When the Turanian host beheld Arjasp fleeing in panic and saw the swift, scorching blades of the Iranians raining upon them from every quarter, their courage dissolved. The proudest chieftains dismounted from their warhorses, cast their Chachi bows upon the blood-stained earth, and stripped off their mail. In utter wretchedness, they prostrated before the champion Esfandiyar, begging for their lives and swearing to embrace the Good Religion and worship at the sacred fires. Hearing their desperate pleas, Esfandiyar granted them quarter for both body and soul. He cried out to the Iranian host, commanding the noble warriors to sheath their swords, cease the slaughter, bind no more captives, and trample no longer upon the fallen.
Obeying the command of their prince, the Iranian army withdrew from the wounded, returned to their camp, and beat the drums of triumph, celebrating through the dark night a victory worthy of Rostam himself. But as the dark night gave way to dawn, illuminating a desert that had drunk rivers of blood, King Goshtasp rode onto the field of battle alongside his chief captains. The monarch walked among the slain, weeping for every fallen warrior until his eyes rested upon the broken body of his beloved brother Zarir, lying pitilessly upon the trampled earth.
At this heartbreaking sight, King Goshtasp tore his royal garments, leapt down from his horse, and clutched his beard in agony. He wept bitter tears for the lion of Balkh, calling him the pillar of the realm, the light of the world, and the crown of the army. With his own hands, the King wiped the dust and blood from Zarir's face and laid him within a golden coffin. Other noble youths and princes were likewise enshrined in caskets. Then the King ordered a grim census of the battleground: thirty thousand Iranians had fallen, including seven hundred renown lords, while the enemy suffered a loss of one hundred thousand slain—a devastating testament to the terrible cost of the war.
#1
چو ترکان بدیدند کارجاسپ رفت
✦
همی آید از هر سوی تیغ تفت
“When the Turks saw that Arjasp had fled, and that swift blades were raining from every side,”
#2
همه سرکشانشان پیاده شدند
✦
به پیش گو اسفندیار آمدند
“All their proud chieftains dismounted and came before the hero Esfandiyar.”
#3
کمانچای چاچی بینداختند
✦
قبای نبردی برون آختند
“They threw down their bows of Chach and stripped off their battle cloaks.”
#4
به زاریش گفتند گر شهریار
✦
دهد بندگان را به جان زینهار
“In wretched grief they implored: 'If the King grants quarter to his servants' lives,”
#5
بدین اندر آییم و خواهش کنیم
✦
همه آذران را نیایش کنیم
“We will enter into this faith, make supplication, and worship before all sacred fires.'”
#6
ازیشان چو بشنید اسفندیار
✦
به جان و به تن دادشان زینهار
“When Esfandiyar heard these words from them, he granted them quarter for body and soul.”
#7
بران لشگر گشن آواز داد
✦
گو نامبردار فرخ‌نژاد
“He raised his voice to that vast army, the glorious and illustrious hero,”
#8
که این نامداران ایرانیان
✦
بگردید زین لشکر چینیان
“Saying: 'O famous champions of Iran, turn your hand away from this host of China!”
#9
کنون کاین سپاه عدو گشت پست
✦
ازین سهم و کشتن بدارید دست
“Now that the enemy host is brought low, stay your hands from terror and slaughter!”
#10
که بس زاروارند و بیچاره‌وار
✦
دهید این سگان را به جان زینهار
“For they are wretched and helpless; grant quarter to their lives!'”
#11
بدارید دست از گرفتن کنون
✦
مبندید کس را مریزید خون
“'Withhold your hand from taking captives, bind no one, and spill no more blood!”
#12
متازید و این کشتگان مسپرید
✦
بگردید و این خستگان بشمرید
“Do not charge and trample these fallen dead; turn back and tend to the wounded!'”
#13
مگیریدشان بهر جان زریر
✦
بر اسپان جنگی مپایید دیر
“'Slay them not even to avenge Zarir; stay no longer upon your war horses!'”
#14
چو لشکر شنیدند آواز اوی
✦
شدند از بر خستگان بارزوی
“When the army heard his voice, they gladly stepped away from the wounded.”
#15
به لشکرگه خود فرود آمدند
✦
به پیروز گشتن تبیره زدند
“They descended upon their camp and beat drums of victory.”
#16
همه شب نخفتند زان خرمی
✦
که پیروزی بودشان رستمی
“They slept not all night long for joy, for theirs was a victory like Rostam's.”
#17
چو اندر شکست آن شب تیره‌گون
✦
به دشت و بیابان فرو خورد خون
“When that dark night was broken and the plain swallowed the spilt blood,”
#18
کی نامور با سران سپاه
✦
بیامد به دیدار آن رزمگاه
“The renowned King, with the commanders of his host, came to view the battlefield.”
#19
همی گرد آن کشتگان بر بگشت
✦
کرا دید بگریست و اندر گذشت
“He walked around the slain; whomever he saw, he wept for and passed on.”
#20
برادرش را دید کشته به زار
✦
به آوردگاهی برافگنده خوار
“Then he saw his brother wretchedly slain, cast down low upon the field of combat.”
#21
چو او را چنان زار و کشته بدید
✦
همه جامهٔ خسروی بردرید
“When he saw him so wretched and dead, he tore all his royal robes.”
#22
فرود آمد از شولک خوب رنگ
✦
به ریش خود اندر زده هر دو چنگ
“He dismounted from his fine horse, clutching his beard with both hands,”
#23
همی گفت کی شاه گردان بلخ
✦
همه زندگانی ما کرده تلخ
“Saying: 'O king of the heroes of Balkh! You have turned all our lives to bitterness!”
#24
دریغا سوارا شها خسروا
✦
نبرده دلیرا گزیده گوا
“'Alas, O horseman, O king, O monarch! O tested brave hero, O chosen champion!”
#25
ستون منا پردهٔ کشورا
✦
چراغ جهان افسر لشکرا
“'Pillar of my realm, curtain of the kingdom, light of the world, crown of the army!'”
#26
فرود آمد و برگرفتش ز خاک
✦
به دست خودش روی بسترد پاک
“He stooped down and lifted him from the dust, wiping his face clean with his own hand.”
#27
به تابوت زرینش اندر نهاد
✦
تو گفتی زریر از بنه خود نزاد
“He placed him within a golden coffin; you would say Zarir had never been born.”
#28
کیان زادگان و جوانان خویش
✦
به تابوتها در نهادند پیش
“They placed their noble-born and young men into coffins before them.”
#29
بفرمود تا کشتگان بشمرند
✦
کسی را که خسته‌ست بیرون برند
“He ordered the slain to be counted, and those who were wounded to be borne away.”
#30
بگردید بر گرد آن رزمگاه
✦
به کوه و بیابان و بر دشت و راه
“They searched all around that battleground, over mountain, desert, plain, and path.”
#31
از ایرانیان کشته بد سی‌هزار
✦
ازان هفتصد سرکش و نامدار
“Thirty thousand Iranians were dead, among whom were seven hundred illustrious lords.”
#32
هزار و چل از نامور خسته بود
✦
که از پای پیلان به در جسته بود
“One thousand and forty noblemen were wounded, having escaped from under the feet of elephants.”
#33
وزان دیگران کشته بد صد هزار
✦
هزار و صد و شست و سه نامدار
“And of the enemy, one hundred thousand were slain, including eleven hundred and sixty-three chieftains.”
#34
ز خسته بدی سه هزار و دویست
✦
برین جای بر تا توانی مه ایست
“Three thousand two hundred were wounded; linger not in such a place if you can help it!”