When Kay Khosrow heard the sharp counsel and warnings of Zal, he paused in deep reflection. He resolved not to answer the venerable sage of Sistan with harshness, mindful that any offense given to Zal would grieve Rostam, the World-Champion whose lifelong sacrifices for Iran outweighed all royal treasures. Showing utmost grace, the King turned to the assembled paladins and nobles, speaking in a resonant, powerful voice.
The King swore solemnly by the Almighty Lord of the Universe that his soul remained untainted by demonic deception. Wisdom was his impenetrable armor against evil, and his heart burned only with longing for the Divine Presence. He then addressed Zal's critique regarding his Turanian lineage, reminding the court that while his maternal roots traced back to Afrasiab and Pashang, his paternal heritage flowed from the pure Siyavash, the glorious Kay Kavus, and the blessed Fereydun—noble roots of matchless majestic splendor.
Kay Khosrow articulated his profound motivation for abdicating the throne: he had fully exacted vengeance for his slain father, eradicated evil tyrants from the earth, and restored divine justice across the realm. With his worldly duty completed, he feared the insidious peril of prolonged absolute power. He remembered how pride had corruptively undone mighty monarchs like Jamshid and Kavus, casting them from grace, and how the wickedness of Zahhak and Tur brought hellish ruin upon mankind. Even his single combat against Shideh was borne of necessity, to fulfill a divine call when no champion stood ready.
He revealed that his five unbroken weeks of intense day-and-night prayer were an earnest petition to God to deliver his soul from the dark mire of worldly reign before hubris could taint his spirit. Kay Khosrow declared his utter satiation with armies, crowns, and imperial thrones, having packed his burden for the ultimate journey. He urged Zal not to misinterpret his pious quest as the snare of a demon, for his heart was solely focused on escaping divine wrath and securing eternal salvation.
#1
چو کیخسرو آن گفت ایشان شنید
✦
زمانی بیاسود و اندر شمید
“When Kay Khosrow heard their words, he paused a moment in deep reflection.”
#2
پراندیشه گفت ای جهاندیده زال
✦
به مردی بی‌اندازه پیموده سال
“Full of thought, he said: 'O world-experienced Zal, who hast traversed endless years in valor,'”
#3
اگر سرد گویمت بر انجمن
✦
جهاندار نپسندد این بد ز من
“'If I speak harshly to thee before the assembly, the Ruler of the World will not favor this evil from me.'”
#4
دگر آن که رستم شود دردمند
✦
ز درد وی آید به ایران گزند
“'Furthermore, Rostam would be grieved, and from his grief harm would come to Iran.'”
#5
دگر آن که گر بشمری رنج اوی
✦
همانا فزون آید از گنج اوی
“'Moreover, if thou shouldst count his toil, it would truly exceed all his treasures.'”
#6
سپر کرد پیشم تن خویش را
✦
نبد خواب و خوردن بداندیش را
“'He made his own body my shield, denying himself sleep and food against my enemies.'”
#7
همان پاسخت را به خوبی کنیم
✦
دلت را به گفتار تو نشکنیم
“'Therefore we shall answer thee with goodness, and not break thy heart with our speech.'”
#8
چنین گفت زآن پس به آواز سخت
✦
که ای سرفرازان پیروز بخت
“Then he spoke in a powerful voice: 'O exalted and victorious paladins!'”
#9
سخنهای دستان شنیدم همه
✦
که بیدار بگشاد پیش رمه
“'I have heard all the words of Zal, which he wisely laid open before the flock.'”
#10
به دارنده یزدان گیهان خدیو
✦
که من دورم از راه و فرمان دیو
“'By the Lord God, Master of the Cosmos, I am far removed from the path and command of the Div!'”
#11
به یزدان گراید همی جان من
✦
که آن دیدم از رنج درمان من
“'My soul inclines solely toward God, for in Him I found the cure for my distress.'”
#12
بدید آن جهان را دل روشنم
✦
خرد شد ز بدهای او جوشنم
“'My enlightened heart beheld that other world, and Wisdom became my body's armor against evils.'”
#13
به زال آنگهی گفت تندی مکن
✦
بر اندازه باید که رانی سخن
“He then said to Zal: 'Be not so fiery; one must speak with measured balance.'”
#14
نخست آن که گفتی ز توران‌نژاد
✦
خردمند و بیدار هرگز نزاد
“'First, thou saidst that from Turan's lineage no wise and vigilant man was ever born.'”
#15
جهاندار پور سیاوش منم
✦
ز تخم کیان راد و باهش منم
“'I am the world-ruler, son of Siyavash; I am of the Kianian seed, noble and wise.'”
