Filled with righteous indignation to avenge his father Abtin, Fereydun raised his head to the heavens and tightly girded his waist for battle. On the auspicious day of Khordad, beneath a world-brightening star, the young king set forth. A vast army gathered at his gates, accompanied by cart-hauling elephants and heavy buffaloes laden with provisions. At his side marched his brothers, Kiyanush and Purmayeh, acting as loyal and devoted lieutenants. Stage by stage, Fereydun advanced like a roaring wind—his mind set upon retribution and his heart aflame with justice. He directed his march toward the great Arvand River—known in the Pahlavi tongue as Arvand and in Arabic as the Tigris—until his vanguard reached the banks of the river at Baghdad, poised to strike at the heart of Zahhak's demonic realm.
#1
فریدون به خورشید بر برد سر
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کمر تنگ بستش به کین پدر
“Fereydun raised his head to the sun and tightly girded his waist to avenge his father.”
#2
برون رفت خرم به خرداد روز
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به نیک اختر و فال گیتی فروز
“He set forth in high spirits on the day of Khordad, guided by a favorable star and a world-illuminating omen.”
#3
سپاه انجمن شد به درگاه او
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به ابر اندر آمد سر گاه او
“The host assembled at his royal court, and the summit of his throne reached up into the clouds.”
#4
به پیلان گردون‌کش و گاومیش
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سپه را همی توشه بردند پیش
“Upon heavy-hauling elephants and buffaloes, they brought provisions forward for the marching army.”
#5
کیانوش و پرمایه بر دست شاه
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چو کهتر برادر ورا نیک خواه
“Kiyanush and Purmayeh stood at the king's side, devoted as younger brothers and filled with goodwill.”
#6
همی رفت منزل به منزل چو باد
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سری پر ز کینه دلی پر ز داد
“Swift as the wind he pressed from stage to stage, his head filled with vengeance, his heart with justice.”
#7
به اروندرود اندر آورد روی
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چنان چون بود مرد دیهیم‌جوی
“He turned his course toward the Arvand River, as fits a valiant seeker of the crown.”
#8
اگر پهلوانی ندانی زبان
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به تازی تو اروند را دجله خوان
“If you know not the Pahlavi tongue, in Arabic you may call Arvand the River Tigris.”
#9
دگر منزل آن شاه آزادمرد
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لب دجله و شهر بغداد کرد
“The next encampment of that noble king was on the banks of the Tigris, in the city of Baghdad.”