Having fled the catastrophic battlefield of Davazdah Rokh, the Turanian brothers Lahak and Farshidvard rode seven leagues in haste until they believed themselves safe from the Iranian host. They came upon a verdant grove filled with flowing waters, singing birds, and roaming game beneath leafy shades. Parched and weary, they dismounted, hunted game, roasted meat over an open flame, and ate. Exhausted by sorrow and battle, both heroes eventually succumbed to a deep slumber beneath the canopy of the forest.
Yet Gustahm, the relentless Iranian warrior, was in hot pursuit. As he neared the sanctuary, his swift warhorse caught the scent of the Turanian steeds and let out a resounding neigh. The horse of Lahak answered in kind, shaking the sleep from the brothers. Waking in alarm, Farshidvard warned Lahak that their fate had caught up to them. Mounting their steeds, they rode out of the grove onto the open plain, only to see Gustahm pursuing them single-handedly.
Realizing it was but one knight, they turned, but Gustahm charged like a ravenous lion, loose arrows flying from his bow. A lethal shaft pierced Farshidvard through the helmet, shattering his skull, and the valiant son of Viseh fell lifeless to the earth. Seeing his brother slain, Lahak was overcome with agony and grief; drawing his sword, he threw himself into a desperate combat. Both champions struck furiously, inflicting horrific wounds upon one another, until Gustahm found his opening and swung a decisive blow, severing Lahak's head like a ball struck by a polo mallet.
The fickle wheel of heaven turned once more. Though victorious, Gustahm was mortally wounded, his body slashed from head to foot. Bent double over his saddle, bleeding profusely, he managed to ride to a nearby spring. He tied his horse to a tree, drank deeply of the cool water, and collapsed onto the dark soil. In agonizing pain, he lifted his soul to the Almighty, praying that Yazdan might send Bijan, son of Giv, or another noble champion to find him—living or dead—and carry his body to the Iranian camp, along with the severed heads of the Turanian lords, so King Kai Khosrow would know that Gustahm fell with eternal honor on the field of glory.
#1
چو از دور لهاک و فرشیدورد
✦
گذشتند پویان ز دشت نبرد
“When Lahak and Farshidvard from afar passed running from the field of battle,”
#2
به یک ساعت از هفت فرسنگ راه
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برفتند ایمن ز ایران سپاه
“In a single hour they traversed seven leagues, secure at last from the host of Iran.”
#3
یکی بیشه دیدند و آب روان
✦
بدو اندرون سایهٔ کاروان
“They espied a grove with running water, providing shade for a travelling caravan.”
#4
به بیشه درون مرغ و نخچیر و شیر
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درخت از بر و سبزه و آب زیر
“Within the grove were birds and game and lions, with fruit above and lush verdure and water below.”
#5
به نخچیر کردن فرود آمدند
✦
وز آن تشنگی سوی رود آمدند
“They dismounted to hunt their prey, and drawn by thirst, approached the riverbank.”
#6
چو آب اندر آمد ببایست نان
✦
به اندوه و شادی نبندد دهان
“When water was taken, bread was needed, for neither grief nor joy seals a man's mouth.”
#7
بگشتند بر گرد آن مرغزار
✦
فگندند بسیار مایه شکار
“They circled around that meadow and brought down an abundance of game.”
#8
برافروختند آتش و زان کباب
✦
بخوردند و کردند سر سوی خواب
“They kindled a fire, ate of the roast, and turned their heads toward sleep.”
#9
چو بد روزگار دلیران دژم
✦
کجا خواب سازد بر ایشان ستم
“Cruel was the fate of the dismal champions, when heavy slumber conquered them both.”
#10
فرو خفت لهاک و فرشیدورد
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به سر بر همی پاسبانیش کرد
“Lahak lay sleeping while Farshidvard kept watch over his head.”
#11
برآمد چو شب تیره شد ماهتاب
✦
دو غمگین سر اندر نهاده به خواب
“When dark night rose and the moon shone bright, both sorrowful men lay deep in sleep.”
