#1
کنون رزم ارجاسپ را نو کنیم
✦
به طبع روان باغ بی خو کنیم
“Now let us renew the story of Arjasp’s war, and with a flowing nature make the garden clear of weeds.”
#2
بفرمود تا کهرم تیغ‌زن
✦
بود پیش سالار آن انجمن
“He commanded Kahram, the swordsman, to stand before the commander of that assembly.”
#3
که ارجاسپ را بود مهتر پسر
✦
به خورشید تابان برآورده سر
“For he was Arjasp’s eldest son, lifting his head high unto the radiant sun.”
#4
بدو گفت بگزین ز لشکر سوار
✦
ز ترکان شایسته مردی هزار
“He said to him, 'Select horsemen from the army, a thousand worthy men from among the Turanians.'”
#5
از ایدر برو تازیان تا به بلخ
✦
که از بلخ شد روز ما تار و تلخ
“'Gallop from here unto Balkh, for from Balkh our days have turned bitter and dark.'”
#6
نگر تا کرا یابی از دشمنان
✦
از آتش پرستان و آهرمنان
“'Take care to see whom you find of the enemies, among the fire-worshippers and adversaries.'”
#7
سرانشان ببر خانهاشان بسوز
✦
بریشان شب آور به رخشنده روز
“'Sever their heads and burn down their homes; bring night upon their shining day.'”
#8
از ایوان گشتاسپ باید که دود
✦
زبانه برآرد به چرخ کبود
“'From Goshtasp's palace smoke must rise, with flaming tongues reaching to the blue skies.'”
#9
اگر بند بر پای اسفندیار
✦
بیابی سرآور برو روزگار
“'If you find Esfandiyar bound in chains, bring his life to a swift end right there.'”
#10
هم‌آنگه سرش را ز تن بازکن
✦
وزین روی گیتی پرآواز کن
“'At that very moment strike his head from his body, and fill the world with this renown.'”
#11
همه شهر ایران به کام تو گشت
✦
تو تیغی و دشمن نیام تو گشت
“'All the realm of Iran shall fall to your desire; you are the blade, and the enemy your sheath.'”
#12
من اکنون ز خلخ به اندک زمان
✦
بیایم دمادم چو باد دمان
“'I shall follow swiftly from Khallukh in a short time, coming continuously like a roaring wind.'”
#13
بخوانم سپاه پراگنده را
✦
برافشانم این گنج آگنده را
“'I will summon the scattered army and pour out this accumulated treasure.'”
#14
بدو گفت کهرم که فرمان کنم
✦
ز فرمان تو رامش جان کنم
“Kahram said to him, 'I obey your command; in fulfilling your order I find the joy of my soul.'”
#15
چو خورشید تیغ از میان برکشید
✦
سپاه شب تیره شد ناپدید
“When the sun drew its blade from the scabbard, the army of dark night vanished away.”
#16
بیاورد کهرم ز توران سپاه
✦
جهان گشت چون روی زنگی سیاه
“Kahram brought forth the army from Turan; the world grew dark as the face of a black Ethiopian.”
#17
چو آمد بران مرز بگشاد دست
✦
کسی را که بد پیش آذرپرست
“When he reached that border he unleashed his hand, against anyone before him who was a fire-worshipper.”
#18
چو ترکان رسیدند نزدیک بلخ
✦
گشاده زبان را به گفتار تلخ
“When the Turanians arrived near Balkh, their tongues were loosed with bitter words.”
#19
ز کهرم چو لهراسپ آگاه شد
✦
غمی گشت و با رنج همراه شد
“When Luhrasp became aware of Kahram, he grew sorrowful and was bound to anguish.”
#20
به یزدان چنین گفت کای کردگار
✦
توی برتر از گردش روزگار
“He spoke thus to God: 'O Creator, You are exalted above the turning of time.'”
#21
توانا و دانا و پاینده‌ای
✦
خداوند خورشید تابنده‌ای
“'All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and Eternal, You are the Lord of the shining sun.'”
#22
نگهدار دین و تن و هوش من
✦
همان نیروی جان وگر توش من
“'Protect my faith, my body, and my mind, as well as the strength and vigor of my soul.'”
#23
که من بنده بر دست ایشان تباه
✦
نگردم توی پشت و فریادخواه
“'Let me not as a servant be ruined at their hands; You are my support and my helper.'”
#24
به بلخ اندرون نامداری نبود
✦
وزان گُرزداران سواری نبود
“Within Balkh there was no famous chieftain, nor any horseman wielding a mace.”
#25
بیامد ز بازار مردی هزار
✦
چنانچون بود از در کارزار
“There came forth a thousand men from the marketplace, such as were unready for battle.”
#26
چو توران سپاه اندر آمد به تنگ
✦
بپوشید لهراسپ خفتان جنگ
“As the army of Turan pressed close, Luhrasp put on the coat of battle armor.”
#27
ز جای پرستش به آوردگاه
✦
بیامد به سر بر کیانی کلاه
“From his place of worship unto the battlefield he came, placing upon his head the Kianian crown.”
#28
به پیری بغرید چون پیل مست
✦
یکی گُرزهٔ گاو پیکر به دست
“In his old age he roared like an enraged elephant, holding an ox-headed mace in his hand.”
