A cry echoed from the watchtowers of the Iranian camp as a pillar of dust rose along the distant road. The lookout reported a single horseman approaching, leading three steeds—upon two of which hung the slain, upside-down and bound in grief. The noble champions of Iran watched the road in wonder, marveling who from the marches of Touran could dare cross this plain of strife.
Presently, Bizhan came riding swiftly, his bow strung and slung upon his arm. Across two steeds lay the slain Turanian commanders Lahhak and Farshidvard, bloodied and coated in dust. Upon the third horse lay Gostahm, crushed by agonizing wounds, cradled tenderly within a Turkish cloak. Reaching the presence of Kay Khosrow, Bizhan dismounted, bowed deeply, and pressed his face to the dust. The King rejoiced to see him and inquired of his deeds upon the battlefield.
Bizhan recounted the terrible fight of Gostahm against the two Turanian brothers, explaining how Gostahm had slain them both but was left at death's door, possessing only one remaining wish: to gaze upon the countenance of his King before breathing his last. Moved to his very core, King Kay Khosrow ordered Gostahm brought forward. At the sight of the broken hero, tears gushed from the monarch's eyes. Gostahm lay so battered that breath barely stirred his chest; yet sensing the warm presence of the King of Kings, he opened his eyes, weeping tears of affection and agony. The grandees of Iran wept alongside him, their hearts burning like meat over a flame.
Kay Khosrow could not bear to lose such a mighty commander. Upon his right arm he wore an ancient, mythical healing jewel—a sacred amulet inherited down the lineage of the Pishdadian kings from Hushang, Tahmuras, and Jamshid. Unbinding the precious jewel from his own arm, the King fastened it upon Gostahm's arm and smoothed his hands over the gaping wounds. Physicians summoned from Rome, India, China, Greece, and Iran gathered around Gostahm's pillow, applying medicines and incantations, while Khosrow withdrew to his place of prayer to commune intimately with the Creator of the World.
Two weeks passed, and through divine grace and the magic of the royal jewel, all pain and suffering vanished from Gostahm's flesh, restoring him completely to health. Brought before the throne once more on horseback, Gostahm stood whole, and Khosrow declared to the assembled host that God alone is the eternal savior who can restore the dead to life.
The King then took the hand of Bizhan son of Giv, praising his steadfast devotion, chivalry, and piety. For another week, Kay Khosrow remained at Zibad, distributing bountiful treasures of gold and silver, and dispatching messengers across the realm to summon the full host of Iran for the ultimate showdown against Afrasiab.
#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
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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
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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
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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!”