#1
از آن پس خروش آمد از دیده‌گاه
✦
که گرد سواران برآمد ز راه
“Thereafter, a shout arose from the watchtower that the dust of horsemen was rising from the road.”
#2
سه اسب و دو کشته بر او بسته زار
✦
همی بینم از دور با یک سوار
“'I see from afar a single rider, with three horses and two slain men bound mournfully upon them.'”
#3
همه نامداران ایران سپاه
✦
نهادند چشم از شگفتی به راه
“All the renowned nobles of the Iranian army fixed their eyes upon the road in utter wonder,”
#4
که تا کیست از مرز توران زمین
✦
که یارد گذشتن بر این دشت کین
“Wondering who from the borders of Touran could dare to cross this battlefield of vengeance.”
#5
هم اندر زمان بیژن آمد دمان
✦
به بازو به زه بر فگنده کمان
“Presently, Bizhan arrived in swift haste, his bow strung and slung upon his arm.”
#6
بر اسبان چو لهاک و فرشیدورد
✦
فگنده نگونسار پر خون و گرد
“Upon two horses lay Lahhak and Farshidvard, slung upside-down, drench'd in blood and dust.”
#7
بر اسبی دگر بر پر از درد و غم
✦
به آغوش ترک اندرون گستهم
“Upon another steed, weighted with grief and pain, Gostahm lay cradled in a Turkish cloak.”
#8
چو بیژن به نزدیک خسرو رسید
✦
سر تاج و تخت بلندش بدید
“When Bizhan reached the presence of Khosrow and beheld his lofty throne and crown,”
#9
ببوسید و بر خاک بنهاد روی
✦
بشد شاد خسرو به دیدار اوی
“He bowed low and pressed his face to the dust; Khosrow rejoiced greatly at his sight.”
#10
بپرسید و گفتش که ای شیر مرد
✦
کجا رفته بودی ز دشت نبرد
“The King inquired, saying: 'O lion-hearted hero, where hadst thou gone from the field of battle?'”
#11
ز گستهم بیژن سخن یاد کرد
✦
ز لهاک وز گرد فرشیدورد
“Bizhan spoke of Gostahm, and recounted the fate of Lahhak and the valiant Farshidvard,”
#12
وز آن خسته و زاری گستهم
✦
ز جنگ سواران و از بیش و کم
“He told of Gostahm's grievous wounds, of the combat of the horsemen, and of all that had transpired.”
#13
کنون آرزو گستهم را یکیست
✦
که آن کار بر شاه دشوار نیست
“'And now Gostahm has but one desire, a boon that is not difficult for the King to grant;”
#14
به دیدار شاه آمدستش هوا
✦
وز آن پس اگر میرد او را روا
“His heart longs to behold the King once more, and if he dies thereafter, he is content.'”
#15
بفرمود پس شاه آزرم جوی
✦
که بردند گستهم را پیش اوی
“The benevolent King then commanded that Gostahm be brought into his presence.”
#16
چنان نیک دل شد از او شهریار
✦
که از گریه مژگانش آمد به بار
“The monarch’s heart grew so full of pity that tears poured down from his eyelashes.”
#17
چنان بد ز بس خستگی گستهم
✦
که گفتی همی برنیامدش دم
“So broken was Gostahm by his innumerable wounds that it seemed his breath had already ceased.”
#18
یکی بوی مهر شهنشاه یافت
✦
بپیچید و دیده سوی او شتافت
“Yet sensing the affectionate presence of the King of Kings, he stirred, and turned his eyes toward him.”
#19
ببارید از دیدگان آب مهر
✦
سپهبد پر از آب و خون کرد چهر
“Tears of love flowed from the hero's eyes, while the commander bathed his own face in tears and blood.”
#20
بزرگان بر او زار و گریان شدند
✦
چو بر آتش تیز بریان شدند
“The grandees wept bitterly over him, their hearts burning as if roasted upon a blazing fire.”
#21
دریغ آمد او را سپهبد به مرگ
✦
که سندان کین بد سرش زیر ترگ
“The King mourned to see such a commander near to death, whose head under his helmet had been an anvil of vengeance.”
