All through the dark hours of the night, the wounded Gostahm writhed upon the bloody grass of the meadow like a stricken serpent, groaning in unbearable agony. As dawn broke and the sun bathed the world in radiant light, Bizhan rode back and forth across the meadow, searching desperately for any sign of his missing companion. Suddenly, he caught sight of Gostahm's dun steed in the distance—wandering riderless, its saddle inverted, its reins snapped, and its stirrups and lasso drenched in crimson blood. At this tragic sight, Bizhan lost his composure and let out a fierce, lion-like roar of anguish, weeping for his beloved brother-in-arms.
Following the horse's bloody tracks toward a mountain spring, Bizhan at last discovered Gostahm lying collapsed on the ground, his body covered in dust and gore, his armor shattered. Bizhan leaped down from his swift night-black charger, took Gostahm tenderly in his arms, removed his heavy iron helmet, and laid his cheeks upon Gostahm's gaping wounds. Gostahm slowly opened his eyes, gasped for breath, and consoled his friend: 'O true-hearted comrade, do not despair for me. My grief for your sorrow hurts more than death itself. Find a way to carry me to the King so that I may behold Kai Khosrow's countenance once more before I pass into the dust. By God's grace, I have slain the two evil brothers, Lahhak and Farshidvard; bind their corpses and weapons to their saddles so the King knows I did not throw my life away in vain.'
Bizhan praised Gostahm's incredible courage, tore his own tunic into bandages, and used the felt padding of the saddle to staunch the hero's heavy bleeding. Scanning the crests, Bizhan spotted a few fleeing Turanian horsemen. Swooping down like lightning, he struck down two and captured a third, granting him mercy on the condition that he assist in transport. Together, they strapped the fallen corpses of Lahhak and Farshidvard onto their mounts. Then, Bizhan gently lifted the frail, wounded Gostahm onto his steed, placing him securely in the arms of the captive rider to hold him steady. With a heart heavy with grief yet burning with hope, Bizhan galloped back toward the royal camp, praying he could reach the Shah while breath still remained in Gostahm's chest.
#1
همه شب بنالید تا روز پاک
✦
پر از درد چون مار پیچان به خاک
“He groaned all night long until the pure light of day, writhing in pain upon the earth like a wounded serpent.”
#2
چو گیتی ز خورشید شد روشنا
✦
بیامد بدان جایگه بیژنا
“When the world became bright with the sun's illumination, Bizhan arrived at that very place.”
#3
همی گشت بر گرد آن مرغزار
✦
که یابد نشانی ز گم بوده یار
“He rode around that meadow, searching for any trace of his lost companion.”
#4
پدید آمد از دور اسب سمند
✦
بدان مرغزار اندرون چون نوند
“From afar, the dun horse appeared in the meadow, swift as a courier.”
#5
چمان و چران چون پلنگان به کام
✦
نگون گشته زین و گسسته لگام
“Prancing and grazing freely like a leopard, its saddle turned upside down and its reins broken.”
#6
همه آلت زین بر او بر نگون
✦
رکیب و کمند و جنا پر ز خون
“All its saddlery was inverted upon it; its stirrups, lasso, and trappings were soaked in blood.”
#7
چو بیژن بدید آن از او رفت هوش
✦
برآورد چو شیر شرزه خروش
“When Bizhan saw this, his senses fled; he raised a roar like a fierce lion.”
#8
همی گفت کای مهربان نیک‌یار
✦
کجایی فگنده در این مرغزار
“He cried out: 'O loving, good friend! Where are you fallen in this meadow?'”
#9
که پشتم شکستی و خستی دلم
✦
کنون جان شیرین ز تن بگسلم
“'You have broken my back and wounded my heart; now I shall yield my sweet life from my body!'”
#10
بشد بر پی اسب بر چشمه‌سار
✦
مر او را بدید اندر آن مرغزار
“He followed the horse's tracks to the spring, and there in the meadow he found him.”
#11
همه جوشن و ترگ پر خاک و خون
✦
فتاده بدان خستگی سرنگون
“His chainmail and helmet were full of dust and blood, lying helpless and upside down from his wounds.”
