With a gleaming blade in hand and a heart heavy with the unyielding memory of Siyavash, Kay Khosrow stood over the captured Afrasiab. The ruined monarch of Turan, perceiving his doom, cried out, pleading with his grandson to spare the life of his own blood. But Kay Khosrow, steadfast in divine righteousness, counted the horrors committed by the tyrant: the brutal murder of his own virtuous brother Aghriras, the decapitation of King Nowzar, and the tragic, innocent martyrdom of Siyavash whose blood cried from the earth. When Afrasiab begged to see his daughter Farangis one last time, Khosrow recalled how mercilessly his father had been slaughtered despite his innocence. Raising his Indian steel, the King of Iran struck off Afrasiab's head, staining his silver beard ruby-red with royal retribution.
Next was brought Garsivaz, the wicked instigator who had crafted the fateful basin and dagger that ended Siyavash's life. Dragged in heavy chains before the throne, Garsivaz wept tears of blood. Kay Khosrow invoked the sacred memory of Iraj, Fereydun, and Siyavash, and commanded the executioner to sever Garsivaz in two at the waist, casting his corpse atop his brother's. With the grand vengeance finally fulfilled and the earth cleansed of dark tyranny, Kay Khosrow made a holy pilgrimage to the great temple of Adur Gushnasp. For a day and a night, the king stood in weeping prayer before the Almighty Creator. He showered gold upon the sacred fire, instructed his treasurer Zarasb to bestow vast wealth upon the Mobads and the impoverished, and dispatched royal edicts across every kingdom of the world, announcing that the dragon of evil was vanquished and that justice and peace reigned supreme under heaven.
#1
بیامد جهاندار با تیغ تیز
✦
سری پر ز کینه دلی پر ستیز
“The world-conqueror came with a sharp sword, his head filled with vengeance and his heart with strife.”
#2
چنین گفت بی‌دولت افراسیاب
✦
که این روز را دیده بودم به خواب
“Thus spoke the wretched Afrasiab: 'I had seen this dire day in a dream!'”
#3
سپهر بلند ار فراوان کشید
✦
همان پردهٔ رازها بردرید
“Though the lofty heavens drew out the days for long, at last they tore away the veil of secrets.”
#4
به آواز گفت ای بد کینه جوی
✦
چرا کشت خواهی نیا را بگوی
“He called out: 'O evil vengeance-seeker, tell me why you wish to slay your own grandfather?'”
#5
چنین داد پاسخ که ای بدکنش
✦
سزاوار پیغاره و سرزنش
“Kay Khosrow answered: 'O evil-doer, deserving of all reproach and rebuke!'”
#6
ز جان برادرت گویم نخست
✦
که هرگز بلای مهان را نجست
“'First I speak of your brother's life [Aghriras], who never sought harm against the great.'”
#7
دگر نوذر آن نامور شهریار
✦
که از تخم ایرج بد او یادگار
“'Next of Nowzar, that renowned king who was a memorial from the seed of Iraj.'”
#8
زدی گردنش را به شمشیر تیز
✦
برانگیختی از جهان رستخیز
“'You struck off his head with a sharp sword and raised a resurrection of sorrow in the world.'”
#9
سه دیگر سیاوش که چون او سوار
✦
نبیند کسی از مهان یادگار
“'Thirdly of Siyavash, such a noble knight as no ruler shall ever see again.'”
#10
بریدی سرش چون سر گوسفند
✦
همی برگذشتی ز چرخ بلند
“'You cut off his head like the head of a sheep, while boasting loftily to the high heavens.'”
#11
به کردار بد تیز بشتافتی
✦
مکافات آن بد کنون یافتی
“'You hastened towards evil deeds, and now you receive the true punishment for that evil.'”
#12
بدو گفت شاها ببود آنچه بود
✦
کنون داستانم بباید شنود
“Afrasiab said to him: 'O King, what happened has passed; now hear my story.'”
#13
بمان تا مگر مادرت را به جان
✦
ببینم پس این داستانها بخوان
“'Grant me leave that I may see your mother alive, and then recite these tales to me.'”
#14
بدو گفت گر خواستی مادرم
✦
چرا آتش افروختی بر سرم
“Khosrow replied: 'If you truly cared for my mother, why did you ignite fire upon my head?'”
