#1
دو هفته برآمد برین کارزار
✦
که هزمان همی تیره‌تر گشت کار
“Two full weeks elapsed in this fierce battle, as the conflict grew darker and more dire with every passing moment.”
#2
به پیش اندر آمد نبرده زریر
✦
سمندی بزرگ اندر آورده زیر
“The battle-tested hero Zarir surged to the fore, riding upon a mighty bay charger.”
#3
به لشکرگه دشمن اندر فتاد
✦
چو اندر گیا آتش و تیز باد
“He plunged into the enemy's encampment like a raging fire and a fierce wind sweeping through dry grass.”
#4
همی کشت زیشان همی خوابنید
✦
مر او را نه استاد هرکش بدید
“He cut them down and laid them low, and none who beheld him had the strength to stand against his wrath.”
#5
چو ارجاسپ دانست کان پورشاه
✦
سپه را همی کرد خواهد تباه
“When Arjasp realized that the king's son was bent on laying his army waste,”
#6
بدان لشکر خویش آواز داد
✦
که چونین همی داد خواهید داد
“He raised his voice to his host, crying out, 'Is this how you intend to give battle and yield victory?'”
#7
دو هفته برآمد برین بر درنگ
✦
نبینم همی روی فرجام جنگ
“'Two weeks have been lost in hesitation and delay, yet I see no victorious end to this war!'”
#8
بکردند گردان گشتاسپ شاه
✦
بسی نامداران لشکر تباه
“'The warriors of King Goshtasp have destroyed many noble leaders of my army.'”
#9
کنون اندر آمد میانه زریر
✦
چو گرگ دژآگاه و شیر دلیر
“'Now Zarir has charged into the midst like a sharp-witted wolf and a fierce lion.'”
#10
بکشت او همه پاک مردان من
✦
سرافراز گردان و ترکان من
“'He has slain all my righteous men, my exalted heroes, and my Turanian chieftains.'”
#11
یکی چاره باید سگالیدنا
✦
و گرنه ره ترک مالیدنا
“'A remedy must be devised at once, lest the path of the Turkmans be wiped away entirely!'”
#12
برین گر بماند زمانی چنین
✦
نه ایتاش ماند نه خلخ نه چین
“'If he continues thus for a moment longer, neither Eytash, nor Khallukh, nor China itself shall remain!'”
#13
کدامست مرد از شما نام خواه
✦
که آید پدید از میان سپاه
“'Which man among you is seeker of renown, who will step forward from the ranks of the army?'”
#14
یکی ترگ داری خرامد به پیش
✦
خنیده کند در جهان نام خویش
“'Let a helmeted warrior advance and exalt his name throughout the world!'”
#15
هران کز میان باره انگیزند
✦
بگرداندش پشت و بگریزند
“'Whosoever spurs his charger from the midst to turn Zarir's back and make him flee,'”
#16
من او را دهم دختر خویش را
✦
سپارم بدو لشکر خویش را
“'To him I shall give my own daughter in marriage, and to him I shall entrust my entire host!'”
#17
سپاهش ندادند پاسوخ باز
✦
بترسیده بد لشکر سرفراز
“Yet his army offered no answer; the proud warriors were utterly seized with fear.”
#18
چو شیر اندرافتاد و چون پیل مست
✦
همی کشت زیشان همی کرد پست
“Meanwhile, Zarir charged like a lion and a furious elephant, slaying them and laying them low.”
#19
همی کوفتشان هر سوی زیر پای
✦
سپهدار ایران فرخنده رای
“The auspicious-minded commander of Iran trampled them underfoot on every side.”
#20
چو ارجاسپ دید آن چنان خیره شد
✦
که روز سپیدش شب تیره شد
“When Arjasp saw this, he was so bewildered that his bright day turned into dark night.”
#21
دگر باره گفت ای بزرگان من
✦
تگینان لشکر گزینان من
“Once more he spoke: 'O my nobles, brave warriors, and chosen champions of the army!'”
#22
ببینید خویشان و پیوستگان
✦
ببینید نالیدن خستگان
“'Look upon your kinsmen and allies! Hark to the lamentations of the wounded!'”
#23
ازان زخم آن پهلو آتشی
✦
که سامیش گرزست و تیر آرشی
“'From the blow of that fiery hero, whose mace is like Sam's and whose arrow is like Arash's,'”
#24
که گفتی بسوزد همی لشکرم
✦
کنون برفروزد همی کشورم
“'You would say my army is burning, and now my very kingdom is set ablaze!'”
#25
کدامست مرد از شما چیره دست
✦
که بیرون شود پیش این پیل مست
“'Which among you is mighty enough to step forward against this drunken elephant?'”
