When the shadow of war loomed over the realm, a wise and noble lady of King Goshtasp’s court clad herself in Turkish armor and mounted a swift charger. Riding tirelessly day and night, she condensed two days' journey into one, hurrying from Balkh to Sistan to deliver fateful tidings to the King. Upon reaching Goshtasp, she shattered his complacency with news of an unimaginable calamity: the Turanian hordes led by Arjasp had breached Balkh-e Bami, murdered the venerable King Lohrasp before the city gates, and stormed the sacred fire temple of Nush-Azar. There, the blood of the priests extinguished the holy flame, and the King’s beloved daughters, Homay and Beh-Afarid, were dragged into bitter captivity, stripped of their crowns and jewels. Overcome with grief and fury, Goshtasp cast down his crown, abandoned his throne, and dispatched urgent summons across every corner of the kingdom. Warriors clad in iron helmets and bearing heavy maces rallied to his banner. The Iranian host marched from Sistan toward Balkh, where Arjasp spread a Turanian army so vast it covered the plains from sea to sea. Arrayed for titan combat, Farshidvard commanded the Iranian right wing with lion-like ferocity, while the valiant young Bastur held the left, and Goshtasp anchored the center. Opposing them were Kahram the swordsman and Kondor under Arjasp’s command. For three agonizing days and nights, the earth shook beneath horse hooves and iron maces, while arrows rained like storm clouds. Streams of blood stained the battlefield crimson. Farshidvard engaged Kahram in deadly single combat and barely escaped with his life, severely wounded. Catastrophe struck the heart of Iran as thirty-eight of King Goshtasp's noble sons fell slain upon the blood-soaked earth, casting the King's destiny into absolute darkness.
#1
زنی بود گشتاسپ را هوشمند
✦
خردمند وز بد زبانش به بند
“Goshtasp had a wise and intelligent noblewoman, sagacious of mind and guarded in her speech against evil.”
#2
ز آخر چمان باره‌ای برنشست
✦
به کردار ترکان میان را ببست
“She mounted a prancing steed from the stable and girded her loins in the fashion of the Turks.”
#3
از ایران ره سیستان برگرفت
✦
ازان کارها مانده اندر شگفت
“She took the road from Iran toward Sistan, astonished in mind at all that had transpired.”
#4
نخفتی به منزل چو برداشتی
✦
دو روزه به یک روزه بگذاشتی
“She rested not at any lodging; what was a two-day journey she crossed in a single day.”
#5
چنین تا به نزدیک گشتاسپ شد
✦
به آگاهی درد لهراسپ شد
“Thus she rode until she reached Goshtasp, bearing news of Lohrasp's tragic grief.”
#6
بدو گفت چندین چرا ماندی
✦
خود از بلخ بامی چرا راندی
“She said to him: 'Why have you tarried here so long? Why did you depart from radiant Balkh?'”
#7
سپاهی ز ترکان بیامد به بلخ
✦
که شد مردم بلخ را روز تلخ
“'A host of Turks has invaded Balkh, making bitter the days of all its people.'”
#8
همه بلخ پر غارت و کشتن است
✦
از ایدر ترا روی برگشتن است
“'All Balkh is consumed by plunder and slaughter; it is high time for you to turn back!'”
#9
بدو گفت گشتاسپ کین غم چراست
✦
به یک تاختن درد و ماتم چراست
“Goshtasp replied to her: 'Why this grief? Why such pain and mourning over a single raid?'”
#10
چو من با سپاه اندرآیم ز جای
✦
همه کشور چین ندارند پای
“'When I march forth with my host, all the realm of China cannot withstand my stride!'”
#11
چنین پاسخ آورد کاین خود مگوی
✦
که کاری بزرگ آمدستت به روی
“She answered him: 'Speak not thus! For a dire and momentous crisis has befallen you.'”
#12
شهنشاه لهراسپ را پیش بلخ
✦
بکشتند و شد بلخ را روز تلخ
“'They have slain King Lohrasp before the gates of Balkh, and bitter indeed is Balkh's day!'”