#16
نبیرهٔ جهاندار کاووس کی
✦
دل‌افروز و با دانش و نیک‌پی
“'Grandson of King Kay Kavus the conqueror—heart-brightening, knowledgeable, and of blessed step.'”
#17
به مادر هم از تخم افراسیاب
✦
که با خشم او گم شدی خورد و خواب
“'On my mother's side I spring from Afrasiab, whose wrath caused men to lose sleep and sustenance.'”
#18
نبیرهٔ فریدون و پور پشنگ
✦
از این گوهران چنین نیست ننگ
“'Grandson of Fereydun and child of Pashang; to possess such origins brings no shame.'”
#19
که شیران ایران به دریای آب
✦
نشستی تن از بیم افراسیاب
“'For the lions of Iran would bathe in the sea out of sheer dread of Afrasiab.'”
#20
دگر آن که کاووس صندوق ساخت
✦
سر از پادشاهی همی برفراخت
“'Second, thou mentionedst how Kavus built the flying chest and sought to raise his head above kingship.'”
#21
چنان دان که اندر فزونی منش
✦
نسازند بر پادشا سرزنش
“'Know that when a king's mind grows overly ambitious, men will surely reproach him.'”
#22
کنون من چو کین پدر خواستم
✦
جهان را به پیروزی آراستم
“'Now that I have avenged my father, I have adorned the world with victory.'”
#23
بکشتم کسی را کز او بود کین
✦
وز او جور و بیداد بد بر زمین
“'I slew him from whom the vengeance stemmed, and who brought tyranny and injustice upon the earth.'”
#24
به گیتی مرا نیز کاری نماند
✦
ز بدگوهران یادگاری نماند
“'No duty remains for me in this world, nor is any trace of evil-born tyrants left.'”
#25
هرآنگه که اندیشه گردد دراز
✦
ز شادی و از دولت دیریاز
“'Whenever thoughts dwell too long upon joy and everlasting royal power,'”
#26
چو کاووس و جمشید باشم به راه
✦
چو ایشان ز من گم شود پایگاه
“'I fear I might walk the path of Kavus and Jamshid, and like them lose my divine station,'”
#27
چو ضحاک ناپاک و تور دلیر
✦
که از جور ایشان جهان گشت سیر
“'Or like impure Zahhak and fierce Tur, from whose injustice the world grew weary.'”
#28
بترسم که چون روز نخ برکشد
✦
چو ایشان مرا سوی دوزخ کشد
“'I dread that when my life's thread is drawn, my fate will drag me toward Hell like them.'”
#29
دگر آن که گفتی که با شیده جنگ
✦
بیاراستی چون دلاور پلنگ
“'Furthermore, thou saidst that I arrayed battle against Shideh like a fierce leopard,'”
#30
از آن بد کز ایران ندیدم سوار
✦
نه اسپ افگنی از در کارزار
“'That was because I saw no Iranian knight or steed-feller worthy of that combat,'”
#31
که تنها بر او به جنگ آمدی
✦
چو رفتی به رزمش درنگ آمدی
“'Who would step out single-handed to fight him, without hesitation or delay.'”
#32
کسی را کجا فر یزدان نبود
✦
وگر اختر نیک خندان نبود
“'If one possessed not the Divine Glory, nor was blessed by a smiling auspicious star,'”
#33
همه خاک بودی به جنگ پشنگ
✦
از ایران بدین سان شدم تیزچنگ
“'He would have turned to dust in battle with Pashang's lineage; hence I became sharp-clawed from Iran.'”
#34
بدین پنج هفته که من روز و شب
✦
همی بآفرین برگشادم دو لب
“'During these five weeks that day and night I opened my lips in prayer and praise,'”
#35
بدان تا جهاندار یزدان پاک
✦
رهاند مرا ز این غم تیره خاک
“'It was so the Holy Lord of the World might deliver me from the grief of this dark earth.'”
#36
شدم سیر ز این لشکر و تاج و تخت
✦
سبک بار گشتیم و بستیم رخت
“'I am weary of this army, crown, and throne; we have lightened our load and packed our baggage.'”
#37
تو ای پیر بیدار دستان سام
✦
مرا دیو گویی که بنهاد دام
“'O vigilant elder, Zal son of Sam, thou sayest a demon has laid a snare for me,'”
#38
به تاری و کژی بگشتم ز راه
✦
روان گشته بی‌مایه و دل تباه
“'And that I have strayed into darkness and crookedness, with a worthless soul and ruined heart.'”
#39
ندانم که بادافره ایزدی
✦
کجا یابم و روزگار بدی
“'I know not where I shall meet divine retribution, or find a day of evil outcome.'”