#1
دبیر نویسنده را پیش خواند
✦
سخن هرچه بایست با او براند
“He summoned the scribe before him and imparted to him all the words that needed to be written.”
#2
سر نامه کرد آفرین از نخست
✦
بدان کو زمین از بدیها بشست
“He began the letter first with praise unto Him who cleansed the earth of evil works.”
#3
چنان اختر خفته بیدار کرد
✦
سر جادوان را نگونسار کرد
“Who awakened the sleeping fortune and cast down the head of the sorcerers.”
#4
توانایی و دانش و داد از اوست
✦
به گیتی ستم یافته شاد از اوست
“From Him come power, wisdom, and justice; through Him the oppressed in the world find joy.”
#5
دگر گفت کز بخت کاووس کی
✦
بزرگ و جهاندیده و نیک‌پی
“Next he wrote that through the good fortune of Kavus, the King—great, world-experienced, and blessed of foot—”
#6
گشاده شد آن گنگ افراسیاب
✦
سر بخت او اندر آمد به خواب
“The Gang of Afrasiab was overcome, and his fortune fell into a deep slumber.”
#7
به یک رزمگاه از نبرده سران
✦
سرافراز با گرزهای گران
“In a single battlefield, filled with valiant chieftains, proud warriors bearing heavy maces,”
#8
همانا که افگنده شد صد هزار
✦
به گلزریون در یکی کارزار
“Truly a hundred thousand fell slain at Golzarion in a single battle.”
#9
وز آن پس برآمد یکی باد سخت
✦
که برکند شاداب بیخ درخت
“And thereafter arose a fierce tempest that ripped up the lush roots of trees.”
#10
به آب اندر افتاد چندی سپاه
✦
که جستند بر ما یکی دستگاه
“Many an enemy warrior who sought mastery over us was cast into the deep waters.”
#11
به آوردگه در چنان شد سوار
✦
که از ما یکی را دو صد شد شکار
“In the field of battle, the horsemen pressed so hard that each of our warriors hunted two hundred of the foe.”
#12
وز آن جایگه رفت ببهشت گنگ
✦
حصاری پر از مردم و جای تنگ
“And from that place he fled to Gang-e Behesht, a fortress crowded with people and confined in space.”
#13
به جنگ حصار اندرون سی‌هزار
✦
همانا که شد کشته در کارزار
“Within the siege of that stronghold, full thirty thousand were slain in the conflict.”
#14
همان بد که بیدادگر بود مرد
✦
ورا دانش و بخت یاری نکرد
“It was because the man was an oppressor, and neither wisdom nor fortune favored him.”
#15
همه روی کشور سپه گسترید
✦
شدست او کنون از جهان ناپدید
“Our army has covered the face of the land, and he has now vanished from the world.”
#16
از این پس فرستم به شاه آگهی
✦
ز روزی که باشد مرا فرهی
“Henceforth I shall send tidings to the King whenever a day of glory attends me.”
#17
از آن پس بیامد به شادی نشست
✦
پری روی پیش اندرون می به دست
“Thereafter he sat down to feast in joy, with fairy-faced beauties before him, wine goblet in hand.”
#18
ببد تا بهار اندرآورد روی
✦
جهان شد بهشتی پر از رنگ و بوی
“Thus it remained until spring turned its face towards them, and the world became a paradise of color and fragrance.”
#19
همه دشت چون پرنیان شد به رنگ
✦
هوا گشت بر سان پشت پلنگ
“The plain turned colorful like brocade, and the sky took on the dapples of a leopard's back.”
#20
گرازیدن گور و آهو به دشت
✦
بدین گونه بر چند خوشی گذشت
“On the plain, wild asses and gazelles gamboled; in such delight several happy days passed.”
#21
به نخچیر یوزان و پرنده باز
✦
همه مشک بویان بتان طراز
“With hunting leopards and soaring falcons, and musky beauties from Taraz at hand,”
#22
همه چارپایان به کردار گور
✦
پراگند و آگنده کردن به زور
“All the beasts, like wild asses, were scattered and then rounded up by force.”
