#1
سخن چون بسر برد شاه زمین
✦
سیه پیل را خواند و کرد آفرین
“When the King of the Earth concluded his speech, he summoned the envoys and bestowed his final word upon them.”
#2
سپردش بدو گفت بردارشان
✦
از ایران به آن مرز بگذارشان
“He delivered the letter unto them, saying, 'Take these writings and pass from Iran into your own borders.'”
#3
فرستادگان سپهدار چین
✦
ز پیش جهانجوی شاه زمین
“The emissaries of the commander of China set out from before the world-conquering King of the Earth.”
#4
برفتند هر دو شده خاکسار
✦
جهاندارشان رانده و کرده خوار
“They departed both humbled and abased, driven away and held in utter scorn by the monarch.”
#5
از ایران فرخ به خلخ شدند
✦
ولیکن به خلخ نه فرخ شدند
“From glorious Iran they journeyed toward Khallukh, yet to Khallukh they returned without glory.”
#6
چو از دور دیدند ایوان شاه
✦
زده بر سر او درفش سیاه
“When from afar they beheld the palace of their king, over which fluttered a black banner,”
#7
فرود آمدند از چمنده ستور
✦
شکسته دل و چشمها گشته کور
“They dismounted from their prancing steeds, broken of heart and blinded with tears.”
#8
پیاده برفتند تا پیش اوی
✦
سیه‌شان شده جامه و زرد روی
“On foot they walked until they came before him, clad in black garments and with pale faces.”
#9
بدادندش آن نامهٔ شهریار
✦
سرآهنگ مردان نیزه گزار
“They presented to him the epistle of the sovereign, the leader of spear-bearing warriors.”
#10
دبیرش مران نامه را برگشاد
✦
بخواندش بران شاه جادو نژاد
“His scribe unrolled the scroll and read it aloud before that king of sorcerer lineage.”
#11
نوشته دران نامهٔ شهریار
✦
ز گردان و مردان نیزه گزار
“In that imperial letter was written the response of brave warriors and spearmen,”
#12
پس شاه لهراسپ گشتاسپ شاه
✦
نگهبان گیتی سزاوار گاه
“'From King Goshtasp, son of King Lohrasp, guardian of the world and worthy of the throne,”
#13
فرسته فرستاد زی او خدای
✦
همه مهتران پیش او بر به پای
“Unto whom God hath sent a divine messenger, and before whom all nobles stand in allegiance,”
#14
زی ارجاسپ ترک آن پلید سترگ
✦
کجا پیکرش پیکر پیر گرگ
“Unto Arjasp the Turk, that gross evil creature whose form is like that of an old wolf,”
#15
زده سر ز آیین و دین بهی
✦
گزینه ره کوری و ابلهی
“Who hath turned his head away from truth and the Good Religion, choosing the path of blindness and folly.”
#16
رسید آن نوشته فرومایه‌وار
✦
که بنوشته بودی سوی شهریار
“That wretched letter which thou didst write to this sovereign hath duly arrived.”
#17
شنیدیم و دید آن سخنها کجا
✦
نبودی تو مر گفتنش را سزا
“We have heard and seen those words, whereof thou wert by no means worthy to speak,”
#18
نه پوشیدنی و نه بنمودنی
✦
نه افگندنی و نه پیسودنی
“Words unfit to be veiled or displayed, unfit to be cast down or touched.”
#19
چنان گفته بودی که من تا دو ماه
✦
سوی کشور خرم آرم سپاه
“Thou didst state that within two months thou wouldst bring an army unto this prosperous land;”
#20
نه دو ماه باید ز تو نی چهار
✦
کجا من بیایم چو شیر شکار
“There is no need for two months nor four, for I myself shall march like a hunting lion!”
#21
تو بر خویشتن بر میفزای رنج
✦
که ما بر گشادیم درهای گنج
“Do not add further toil unto thyself, for we have flung open the doors of our treasuries.”
#22
بیارم ز گردان هزاران هزار
✦
همه کار دیده همه نیزه‌دار
“I shall bring thousands upon thousands of heroes, all battle-tested, all bearing spears,”
#23
همه ایرجی زاده و پهلوی
✦
نه افراسیابی و نه یبغوی
“All descended from Iraj and of noble Pahlavi blood, none of Afrasiab's line nor of the Yabghu,”
#24
همه شاه چهر و همه ماه روی
✦
همه سرو بالا همه راست‌گوی
“All with kingly countenances, radiant as the moon, tall as cypresses, and speakers of truth,”
#25
همه از در پادشاهی و گاه
✦
همه از در گنج و گاه و کلاه
“All worthy of kingship and the high throne, worthy of treasures, thrones, and crowns,”
#26
جهانشان بفرسوده با رنج و ناز
✦
همه شیرگیر و همه سرفراز
“Whose lives have been tempered in struggle and honor, all lion-catchers and exalted chiefs,”
#27
همه نیزه‌داران شمشیر زن
✦
همه باره‌انگیز و لشکر شکن
“All spearmen and wielders of swords, spurring their steeds and breaking enemy hosts.”
#28
چو دانند کم کوس بر پیل بست
✦
سم اسپ ایشان کند کوه پست
“When they know that my war-drums are bound upon the elephant, the hooves of their horses flatten mountains.”
#29
ازیشان دو گرد گزیده سوار
✦
زریر سپهدار و اسفندیار
“Among them are two elite champions: Zarir the Commander and the mighty Esfandiyar.”
#30
چو ایشان بپوشند ز آهن قبای
✦
به خورشید و ماه اندرآرند پای
“When they don their iron mail, their feet reach unto the sun and the moon.”
