When word of the capital's uprising and Fereydun's triumph reached the Dragon King Zahhak, a fiery rage consumed his inner core. Under the veil of dusk, he rallied a formidable host of ferocious divs and dark warriors, surging toward the royal palace to exact vengeance. The demon forces mounted the roofs and breached the outer courts from hidden paths. Yet inside the city, an unquenchable fire of resistance raged; the populace—having endured a millennium of suffering under Zahhak's demonic reign—united as one body with Fereydun's forces. Young and old alike scaled the walls, raining bricks, stone, arrows, and spears down upon the tyrant's ranks like a dark hail. A great cry echoed from the fire temples: 'Even if a wild beast sat upon the throne, it would be far sweeter than this foul dragon!'
Seeing the entire city turned against him, Zahhak sought a desperate stratagem. Donning heavy iron armor from head to foot so none might divine his identity, he gripped a sixty-cubit lasso and crept stealthily onto the high roofs of the palace. Looking down into the inner hall, he beheld the raven-tressed Shahrnaz sitting beside Fereydun, her lips curved in bitter curses against Zahhak while whispering secrets of power to the new sovereign. Jealousy and fury struck Zahhak's brain like a sudden flame; scorning his crown and forgetting his very life, he leaped from the roof, drawing a razor-sharp, water-tempered dagger thirsty for maiden blood.
As his feet touched the stone floor, Fereydun charged forward like a tempest! Raising the mighty ox-headed mace, Fereydun struck with legendary force upon Zahhak's head, shattering his iron helmet into fragments. As the tyrant fell stunned to the floor, Fereydun raised his weapon to deliver the deathblow, but in that very instant, Sarosh, the blessed divine messenger, descended from the heavens. 'Strike him not!' cried Sarosh. 'His appointed time has not yet come! Bind him fast like a rock and bear him away to the narrow gorges between the mountains!'
Fereydun heeded the divine herald. He fashioned an unbreakable lasso from lion's hide, binding Zahhak's arms and waist so tightly that not even a wild elephant could snap the bonds. Ascending the golden throne, Fereydun abolished the tyrant's evil decrees and commanded the laymen and warriors to return to their rightful duties, restoring divine order and prosperity to the realm. The noblemen and citizens prostrated themselves at his threshold, giving praise to his righteousness.
Then, binding Zahhak upon the back of a lean camel, Fereydun led his captive far from the city toward the high ranges. Guided by Sarosh, he reached the volcanic heights of Mount Damavand. High upon its crags, Fereydun selected a pitch-black cavern of fathomless depth. Driving heavy iron spikes through the tyrant's limbs into the granite walls, Fereydun left Zahhak suspended in eternal torment, his heart's blood dripping onto the cold stone, forever purging the world of his evil.
#1
جهاندار ضحاک از آن گفت‌گوی
✦
به جوش آمد و زود بنهاد روی
“Zahhak, ruler of the world, boiled with rage at the news and swiftly set forth.”
#2
چو شب گردش روز پرگار زد
✦
فروزنده را مهره در قار زد
“When night cast its compass over the day, and set the bright sun's piece into pitch-black blackness,”
#3
بفرمود تا برنهادند زین
✦
بر آن بادپایان باریک بین
“He commanded saddles to be strapped upon those keen-sighted, swift steeds.”
#4
بیامد دمان با سپاهی گران
✦
همه نره دیوان جنگاوران
“He arrived furious with a heavy host—all fierce, warlike male demons.”
#5
ز بی‌راه مر کاخ را بام و در
✦
گرفت و به کین اندر آورد سر
“Through secret paths he seized the roof and doors of the palace, his mind set on vengeance.”
#6
سپاه فریدون چو آگه شدند
✦
همه سوی آن راه بی‌ره شدند
“When Fereydun's army became aware, they all surged toward that narrow path.”