#23
به گردن به کردار شیران نر
✦
به سان گوزنان به گوش و به سر
“Their necks were thick like male lions, and in ears and head they resembled stags.”
#24
ز هر سو فرستاد کارآگهان
✦
همی جست پیدا ز کار جهان
“From every quarter he dispatched intelligence gatherers, seeking to uncover the secrets of world affairs.”
#25
پس آگاهی آمد ز چین و ختن
✦
از افراسیاب و از آن انجمن
“Then tidings arrived from Chin and Khotan, concerning Afrasiab and that assembly.”
#26
که فغفور چین با وی انباز گشت
✦
همه روی کشور پرآواز گشت
“That the Faghfūr of China had allied with him, and rumors echoed across the entire realm.”
#27
ز چین تا به گلزریون لشکرست
✦
بر ایشان چو خاقان چین سرورست
“From China unto Golzarion stretches an army, with the Khaqan of China as their supreme commander.”
#28
نداند کسی راز آن خواسته
✦
پرستنده و اسب آراسته
“No one knew the measure of those riches, the servants, and the caparisoned steeds.”
#29
که او را فرستاد خاقان چین
✦
به شاهی بر او خواندند آفرین
“Which the Khaqan of China had sent to him, as they acclaimed his royal sovereignty.”
#30
همان گنج پیرانش آمد به دست
✦
شتروار دینار صدبار شست
“Likewise the treasure of Piran fell into his hands, sixty camel-loads of gold dinars a hundredfold.”
#31
چو آن خواسته برگرفت از ختن
✦
سپاهی بیاورد لشکر شکن
“When he gathered those riches from Khotan, he assembled an army capable of shattering hosts.”
#32
چو ز این گونه آگاهی آمد به شاه
✦
به نزدیک زنهار داده سپاه
“When such news reached the King, he turned towards the army that had been granted amnesty.”
#33
همه بازگشتند ز ایرانیان
✦
ببستند خون ریختن را میان
“They all turned back from the Iranians, girding themselves once more for bloodshed.”
#34
چو برداشت افراسیاب از ختن
✦
یکی لشکری شد بر او انجمن
“When Afrasiab set forth from Khotan, such a vast host gathered around him,”
#35
که گفتی زمین برنتابد همی
✦
ستاره شمارش نیابد همی
“That you would say the earth could scarce bear them, nor could the stars match their count.”
#36
ز چین سوی کیخسرو آورد روی
✦
پر از درد با لشکری کینه‌جوی
“From China he turned his face toward Kay Khosrow, full of grief and leading a vengeance-seeking host.”
#37
چو کیخسرو آگاه شد زان سپاه
✦
طلایه فرستاد چندی به راه
“When Kay Khosrow was informed of that army, he dispatched several vanguards onto the road.”
#38
بفرمود گودرز کشواد را
✦
سپهدار گرگین و فرهاد را
“He commanded Goudarz, son of Kashvad, along with the valiant commanders Gorgin and Farhad,”
#39
که ایدر بباشید با داد و رای
✦
طلایه شب و روز کرده به پای
“Saying: "Remain here with justice and wisdom, keeping a vigilant watch day and night."”
#40
به گودرز گفت این سپاه تو اند
✦
چو کار آید اندر پناه تو اند
“He said to Goudarz, "These troops are yours; when battle comes, they stand under your protection."”
#41
ز ترکان هرآنگه که بینی یکی
✦
که یاد آرد از دشمنان اندکی
“"Whenever you see one among the Turks who even slightly reminisces about the enemy,"”
#42
هم اندر زمان زنده بر دار کن
✦
دو پایش ز بر سر نگونسار کن
“"Hang him alive immediately, casting him upside down so his feet rise above his head."”
#43
چو بی‌رنج باشد تو بی‌رنج باش
✦
نگهبان این لشکر و گنج باش
“"So long as there is no harm, remain peaceful, and serve as guardian over this army and treasury."”