#12
رسید اندر آن جایگه گستهم
✦
که بودند یاران توران به هم
“Then Gustahm arrived at that very place where the Turanian companions lay together.”
#13
نوند اسب او بوی اسبان شنید
✦
خروشی برآورد و اندر دمید
“His swift steed caught the scent of their horses, raised a mighty cry, and neighed aloud.”
#14
سبک اسب لهاک هم ز این نشان
✦
خروشی برآورد چون بیهشان
“Swiftly the horse of Lahak answered in kind, raising a cry like one beside himself.”
#15
دمان سوی لهاک فرشیدورد
✦
ز خواب خوش آمدش بیدار کرد
“Farshidvard rushed to Lahak and awakened him from his sweet slumber.”
#16
بدو گفت برخیز ز این خواب خوش
✦
به مردی سر بخت خود را بکش
“He said to him: 'Arise from this sweet sleep, and manly master the head of your fortune!'”
#17
که دانا زد این داستان بزرگ
✦
که شیری که بگریزد از چنگ گرگ
“'For the wise man struck this great proverb: the lion that flees from the claws of the wolf,'”
#18
نباید که گرگ از پسش در کشد
✦
که او را همان بخت خود برکشد
“'Must not let the wolf pursue him, lest his own luck bring him down.'”
#19
چه مایه بپیوند و چندی شتافت
✦
کس از روز بد هم رهایی نیافت
“'However much one seeks kin or hastens away, none escapes an evil day.'”
#20
هلا زود بشتاب کآمد سپاه
✦
از ایران و بر ما گرفتند راه
“'Make haste, for the host from Iran has arrived and blocked our path!'”
#21
نشستند بر باره هر دو سوار
✦
کشیدند پویان از آن مرغزار
“Both riders mounted their warhorses and pulled away rapidly from that meadow.”
#22
ز بیشه به بالا نهادند روی
✦
دو خونی دلاور دو پرخاشجوی
“From the grove toward the high ground they turned, two bloodthirsty, belligerent warriors.”
#23
به هامون کشیدند هر دو سوار
✦
پراندیشه تا چون بسیچند کار
“Both knights sped into the open plain, full of thought as to how to prepare for battle.”
#24
پدید آمد از دور پس گستهم
✦
ندیدند با او سواری به هم
“Then Gustahm appeared in the distance behind them, and they saw no other knight beside him.”
#25
دلیران چو سر را برافراختند
✦
مر او را چو دیدند بشناختند
“When the heroes raised their heads and saw him, they recognized him at once.”
#26
گرفتند یک با دگر گفت و گوی
✦
که یک تن سوی ما نهادست روی
“They began to converse with one another: 'Only a single man comes toward us!'”
#27
نیابد رهایی ز ما گستهم
✦
مگر بخت بد کرد خواهد ستم
“'Gustahm shall not escape from us, unless evil fate intends to oppress us.'”
#28
جز از گستهم نیست کامد به جنگ
✦
درفش دلیران گرفته به چنگ
“'It is none other than Gustahm who comes to fight, holding the banner of heroes in his grip.'”
#29
گریزان بباید شد از پیش اوی
✦
مگر کاندر آرد بدین دشت روی
“'We should flee before him, so that he may be drawn into this open plain.'”
#30
وز آنجا به هامون نهادند روی
✦
پس اندر دمان گستهم کینه‌جوی
“From there they set their faces toward the open plain, while vengeful Gustahm roared in pursuit.”
#31
بیامد چو نزدیک ایشان رسید
✦
چو شیر ژیان نعره‌ای برکشید
“When he drew near to them, he let out a roar like a fierce lion.”
#32
بر ایشان ببارید تیر خدنگ
✦
چو فرشیدورد اندر آمد به جنگ
“He rained arrows of poplar upon them as Farshidvard stepped into the fray.”
#33
یکی تیر زد بر سرش گستهم
✦
که با خون برآمیخت مغزش به هم
“Gustahm struck Farshidvard's head with an arrow that mingled his brains with blood.”
