—a sacred, living offering of royal retribution.
With a blood-curdling roar, Giv bore down upon his adversary. Terror seized Gurevi’s heart, and his bow slipped from his trembling fingers. As the Turanian reached desperately for his broadsword, Giv gave him no respite. Raising his heavy steel mace, Giv struck Gurevi squarely upon his helmet. The force of the blow shattered his armor, causing dark crimson blood to stream from his crown down over his face. Before Gurevi could recover, Giv leaned out from his saddle, seized the dazed champion around the waist, and squeezed him with crushing strength. Stripped of all vitality, Gurevi slid from his horse and fell senseless onto the dusty earth.
Leaping down like a warlike panther, Giv bound the murderer's arms tightly behind his back with cords as unyielding as solid rock. Mounting his steed once more, Giv drove his bound captive on foot before his galloping horse all the way back to the Iranian encampment. High upon the rocky ridge, Giv held his battle-banner aloft, his triumphant shouts resounding across the valleys as he invoked blessings upon King Kay Khosrow and the victorious champions of Iran.
#1
و دیگر گروی زره دیو نیو
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برون رفت با پور گودرز گیو
“And next, Gurevi-ye Zereh, fierce as a demon, stepped forth to duel Giv, the son of Goudarz.”
#2
به نیزه فراوان برآویختند
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همی زهر با خون برآمیختند
“They clashed violently with spears, as if mixing deadly poison with blood.”
#3
سناندار نیزه ز چنگ سوار
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فرو ریخت از هول آن کارزار
“From the terror and shock of that intense battle, the spearheads snapped off from the riders' hands.”
#4
کمان برگرفتند و تیر خدنگ
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یک اندر دگر تاخته چون پلنگ
“Then they took up bows and poplar arrows, charging at each other like leopards.”
#5
همی زنده بایست مر گیو را
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کز اسب اندر آرد گو نیو را
“Yet Giv desired above all to take that brave warrior alive and bring him down from his horse.”
#6
چنان بسته در پیش خسرو برد
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ز ترکان یکی هدیهٔ نو برد
“So that he might present him bound before Shah Kay Khosrow as a novel gift of vengeance from the Turanians.”
#7
چو گیو اندر آمد گروی از نهیب
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کمان شد ز دستش به سوی نشیب
“As Giv charged down upon him, dread struck Gurevi so fiercely that the bow fell downward from his hand.”
#8
سوی تیغ برد آن زمان دست خویش
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دمان گیو نیو اندر آمد به پیش
“Gurevi reached for his sword, but bold Giv closed in rapidly upon him.”
#9
عمودی بزد بر سر و ترگ اوی
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که خون اندر آمد ز تارک به روی
“Giv struck a heavy mace upon his helmet, so hard that blood poured from his crown down over his face.”
#10
همیدون ز زین دست بگذاردش
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گرفتش به بر سخت و بفشاردش
“Then from his horse he reached out, caught Gurevi firmly, and squeezed him with powerful force.”
#11
که بر پشت زین مرد بی‌توش گشت
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ز اسب اندر افتاد و بیهوش گشت
“So that Gurevi lost all strength upon his saddle, fell off his steed, and lost consciousness.”
#12
فرود آمد از باره جنگی پلنگ
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دو دست از پس پشت بستش چو سنگ
“Giv dismounted like a warlike panther, binding both of Gurevi's hands behind his back as tight as stone.”
#13
نشست از بر زین و او را به پیش
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دوانید و شد تا بر یار خویش
“He mounted his saddle again and drove Gurevi running before him until he reached his companions.”
#14
به بالا برآمد درفشی به دست
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به نعره همی کوه را کرد پست
“He mounted the high ground banner in hand, making the mountains bow low with his triumphant shouts.”
#15
به پیروزی شاه ایران زمین
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همی خواند بر پهلوان آفرین
“He sang praises for the victory of the King of Iran, while all showered acclaim upon the hero.”