Driven into ignominious flight after the shattering of his armies, Afrasiab roamed the earth without sleep or sustenance, shadowed perpetually by the terrifying spectre of Iran's vengeance. Desperate to preserve his life, he sought sanctuary in the absolute wilderness. Near the region of Barda, high upon a sheer mountain peak untouched by the wings of falcons or the tracks of wild beasts, lay the cavern known as Hang. There, in that cold stone fortress, the broken tyrant secreted himself, mourning his vanished glory and reflecting bitterly upon his past deeds.
Yet upon that same mountain dwelt a holy ascetic named Hum, a righteous man of the ancient lineage of Fereydun. Clad in simple wool, Hum had renounced worldly joys, devoting his days to prayer far from the haunts of men. In the quiet darkness of the night, a voice broken by weeping echoed through the gorges—a lamentation in the Turkic tongue, mourning lost crowns, dispersed legions, and shattered majesty. Ceasing his devotions, Hum realized that none save Afrasiab could utter such agonizing laments. Guided by divine purpose, he descended the mountain pathways into the dark mouth of Hang.
Like a raging lion, Hum confronted the fallen king and unbound the woven girdle he wore in place of a sacred cord. With swift strength, he lashed Afrasiab's arms securely and dragged him out of the cave. Trapped and humiliated, Afrasiab began to weep, invoking the almighty Yazdan and the terror of the Day of Judgment. He pleaded his descent from noble Fereydun and blamed the cold turnings of Fate for driving him to wickedness. Hum rebuked him fiercely, listing his monstrous crimes—the murder of his own brother Aghriras, the slaying of King Nowzar, and the martyrdom of innocent Siyavash—reminding him that his ultimate doom lay in the hands of Kay Khosrow.
Yet as the bound monarch continued to wail in helpless misery, Hum's devout heart was wrung with pity. Softened by the tears of the ruined king, Hum slackened the tension of the royal lasso. Sensing the loosened bond in an instant, Afrasiab twisted violently out of Hum's grasp, threw himself headlong into the deep waters below, and vanished into the shadowy abyss.
#1
از آن پس چنان بد که افراسیاب
✦
همی بود هر جای بی‌خورد و خواب
“Thereafter, so it came to pass that Afrasiab lived everywhere deprived of food and sleep.”
#2
نه ایمن به جان و نه تن سودمند
✦
هراسان همیشه ز بیم گزند
“Neither safe in his soul nor sound in body, he was forever terror-stricken by fear of affliction.”
#3
همی از جهان جایگاهی بجست
✦
که باشد به جان ایمن و تن‌درست
“He sought a haven in the world where his soul might be secure and his body whole.”
#4
به نزدیک بردع یکی غار بود
✦
سر کوه غار از جهان نابسود
“Near Barda lay a cave, situated atop a peak untouched by the world.”
#5
ندید از برش جای پرواز باز
✦
نه زیرش پی شیر و آن گراز
“Neither could a falcon fly above it, nor could the tracks of lions or wild boars be found beneath it.”
#6
خورش برد وز بیم جان جای ساخت
✦
به غار اندرون جای بالای ساخت
“Bringing provisions, out of fear for his life he made a dwelling high within that cave.”
#7
ز هر شهر دور و به نزدیک آب
✦
که خوانی ورا هنگ افراسیاب
“Distant from every city and near the waters, which place was known as the Hang of Afrasiab.”
#8
همی بود چندی به هنگ اندرون
✦
ز کرده پشیمان و دل پر ز خون
“For a time he remained inside Hang, full of regret for his past deeds and his heart filled with blood.”
#9
چو خونریز گردد سر سرفراز
✦
به تخت کیان برنماند دراز
“When an exalted leader turns into a shedder of blood, he shall not abide long upon the Kianian throne.”
#10
یکی مرد نیک اندر آن روزگار
✦
ز تخم فریدون آموزگار
“In those days there lived a righteous man, a teacher of the lineage of Fereydun.”
