In time, King Goshtasp set out toward Sistan to propagate the sacred teachings of the Zand and Avesta, intending to make the mobads and sages of that realm witnesses to the new faith. As the sovereign reached the borders of Nimruz, Rostam—the world-seasoned champion and peer of Sam—alongside his venerable father Zal and the chieftains of Zabulistan, rode forth to receive him with great ceremony. They welcomed the king into their lands with homage, learning the precepts of the Zand, donning the sacred girdle, and kindling the sacred fires. For two whole years, Goshtasp remained as their honored guest, feasting in harmony with the son of Zal.
Yet across the realm, a quiet rebellion began to stir. Reports spread that the king had bound his own guiltless hero-son, Esfandiyar, in heavy iron chains before departing for Zabulistan. Discontent flared; provincial rulers renounced their allegiance and broke their covenants with the Crown. Bahman, the noble son of Esfandiyar, along with the princes of Kianian blood and veteran warriors, laid down their arms in sorrow and rode toward the prison-fortress to comfort their bound lord, refusing to abandon him to solitary exile.
News of this rift reached Arjasp, the ruler of Chin and Turan. Spies informed him that Goshtasp, driven by unfounded suspicion, had cast Esfandiyar into prison and retreated to Zabulistan, leaving Balkh guarded only by the elderly Luhrasp, seven hundred fire-worshipping priests, and a handful of palace guards. Sensing that fortune had delivered Iran into his hands, Arjasp summoned the lords of Chegel to prepare for war. To confirm the intelligence, he dispatched a sorcerer named Sutuh—a master of hidden paths and subtle lore—to scout Balkh. Sutuh slipped undetected into the city, verified Goshtasp's absence and the capital's defense, and returned to lay his findings at Arjasp's feet. Overjoyed, Arjasp cast off his long-held grief and ordered his commanders to gather their scattered horsemen from every mountain, desert, and pasture to unleash a devastating assault upon Iran.
#1
برآمد بسی روزگاری بدوی
✦
که خسرو سوی سیستان کرد روی
“A long period of time passed by, until the King set his face toward Sistan.”
#2
که آنجا کند زند و استا روا
✦
کند موبدان را بدانجا گوا
“He went to make the Zand and Avesta prevalent there, and to take the Mobads as witnesses.”
#3
جو آنجا رسید آن گرانمایه شاه
✦
پذیره شدش پهلوان سپاه
“When that noble King arrived there, the champion of the host came forth to welcome him.”
#4
شه نیمروز آنک رستمش نام
✦
سوار جهاندیده همتای سام
“The ruler of Nimruz, whose name was Rostam—a battle-tested knight equal to Sam.”
#5
ابا پیر دستان که بودش پدر
✦
ابا مهتران و گزینان در
“Together with old Dastan who was his father, and with the leaders and elite of the court.”
#6
به شادی پذیره شدندش به راه
✦
ازو شادمان گشت فرخنده شاه
“They welcomed him on the road with joy, and the blessed King was gladdened by them.”
#7
به زاولش بردند مهمان خویش
✦
همه بنده‌وار ایستادند پیش
“They took him to Zabul as their guest, and all stood before him like servants.”
#8
وزو زند و کشتی بیاموختند
✦
ببستند و آذر برافروختند
“From him they learned the Zand and tied the Kusti; they bound the girdle and rekindled the fires.”
#9
برآمد برین میهمانی دو سال
✦
همی خورد گشتاسپ با پور زال
“For two years this hospitality continued, while Goshtasp feasted alongside the son of Zal.”
#10
به هرجا کجا شهریاران بدند
✦
ازان کار گشتاسپ آگه شدند
“Everywhere that rulers held sway, they became aware of Goshtasp's deeds.”
#11
که او مر سر پهلوان را ببست
✦
تن پیل وارش به آهن بخست
“That he had bound the head of his paladin, wounding his elephant-like body with iron chains.”
#12
به زاولستان شد به پیغمبری
✦
که نفرین کند بر بت آزری
“And that he had gone to Zabulistan on a mission of faith, cursing the idol-worshipping idols.”
#13
بگشتند یکسر ز فرمان شاه
✦
بهم برشکستند پیمان شاه
“They all turned away from the king's command and shattered their pacts with him.”
#14
چو آگاهی آمد به بهمن که شاه
✦
ببستست آن شیر را بی‌گناه
“When word reached Bahman that the king had bound that guiltless lion,”
#15
نبرده گزینان اسفندیار
✦
ازانجا برفتند تیماردار
“The chosen warriors of Esfandiyar departed from there full of grief.”
#16
همی داشتند از سپه دست باز
✦
پس اندر گرفتند راه دراز
“They withdrew their hands from the army and took to the long road.”
#17
به پیش گو اسفندیار آمدند
✦
کیان‌زادگان شیروار آمدند
“They came before the hero Esfandiyar; the lion-like princes of Kianian blood arrived.”