#29
به هر حمله‌ای جادوی زان سران
✦
سپردی زمین را به گُرز گران
“At every charge, he flattened those chieftains to the earth with his heavy mace like magic.”
#30
همی گفت هرکس که این نامدار
✦
نباشد جز از گرد اسفندیار
“Everyone was saying, 'This famous warrior can be none other than champion Esfandiyar!'”
#31
به هر سو که باره برانگیختی
✦
همی خاک با خون برآمیختی
“Whichever way he spurred his steed, he mingled the dust of the earth with blood.”
#32
هرانکس که آواز او یافتی
✦
به تنش اندرون زهره بشکافتی
“Whoever heard the roar of his voice had his heart burst within his body.”
#33
به ترکان چنین گفت کهرم که چنگ
✦
میازید با او یکایک به جنگ
“Kahram spoke to the Turanians: 'Do not stretch out your hands to fight him one on one!'”
#34
بکوشید و اندر میانش آورید
✦
خروش هژبر ژیان آورید
“'Strive together and encircle him; bring forth the roar of fierce lions upon him!'”
#35
برآمد چکاچاک زخم تبر
✦
خروش سواران پرخاشخر
“There arose the clashing sound of battle-axes, and the roar of warlike horsemen.”
#36
چو لهراسپ اندر میانه بماند
✦
به بیچارگی نام یزدان بخواند
“As Luhrasp was left trapped in the middle, in helplessness he called upon the name of God.”
#37
ز پیری و از تابش آفتاب
✦
غمی گشت و بخت اندر آمد به خواب
“From old age and the blazing heat of the sun, he grew exhausted, and his fortune fell asleep.”
#38
جهاندیده از تیر ترکان بخست
✦
نگونسار شد مرد یزدان پرست
“The world-experienced elder was wounded by Turanian arrows; upside down fell that God-worshipping man.”
#39
به خاک اندر آمد سر تاجدار
✦
برو انجمن شد فراوان سوار
“His crowned head came down into the dust, and many horsemen gathered around him.”
#40
بکردند چاک آن بر و جوشنش
✦
به شمشیر شد پاره‌پاره تنش
“They tore open his breastplate and body-armor; by the sword his body was cut to pieces.”
#41
همی نوسواریش پنداشتند
✦
چو خود از سر شاه برداشتند
“They had thought him to be a young warrior, until they lifted the helmet from the king's head.”
#42
رخی لعل دیدند و کافور موی
✦
از آهن سیاه آن بهشتیش روی
“They saw a ruby-red face and white camphor hair; that heavenly face emerging from black iron.”
#43
بماندند یکسر ازو در شگفت
✦
که این پیر شمشیر چون برگرفت
“They all remained entirely amazed at him, wondering how this old man had taken up the sword,”
#44
کزین گونه اسفندیار آمدی
✦
سپه را برین دشت کار آمدی
“Thinking, 'If Esfandiyar had come in this manner, our army would have been destroyed upon this plain!'”
#45
بدین اندکی ما چرا آمدیم
✦
همی بی‌گله در چرا آمدیم
“'With so few numbers why did we come here, wandering like a flock without a shepherd?'”
#46
به ترکان چنین گفت کهرم که کار
✦
همین بودمان رنج در کارزار
“Kahram spoke to the Turanians: 'Our labor in battle was indeed for this very prize!'”
#47
که این نامور شاه لهراسپ است
✦
که پورش جهاندار گشتاسپ است
“'For this is the renowned King Luhrasp, whose son is the ruler of the world, Goshtasp!'”
#48
جهاندار با فر یزدان بود
✦
همه کار او رزم و میدان بود
“'The world-ruler possesses the divine glory; all his work is battle and the warring field.'”
#49
جز این نیز کاین خود پرستنده بود
✦
دل از تاج وز تخت برکنده بود
“'Besides, this old man was a devout worshipper, having severed his heart from crown and throne.'”
#50
کنون پشت گشتاسپ زو شد تهی
✦
بپیچد ز دیهیم شاهنشهی
“'Now Goshtasp's back is emptied of his support, and he shall turn away from the imperial diadem.'”
#51
از آنجا به بلخ اندر آمد سپاه
✦
جهان شد ز تاراج و کشتن سیاه
“From there the army entered into Balkh; the world grew dark with pillage and slaughter.”
#52
نهادند سر سوی آتشکده
✦
بران کاخ و ایوان زر آژده
“They set their sights upon the fire temple, upon that palace inlaid with gold.”
#53
همه زند و استش همی سوختند
✦
چه پرمایه‌تر بود برتوختند
“They burned all the Zand and Avesta scriptures, and plundered whatever was most precious.”
#54
از ایرانیان بود هشتاد مرد
✦
زبانشان ز یزدان پر از یاد کرد
“There were eighty men of the Iranians, their tongues full of the remembrance of God.”
#55
همه پیش آتش بکشتندشان
✦
ره بندگی بر نوشتندشان
“They slaughtered them all right before the sacred fire, sealing their path of holy service.”
#56
ز خونشان بمرد آتش زرد هشت
✦
ندانم جزا جایشان جز بهشت
“From their blood the fire of Zarathustra died; I know no reward for them other than Paradise.”