#11
پرستار با فر و برز کیان
✦
به هر کار با شاه بسته میان
“A worshipper endowed with royal glory and stature, who girt his loins for every noble endeavor with the King.”
#12
پرستشگهش کوه بودی همه
✦
ز شادی شده دور و دور از رمه
“His entire temple was the mountain heights, far removed from joy and far from the flocks of men.”
#13
کجا نام این نامور هوم بود
✦
پرستنده دور از بر و بوم بود
“The name of this renowned man was Hum, a devout worshipper dwelling far from city and soil.”
#14
یکی کاخ بود اندر آن برز کوه
✦
بدو سخت نزدیک و دور از گروه
“Upon that lofty mountain stood a simple dwelling, very close to him yet isolated from the crowd.”
#15
پرستشگهی کرده پشمینه پوش
✦
ز کافش یکی ناله آمد به گوش
“Clad in woolen garments in his place of worship, a lamentation suddenly reached his ears.”
#16
که شاها سرا نامور مهترا
✦
بزرگان و بر داوران داورا
“Saying: 'O King! O renowned leader! O sovereign over all judges and rulers!”
#17
همه ترک و چین زیر فرمان تو
✦
رسیده به هر جای پیمان تو
“All of Turkestan and China were once beneath thy command, and thy pacts reached every realm.”
#18
یکی غار داری به بهره به چنگ
✦
کجات آن سر تاج و مردان جنگ
“Now thy sole portion is but a narrow cave; where are thy crown, thy throne, and thy men of war?”
#19
کجات آن همه زور و مردانگی
✦
دلیری و نیروی و فرزانگی
“Where is all thy strength and valor, thy bravery, power, and wisdom?”
#20
کجات آن بزرگی و تخت و کلاه
✦
کجات آن بر و بوم و چندان سپاه
“Where is thy grandeur, thy throne and crown, thy realm, thy land, and thy vast armies?”
#21
که اکنون بدین تنگ غار اندری
✦
گریزان به سنگین حصار اندری
“For now thou art trapped inside this narrow cave, fleeing to a stony fortress for refuge!'”
#22
به ترکی چو این ناله بشنید هوم
✦
پرستش رها کرد و بگذاشت بوم
“When Hum heard this lamentation spoken in the Turkic tongue, he left his worship and stepped forth from his place.”
#23
چنین گفت کاین ناله هنگام خواب
✦
نباشد مگر آن افراسیاب
“He said to himself: 'This midnight lamentation can be none other than that of Afrasiab.'”
#24
چو اندیشه شد بر دلش بر درست
✦
در غار تاریک چندی بجست
“When this thought became certain in his heart, he searched for a while around the dark cave.”
#25
ز کوه اندر آمد به هنگام خواب
✦
بدید آن در هنگ افراسیاب
“He descended the mountain in the night hour and discovered the entrance to the Hang of Afrasiab.”
#26
بیامد به کردار شیر ژیان
✦
ز پشمینه بگشاد گردی میان
“He moved forward like a raging lion, and untied the cord from around his woolen robe.”
#27
کمندی که بر جای زنار داشت
✦
کجا در پناه جهاندار داشت
“A lasso which he wore in place of a sacred girdle, keeping it under the sanctuary of the World-Lord.”
#28
به هنگ اندرون شد گرفت آن به دست
✦
چو نزدیک شد بازوی او ببست
“He entered inside Hang holding it in hand, and as he drew near, he bound Afrasiab's arms.”
#29
همی رفت و او را پس اندر کشان
✦
همی تاخت با رنج چون بیهشان
“He walked ahead dragging him behind, pressing on with toil like one possessed.”