#7
ز اسپان جنگی فرو ریختند
✦
در آن جای تنگی برآویختند
“Dismounting from their warhorses, they engaged in fierce combat in that tight space.”
#8
همه بام و در مردم شهر بود
✦
کسی کش ز جنگاوری بهر بود
“Every roof and doorway was filled with townsfolk—anyone who possessed a heart for battle.”
#9
همه در هوای فریدون بدند
✦
که از درد ضحاک پرخون بدند
“They were all in favor of Fereydun, for their hearts bled from the agony caused by Zahhak.”
#10
ز دیوارها خشت وز بام سنگ
✦
به کوی اندرون تیغ و تیر و خدنگ
“Bricks from the walls and stones from the roofs rained down, while swords, arrows, and javelins filled the streets.”
#11
ببارید چون ژاله ز ابر سیاه
✦
پئی را نبد بر زمین جایگاه
“It rained down like hail from a dark cloud, so dense that no foot had a place upon the earth.”
#12
به شهر اندرون هر که برنا بدند
✦
چه پیران که در جنگ دانا بدند
“All the youths in the city, and even the elders skilled in war,”
#13
سوی لشکر آفریدون شدند
✦
ز نیرنگ ضحاک بیرون شدند
“Joined the host of Fereydun, breaking free from the sorcery of Zahhak.”
#14
خروشی برآمد ز آتشکده
✦
که بر تخت اگر شاه باشد دده
“A roar arose from the fire temple: 'Even if a wild beast were seated upon the throne,”
#15
همه پیر و برناش فرمان بریم
✦
یکایک ز گفتار او نگذریم
“'We, old and young, will obey his command and not stray a whit from his word!”
#16
نخواهیم بر گاه ضحاک را
✦
مر آن اژدهادوش ناپاک را
“'We desire no longer Zahhak upon the throne—that impious dragon-shouldered tyrant!'”
#17
سپاهی و شهری به کردار کوه
✦
سراسر به جنگ اندر آمد گروه
“Soldiers and citizens alike, massive as a mountain, entered the conflict in unison.”
#18
از آن شهر روشن یکی تیره گرد
✦
برآمد که خورشید شد لاجورد
“From that bright city a cloud of dark dust arose, such that the bright sun turned lapis blue.”
#19
پس آنگاه ضحاک شد چاره‌جوی
✦
ز لشکر سوی کاخ بنهاد روی
“Then Zahhak sought a remedy; leaving his army, he turned toward the palace.”
#20
به آهن سراسر بپوشید تن
✦
بدان تا نداند کسش ز انجمن
“He covered his body completely in iron so that no one in the assembly might recognize him.”
#21
به چنگ اندرون شست‌یازی کمند
✦
برآمد بر بام کاخ بلند
“Holding a sixty-cubit lasso in his grip, he climbed atop the high palace roof.”
#22
بدید آن سیه نرگس شهرناز
✦
پر از جادویی با فریدون به راز
“There he saw black-eyed Shahrnaz, full of enchantment, sharing secrets with Fereydun.”
#23
دو رخساره روز و دو زلفش چو شب
✦
گشاده به نفرین ضحاک لب
“Her cheeks like bright day and her tresses like night, her lips open in curses upon Zahhak.”
#24
به مغز اندرش آتش رشک خاست
✦
به ایوان کمند اندر افگند راست
“A fire of jealousy flared in his brain; he cast his lasso down into the palace hall.”
#25
نه از تخت یاد و نه جان ارجمند
✦
فرود آمد از بام کاخ بلند
“Mindless of his throne and precious life, he descended from the high palace roof.”
#26
به دست اندرش آبگون دشنه بود
✦
به خون پریچهرگان تشنه بود
“In his hand was a water-tempered dagger, thirsty for the blood of fair-faced maidens.”
#27
ز بالا چو پی بر زمین برنهاد
✦
بیآمد فریدون به کردار باد
“As his feet touched the floor from above, Fereydun swooped down upon him like the wind.”