#22
ز هوشنگ و طهمورث و جمشید
✦
یکی مهره بد خستگان را امید
“Now, there was an ancient jewel, the hope of the wounded, handed down from Hushang, Tahmuras, and Jamshid,”
#23
رسیده به میراث نزدیک شاه
✦
به بازوش بر داشتی سال و ماه
“Inherited across generations by the King, which he wore upon his arm year in and year out.”
#24
چو مهر دلش گستهم را بخواست
✦
گشاد آن گرانمایه از دست راست
“When his heart's love moved him to save Gostahm, the noble King unfastened that precious charm from his right arm,”
#25
ابر بازوی گستهم بر ببست
✦
بمالید بر خستگیهاش دست
“Bound it upon Gostahm's arm, and smoothed his hands over the warrior's wounds.”
#26
پزشکان که از روم و ز هند و چین
✦
چه از شهر یونان و ایران زمین
“Physicians gathered from Rome, India, China, Greece, and the land of Iran;”
#27
به بالین گستهمشان بر نشاند
✦
ز هر گونه افسون بر او بر بخواند
“They sat beside Gostahm’s pillow, chanting every manner of charm and remedy over him.”
#28
وز آنجا بیامد به جای نماز
✦
بسی با جهان آفرین گفت راز
“Then Khosrow departed to his place of prayer, whispering long in secret to the Creator of the World.”
#29
دو هفته برآمد بر آن خسته مرد
✦
سر آمد همه رنج و سختی و درد
“When two weeks had passed over the wounded champion, all his pain, suffering, and affliction vanished.”
#30
بر اسبش ببردند نزدیک شاه
✦
چو شاه اندر او کرد لختی نگاه
“They brought him on horseback before the King; when Khosrow gazed upon him for a moment,”
#31
به ایرانیان گفت کز کردگار
✦
بود هر کسی شاد و به روزگار
“He spoke to the Iranians: 'By the Creator's grace, every man finds joy and fortune in his time.”
#32
ولیکن شگفت است این کار من
✦
بدین راستی بر شده یار من
“'Yet wondrous is this deed to me, for uprightness and truth have become my companions.”
#33
به پیروزی اندر غم گستهم
✦
نکرد این دل شادمان را دژم
“'In the midst of victory, grief for Gostahm did not leave this joyful heart sorrowful forever.'”
#34
بخواند آن زمان بیژن گیو را
✦
بدو داد دست گو نیو را
“He then summoned Bizhan son of Giv, and placed the hand of the brave hero into his,”
#35
که تو نیک‌بختی و یزدان شناس
✦
مدار از تن خویش هرگز هراس
“Saying: 'Thou art blessed of fortune and knowest God; let thy heart never entertain fear.”
#36
همه مهر پروردگار است و بس
✦
ندانم به گیتی جز او هیچ کس
“'All is from the love of the Creator alone; I know none other in this world save Him,”
#37
که اوی است جاوید فریادرس
✦
به سختی نگیرد جز او دست کس
“'For He is the eternal succor, and in hardship none but He takes a man by the hand.”
#38
اگر زنده گردد تن مرده مرد
✦
جهاندار گستهم را زنده کرد
“'If a dead body can return to life, the Lord of the World has indeed restored Gostahm.'”
#39
بدآنگه بدو گفت تیمار دار
✦
چو بیژن نبیند کس از روزگار
“Then the guardian King said to him: 'No man in all the world shall ever see the like of Bizhan,”
#40
کز او رنج بر مهر بگزیده‌ای
✦
ستایش بدین گونه بشنیده‌ای
“'Who chose devotion over hardship—hast thou ever heard praise such as this?'”
#41
به زیبد ببد شاه یک هفته نیز
✦
درم داد و دینار و هر گونه چیز
“The King remained in Zibad for another week, bestowing dirhams, dinars, and all manner of riches,”
#42
فرستاد هر سو فرستادگان
✦
به نزد بزرگان و آزادگان
“Sending envoys in every direction to the nobles and free-born lords.”
#43
چو از جنگ پیران شدی بی‌نیاز
✦
یکی رزم کیخسرو اکنون بساز
“Now that he was free from the war with Piran, the time had come to prepare for the great battle of Kay Khosrow!”