Fereydun crossed the threshold of Zahhak’s enchanted palace, where a towering talisman reached toward the heavens. Invoking the holy name of the Sovereign of the World, the young hero brought the sorcerous edifice crashing down. He breached the great hall, where foul sorcerers and formidable demon-warriors were gathered. Raising his ox-headed mace, Fereydun struck them down, shattering their skulls and scattering their lifeless bodies across the stone floors. Striding forward, he mounted the throne of the serpent-king and placed the Kayanian crown upon his brow.
Cleansing the inner chambers, Fereydun ordered the veiled, sun-faced maidens of the royal harem to be brought forth—the dark-haired princesses descended from King Jamshid. He commanded that their heads and bodies be washed with pure water, purging their souls of the dark rites forced upon them by their captors, and set them upon the righteous path of God. For years, held under the spell of demon-worshippers, their minds had hovered in a bewitched haze.
The princesses of Jamshid, tears glistening like dew upon rose petals, addressed Fereydun in wonder: "O youth of blest fortune, what star brought thee hither? From what noble branch hast thou blossomed, that thou stepst so boldly unto the lair of the lion? Throughout all these dark ages, under the cruel folly of this sorcerer, none had the courage or the divine prowess to covet this seat of power!"
Fereydun answered: "Neither fortune nor throne remains forever with any man. I am the son of noble Abtin, whom Zahhak cruelly slew in the land of Iran. I come seeking vengeance for my slain father, and for the holy cow Barmayeh—my loving nurse whose radiant hide shone like precious jewels. For their blood, I have girded my loins for battle and brought my wrath from Iran. With this ox-headed mace, I shall crush the tyrant's head without mercy!"
Upon hearing his words, Princess Arnavaz felt the secret burden lifted from her heart. She exclaimed: "Thou art indeed King Fereydun, fated to shatter Zahhak's spellcraft and destroy his reign! We two pure maidens of the royal line were submitted to his tyranny only out of dread for our lives. He called us his brides and the companions of his serpents. O King, how could any mortal endure such horror?"
Fereydun vowed that if Heaven granted him justice, he would root the dragon out of the earth and cleanse the world of all evil. He then asked where the vile creature had vanished. The maidens revealed that Zahhak had fled toward Hindustan to practice dark magic and slaughter thousands of innocents, hoping to wash away his doomed omen in pools of blood, while ceaselessly tortured by the ravenous black serpents upon his shoulders. Yet, they warned, the hour of his return to the palace was imminent.
#1
طلسمی که ضحاک سازیده بود
✦
سرش به آسمان بر فرازیده بود
“The magic talisman that Zahhak had forged, its head reached high into the heavens.”
#2
فریدون ز بالا فرود آورید
✦
که آن جز به نام جهاندار دید
“Fereydun brought it down from on high, seeing that it could be shattered only in the name of the Sovereign of the World.”
#3
و زآن جادوان کاندر ایوان بدند
✦
همه نامور نرّه دیوان بدند
“And as for the sorcerers who were in the hall, all of them renowned and mighty demon-men,”
#4
سرانشان به گُرز گران کرد پست
✦
نشست از بر گاه جادوپرست
“He crushed their heads with his heavy mace, and took his seat upon the throne of the demon-worshipper.”
#5
نهاد از بر تخت ضحاک پای
✦
کلاه کئی جست و بگرفت جای
“He set his foot upon the throne of Zahhak, sought the crown of kingship, and claimed his place.”
#6
برون آورید از شبستان اوی
✦
بتان سیه‌موی و خورشید‌روی
“He brought forth from Zahhak's harem the sun-faced, dark-haired beauties.”
#7
بفرمود شستن سرانشان نخست
✦
روانشان از آن تیرگی‌ها بشست
“He first commanded that their heads be washed, and cleansed their souls from those dark sorceries.”
#8
ره داور پاک بنمودشان
✦
ز آلودگی پس بپالودشان
“He showed them the path of the Holy Judge, and purified them from all contamination.”
#9
که پروردهٔ بت‌پرستان بدند
✦
سرآسیمه بر سان مستان بدند
“For they had been reared among idol-worshippers, bewildered and dazed as though intoxicated.”
#10
پس آن دختران جهاندار جم
✦
به نرگس گل سرخ را داده نم
“Then those daughters of King Jamshid, moistening the roses of their cheeks with tear-dew from their narcissus eyes,”
#11
گشادند بر آفریدون سخن
✦
که تو باش تا هست گیتی کهن
“Opened their lips in speech to Fereydun, saying: 'Mayest thou endure so long as the ancient world endures!”
#12
چه اختر بد این از تو ای نیک‌بخت؟
✦
چه باری؟ ز شاخ کدامین درخت؟
“What star brought thee hither, O blest of fortune? What fruit art thou, and from the branch of which tree?”
#13
که ایدون به بالین شیر آمدی
✦
ستمکاره مرد دلیر آمدی
“That thou hast come thus unto the lair of the lion—a bold hero confronting the oppressor!”
#14
چه مایه جهان گشت بر ما به بد
✦
ز کردار این جادوی بی‌خرد
“How grievously has the world turned to evil for us through the deeds of this foolish sorcerer!”
