When the tides of war turned harsh against King Goshtasp, he turned his back upon the battlefield and fled under the shadow of defeat. For two long stages the Turanian host pursued him relentlessly, seeking to capture the grand monarch of Iran. There loomed before him a rugged mountain, lush with grass, possessing a clear spring and a watermill within its folds. Goshtasp knew well the solitary, secret path that wound up its steep cliffs, and led his exhausted army to its heights for shelter.
King Arjasp of Turan arrived with his overwhelming host, yet though he encircled the peak, he could discover no path to ascend. In bitter resolve, the besiegers locked all four sides in a ring of iron and lit roaring blazes along the stone slopes. Trapped on the high heights with no provisions, the Iranian warriors began slaughtering their own steeds for food, their hearts yielding to complete despair. Seeing his army overwhelmed by calamity, King Goshtasp placed his hand upon his head in sorrow and summoned the wise astrologer Jamasp.
Goshtasp demanded to know what the heavens had decreed: 'Tell me all that you behold in the turning of the stars, conceal nothing! Who shall be our savior in this hour of doom?' Jamasp stood before his sovereign and replied: 'O King of justice, if you will heed my words and trust the motion of the spheres, I shall speak only truth. You know that your brave son Esfandiyar suffers unjustly in iron bonds at Gonbadan Fort due to the slanders of evil men. If the King releases him from his chains, he will not leave you trapped upon this mountain peak.'
Overwhelmed with remorse, Goshtasp confessed: 'My heart was already broken with repentance for binding my innocent son at the banquet. If I behold him here upon this battlefield, I shall surrender to him my crown, my throne, and the Kianian realm! But who among us has the courage to go before that noble prince?' Jamasp stepped forward: 'This mission is mine to fulfill.' Goshtasp blessed his vizier and swore before God (Yazdan) that he would hand over all his royal treasures and throne to Esfandiyar if the prince would forgive his father and smite the enemy host.
Jamasp then clad himself in a Tuzi coat, crowned his head with a two-feathered helmet, and bound a Turkic belt around his waist. Mounting a magnificent steed, he descended the uncharted path alone into the pitch-black night. Fluent in the Turkic tongue, he moved through the dense camps of Arjasp's army, answering their challenges in their own dialect without any discovering his identity. Swift as the wind, the lion-hearted sage passed unscathed through the legions of Turan and reached the gates of Gonbadan Fort.
#1
سرانجام گشتاسپ بنمود پشت
✦
بدانگه که شد روزگارش درشت
“At last Goshtasp turned his back in flight, when fortune turned harsh and bitter against him.”
#2
پس اندر دو منزل همی تاختند
✦
مر او را گرفتن همی ساختند
“For two stages the enemy pursued him relentlessly, intent on capturing him alive.”
#3
یکی کوه پیش آمدش پرگیا
✦
بدو اندرون چشمه و آسیا
“A mountain appeared before him, lush with grass, possessing a clear spring and a watermill.”
#4
که بر گرد آن کوه یک راه بود
✦
وزان راه گشتاسپ آگاه بود
“Around that steep mountain lay only a single path, with which Goshtasp was well acquainted.”
#5
جهاندار گشتاسپ و یکسر سپاه
✦
سوی کوه رفتند ز آوردگاه
“World-ruler Goshtasp and his entire army withdrew from the battlefield toward that mountain refuge.”
#6
چو ارجاسپ با لشکر آنجا رسید
✦
بگردید و بر کوه راهی ندید
“When Arjasp arrived there with his host, he searched all around but could find no path up the mountain.”
#7
گرفتند گرداندرش چار سوی
✦
چو بیچاره شد شاه آزاده‌خوی
“They surrounded all four sides of the peak when the noble-hearted king was brought to helplessness.”
#8
ازان کوهسار آتش افروختند
✦
بدان خاره بر خار می‌سوختند
“The besiegers ignited fires all along the slopes, burning thorns and stone against stone.”
#9
همی کشت هر مهتری بارگی
✦
نهادند دلها به بیچارگی
“Every leader was forced to slaughter his mount, as despair filled all their hearts.”
#10
چو لشکر چنان گردشان برگرفت
✦
کی خوش منش دست بر سر گرفت
“When the enemy army enveloped them so tightly, the once-joyous monarch placed his hand upon his head in grief.”
#11
جهاندیده جاماسپ را پیش خواند
✦
ز اختر فراوان سخنها براند
“He summoned the world-experienced Jamasp to his presence and spoke at length regarding the stars.”
#12
بدو گفت کز گردش آسمان
✦
بگوی آنچ دانی و پنهان ممان
“He said to him, 'Reveal all that you know from the turning of the heavens, and conceal nothing.'”
#13
که باشد بدین بد مرا دستگیر
✦
ببایدت گفتن همه ناگزیر
“'Who shall be my savior in this dire calamity? You must tell me all without fail.'”
#14
چو بشنید جاماسپ بر پای خاست
✦
بدو گفت کای خسرو داد و راست
“Hearing this, Jamasp stood erect and said, 'O King of justice and truth!'”
#15
اگر شاه گفتار من بشنود
✦
بدین گردش اختران بگرود
“'If the King will listen to my words and place his faith in the movement of the stars,'”
#16
بگویم بدو هرچ دانم درست
✦
ز من راستی جوی شاها نخست
“'I shall tell him all that I know with truthfulness; seek only honesty from me first, O King.'”
#17
بدو گفت شاه آنچ دانی بگوی
✦
که هم راست گویی و هم راه‌جوی
“The king replied, 'Tell whatever you know, for you ever speak truth and guide the way.'”