#12
فروجست بیژن ز شبرنگ زود
✦
گرفتش به آغوش در تنگ زود
“Bizhan quickly dismounted from Shabrang, taking him tightly into his embrace.”
#13
برون کرد رومی قبا از برش
✦
برهنه شد از ترگ خسته سرش
“He removed the Roman cloak from his chest, and uncovered his wounded head from the helmet.”
#14
ز بس خون دویدن تنش بود زرد
✦
دلش پر ز تیمار و جان پر ز درد
“From so much hemorrhage his body was pale; his heart was full of sorrow and his soul full of pain.”
#15
بر آن خستگیهاش بنهاد روی
✦
همی بود زاری کنان پیش اوی
“He laid his face upon his wounds, remaining before him in bitter weeping.”
#16
همی گفت کای نیک دل یار من
✦
تو رفتی و این بود پیکار من
“He lamented: 'O noble-hearted friend! You went forth, and this was my battle too!'”
#17
شتابم کنون بیش بایست کرد
✦
رسیدن بر تو به جای نبرد
“'I ought to have hastened more, to reach your side at the place of combat!'”
#18
مگر بودمی گاه سختیت یار
✦
چو با اهرمن ساختی کارزار
“'Would that I had been your comrade in hardship when you did battle with the demonic foe!'”
#19
کنون کام دشمن همه راست کرد
✦
برآورد سر هرچ می‌خواست کرد
“'Now the enemy's desire is fulfilled; whatever they wished, they have raised their heads and done.'”
#20
بگفت این سخن بیژن و گستهم
✦
بجنبید و بر زد یکی تیز دم
“As Bizhan spoke these words, Gostahm moved and drew a sharp, deep breath.”
#21
به بیژن چنین گفت کای نیک خواه
✦
مکن خویشتن پیش من در تباه
“He said to Bizhan: 'O well-wisher! Do not destroy yourself in grief before me.'”
#22
مرا درد تو بتر از مرگ خویش
✦
بنه بر سر خسته بر ترگ خویش
“'My pain over your sorrow is worse than my death; place your helmet back upon your wounded friend's head.'”
#23
یکی چاره کن تا از این جایگاه
✦
توانی رسانیدنم نزد شاه
“'Devise a scheme whereby you can convey me from this place unto the presence of the Shah.'”
#24
مرا باد چندان همی روزگار
✦
که بینم یکی چهرهٔ شهریار
“'May life grant me enough days that I may look upon the face of the King once more!'”
#25
از آن پس چو مرگ آیدم باک نیست
✦
مرا خود نهالی به جز خاک نیست
“'Thereafter, if death comes, I have no fear; for me there is no bed left save the earth.'”
#26
نمرده است هرکس که با کام خویش
✦
بمیرد بیابد سرانجام خویش
“'Whoever dies having fulfilled his longing has not truly died, for he has reached his destiny.'”
#27
و دیگر دو بد خواه با ترس و باک
✦
که بر دست من کرد یزدان هلاک
“'And moreover, God destroyed two fearful foes by my hand in this combat.'”
#28
مگرشان به زین بر توانی کشید
✦
وگرنه سرانشان ز تن ها برید
“'If you can, bind them to their saddles; otherwise, sever their heads from their bodies.'”
#29
سلیح و سر نامبردارشان
✦
ببر تا بدانند پیکارشان
“'Take the weapons and heads of those renowned champions so all may know of their battle.'”
#30
کنی نزد شاه جهاندار یاد
✦
که من سر به خیره ندادم به باد
“'Remind the world-ruling King that I did not foolishly give my life to the wind.'”
#31
بسودم به هر جای با بخت جنگ
✦
گهٔ نام جستن نمردم به ننگ
“'I strove in every place alongside fortune; when seeking glory, I did not die in disgrace.'”
#32
به بیژن نمود آنگهی هر دو تور
✦
که بودند کشته فگنده به دور
“Gostahm then pointed out to Bizhan the two Turanians lying slain afar.”