#28
بر آن گُرزهٔ گاوسر دست برد
✦
بزد بر سرش، ترگ بشکست خرد
“He raised the ox-headed mace and struck him on the head, shattering his helmet into pieces.”
#29
بیآمد سروش خجسته دمان
✦
مزن گفت کاو را نیامد زمان
“Swiftly arrived blessed Sarosh and said: 'Strike not, for his time has not yet come!'”
#30
همیدون شکسته ببندش چو سنگ
✦
ببر تا دو کوه آیدت پیش تنگ
“'Bind him fast like a rock in his broken state, and bear him to the narrow gorge between two mountains.”
#31
به کوه اندرون به بود بند او
✦
نیاید برش خویش و پیوند او
“'Within the mountain is the proper place for his bonds, where neither kin nor bond can reach him.'”
#32
فریدون چو بشنید نآسود دیر
✦
کمندی بیاراست از چرم شیر
“When Fereydun heard this, he delayed no longer; he prepared a lasso of lion's hide.”
#33
به تندی ببستش دو دست و میان
✦
که نگشاید آن بند پیل ژیان
“He bound Zahhak's hands and waist so tightly that even a fierce elephant could not snap those bonds.”
#34
نشست از بر تخت زرین او
✦
بیفگند ناخوب آیین او
“He sat upon Zahhak's golden throne and cast away his evil customs.”
#35
بفرمود کردن به در بر خروش
✦
که هر کس که دارید بیدار هوش
“He commanded a proclamation at the gate: 'O all who possess an awakened mind,”
#36
نباید که باشید با ساز جنگ
✦
نه زین گونه جوید کسی نام و ننگ
“'You must no longer bear the gear of war; none should seek fame and honor in this manner.”
#37
سپاهی نباید که با پیشه‌ور
✦
به یک روی جویند هر دو هنر
“'A soldier and an artisan must not seek the same craft together in one way.”
#38
یکی کارورز و یکی گُرزدار
✦
سزاوار هر کس پدید است کار
“'One is a worker and one a mace-bearer; the task suitable for each is distinct.”
#39
چو این کار آن جوید آن کار این
✦
پرآشوب گردد سراسر زمین
“'If this one seeks that task, and that one seeks this, the entire earth will become filled with turmoil.”
#40
به بند اندر است آن که ناپاک بود
✦
جهان را ز کردار او باک بود
“'The impious one whose deeds terrified the world is now bound in chains.”
#41
شما دیر مانید و خرم بوید
✦
به رامش سوی ورزش خود شوید
“'May you endure long and remain joyous; return in cheer to your own callings.'”
#42
شنیدند یکسر سخنهای شاه
✦
از آن مرد پرهیز با دستگاه
“They all heard the words of the king—that chaste and powerful sovereign.”
#43
وز آن پس همه نامداران شهر
✦
کسی کش بد از تاج وز گنج بهر
“Thereupon, all the notables of the city, whoever possessed a share of crowns and treasures,”
#44
برفتند با رامش و خواسته
✦
همه دل به فرمانش آراسته
“Approached with joy and offerings, their hearts wholly devoted to his command.”
#45
فریدون فرزانه بنواختشان
✦
بر اندازه بر پایگه ساختشان
“The wise Fereydun received them kindly, granting to each a rank according to his station.”
#46
همی پندشان داد و کرد آفرین
✦
همی یاد کرد از جهان‌آفرین
“He imparted counsel to them and offered praise, while reverently invoking the Creator of the World.”
#47
همی گفت کاین جایگاه من است
✦
به نیک اختر بومتان روشن است
“He said, "Though this is my royal seat, your land shines brightly beneath a fortunate star."”
#48
که یزدان پاک از میان گروه
✦
برانگیخت ما را ز البرز کوه
“"For the pure God raised us up from among the people, bringing us forth from Mount Alborz,"”
#49
بدان تا جهان از بد اژدها
✦
به فرمان گُرز من آید رها
“"So that the world might be delivered from the dragon’s evil by the command of my mace."”