#26
هرانکو بدان گردکش یازدا
✦
مر او را ازان باره بندازدا
“'Whosoever reaches out to strike that brave warrior and hurls him down from his charger,'”
#27
چو بخشنده‌ام بیش بسپارمش
✦
کلاه از بر چرخ بگذارمش
“'As a generous king, I shall bestow upon him endless riches and raise his crown above the heavens!'”
#28
همیدون نداد ایچ کس پاسخش
✦
بشد خیره و زرد گشت آن رخش
“Yet still not a single man gave him an answer; he grew stunned and his face turned pale as dust.”
#29
سه بار این سخن را بریشان براند
✦
چو پاسخ نیامدش خامش بماند
“Three times he spoke these words unto them; when no answer came, he fell silent in despair.”
#30
بیامد پس آن بیدرفش سترگ
✦
پلید و بد و جادوی و پیر گرگ
“Then came forward Bidarafsh the mighty—foul, evil, a sorcerer, and an old wolf of war.”
#31
به ارچاسپ گفت ای بلند آفتاب
✦
به زور و به تن همچو افراسیاب
“He said to Arjasp, 'O exalted sun of power, equal in physical strength to Afrasiab himself!'”
#32
به پیش تو آوردم این جان خویش
✦
سپر کردم این جان شیرینت پیش
“'I bring before you my very life; I have made my sweet soul a shield before your command.'”
#33
شوم پیش آن پیل آشفته مست
✦
گر ایدونک یابم بران پیل دست
“'I shall go against that raging, drunken elephant, if perchance I can gain the upper hand over him.'”
#34
به خاک افگنم تنش ای شهریار
✦
مگر بر دهد گردش روزگار
“'I shall throw his body to the dust, O King, peradventure fortune will yield a good harvest.'”
#35
ازو شاد شد شاه و کرد آفرین
✦
بدادش بدو بارهٔ خویش و زین
“The king rejoiced at his words and praised him, bestowing upon him his own horse and saddle.”
#36
بدو داد ژوپین زهرابدار
✦
که از آهنین کوه کردی گذار
“He also gave him a poisoned javelin that could pierce through a mountain of solid iron.”
#37
چو شد جادوی زشت ناباکدار
✦
سوی آن خردمند گرد سوار
“When that ugly, reckless sorcerer set out toward the wise and valiant horseman,”
#38
چو از دور دیدش برآورد خشم
✦
پر از خاک روی و پر از خون دو چشم
“He saw Zarir from afar in fury, his face filled with dust and his eyes filled with blood.”
#39
به دست اندرون گرز چون سام یل
✦
به پیش اندرون کشته چون کوه تل
“In his hand was a mace like Sam the warrior's, and before him were slain bodies piled high like hills.”
#40
نیارست رفتنش بر پیش روی
✦
ز پنهان همی تاخت بر گرد اوی
“He dared not approach Zarir face-to-face; instead, he crept secretly around him from behind.”
#41
بینداخت ژوپین زهرابدار
✦
ز پنهان بران شاهزاده سوار
“He hurled the poisoned javelin from ambush at that royal prince mounted upon his charger.”
#42
گذاره شد از خسروی جوشنش
✦
به خون غرقه شد شهریاری تنش
“The javelin pierced through his royal coat of mail, soaking the prince's body in blood.”
#43
ز باره در افتاد پس شهریار
✦
دریغ آن نکو شاهزاده سوار
“The prince fell heavily from his mount—alas for that noble knight and royal prince!”
#44
فرود آمد آن بیدرفش پلید
✦
سلیحش همه پاک بیرون کشید
“That vile Bidarafsh dismounted and stripped off all of Zarir's weapons and armor.”
#45
سوی شاه چین برد اسپ و کمرش
✦
درفش سیه افسر پرگهرش
“He brought Zarir's charger, belt, Black Banner, and jewel-adorned crown to the King of China.”
#46
سپاهش همه بانگ برداشتند
✦
همی نعره از ابر بگذاشتند
“His entire army raised a mighty shout, sending their thunderous roar echoing beyond the clouds.”
#47
چو گشتاسپ از کوه سر بنگرید
✦
مر او را بدان رزمگه بر ندید
“When Goshtasp looked down from the mountain height, he could no longer behold him upon the battlefield.”
#48
گمانی برم گفت کان گرد ماه
✦
که روشن بدی زو همه رزمگاه
“He said, "I fear that moon-like champion, whose radiant light lit up the whole scene of strife,"”
#49
نبرده برادرم فرخ زریر
✦
که شیر ژیان آوریدی به زیر
“"My warlike brother, the glorious Zarir, who was wont to subdue even ferocious lions,"”
#50
فگندست بر باره از تاختن
✦
بماندند گردان ز انداختن
“"Has been thrown upon his warhorse in the fray, and the warriors have ceased their casting of weapons."”