#18
پدر را به رامش همی داشتند
✦
به زندانش تنها بنگذاشتند
“They comforted their father and would not leave him alone in prison.”
#19
پس آگاهی آمد به سالار چین
✦
که شاه از گمان اندرآمد به کین
“Then news came to the Lord of Chin that the King, out of suspicion, had moved to vengeance,”
#20
برآشفت خسرو به اسفندیار
✦
به زندان و بندش فرستاد خوار
“The monarch had raged against Esfandiyar and sent him ignominiously into chains and prison.”
#21
خود از بلخ زی زابلستان کشید
✦
بیابان گذارید و سیحون بدید
“And that the King himself had traveled from Balkh to Zabulistan, crossing the desert and seeing the Jaxartes.”
#22
به زاول نشستست مهمان زال
✦
برین روزگاران برآمد دو سال
“He sits in Zabul as the guest of Zal, and two years have elapsed in this fashion.”
#23
به بلخ اندرونست لهراسپ شاه
✦
نماندست از ایرانیان و سپاه
“King Luhrasp remains in Balkh, but no army or Iranian force is left there with him,”
#24
مگر هفتصد مرد آتش پرست
✦
هه پیش آذر برآورده دست
“Save for seven hundred fire-worshippers, all with hands raised before the sacred flame.”
#25
جز ایشان به بلخ اندرون نیست کس
✦
از آهنگ‌داران همینند بس
“Besides these, there is no one in Balkh; of defenders, these are all there are,”
#26
مگر پاسبانان کاخ همای
✦
هلا زود برخیز و چندین مپای
“Save for the guards of the palace of Homay; so rise quickly and delay no longer!”
#27
مهان را همه خواند شاه چگل
✦
ابر جنگ لهراسپشان داد دل
“The King of Chegel summoned all his nobles and heartened them for war against Luhrasp.”
#28
بدانید گفتا که گشتاسپ شاه
✦
سوی نیمروز او سپردست راه
“He said: 'Know that King Goshtasp has taken the road toward Nimruz,'”
#29
به زاول نشستست با لشکرش
✦
سواری نه اندر همه کشورش
“'He sits in Zabul with his army, and not a single rider is left in all his realm.'”
#30
کنونست هنگام کین خواستن
✦
بباید بسیچید و آراستن
“'Now is the time to seek vengeance; we must prepare and set things in order.'”
#31
پسرش آن گرانمایه اسفندیار
✦
به بند گران‌اندرست استوار
“'His son, the noble Esfandiyar, is bound fast in heavy chains.'”
#32
کدامست مردی پژوهنده راز
✦
که پیماید این ژرف راه دراز
“'Who is the man who searches out secrets, that can traverse this long and deep path?'”
#33
نراند به راه ایچ و بی‌ره رود
✦
ز ایران هراسان و آگه رود
“'Who can ride off-road and unnoticed, and bring back news of Iran undetected?'”
#34
یکی جادوی بود نامش ستوه
✦
گذارنده راه و نهفته پژوه
“There was a sorcerer named Sutuh—a traverser of paths and a seeker of hidden things.”
#35
منم گفت آهسته و نامجوی
✦
چه باید ترا هرچ باید بگوی
“He said quietly and ambitiously: 'I am the one! Tell me whatever you require.'”
#36
شه چینش گفتا به ایران خرام
✦
نگهبان آتش ببین تا کدام
“The Shah of Chin told him: 'Hasten to Iran, and see who is guarding the sacred fire.'”
#37
پژوهندهٔ راز پیمود راه
✦
به بلخ گزین شد که بد گاه شاه
“The seeker of secrets traversed the path and arrived in glorious Balkh, the royal seat.”
#38
ندید اندرون شاه گشتاسپ را
✦
پرستنده‌ای دید و لهراسپ را
“Inside he did not see King Goshtasp; he saw only worshippers and Luhrasp.”
#39
بشد همچنان پیش خاقان بگفت
✦
به رخ پیش او بر زمین را برفت
“He returned to the Khaqan and reported, bowing his face low to the earth before him.”
#40
چو ارجاسپ آگاه شد شاد گشت
✦
از اندوه دیرینه آزاد گشت
“When Arjasp learned of this, he rejoiced and was freed from his ancient grief.”
#41
سران را همه خواند و گفتا روید
✦
سپاه پراگنده گرد آورید
“He summoned all his chieftains and said: 'Go, gather the scattered army!'”
#42
برفتند گردان لشکر همه
✦
به کوه و بیابان و جای رمه
“All the warriors of the army went forth into the mountains, deserts, and pastures.”
#43
بدو باز خواندند لشکرش را
✦
گزیده سواران کشورش را
“They recalled his forces back to him—the chosen horsemen of his realm.”