#15
پدر بیگنه بود و من در نهان
✦
چه رفت از گزند تو اندر جهان
“'My father was guiltless, and I was hidden in secret; what harm had we ever brought upon the world?'”
#16
سر شهریاری ربودی که تاج
✦
بدو زار گریان شد و تخت عاج
“'You stole the head of a king for whom the crown and ivory throne wept bitterly.'”
#17
کنون روز بادافره ایزدیست
✦
مکافات بد را ز یزدان بدیست
“'Now is the day of divine retribution, for bad deeds draw evil punishment from God.'”
#18
به شمشیر هندی بزد گردنش
✦
به خاک اندر افگند نازک تنش
“With an Indian sword he struck off his head, casting his tender body upon the dust.”
#19
ز خون لعل شد ریش و موی سپید
✦
برادرش گشت از جهان ناامید
“His white beard and hair turned ruby-red with blood, and his brother lost all hope in life.”
#20
تهی ماند ز او گاه شاهنشهی
✦
سرآمد بر او روزگار مهی
“The throne of imperial sovereignty was left empty of him, and his day of greatness reached its end.”
#21
ز کردار بد بر تنش بد رسید
✦
مجو ای پسر بند بد را کلید
“From evil deeds, evil befell his body; seek not, O son, the key to the bond of evil!”
#22
چو جویی بدانی که از کار بد
✦
به فرجام بر بدکنش بد رسد
“When you search, you will learn that in the end, harm reaches the evil-doer from his own bad work.”
#23
سپهبد که با فر یزدان بود
✦
همه خشم او بند و زندان بود
“The commander who possesses divine glory keeps all his anger under the restraint of prison and bounds.”
#24
چو خونریز گردد بماند نژند
✦
مکافات یابد ز چرخ بلند
“When a ruler turns bloodthirsty, he remains wretched and suffers punishment from the high heaven.”
#25
چنین گفت موبد به بهرام تیز
✦
که خون سر بیگناهان مریز
“Thus spoke the Mobad to swift Bahram: 'Do not shed the blood of the innocent.'”
#26
چو خواهی که تاج تو ماند به جای
✦
مبادی جز آهسته و پاک‌رای
“'If you wish your crown to endure, let nothing guide you save calm wisdom and pure judgment.'”
#27
نگه کن که خود تاج با سر چه گفت
✦
که با مغزت ای سر خرد باد جفت
“'Look at what the crown itself said to the head: Let wisdom be paired with the brains inside thee!'”
#28
به گرسیوز آمد ز کار نیا
✦
دو رخ زرد و یک دل پر از کیمیا
“Then came Garsivaz's turn after his brother's fate, with two yellow cheeks and a heart full of alchemy.”
#29
کشیدندش از پیش دژخیم زار
✦
به بند گران و به بد روزگار
“They dragged him pitifully before the executioner in heavy bonds and dire plight.”
#30
ابا روزبانان مردم‌کشان
✦
چنانچون بود مردم بدنشان
“Accompanied by bloodthirsty guards, as befitted a man of evil destiny.”
#31
چو در پیش کیخسرو آمد به درد
✦
ببارید خون بر رخ لاژورد
“When he came weeping before Kay Khosrow, he shed blood upon his azure cheeks.”
#32
شهنشاه ایران زبان برگشاد
✦
و زآن تشت و خنجر بسی کرد یاد
“The Emperor of Iran spoke out, recalling much of that basin and the cruel dagger.”
#33
ز تور و فریدون و سلم سترگ
✦
ز ایرج که بد پادشاه بزرگ
“He spoke of Tur, mighty Fereydun, Salm, and Iraj who was a great king.”
#34
به دژخیم فرمود تا تیغ تیز
✦
کشید و بیامد دلی پر ستیز
“He commanded the executioner to draw his sharp sword, and he stepped forward with a stern heart.”
#35
میان سپهبد به دو نیم کرد
✦
سپه را همه دل پر از بیم کرد
“He severed the chieftain in two at the waist, filling the hearts of all the host with awe and dread.”
#36
به هم برفگندندشان همچو کوه
✦
ز هر سو به دور ایستاده گروه
“They piled their corpses together like a mountain, while the troops stood afar in awe.”