#51
نیاید همی بانگ شه زادگان
✦
مگر کشته شد شاه آزادگان
“"No call comes from the noble princes—can it be that the king of noble men has been slain?"”
#52
هیونی بتازید تا رزمگاه
✦
به نزدیکی آن درفش سیاه
“"Gallop a swift camel to the scene of combat, straight toward that black banner,"”
#53
ببینید کان شاه من چون شدست
✦
کم از درد او دل پر از خون شدست
“"To see what has become of my noble king, for my heart is filled with blood from anguish for him."”
#54
بدین اندرون بود شاه جهان
✦
که آمد یکی خون ز دیده چکان
“While the king of the world was in these thoughts, a messenger arrived with tears of blood streaming from his eyes.”
#55
به شاه جهان گفت ماه ترا
✦
نگهدار تاج و سپاه ترا
“He said to the ruler of the earth, "Alas for thy moon! Look now to the protection of thy crown and army!"”
#56
جهان پهلوان آن زریر سوار
✦
سواران ترکان بکشتند زار
“"The world's supreme hero, the knightly Zarir—the Turanian horsemen have slain him most piteously!"”
#57
سر جادوان جهان بیدرفش
✦
مر او را بیفگند و برد آن درفش
“"Bidarafsh, chief of the world's sorcerers, struck him down and bore away that royal banner!"”
#58
چو آگاهی کشتن او رسید
✦
به شاه جهانجوی و مرگش بدید
“When the news of his death reached the world-seeking monarch and he saw the reality of his brother's demise,”
#59
همه جامه تا پای بدرید پاک
✦
بران خسروی تاج پاشید خاک
“He rent his robes completely down to his feet, and cast dark dust upon his royal crown.”
#60
همی گفت گشتاسپ کای شهریار
✦
چراغ دلت را بکشتند زار
“Goshtasp cried aloud in grief, "O noble prince, they have cruelly extinguished the lamp of thy heart!"”
#61
ز پس گفت داننده جاماسپ را
✦
چه گویم کنون شاه لهراسپ را
“Then he turned to the wise Jamasp and said, "What can I say now to King Lohrasp?"”
#62
چگونه فرستم فرسته بدر
✦
چه گویم بدان پیر گشته پدر
“"How can I send a messenger to his court? What words can I speak to my aged father?"”
#63
چه گویم چه کردم نگار ترا
✦
که برد آن نبرده سوار ترا
“"What shall I say I did to your precious gem? Who has borne away your warrior rider?"”
#64
دریغ آن گو شاهزاده دریغ
✦
چو تابنده ماه اندرون شد به میغ
“"Alas for that noble prince, alas! Like a radiant moon, he has sunk behind the clouds!"”
#65
بیارید گلگون لهراسپی
✦
نهید از برش زین گشتاسپی
“"Bring forth Lohrasp's rose-red steed (Golgun), and place upon him the saddle of Goshtasp!"”
#66
بیاراست مر جستن کینش را
✦
به ورزیدن دین و آیینش را
“He readied himself to seek vengeance for him, and to uphold the Faith and its sacred holy laws.”
#67
جهاندیده دستور گفتا به پای
✦
به کینه شدن مر ترا نیست رای
“The world-experienced counselor stood up and said, "It is not thy part, O King, to go forth in vengeance!"”
#68
به فرمان دستور دانای راز
✦
فرود آمد از باره بنشست باز
“At the command of the wise, mystery-knowing minister, he dismounted from his charger and sat down once more.”
#69
به لشکر بگفتا کدامست شیر
✦
که باز آورد کین فرخ زریر
“He addressed the host, "Who among you is the lion who will exact vengeance for the blessed Zarir?"”
#70
که پیش افگند باره بر کین اوی
✦
که باز آورد باره و زین اوی
“"Who will spur his steed forward to avenge him, and bring back his warhorse and his saddle?"”
#71
پذیرفتن اندر خدای جهان
✦
پذیرفتن راستان و مهان
“"I swear a solemn oath before the Lord of the World, making a promise such as righteous and noble men keep,"”
#72
که هر کز میانه نهد پیش پای
✦
مر او را دهم دخترم را همای
“"Whosoever among you steps forward, to him I shall give my daughter Homay in marriage."”
#73
نجنبید زیشان کس از جای خویش
✦
ز لشکر نیاورد کس پای پیش
“Yet not a single man among them stirred from his place; none in all that host brought his foot forward.”