#30
شگفت ار بمانی بدین در رواست
✦
هر آن کس که او بر جهان پادشاست
“Marvellous it is if thou ponderest this truth: whoever holds sovereignty over the world,”
#31
جز از نیک‌نامی نباید گزید
✦
بباید چمید و بباید چرید
“Ought to choose nothing save a noble reputation, for man must tread his path and consume his allotted measure.”
#32
ز گیتی یک غار بگزید راست
✦
چه دانست کان غار هنگ بلاست
“Out of the whole earth he chose a single cave, yet little did he know that this cave was the Hang of Calamity.”
#33
چو آن شاه را هوم بازو ببست
✦
همی بردش از جایگاه نشست
“When Hum bound the arms of that monarch, he dragged him away from his dwelling place.”
#34
بدو گفت کای مرد باهوش و باک
✦
پرستار دارنده یزدان پاک
“Afrasiab said to him: 'O man of wisdom and godly fear, worshipper of the pure Lord Creator!”
#35
چه خواهی ز من من کییم در جهان
✦
نشسته بدین غار با اندهان
“What dost thou desire of me? Who am I in this world, sitting in this cave with sorrows?”
#36
بدو گفت هوم این نه آرام تست
✦
جهانی سراسر پر از نام تست
“Hum replied to him: 'This is no resting place for thee; the entire world is filled with thy deeds.”
#37
ز شاهان گیتی برادر که کشت
✦
که شد نیز با پاک یزدان درشت
“Which king of the world ever slew his own brother, or turned so harsh against Holy God?”
#38
چو اغریرث و نوذر نامدار
✦
سیاوش که بد در جهان یادگار
“Kings like Aghriras and renowned Nowzar, and Siyavash who was a memorable paragon in the world!”
#39
تو خون سر بیگناهان مریز
✦
نه اندر بن غار بی‌بن گریز
“Shed not the blood of the innocent, nor flee into the depths of a bottomless cave!'”
#40
بدو گفت کاندر جهان بیگناه
✦
که را دانی ای مرد با دستگاه
“Afrasiab answered him: 'Whom in this world dost thou know as innocent, O man of spiritual stature?”
#41
چنین راند بر سر سپهر بلند
✦
که آید ز من درد و رنج و گزند
“The high heavens so ordained my fate that pain, suffering, and harm should issue through me.”
#42
ز فرمان یزدان کسی نگذرد
✦
وگر دیده اژدها بسپرد
“None can bypass the decree of God, even if one tramples beneath the eye of a dragon.”
#43
ببخشای بر من که بیچاره‌ام
✦
وگر چند بر خود ستمکاره‌ام
“Have mercy upon me, for I am helpless, though I have indeed brought oppression upon myself.”
#44
نبیره فریدون فرخ منم
✦
ز بند کمندت همی بگسلم
“I am the scion of auspicious Fereydun; I am breaking apart under the tightness of thy bond.”
#45
کجا برد خواهی مرا بسته خوار
✦
نترسی ز یزدان به روز شمار
“Whither wilt thou lead me bound and humbled? Dost thou not fear God on the Day of Reckoning?'”
#46
بدو گفت هوم ای بد بدگمان
✦
همانا فراوان نماندت زمان
“Hum said to him: 'O evil man of foul design! Truly not much time remains for thee.”
#47
سخنهات چون گلستان نوست
✦
ترا هوش بر دست کیخسروست
“Thy words are like a fresh rose garden, yet thy doom rests upon the hand of Kay Khosrow!'”
#48
بپیچید دل هوم را زآن گزند
✦
بر او سست کرد آن کیانی کمند
“Yet Hum's heart twisted with pity at that distress, and he loosened the royal lasso upon him.”
#49
بدانست کان مرد پرهیزگار
✦
ببخشود بر ناله شهریار
“Afrasiab realized that the pious ascetic had shown mercy upon the monarch's lamentation.”
#50
بپیچید و ز او خویشتن درکشید
✦
به دریا درون جست و شد ناپدید
“He writhed free, pulled himself away from his grip, leaped into the sea, and vanished from view.”