#37
ز یزدان چو شاه آرزوها بیافت
✦
ز دریا سوی خان آذر شتافت
“When the king fulfilled his longings through God, he hastened from the sea toward the House of Fire [Adur Gushnasp].”
#38
بسی زر بر آتش برافشاندند
✦
به زمزم همی آفرین خواندند
“They scattered much gold upon the fire and chanted praises and prayers with Zemzem hymns.”
#39
ببودند یک روز و یک شب به پای
✦
به پیش جهانداور رهنمای
“They stood on foot for a day and a night before the World-Creator and Guide.”
#40
چو گنجور کیخسرو آمد زرسب
✦
ببخشید گنجی بر آذرگشسب
“When Zarasb, treasurer to Kay Khosrow, arrived, he bestowed vast wealth upon Adur Gushnasp.”
#41
بر آن موبدان خلعت افگند نیز
✦
درم داد و دینار و بسیار چیز
“He bestowed robes of honor upon the Mobads, giving silver, gold, and abundant riches.”
#42
به شهر اندرون هر که درویش بود
✦
وگر خوردش از کوشش خویش بود
“Whosoever in the city was needy, or lived only by the sweat of his own labor,”
#43
بر آن نیز گنجی پراگنده کرد
✦
جهانی به داد و دهش بنده کرد
“Upon them also he showered treasures, rendering the whole world devoted to him through justice and generosity.”
#44
از آن پس به تخت کیان برنشست
✦
در بار بگشاد و لب را ببست
“Thereafter he ascended the Kianian throne, opened wide his court doors, and kept his lips silent in gravity.”
#45
نبشتند نامه به هر کشوری
✦
به هر نامداری و هر مهتری
“They wrote letters to every country, to every renowned chieftain and noble lord.”
#46
ز خاور بشد نامه تا باختر
✦
به جایی که بد مهتری با گهر
“Letters were dispatched from the East unto the West, reaching every realm where a noble chieftain dwelled.”
#47
که روی زمین از بد اژدها
✦
به شمشیر کیخسرو آمد رها
“Proclaiming that the face of the earth was delivered at last from the evil dragon by the sword of Kay Khosrow.”
#48
به نیروی یزدان پیروزگر
✦
نیاسود و نگشاد هرگز کمر
“By the strength of God the Victorious, he never rested nor unbuckled his belt from strife.”
#49
روان سیاووش را زنده کرد
✦
جهان را به داد و دهش بنده کرد
“He brought back the spirit of Siyavash to life, and made the world devoted to his justice and bounty.”
#50
همی چیز بخشید درویش را
✦
پرستنده و مردم خویش را
“He bestowed riches upon the destitute, upon devout worshippers, and upon his own kin.”
#51
از آن پس چنین گفت شاه جهان
✦
که ای نامداران فرخ مهان
“Thereafter, the Lord of the World spoke thus: 'O illustrious and auspicious chieftains!”
#52
زن و کودک خرد بیرون برید
✦
خورشها و رامش به هامون برید
“Bring out the women and young children, and take provisions and music out into the open plains!'”
#53
بپردخت زان پس به رامش نهاد
✦
برفتند گردان خسرو نژاد
“He then turned his heart to feasting, and the valiant warriors of royal lineage gathered around.”
#54
هر آن کس که بود از نژاد زرسب
✦
بیامد به ایوان آذرگشسب
“Whoever was of the lineage of Zarasp came unto the grand palace of Azar Goshasp.”
#55
چهل روز با شاه کاووس کی
✦
همی بود با رامش و رود و می
“For forty days he remained with King Kay Kavus, amidst feast, lute, and wine.”
#56
چو رخشنده شد بر فلک ماه نو
✦
ز زر افسری بر سر شاه نو
“When the new moon gleamed in the heavens, a golden crown graced the head of the new king.”
#57
بزرگان سوی پارس کردند روی
✦
برآسوده از رزم وز گفتگوی
“The nobles turned their faces toward Pars, rested at last from battle and from strife.”
#58
به هر شهر کاندر شدندی ز راه
✦
شدی انجمن مرد بر پیشگاه
“Into every city they entered along the way, crowds of people assembled in their presence.”
#59
گشادی سر بدره‌ها شهریار
✦
توانگر شدی مرد پرهیزگار
“The monarch opened the seals of his bags of gold, and every righteous man became prosperous.”