#13
همان دختران را ببردند اسیر
✦
چنین کار دشوار آسان مگیر
“'They have carried off your daughters as captives; take not such a grave calamity lightly!'”
#14
اگر نیستی جز شکست همای
✦
خردمند را دل نرفتی ز جای
“'Were it nothing but the humiliation of Homay, a wise man's heart would still break.'”
#15
وز انجا به نوش آذراندر شدند
✦
رد و هیربد را بهم برزدند
“'From there they stormed into Nush-Azar, slaughtering high priests and guardians alike.'”
#16
ز خونشان فروزنده آذر بمرد
✦
چنین کار را خوار نتوان شمرد
“'The radiant fire was extinguished by their blood; such a deed cannot be counted small!'”
#17
دگر دختر شاه به آفرید
✦
که باد هوا هرگز او را ندید
“'And your other daughter, Beh-Afarid, whom even the passing wind had never seen...'”
#18
به خواری ورا زار برداشتند
✦
برو یاره و تاج نگذاشتند
“'They dragged her away in miserable ignominy, leaving her neither crown nor bracelet.'”
#19
چو بشنید گشتاسپ شد پر ز درد
✦
ز مژگان ببارید خوناب زرد
“When Goshtasp heard this, he was consumed with sorrow, and pale blood-stained tears fell from his eyes.”
#20
بزرگان ایرانیان را بخواند
✦
شنیده سخن پیش ایشان براند
“He summoned the noble elders of Iran and recounted before them all that he had heard.”
#21
نویسندهٔ نامه را خواند شاه
✦
بینداخت تاج و بپردخت گاه
“The King called his scribes, cast aside his crown, and vacated his royal throne.”
#22
سواران پراگنده بر هر سوی
✦
فرستاد نامه به هر پهلوی
“He sent riders scattering to every corner, dispatching royal decrees to every region.”
#23
که یک تن سر از گل مشورید پاک
✦
مدارید باک از بلند و مغاک
“Ordering that not a single warrior should wash his head clean of dust, nor fear hill or abyss.”
#24
ببردند نامه به هر کشوری
✦
کجا بود در پادشاهی سری
“They carried the letters to every land where there lived a chieftain or noble lord.”
#25
چو آگاه گشتند یکسر سپاه
✦
برفتند با گرز و رومی کلاه
“When the entire host became aware, they marched forth armed with maces and wearing Roman helmets.”
#26
همه یکسره پیش شاه آمدند
✦
بران نامور بارگاه آمدند
“All assembled before the King, gathering at his renowned royal court.”
#27
چو گشتاسپ دید آن سپه بر درش
✦
سواران جنگاور از کشورش
“When Goshtasp beheld that army at his gate, filled with valiant riders from across his realm...”
#28
درم داد وز سیستان برگرفت
✦
سوی بلخ بامی ره اندر گرفت
“He distributed treasure, marched out of Sistan, and set his course toward radiant Balkh.”
#29
چو بشنید ارجاسپ کامد سپاه
✦
جهاندار گشتاسپ با تاج و گاه
“When Arjasp heard that the army was advancing, led by King Goshtasp with crown and throne...”
#30
ز دریا به دریا سپه گسترید
✦
که جایی کسی روی هامون ندید
“He spread his forces from sea to sea, such that no one could see the face of the plain.”
#31
دو لشکر چو تنگ اندر آمد به گرد
✦
زمین شد سیاه و هوا لاژورد
“As the two armies closed in upon each other, the earth turned dark and the sky azure with dust.”
#32
چو هر دو سپه برکشیدند صف
✦
همه نیزه و تیغ و ژوپین به کف
“As both hosts drew up their battle lines, spears, swords, and javelins were clutched in hand.”
#33
ابر میمنه شاه فرشیدورد
✦
که با شیر درنده جستی نبرد
“Upon the right wing stood Prince Farshidvard, who would do battle even with a fierce lion.”
#34
ابر میسره گرد بستور بود
✦
که شاه و گه رزم چون کوه بود
“Upon the left wing was the hero Bastur, who in battle stood firm as a mountain alongside the King.”