#15
ندیدیم کس کاین چنین زهره داشت
✦
بدین پایگه از هنر بهره داشت
“Never have we seen anyone possessed of such courage, or blessed with such virtue and prowess at this height,”
#16
کش اندیشهٔ گاه او آمدی
✦
و گرش آرزو جاه او آمدی
“That he should conceive the thought of his throne, or harbor a desire for his high station.'”
#17
چنین داد پاسخ فریدون که تخت
✦
نماند به کس جاودانه نه بخت
“Fereydun thus answered them: 'Neither throne nor fortune remains forever to any man.”
#18
منم پور آن نیک‌بخت آبتین
✦
که بگرفت ضحاک ز ایران زمین
“I am the son of noble Abtin, whom Zahhak seized from the land of Iran,”
#19
بکشتش به زاریّ و من کینه جوی
✦
نهادم سوی تخت ضحاک روی
“And cruelly slew him; and I, seeking vengeance, have turned my face toward Zahhak’s throne.”
#20
همان گاو برمایه که‌م دایه بود
✦
ز پیکر تنش همچو پیرایه بود
“Likewise for the cow Barmayeh who was my nurse, whose body shone like a radiant ornament,”
#21
ز خون چنان بی‌زبان چارپای
✦
چه آمد بر آن مرد ناپاک‌رای
“For spilling the blood of that harmless beast, what doom shall now befall that villainous man!”
#22
کمر بسته‌ام لاجرم جنگجوی
✦
از ایران به کین اندر آورده روی
“Therefore, warlike, I have girded my loins and marched from Iran seeking revenge.”
#23
سرش را بدین گُرزهٔ گاو چهر
✦
بکوبم، نه بخشایش آرم نه مهر
“With this ox-headed mace I shall shatter his head, showing him neither mercy nor compassion!'”
#24
چو بشنید از او این سخن ارنواز
✦
گشاده شدش بر دل پاک راز
“When Arnavaz heard these words from him, the secret burden was lifted from her pure heart.”
#25
بدو گفت شاه آفریدون تویی
✦
که ویران کنی تنبل و جادویی
“She said to him: 'Thou art King Fereydun, destined to destroy deceit and sorcery!”
#26
کجا هوش ضحاک بر دست تست
✦
گشاد جهان بر کمربست تست
“For the death of Zahhak lies in thy hand, and the liberation of the world is bound to thy belt!”
#27
ز تخم کیان ما دو پوشیده پاک
✦
شده رام با او ز بیم هلاک
“We two chaste maidens of the royal line of Kians became submissive to him only from fear of death.”
#28
همی جفتمان خواند او جفت مار
✦
چگونه توان بودن ای شهریار
“He called us his brides and the mates of his serpents; how could any human endure such a fate, O King?'”
#29
فریدون چنین پاسخ آورد باز
✦
که گر چرخ دادم دهد از فراز
“Fereydun gave answer once more: 'If the turning heavens grant me justice from above,”
#30
ببرّم پی اژدها را ز خاک
✦
بشویم جهان را ز ناپاک پاک
“I shall sever the dragon's footprint from the earth, and cleanse the world completely of all evil!”
#31
بباید شما را کنون گفت راست
✦
که آن بی‌بها اژدهافش کجاست
“Now ye must tell me the truth: where has that worthless dragon-like creature gone?'”
#32
بر او خوب‌رویان گشادند راز
✦
مگر کاژدها را سر آید به گاز
“Thereupon the fair maidens revealed the secret to him, hoping that the dragon's head might be brought to the shears.”
#33
بگفتند کاو سوی هندوستان
✦
بشد تا کند بند جادوستان
“They said: 'He hath gone toward Hindustan, to weave sorcerous spells and incantations.”
#34
ببرّد سر بی‌گناهان هزار
✦
هراسان شده‌ست از بد روزگار
“He slaughters the heads of a thousand innocents, for he hath become terrified of evil fate.”
#35
کجا گفته بودش یکی پیشبین
✦
که پردختگی گردد از تو زمین
“For a seer had foretold unto him: "The earth shall be emptied of thy rule!”
#36
که آید که گیرد سر تخت تو
✦
چگونه فرو پژمرد بخت تو
“Who it is that shall come to take thy throne, and how thy fortune shall wither away."”
#37
دلش زآن زده فال پر آتش است
✦
همه زندگانی بر او ناخوش است
“Because of that fiery omen, his heart burns; all life hath become bitter and unpleasant unto him.”
#38
همی خون دام و دد و مرد و زن
✦
بریزد کند در یکی آبدن
“He spills the blood of beasts, wild creatures, men, and women alike, filling a pool therewith,”
#39
مگر کاو سر و تن بشوید به خون
✦
شود فال اخترشناسان نگون
“Hoping to wash his head and body in blood, that the omen of the astrologers might be overturned!”
#40
همان نیز از آن مارها بر دو کفت
✦
به رنج دراز است مانده شگفت
“Likewise, because of those serpents upon his shoulders, he remains in wondrous, endless agony.”
#41
از این کشور آید به دیگر شود
✦
ز رنج دو مار سیه نغنود
“He wanders from one realm to another; he finds no rest from the torment of those two black snakes.”
#42
بیامد کنون گاه بازآمدنش
✦
که جایی نباید فراوان بدنش
“Now the hour of his return has arrived, for he cannot tarry long in any single place.'”
#43
گشاد آن نگار جگر خسته راز
✦
نهاده بدو گوش گردن‌فراز
“Thus that heart-stricken beauty revealed the secret, while the exalted prince listened attentively.”