The mighty host of Fereydun arrived at the surging banks of the Arvand River. The young prince sent greetings to the guards of the waters, commanding them to bring forth the ships and skiffs so that his army of vengeance might cross without delay. But the river-keeper, bound by terrifying oaths to the Serpent King Zahhak, refused to comply. He declared: 'The Sovereign of the World gave me strict order in secret that not even a gnat should be permitted passage unless it bears a sealed permit and written authorization.'
When Fereydun heard this defiant refusal, wrath flared within his royal heart. Undaunted by the deep and perilous waters, he girt his royal waist, pulled the reins of his swift, ruby-coated charger Golrang, and plunged straight into the roaring current. Seeing their king brave the depths, his loyal champions and warriors tightened their belts and drove their swift steeds into the deluge. Saddles were submerged beneath the waves, yet every warrior reached the opposing shore unscathed.
Setting foot on dry land, their hearts burning for retribution, they turned their march toward Beit al-Muqaddas—known in the Pahlavi tongue as Gang-i Dizh-Hukht—the fortress city where Zahhak had reared his exalted palace. As they emerged from the plains near the city, Fereydun looked out from a mile away and beheld the tyrant's imperial palace. It shone bright as Jupiter in the heavens, its soaring hall towering so high it seemed to touch Saturn and scrape the stars.
Knowing this to be the lair of the Dragon King, Fereydun turned to his companion army and warned: 'He who rears such a majestic dome from the dark pit must hold deep secrets with Fate itself. Here, in this narrow pass of destiny, there can be no hesitation; we must strike with fury!'
With those words, he seized his heavy bull-headed mace, loosened the reins of his charger, and burst upon the palace guards like a raging flame. Raising his formidable weapon high above his saddlebow, he shattered the resolve of the palace gatekeepers, sending them scattering in terror. Invoking the name of the Creator of the World, the untried yet invincible prince rode his stallion through the grand gates and into the heart of the tyrant's palace.
#1
چو آمد به نزدیک اروندرود
✦
فرستاد زی رودبانان درود
“When he drew near to the Arvand River, he sent greetings to the river-guardians.”
#2
بران رودبان گفت پیروز شاه
✦
که کشتی برافگن هم اکنون به راه
“The victorious king said to the river-guard: 'Launch the boats into the water this instant.'”
#3
مرا با سپاهم بدان سو رسان
✦
از اینها کسی را بدین سو ممان
“'Transport me and my army to yonder shore, and leave not a single person behind on this side.'”
#4
بدان تا گذر یابم از روی آب
✦
به کشتی و زورق هم اندر شتاب
“'So that I may quickly cross over the surface of the water by ship and boat.'”
#5
نیاورد کشتی نگهبان رود
✦
نیامد بگفت فریدون فرود
“The river-guardian brought no boat, nor did he bow to Fereydun's command.”
#6
چنین داد پاسخ که شاه جهان
✦
چنین گفت با من سخن در نهان
“He answered thus: 'The King of the World [Zahhak] spoke to me in secret...'”
#7
که مگذار یک پشه را تا نخست
✦
جوازی بیابی و مهری درست
“'...saying: Pass not even a gnat until you first inspect a written permit and a valid seal.'”
#8
فریدون چو بشنید شد خشمناک
✦
ازان ژرف دریا نیامدش باک
“When Fereydun heard this, he grew enraged; he had no fear of that deep sea.”
#9
هم آنگه میان کیانی ببست
✦
بران بارهٔ تیزتک بر نشست
“Immediately he girt his royal waist and mounted his swift steed.”
#10
سرش تیز شد کینه و جنگ را
✦
به آب اندر افگند گلرنگ را
“His heart burned for vengeance and battle; he plunged Golrang into the water.”
#11
ببستند یارانش یکسر کمر
✦
همیدون به دریا نهادند سر
“His companions all girt their loins likewise and plunged headlong into the sea.”
#12
بر آن بادپایان با آفرین
✦
به آب اندرون غرقه کردند زین
“Upon those praised swift chargers, they submerged their saddles beneath the waves.”
#13
به خشکی رسیدند سر کینه جوی
✦
به بیت‌المقدس نهادند روی
“Reaching dry land, intent on revenge, they set their faces toward Beit al-Muqaddas.”
#14
که بر پهلوانی زبان راندند
✦
هَمی کنگ دژهوختَش خواندند
“Which in the ancient Pahlavi tongue was called Gang-i Dizh-Hukht.”
#15
به تازی کنون خانهٔ پاک دان
✦
برآورده ایوان ضحاک دان
“In Arabic, know it now as the Holy House, the lofty palace built by Zahhak.”
#16
چو از دشت نزدیک شهر آمدند
✦
کزان شهر جوینده بهر آمدند
“When they came from the plain near the city, where all seekers of fortune converged...”
#17
ز یک میل کرد آفریدون نگاه
✦
یکی کاخ دید اندر آن شهر شاه
“From a mile away Fereydun looked out and saw a high palace in that royal city,”
#18
فروزنده چون مشتری بر سپهر
✦
همه جای شادی و آرام و مهر
“Shining like Jupiter in the heavens, a place of joy, peace, and grandeur.”
#19
که ایوانش برتر ز کیوان نمود
✦
که گفتی ستاره بخواهد بسود
“Its hall raised higher than Saturn, appearing as though it would touch the stars.”
#20
بدانست کان خانهٔ اژدهاست
✦
که جای بزرگی و جای بهاست
“He knew it was the dragon's abode, a realm of great stature and worth.”
#21
به یارانش گفت آنکه بر تیره خاک
✦
برآرد چنین برز جای از مغاک
“He said to his companions: 'He who rears such a height from the dark earth and pit...'”
#22
بترسم همی زانکه با او جهان
✦
مگر راز دارد یکی در نهان
“'...I fear that the world holds a hidden secret with him.'”
#23
بباید که ما را بدین جای تنگ
✦
شتابیدن آید به روز درنگ
“'We must hasten in this tight pass, on this day of hesitation.'”
#24
بگفت و به گرز گران دست برد
✦
عنان بارهٔ تیزتک را سپرد
“He spoke, grasped his heavy mace, and gave the reins to his swift charger.”
#25
تو گفتی یکی آتشستی درست
✦
که پیش نگهبان ایوان برست
“You would say he was a blazing fire that suddenly sprang up before the palace guards.”
#26
گران گرز برداشت از پیش زین
✦
تو گفتی همی بر نوردد زمین
“He lifted the heavy mace from his saddlebow; you would say he was rolling up the earth itself.”
#27
کس از روزبانان به در بر نماند
✦
فریدون جهان آفرین را بخواند
“None of the day-guards remained at the portal; Fereydun invoked the Creator of the World.”
#28
به اسب اندر آمد به کاخ بزرگ
✦
جهان ناسپرده جوان سترگ
“Riding his horse he charged into the mighty palace—a young, colossal hero yet untried by the world.”