#34
نگون گشت و هم در زمان جان بداد
✦
شد آن نامور گرد ویسه نژاد
“He tumbled down and gave up his spirit instantly, that famous hero of Viseh's lineage.”
#35
چو لهاک روی برادر بدید
✦
بدانست کز کارزار آرمید
“When Lahak beheld his brother's face, he knew he had rested from battle forever.”
#36
بلرزید وز درد او خیره شد
✦
جهان پیش چشم‌اندرش تیره شد
“He trembled and was dazed with grief, and the world grew dark before his eyes.”
#37
ز روشن‌روانش به سیری رسید
✦
کمان را به زه کرد و اندر کشید
“He grew weary of his bright soul, strung his bow, and drew the shaft tight.”
#38
شدند آن زمان خسته هر دو سوار
✦
به شمشیر برساختند کارزار
“In that hour both knights were sorely wounded, yet they pressed the combat with their swords.”
#39
یکایک بر او گستهم دست یافت
✦
ز کینه چنان خسته اندر شتافت
“One by one Gustahm gained the upper hand over him, striking him fiercely out of vengeance.”
#40
به گردنش بر زد یکی تیغ تیز
✦
برآورد ناگاه زو رستخیز
“He struck his neck with a sharp blade, causing a sudden doom upon him.”
#41
سرش زیر پای اندر آمد چو گوی
✦
که آید همی زخم چوگان بر اوی
“His head rolled beneath the horse's feet like a ball struck by a polo stick.”
#42
چنین است کردار گردان سپهر
✦
ببرد ز پروردهٔ خویش مهر
“Such is the way of the turning sky: it severs its love from those it nurtured.”
#43
چو سر جوییش پای یابی نخست
✦
وگر پای جویی سرش پیش تست
“If you seek its head, you find its feet first; and if you seek its feet, its head is before you.”
#44
به زین بر چنان خسته بد گستهم
✦
که بگسست خواهد تو گفتی ز هم
“Gustahm was so sorely wounded upon his saddle that you would say he was about to fall to pieces.”
#45
بیامد خمیده به زین اندرون
✦
همی راند اسب و همی ریخت خون
“He came bent double over his saddle, riding his horse while his blood flowed freely.”
#46
و زآنجا سوی چشمه‌ساری رسید
✦
هم آب روان دید و هم سایه دید
“From that spot he reached a flowing spring, where he found both running water and refreshing shade.”
#47
فرود آمد و اسب را بر درخت
✦
ببست و به آب اندر آمد ز بخت
“He dismounted, tied his horse to a tree, and by fortune's aid stepped down into the water.”
#48
بخورد آب بسیار و کرد آفرین
✦
ببستش تو گفتی سراسر زمین
“He drank plentifully of the water and gave praise; then, as if the entire earth had bound him fast, he collapsed.”
#49
بپیچید و غلتید بر تیره خاک
✦
سراسر همه تن به شمشیر چاک
“He writhed and rolled upon the dark dust, his body cleaved all over by sword-cuts.”
#50
همی گفت کای روشن کردگار
✦
پدید آر زان لشکر نامدار
“He kept praying: 'O Luminous Creator, bring forth from that famous army...'”
#51
به دلسوزگی بیژن گیو را
✦
وگرنه دلاور یکی نیو را
“'...Bijan, son of Giv, out of compassion, or else some other valiant warrior...'”
#52
که گر مرده گر زنده ز این جایگاه
✦
برد مر مرا سوی ایران سپاه
“'...So that whether dead or alive, he may convey me from this wilderness back to the host of Iran,'”
#53
سر نامداران توران سپاه
✦
ببرد برد پیش بیدار شاه
“'And carry the severed heads of the Turanian commanders to lay before the vigilant king,'”
#54
بدان تا بداند که من جز به نام
✦
نمردم به گیتی همین است کام
“'So that he may know I died in this world for nothing less than a glorious name; this alone was my ultimate desire.'”