#44
تبیره برآمد ز پرده سرای
✦
خروشیدن زنگ و هندی درای
“The war-drums resounded from the pavilion, amid the clamor of bells and Indian chimes.”
#45
بدین سان سپاهی بیامد ز گنگ
✦
که خورشید را آرزو کرد جنگ
“Thus an army marched forth from Gang, so grand that even the sun longed to join the battle.”
#46
چو بیرون شد از شهر صف بر کشید
✦
سوی کوکها لشکر اندر کشید
“Once out of the city, he drew up the ranks and led the army toward the Kokha hills.”
#47
میان دو لشکر دو منزل بماند
✦
جهاندار گردنکشان را بخواند
“When two stages remained between the armies, the sovereign summoned his chieftains.”
#48
چنین گفت کامشب مجنبید هیچ
✦
نه خوب آید آرامش اندر بسیچ
“He spoke thus: "Make no move tonight, though resting amid preparations for battle is ill-befitting."”
#49
طلایه برافگند بر گرد دشت
✦
همه شب همی گرد لشکر بگشت
“He dispatched vanguards across the plain and patrolled around the host all night long.”
#50
به یک هفته بودش هم آنجا درنگ
✦
همی ساخت آرایش و ساز جنگ
“For a week he remained halted there, arranging his forces and preparing the gear of war.”
#51
به هشتم بیامد طلایه ز راه
✦
به خسرو خبر داد کآمد سپاه
“On the eighth day, the vanguard returned from the road and informed Khosrow that the army had arrived.”
#52
سپه را بدان سان بیاراست شاه
✦
که نظاره گشتند خورشید و ماه
“The king marshaled his troops in such glorious array that the sun and moon stood gazing in awe.”
#53
چو افراسیاب آن سپه را بدید
✦
بیامد برابر صفی برکشید
“When Afrasiyab beheld that host, he advanced and drew up his own battle-lines opposite them.”
#54
به فرزانگان گفت کین دشت رزم
✦
به دل مر مرا چون خرامست و بزم
“He said to his sages: "To my heart, this battlefield feels like a feast and a pleasant stroll."”
#55
مرا شاد بر گاه خواب آمدی
✦
چو رزمم نبودی شتاب آمدی
“"Once I slept happily upon my throne, and when I had no war, I rushed to find it."”
#56
کنون مانده گشتم چنین در گریز
✦
سری پر ز کینه دلی پرستیز
“"Now I have grown weary of fleeing thus, with a head full of vengeance and a heart full of conflict."”
#57
بر آنم که از بخت کیخسروست
✦
و گر بر سرم روزگاری نوست
“"I believe this is due to Kay Khosrow's fortune, or that a new destiny hangs over my head."”
#58
بر آنم که با او شوم همنبرد
✦
اگر کام یابم اگر مرگ و درد
“"I am resolved to engage him in single combat, whether I attain my desire or meet death and pain."”
#59
بدو گفت هر کس که فرزانه بود
✦
گر از خویش بود ار ز بیگانه بود
“Every wise counselor present spoke to him—whether kin or stranger:”
#60
که گر شاه را جست باید نبرد
✦
چرا باید این لشکر و دار و برد
“"If the King himself must seek the fight, then why do we need this army, wealth, and command?"”
#61
همه چین و توران به پیش تواند
✦
ز بیگانگان ار ز خویش تواند
“"All of China and Turan stand before you, whether strangers or your own kin."”
#62
فدای تو بادا همه جان ما
✦
چنین بود تا بود پیمان ما
“"May all our lives be sacrificed for you; such has been our oath from the beginning."”
#63
اگر صد شود کشته گر صد هزار
✦
تن خویش را خوار مایه مدار
“"Though a hundred or a hundred thousand fall, do not hold your own royal person cheap."”
#64
همه سر به سر نیکخواه توایم
✦
که زنده به فر کلاه توایم
“"We are all, to a man, your well-wishers, for we live only by the glory of your crown."”