Driven by a burning desire to avenge Zarer, the noble Esfandiyar saddled his golden steed and rode swiftly to the battlefront. There, he divided the Kianian host into three grand divisions: one wing he entrusted to the valiant youth Bastur, another to his hero brother Farshavard alongside the chieftains of Iran, and the third wing he reserved under his own roaring command, thundering like a dark storm cloud. Bastur and the sword-wielding Farshavard stood resolute before Esfandiyar, swearing a binding oath that even if the enemy's blades cleaved the earth, not a single warrior would turn back from the fray. With tightened girths and clad in gleaming armor, the Iranian champions charged in unison. The slaughter was immense; blood overflowed over hills and plains in torrents vast enough to turn watermills. When King Arjasp saw Esfandiyar thrusting his heavy lance through the bosoms of his elite champions of Yabghu descent, he realized no power on earth could withstand the prince's wrath. As twilight fell and his lines shattered, Arjasp turned his face toward the desert and fled in terror. The Iranians gave immediate chase to the retreating Chinese forces, putting countless enemies to the sword without mercy.
#1
چو بازآورید آن گرانمایه کین
✦
بر اسپ زریری برافگند زین
“When that noble hero sought to exact his vengeance, he threw his saddle upon his golden steed.”
#2
خرامید تازان به آوردگاه
✦
به سه بهره کرد آن کیانی سپاه
“He rode galloping toward the battlefield, and divided that Kianian army into three parts.”
#3
ازان سه یکی را به بستور داد
✦
دگر آن سپهدار فرخ‌نژاد
“He gave one part to Bastur, and that noble-born commander accepted it.”
#4
دگر بهره را بر برادر سپرد
✦
بزرگان ایران و مردان گرد
“The second part he entrusted to his brother, alongside the grandees and mighty warriors of Iran.”
#5
سیم بهره را سوی خود بازداشت
✦
که چون ابر غرنده آواز داشت
“The third part he reserved for himself, roaring like a thunderous storm cloud.”
#6
چو بستور فرخنده و پاک تن
✦
دگر فرش آورد شمشیر زن
“When the blessed and pure-bodied Bastur, alongside Farshavard the sword-wielding hero,”
#7
بهم ایستادند از پیش اوی
✦
که لشکر شکستن بدی کیش اوی
“Stood together before him whose custom was to shatter enemy hosts,”
#8
همیدون ببستند پیمان برین
✦
که گر تیغ دشمن بدرد زمین
“They forged a solemn pact: 'Even if the enemy's blade cleaves open the very earth,”
#9
نگردیم یک تن ازین جنگ باز
✦
نداریم زین بدکنان چنگ باز
“Not one of us shall turn back from this battle, nor stay our hands from these evil-doers.'”
#10
بر اسپان بکردند تنگ استوار
✦
برفتند یکدل سوی کارزار
“They tightened the girths of their steeds and rode toward the battle with single-hearted resolve.”
#11
چو ایشان فگندند اسپ از میان
✦
گوان و جوانان ایرانیان
“As those Iranian heroes and youths urged their steeds into the thick of battle,”
#12
همه یکسر از جای برخاستند
✦
جهان را به جوشن بیاراستند
“They all rose up in unison and adorned the world with their coat of mail.”
#13
ازیشان بکشتند چندان سپاه
✦
کزان تنگ شد جای آوردگاه
“They slaughtered so vast a host of the enemy that the wide battlefield grew cramped.”
#14
چنان خون همی رفت بر کوه و دشت
✦
کزان آسیاها به خون بربگشت
“So much blood ran over mountain and plain that watermills could be driven by the crimson flow.”
#15
چو ارجاسپ آن دید کامدش پیش
✦
ابا نامداران و مردان خویش
“When Arjasp saw what was unfolding before him among his nobles and men,”
#16
گو گردکش نیزه اندر نهاد
✦
بران گردگیران یبغو نژاد
“And how that champion hero (Esfandiyar) leveled his lance against those brave warriors of Yabghu lineage,”
#17
همی دوختشان سینه‌ها باز پشت
✦
چنان تا همه سرکشان را بکشت
“Piercing their chests straight through to their backs, until he slew all the chief leaders,”
#18
چو دانست خاقان که ماندند بس
✦
نیارد شدن پیش او هیچ‌کس
“The Khaqan realized that few were left, and no one dared to stand before him.”
#19
سپه جنب جنبان شد و کار گشت
✦
همی بود تا روز اندر گذشت
“The enemy host wavered and broke, and so it remained until the day drew to a close.”
#20
همانگاه اندر گریغ اوفتاد
✦
بشد رویش اندر بیابان نهاد
“At that moment he fell into flight, turning his face toward the open desert.”
#21
پس اندر نهادند ایرانیان
✦
بدان بی‌مره لشکر چینیان
“Thereupon the Iranians pursued that countless army of China.”
#22
بکشتند زیشان به هر سو بسی
✦
نبخشودشان ای شگفتی کسی
“They slaughtered them everywhere, and wondrously, no one showed them any mercy.”