#50
چو بخشایش آورد نیکی‌دهش
✦
به نیکی بباید سپردن رهش
“"Since the Bestower of Good has granted His mercy, one must walk His path with righteousness."”
#51
منم کدخدای جهان سر به سر
✦
نشاید نشستن به یک جای بر
“"I am the ruler of the world from end to end; it behoves me not to remain anchored in a single place."”
#52
وگر نه من ایدر همی بودمی
✦
بسی با شما روز پیمودمی
“"Otherwise, I would have tarried here and spent many a day in your company."”
#53
مهان پیش او خاک دادند بوس
✦
ز درگاه برخاست آوای کوس
“The nobles kissed the dust before his feet, as the resonant roar of drums echoed from the palace gate.”
#54
دمادم برون رفت لشکر ز شهر
✦
وز آن شهر نایافته هیچ بهر
“Forthwith the host marched out from the city, having drawn no worldly gain from its riches.”
#55
ببردند ضحاک را بسته خوار
✦
به پشت هیونی برافگنده زار
“They led Zahhak away, bound and humiliated, cast wretchedly upon the back of a riding camel.”
#56
همی راند از این گونه تا شیرخوان
✦
جهان را چو این بشنوی پیر خوان
“Thus he drove him onward unto Shirkhwan—when thou dost hear of this world, call it old and fleeting.”
#57
بسا روزگارا که بر کوه و دشت
✦
گذشته‌ست و بسیار خواهد گذشت
“How many an age has passed over mountain and plain, and how many more shall pass away!”
#58
بر آن گونه ضحاک را بسته سخت
✦
سوی شیرخوان برد بیداربخت
“Bound fast in this manner, the vigilant Fereydun carried Zahhak toward Shirkhwan.”
#59
همی راند او را به کوه اندرون
✦
همی خواست کآرد سرش را نگون
“He led him deep into the mountains, intending to bring his wicked head down in death.”
#60
بیآمد هم آن گه خجسته سروش
✦
به خوبی یکی راز گفتش به گوش
“Thereupon blessed Soroush appeared, softly whispering a divine secret into his ear.”
#61
که این بسته را تا دماوند کوه
✦
ببر همچنان تازیان بی‌گروه
“Saying, "Take this captive unto Mount Damavand, driving him swiftly without a crowd."”
#62
مبر جز کسی را که نگزیردت
✦
به هنگام سختی به بر گیردت
“"Take none with thee save him who is indispensable, who will stand beside thee in times of hardship."”
#63
بیآورد ضحاک را چون نوند
✦
به کوه دماوند کردش به بند
“He brought Zahhak like a swift courser, and bound him fast upon Mount Damavand.”
#64
به کوه اندرون تنگ جایش گزید
✦
نگه کرد غاری بنش ناپدید
“Deep within the mountain he chose a narrow space, discovering a cave whose bottom was lost to sight.”
#65
بیآورد مسمارهای گران
✦
به جایی که مغزش نبود اندران
“He brought heavy iron spikes, driving them in where no brain would be pierced.”
#66
فرو بست دستش بر آن کوه باز
✦
بدان تا بماند به سختی دراز
“He bound his hands upon the mountain wall, so that he might endure long agony.”
#67
ببستش بر آن گونه آویخته
✦
وز او خون دل بر زمین ریخته
“Thus he chained him hanging high, with his heart's blood spilling upon the ground.”
#68
از او نام ضحاک چون خاک شد
✦
جهان از بد او همه پاک شد
“Through him, the name of Zahhak turned to dust, and the world was cleansed of his evil.”
#69
گسسته شد از خویش و پیوند او
✦
بمانده بدان گونه در بند او
“Cut off from his kin and all his ties, he remained trapped forever in those chains.”