#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.”