#18
بدو گفت جاماسپ کای شهریار
✦
سخن بشنو از من یکی هوشیار
“Jamasp answered him, 'O Sovereign, listen attentively to a wise word from me.'”
#19
تو دانی که فرزندت اسفندیار
✦
همی بند ساید به بد روزگار
“'You know well that your son Esfandiyar lies in heavy chains, suffering a cruel fate.'”
#20
اگر شاه بگشاید او را ز بند
✦
نماند برین کوهسار بلند
“'If the King will but release him from his bonds, he will not leave you trapped upon this lofty mountain peak.'”
#21
بدو گفت گشتاسپ کای راست‌گوی
✦
بجز راستی نیست ایچ آرزوی
“Goshtasp said to him, 'O truthful speaker, I desire nothing now except the absolute truth.'”
#22
به جاماسپ گفت ای خردمند مرد
✦
مرا بود ازان کار دل پر ز درد
“He said to Jamasp, 'O wise man, my heart was already filled with grief over that deed.'”
#23
که اورا ببستم بران بزمگاه
✦
به گفتار بدخواه و او بیگناه
“'That I bound him at the banquet place, listening to the words of a slanderer, though he was innocent.'”
#24
همانگاه من زان پشیمان شدم
✦
دلم خسته بد سوی درمان شدم
“'At that very hour I repented of it; my heart was wounded, and I sought a remedy.'”
#25
گر او را ببینم برین رزمگاه
✦
بدو بخشم این تاج و تخت و کلاه
“'If I behold him upon this battlefield, I will bestow upon him this crown, throne, and royal cap.'”
#26
که یارد شدن پیش آن ارجمند
✦
رهاند مران بیگنه را ز بند
“'Who dares go before that noble prince and deliver that innocent man from his chains?'”
#27
بدو گفت جاماسپ کای شهریار
✦
منم رفتنی کاین سخن نیست خوار
“Jamasp said to him, 'O Sovereign, it is I who shall go, for this mission is not to be disdained.'”
#28
به جاماسپ شاه جهاندار گفت
✦
که با تو همیشه خرد باد جفت
“The world-ruler king said to Jamasp, 'May wisdom ever be your close companion!'”
#29
برو وز منش ده فراوان درود
✦
شب تیره ناگاه بگذر ز رود
“'Go and bring him abundant greetings from me, and cross the river suddenly under cover of dark night.'”
#30
بگویش که آنکس که بیداد کرد
✦
بشد زین جهان با دلی پر ز درد
“'Tell him: He who acted unjustly has departed from this world with a heart laden with pain.'”
#31
اگر من برفتم بگفت کسی
✦
که بهره نبودش ز دانش بسی
“'If I strayed, listening to the words of one who possessed little wisdom,'”
#32
چو بیداد کردم بسیچم همی
✦
وزان کردهٔ خویش پیچم همی
“'Now that I have committed injustice, I am preparing my defense and writhing in remorse over my action.'”
#33
کنون گر بیایی دل از کینه پاک
✦
سر دشمنان اندر آری به خاک
“'Now if you come with a heart cleansed of malice, you shall bring down the heads of our enemies to the dust.'”
#34
وگرنه شد این پادشاهی و تخت
✦
ز بن برکنند این کیانی درخت
“'Otherwise, this kingdom and throne are lost, and they shall uproot this Kianian tree entirely.'”
#35
چو آیی سپارم ترا تاج و گنج
✦
ز چیزی که من گرد کردم به رنج
“'When you arrive, I shall hand over to you the crown and the treasure—all that I gathered through hardship.'”
#36
بدین گفته یزدان گوای منست
✦
چو جاماسپ کو رهنمای منست
“'To these words God is my witness, as is Jamasp, who is my guiding mentor.'”
#37
بپوشید جاماسپ توزی قبای
✦
فرود آمد از کوه بی‌رهنمای
“Jamasp donned a Tuzi-style coat and descended the mountain without any guide.”
#38
به سر بر نهاده کلاه دو پر
✦
برآیین ترکان ببسته کمر
“Upon his head he placed a two-feathered cap, and bound his belt around his waist after the custom of the Turks.”
#39
یکی اسپ ترکی بیاورد پیش
✦
ابر اسپ آلت ز اندازه بیش
“He brought forward a fine Turkic horse, equipping it with abundant trappings beyond measure.”
#40
نشست از بر باره و آمد به زیر
✦
که بد مرد شایسته بر سان شیر
“He mounted the steed and came down below, for he was a worthy and brave man, like unto a lion.”
#41
هرانکس که او را بدیدی به راه
✦
بپرسیدی او را ز توران سپاه
“Whomever he encountered along the way, he would inquire about the Turanian host.”
#42
به آواز ترکی سخن راندی
✦
بگفتی بدان کس که او خواندی
“He spoke fluently in the Turkic tongue, addressing whoever called out to him.”
#43
ندانستی او را کسی حال و کار
✦
بگفتی به ترکی سخن هوشیار
“None realized his true identity or business, for he spoke Turkic with shrewd skill.”
#44
همی راند باره به کردار باد
✦
چنین تا بیامد بر شاه زاد
“He rode his steed like the swift wind until he drew near to the prince.”
#45
خرد یافته چون بیامد به دشت
✦
شب تیره از لشکر اندر گذشت
“Having found wisdom, as he reached the plain, he slipped past the enemy host in the dark night.”
#46
چو آمد به نزد دژ گنبدان
✦
رهانید خود را ز دست بدان
“When he arrived before Gonbadan Fort, he delivered himself safely from the hands of the evil ones.”