#33
بگفت این و سستی گرفتش روان
✦
همی بود بیژن به سر بر نوان
“He spoke this and weakness seized his spirit, while Bizhan stood over him trembling in grief.”
#34
وز آن جایگه اسب او بیدرنگ
✦
بیاورد و بگشاد از باره تنگ
“Without delay, Bizhan brought Gostahm's steed and loosened the girth of his saddle.”
#35
نمد زین به زیر تن خفته مرد
✦
بیفگند و نالید چندی به درد
“He laid the felt padding beneath the wounded man, lamenting bitterly for a while in pain.”
#36
همه دامن قرطه را کرد چاک
✦
ابر خستگیهاش بر بست پاک
“He tore the hem of his shirt into strips and tightly bound all his wounds.”
#37
وز آن جایگه سوی بالا دوان
✦
بیامد ز غم تیره کرده روان
“From that place he ran toward the high ground, his spirit darkened with grief.”
#38
سواران ترکان پراگنده دید
✦
که آمد ز راه بیابان پدید
“He saw scattered Turanian horsemen emerging from the desert track.”
#39
ز بالا چو برق اندر آمد به شیب
✦
دل از مردن گستهم با نهیب
“From the height he descended like lightning, his heart fearful lest Gostahm perish.”
#40
از آن بیم دیده سواران دو تن
✦
به شمشیر کم کرد زان انجمن
“Of those fear-stricken riders, he cut down two with his sword from that group.”
#41
ز فتراک بگشاد زان پس کمند
✦
ز ترکان یکی را به گردن فگند
“He then unfastened the lasso from his saddle-bow and cast it around the neck of one Turanian.”
#42
ز اسب اندر آورد و زنهار داد
✦
بدان کار با خویشتن یار داد
“He pulled him from his horse, granted him quarter, and made him his assistant in that task.”
#43
وز آنجا بیامد به کردار گرد
✦
دمان سوی لهاک و فرشیدورد
“Then like dust he dashed toward the corpses of Lahhak and Farshidvard.”
#44
بدید آن سران سپه را نگون
✦
فگنده بر آن خاک غرقه به خون
“He found those army leaders fallen upside down upon the soil, drowned in blood.”
#45
به سرشان بر اسبان جنگی به پای
✦
چراگاه سازید و جای چرای
“Over their heads their warhorses stood grazing, making that place their pasture.”
#46
چو بیژن چنان دید کرد آفرین
✦
ابر گستهم کو سرآورد کین
“When Bijan beheld the sight, he poured forth praise / Upon Gostaham, who had brought the deadly feud to a close.”
#47
بفرمود تا ترک زنهار خواه
✦
به زین برکشید آن سران را ز راه
“He commanded the captive Turk who sought quarter / To lift those slain chieftains from the path onto the saddles.”
#48
ببستندشان دست و پای و میان
✦
کشیدند بر پشت زین کیان
“They bound their hands, their feet, and waists full fast, / And raised them up onto the backs of royal saddles.”
#49
وز آنجا سوی گستهم تازیان
✦
بیامد به سان پلنگ ژیان
“Then from that spot he galloped toward Gostaham, / Charging forward like a furious and raging leopard.”
#50
فرود آمد از اسب و او را چو باد
✦
بی آزار نرم از بر زین نهاد
“Swift as the wind he dismounted from his horse, / And gently, causing no hurt, laid him upon the saddle.”
#51
بدان ترک فرمود تا برنشست
✦
به آغوش او اندر آورد دست
“He bade the captive Turk mount the steed / And cradle the wounded hero gently in his arms.”
#52
سمند نوندش همی راند نرم
✦
بر او بر همی آفرین خواند گرم
“He rode his swift steed gently along the path, / Bestowing warm and heartfelt praise upon him all the while.”
#53
مگر زنده او را بر شهریار
✦
تواند رسانیدن از کارزار
“Hoping that he might yet bring him alive / From the scene of battle into the presence of the King.”
#54
همی راند بیژن پر از درد و غم
✦
روانش پر از انده گستهم
“Thus Bijan rode onward, filled with grief and pain, / His heart weighed down with deep sorrow for Gostaham.”