When the thunderous voice of King Goshtasp echoed from the height of the mountain, Prince Esfandiyar, the mighty hero of royal blood, lowered his head in grim resolve. Spear in hand, mounted upon a towering, swift dark charger that bounded like a demon unleashed from chains, he hurled himself into the heart of the enemy host. He fell upon the opposing ranks as a violent gale strikes rose petals, severing heads and trampling warriors; whoever caught sight of his terrifying countenance perished from sheer horror.
Meanwhile, young Bastur, the brave prince and son of the fallen commander Zarir, slipped away from the royal tents toward his father's stable-master. He demanded a fleet, well-rested warhorse, cast a golden saddle upon its back, fitted it with heavy armor, bound a coiled lasso to the saddlebow, and donned his own coat of mail. Spear in hand, he secretly rode forth into the swirling dust of battle to seek his father. Amid the chaos, he encountered a noble champion named Ardashir and inquired where the grand commander had fallen. Ardashir pointed toward the dark banner of the army, warning him that Zarir lay slain nearby.
As Bastur drew close and beheld his father's body upon the barren dust, the radiant world turned black before his eyes. Senses failing and heart shattered, he threw himself down from the saddle onto the ground. Embracing the lifeless body, he wept bitter tears, crying out to his shining moon and the light of his soul, questioning why he who had adorned the realm and led armies was now abandoned upon the cold earth without reaching his heart's desire.
Mounting his steed once more with wailing cries, Bastur galloped back to King Goshtasp. Beholding the youth's tear-streaked face, the King asked what tragedy had unfolded, and Bastur revealed that Zarir lay dead upon the dry soil, his musk-scented beard covered in dust. Upon hearing these words, the King's world collapsed into dark despair. Filled with blinding wrath, Goshtasp demanded his black warhorse and battle armor, swearing to unleash a wave of blood and ignite a fire of vengeance whose smoke would reach the heavens.
Yet the noble chieftains and the wise grand counselor intervened, insisting it was unbefitting for the King of Kings to risk his royal life on the battlefield when an entire army stood ready. The wise minister counseled the King to bestow the warhorse upon young Bastur instead, commissioning the fiery son to ride forth and avenge his noble father's blood.
#1
چو اسفندیار آن گو تهمتن
✦
خداوند اورنگ با سهم و تن
“When Esfandiyar, that mighty brave hero and possessor of majestic power,”
#2
ازان کوه بشنید بانگ پدر
✦
به زاری به پیش اندر افگند سر
“Heard his father's cry echoing from the mountain, he sorrowfully bowed his head.”
#3
خرامیده نیزه به چنگ اندرون
✦
ز پیش پدر سر فگنده نگون
“With spear firmly gripped in hand, he marched forward with head held low before his father.”
#4
یکی دیزه‌ای بر نشسته بلند
✦
بسان یکی دیو جسته ز بند
“Mounted upon a tall dark charger, he charged like a demon unleashed from its bonds.”
#5
بدان لشکر دشمن اندر فتاد
✦
چنان چون در افتد به گلبرگ باد
“He hurled himself into the enemy host, just as a fierce wind falls upon rose petals.”
#6
همی کشت ازیشان و سر می‌برید
✦
ز بیمش همی مرد هرکش بدید
“He slaughtered them and severed heads; whoever saw him perished from sheer terror.”
#7
چو بستور پور زریر سوار
✦
ز خیمه خرامید زی اسپ‌دار
“When Bastur, the young son of Zarir the knight, stepped forth from the tent toward the stable-master,”
#8
یکی اسپ آسودهٔ تیزرو
✦
جهنده یکی بود آگنده خو
“He sought a well-rested, swift steed—a fiery horse full of vigor.”
#9
طلب کرد از اسپ‌دار پدر
✦
نهاد از بر او یکی زین زر
“He requested it from his father's horse-keeper and placed a golden saddle upon its back.”
#10
بیاراست و برگستوران برفگند
✦
به فتراک بر بست پیچان کمند
“He arrayed the steed, cast bards upon it, and bound a coiled lasso to the saddlebow.”
#11
بپوشید جوشن بدو بر نشست
✦
ز پنهان خرامید نیزه به دست
“Donning armor, he mounted the horse and secretly advanced with spear in hand.”
#12
ازین سان خرامید تا رزمگاه
✦
سوی باب کشته بپیمود راه
“Thus he rode unto the battleground, seeking out the path toward his fallen father.”
#13
همی تاخت آن بارهٔ تیزگرد
✦
همی آخت کینه همی کشت مرد
“Spurring his swift steed, he harbored hatred and struck down warriors as he went.”
#14
از آزادگان هرک دیدی به راه
✦
بپرسیدی از نامدار سپاه
“From every noble warrior he met along the way, he inquired of the renowned leader of the army.”
#15
کجا اوفتادست گفتی زریر
✦
پدر آن نبرده سوار دلیر
“'Where has Zarir fallen?' he asked, 'My father, that battle-proven brave knight?'”
#16
یکی مرد بد نام او اردشیر
✦
سواری گرانمایه گردی دلیر
“There was a noble hero named Ardashir, a warrior of great worth and valor.”
#17
بپرسید ازو راه فرزند خرد
✦
سوی بابکش راه بنمود گرد
“The young son asked him the way, and the hero guided him toward his father.”
#18
فگندست گفتا میان سپاه
✦
به نزدیکی آن درفش سیاه
“He said: 'He lies amid the battlefield, near that black banner.'”