#31
چو بر گردن آرند رخشنده گرز
✦
همی تابد از گرزشان فر و برز
“When they raise their shining maces upon their shoulders, glory and grandeur radiate from their weapons.”
#32
چو ایشان بباشند پیش سپاه
✦
ترا کرد باید بدیشان نگاه
“When they stand before the army, thou must needs gaze upon them with awe.”
#33
به خورشید مانند با تاج و تخت
✦
همی تابد از نیزه‌شان فر و بخت
“They are like the sun with crown and throne, and divine luck and glory shine from their spears.”
#34
چنینم گوانند و اسپهبدان
✦
گزین و پسندیدهٔ موبدان
“Such are my heroes and commanders, chosen and approved by the mobads.'”
#35
تو سیحون مینبار و جیحون به مشک
✦
که ما را چه جیحون چه سیحون چه خشک
“'Do not sprinkle the Jaxartes and Oxus with musk, for to us dry land and rivers are one and the same!”
#36
چنان بردوانند باره بر آب
✦
که تاری شود چشمهٔ آفتاب
“They shall ride their steeds over the waters so swiftly that the fountain of the sun shall grow dark.”
#37
به روز نبرد ار بخواهد خدای
✦
به رزم اندر آرم سرت زیر پای
“On the day of battle, if God so willeth, I shall bring thy head beneath my feet in combat!'”
#38
چو سالار پیکند نامه بخواند
✦
فرود آمد از گاه و خیره بماند
“When the ruler of Paykand read the letter, he descended from his throne and remained bewildered.”
#39
سپهبدش را گفت فردا پگاه
✦
بخوان از همه پادشاهی سپاه
“He spoke unto his commander: 'Tomorrow at dawn, summon the host from across all the kingdom.'”
#40
تگینان لشکرش ترکان چین
✦
برفتند هر سو به توران زمین
“The leaders of his army, the Turks of China, rode forth to every corner of Turan.”
#41
بدو باز خواندند لشکرش را
✦
سر مرزداران کشورش را
“They gathered his vast army back to him, along with the warlords of his borders.”
#42
برادر بد او را دو آهرمنان
✦
یکی کهرم و دیگری اندمان
“He had two brothers who were like demons, one named Kahram and the other Andaman.”
#43
بفرمودشان تا نبرده سوار
✦
گزیدند گردان لشکر هزار
“He commanded them to select thousands of battle-hardened, warlike champions.”
#44
بدادندشان کوس و پیل و درفش
✦
بیاراسته زرد و سرخ و بنفش
“They gave them war-drums, elephants, and banners adorned in yellow, red, and violet.”
#45
بدیشان ببخشید سیصد هزار
✦
گوان گزیده نبرده سوار
“He assigned unto them three hundred thousand chosen, combat-tested warriors.”
#46
در گنج بگشاد و روزی بداد
✦
بزد نای رویین بنه بر نهاد
“He unlocked the treasury doors and distributed provisions to the troops; the brass trumpets sounded, and the baggage was bound for march.”
#47
بخواند آن زمان مر برادرش را
✦
بدو داد یک دست لشکرش را
“He then summoned his brother to his side and committed one wing of his army to his command.”
#48
باندیدمان داد دست دگر
✦
خود اندر میان رفت با یک پسر
“To Andidman he entrusted the other wing, while he himself marched in the center alongside one of his sons.”
#49
یکی ترک بد نام او گرگسار
✦
گذشته بروبر بسی روزگار
“There was a Turk named Gorgsar, full of years and seasoned by time.”
#50
سپه را بدو داد اسپهبدی
✦
تو گفتی نداند همی جز بدی
“He granted him supreme command over the host—a man who seemed to know nothing save wickedness.”
#51
چو غارتگری داد بر بیدرفش
✦
بدادش یکی پیل پیکر درفش
“To Bidarafsh he assigned the task of plunder, granting him a banner emblazoned with the image of an elephant.”
#52
یکی بود نامش خشاش دلیر
✦
پذیره نرفتی ورا نره شیر
“There was another valiant warrior named Khashash, whom even a fierce lion would not dare to confront.”
#53
سپه دیده‌بان کردش و پیش رو
✦
کشیدش درفش و بشد پیش گو
“He appointed him the army's scout and vanguard; Khashash unfurled his banner and advanced ahead of the warriors.”
#54
دگر ترک بد نام او هوش دیو
✦
پیامش فرستاد ترکان خدیو
“Yet another Turk was named Hosh-e Div; to him, the Lord of the Turks sent a stern command.”
#55
نگه دار گفتا تو پشت سپاه
✦
گر از ما کسی باز گردد به راه
“"Safeguard the rear of our host," he commanded, "and if anyone among us should turn back on the road,"”
#56
هم آنجا که بینی مر او را بکش
✦
نگر تا بدانجا نجنبدت هش
“"Slay him right on the spot where you catch him, and beware lest your resolve falter for a moment!"”
#57
بران سان همی رفت بایین خشم
✦
پر از خون شده دل پر از آب چشم
“In such wrathful fashion they marched onward, their hearts gorged with malice and their eyes filled with tears.”
#58
همی کرد غارت همی سوخت کاخ
✦
درختان همی کند از بیخ و شاخ
“They plundered every quarter, torched grand palaces, and uprooted trees from branch to root.”
#59
در آورد لشکر به ایران زمین
✦
همه خیره و دل پراگنده کین
“Thus he led his army into the land of Iran, all relentless and their hearts consumed with deep-seated hatred.”