#35
جهاندار گشتاسپ در قلبگاه
✦
همی کرد هر سو به لشکر نگاه
“World-ruler Goshtasp stood in the center, gazing out across all sides of his army.”
#36
وزان روی کندر ابر میمنه
✦
بیامد پس پشت او با بنه
“On the opposing side, Kondor held the right wing, advancing with his baggage train behind him.”
#37
سوی میسره کهرم تیغ‌زن
✦
به قلب اندر ارجاسپ با انجمن
“On their left was Kahram the swordsman, while Arjasp anchored the center with his host.”
#38
برآمد ز هر دو سپه بانگ کوس
✦
زمین آهنین شد هوا آبنوس
“The roar of war drums arose from both forces; the ground turned to iron and the sky to ebony.”
#39
تو گفتی که گردون بپرد همی
✦
زمین از گرانی بدرد همی
“You would say the heavens were flying away, and the earth was rending under heavy weight.”
#40
ز آواز اسپان و زخم تبر
✦
همی کوه خارا برآورد پر
“From the whinnying of horses and the blows of battle-axes, even the hard granite rock took wing.”
#41
همه دشت سر بود بی‌تن به خاک
✦
سر گرزداران همه چاک‌چاک
“The whole plain was covered with severed heads without bodies, the skulls of mace-bearers shattered.”
#42
درفشیدن تیغ و باران تیر
✦
خروش یلان بود با دار و گیر
“The flashing of swords and the rain of arrows mingled with the roars of champions in fierce fray.”
#43
ستاره همی جست راه گریغ
✦
سپه را همی نامدی جان دریغ
“Even the stars sought a path to flee, yet the soldiers spared not their own lives.”
#44
سر نیزه و گرز خم داده بود
✦
همه دشت پر کشته افتاده بود
“Spearheads and maces were bent with force, and the entire plain lay covered with the slain.”
#45
بسی کوفته زیر باره درون
✦
کفن سینهٔ شیر و تابوت خون
“Many were crushed under warhorses; their shroud was the chest of lions, their coffin a pool of blood.”
#46
تن بی‌سران و سر بی‌تنان
✦
سواران چو پیلان کفک افگنان
“Beheaded bodies and severed heads lay strewn, while horsemen charged like furious, foaming elephants.”
#47
پدر را نبد بر پسر جای مهر
✦
همی گشت زین گونه گردان سپهر
“No room remained for a father's love toward his son; in such a cruel fashion did the revolving heavens turn.”
#48
چو بگذشت زین سان سه روز و سه شب
✦
ز بس بانگ اسپان و جنگ و جلب
“When three days and three nights passed in this manner, amidst the endless roar of chargers, combat, and turmoil,”
#49
سراسر چنان گشت آوردگاه
✦
که از جوش خون لعل شد روی ماه
“The entire battlefield became so drenched that from the surges of boiling blood, the face of the moon turned ruby red.”
#50
ابا کهرم تیغ‌زن در نبرد
✦
برآویخت ناگاه فرشیدورد
“Against the sword-wielding Kahram in battle, Farshidvard suddenly engaged in fierce combat.”
#51
ز کهرم مران شاه تن خسته شد
✦
به جان گرچه از دست او رسته شد
“At Kahram's hand, that noble prince was grievously wounded, though he barely managed to escape with his life.”
#52
از ایران سواران پرخاشجوی
✦
چنان خسته بردند از پیش اوی
“The fierce Iranian horsemen carried his wounded body away from Kahram's presence.”
#53
فراوان ز ایرانیان کشته شد
✦
ز خون یلان کشور آغشته شد
“Countless Iranians were slain, and the entire realm was soaked with the blood of valiant champions.”
#54
پسر بود گشتاسپ را سی و هشت
✦
دلیران کوه و سواران دشت
“Goshtasp had thirty-eight sons—valiant heroes of the mountains and horsemen of the plains.”
#55
بکشتند یکسر بران رزمگاه
✦
به یکبارگی تیره شد بخت شاه
“They were all slaughtered upon that battlefield, and in an instant, the fortune of the King was darkened.”