#19
برو زود کانجا فتادست اوی
✦
مگر باز بینیش یک بار روی
“'Hasten there, for he lies fallen; perhaps you may behold his face once more.'”
#20
پس آن شاهزاده برانگیخت بور
✦
همی کشت گرد و همی کرد شور
“Then the prince spurred his bay steed, cutting down warriors and causing turmoil.”
#21
بدان تاختن تا بر او رسید
✦
چو او را بدان خاک کشته بدید
“He charged on until he reached him, beholding him slain upon that earth.”
#22
بدیدش مر او را چو نزدیک شد
✦
جهان فروزانش تاریک شد
“When he drew near and saw him, the bright world turned pitch black before his eyes.”
#23
برفتش دل و هوش وز پشت زین
✦
فگند از برش خویشتن بر زمین
“Heart and consciousness departed from him; he threw himself down from the saddle to the ground.”
#24
همی گفت کای ماه تابان من
✦
چراغ دل و دیده و جان من
“He cried: 'O my radiant moon! Light of my heart, my eyes, and my soul!'”
#25
بران رنج و سختی بپروردیم
✦
کنون چون برفتی بکه اسپردیم
“'With such labor and hardship you raised me; now that you are gone, to whom have you entrusted me?'”
#26
ترا تا سپه داد لهراسپ شاه
✦
و گشتاسپ را داد تخت و کلاه
“'Ever since King Luhrasp gave you command of the army, and bestowed throne and crown upon Goshtasp,'”
#27
همی لشکر و کشور آراستی
✦
همی رزم را به آرزو خواستی
“'You adorned the host and the realm, and constantly sought battle with eager longing.'”
#28
کنون کت به گیتی برافروخت نام
✦
شدی کشته و نارسیده به کام
“'Now that your name illuminated the world, you lie slain without reaching your heart's desire.'”
#29
شوم زی برادرت فرخنده شاه
✦
فرود آی گویمش از خوب گاه
“'I shall go to your brother, the blessed King, and tell him to descend from his noble throne,'”
#30
که از تو نه این بد سزاوار اوی
✦
برو کینش از دشمنان بازجوی
“'For this was not the fate he deserved from you; go forth and seek vengeance for him from his foes!'”
#31
زمانی برین سان همی بود دیر
✦
پس آن باره را اندر آورد زیر
“For a long while he wept in this manner, then mounted his steed once more.”
#32
همی رفت با بانگ تا نزد شاه
✦
که بنشسته بود از بر رزمگاه
“He rode weeping and wailing to the King, who sat watching over the field of battle.”
#33
شه خسروان گفت کای جان باب
✦
چرا کردی این دیدگان پر ز آب
“The sovereign of kings said: 'O heart of your father! Why are your eyes filled with tears?'”
#34
کیان زاده گفت ای جهانگیر شاه
✦
نبینی که بابم شد اکنون تباه
“The Kianian prince replied: 'O world-conquering King! Do you not see that my father has perished?'”
#35
پس آنگاه گفت ای جهانگیر شاه
✦
برو کینهٔ باب من بازخواه
“Then he pleaded: 'O world-conquering King! Go forth and demand vengeance for my father!'”
#36
بماندست بابم بران خاک خشک
✦
سیه ریش او پروریده به مشک
“'My father lies upon that dry dust, his black beard—once nourished with musk—now soiled in dust.'”
#37
چواز پور بشنید شاه این سخن
✦
سیاهش ببد روز روشن ز بن
“When the King heard these words from the youth, his bright day turned dark as pitch.”
#38
جهان بر جهانجوی تاریک شد
✦
تن پیل واریش باریک شد
“The world grew dark before the world-seeker, and his massive, elephant-like body withered with grief.”
#39
بیارید گفتا سیاه مرا
✦
نبردی قبا و کلاه مرا
“He commanded: 'Bring forth my black steed, my war tunic, and my battle helmet!'”
#40
که امروز من از پی کین اوی
✦
برانم ازین دشمنان خون به جوی
“'For today, to seek his revenge, I shall cause rivers of blood to flow from these enemies!'”
#41
یکی آتش انگیزم اندر جهان
✦
کزانجا به کیوان رسد دود آن
“'I shall ignite a fire in the world whose smoke shall ascend unto the sphere of Saturn!'”
#42
چو گردان بدیدند کز رزمگاه
✦
ازان تیره آوردگاه سپاه
“When the warriors beheld from the battlefield, amid the dark dust of the arming host,”
#43
که خسرو بسیچید آراستن
✦
همی رفت خواهد به کین خواستن
“That the sovereign was equipping himself and preparing to go forth for vengeance,”
#44
نباشیم گفتند همداستان
✦
که شاهنشه آن کدخدای جهان
“They said: 'We shall not consent that the King of Kings, the master of the world,'”
#45
به رزم اندر آید به کین خواستن
✦
چرا باید این لشکر آراستن
“'Should enter the fray himself to seek vengeance; why then did we assemble this host?'”
#46
گرانمایه دستور گفتش به شاه
✦
نبایدت رفتن بدان رزمگاه
“The noble minister spoke unto the King: 'Thou must not go in person to that battlefield.'”
#47
به بستور ده بارهٔ برنشست
✦
مر او را سوی رزم دشمن فرست
“'Give the warhorse unto Bastur, and send him forth to battle the enemy.'”
#48
که او آورد باز کین پدر
✦
ازان کش تو باز آوری خوب‌تر
“'For he shall exact vengeance for his father far more splendidly than even thou couldst achieve.'”