When the dark night fell like malicious Ahriman, the blare of war-horns and the clatter of bells rose from the royal court. Prince Esfandiyar mounted his noble charger, holding a forged Indian blade, his heart ablaze with vengeance. Alongside him rode his valiant sons—Nush-Azhar, Bahman, and Mehr-Nush—guided by Jamasp, the wise minister of Goshtasp. As the warriors rode out from the fortress into the open plains, Esfandiyar turned his eyes toward the heavens and lifted his voice in prayer to the Sovereign Judge of the universe.
With a heart steeped in sorrow for his wounded brother Farshidvard, he swore a solemn vow before God: should he triumph over Arjasp, avenge the murder of King Lohrasp, and claim retribution for his thirty-eight slain brothers whose blood had dyed the desert sands crimson, he would harbor no grudge against his father for his wrongful imprisonment. Instead, he promised to construct a hundred new fire-temples, eradicate tyranny, dig a hundred thousand water wells across the arid waste, build a hundred caravanserais for travelers, turn the lost toward the holy faith, and shatter the dark sorceries of the world.
Turning his steed, Esfandiyar rushed to the side of his dying brother Farshidvard. He found him bathed in blood within his armor. Bitter tears poured from the champion's eyes as he pledged to tear down whoever had wrought this horror, whether lion or leopard. Farshidvard faintly replied that the true origin of their doom lay in Goshtasp's foolish act of fettering Esfandiyar and in the slanderous tongue of Gorazm. Had Esfandiyar been free, the Turanian hordes would never have dared invade Balkh, nor would ancient Lohrasp have fallen. With his final breath, Farshidvard urged his brother to remain a fruitful tree in the world, to remember him with deeds of charity, and then closed his eyes forever.
Overwhelmed by grief, Esfandiyar tore his garments. Having no bricks, mortar, or tools on the battlefield to construct a proper stone tomb, he bound his brother's corpse onto his steed, carried him to a high mountain, wrapped him in his own turban and garments as a shroud, and laid him to rest beneath a shady tree. He then rode to the desolate field where Goshtasp's host had been shattered. He wept over the fallen Iranian heroes until his gaze met the pale corpse of Gorazm the traitor, lying amidst the dirt near his fallen horse.
Esfandiyar stood over Gorazm's corpse and reflected on the ancient proverb: 'A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend.' He declared that Gorazm's deceit had brought ruin upon the realm and condemned his own soul to eternal torment. Drying his tears, Esfandiyar spurred his warhorse toward the deep trench surrounding the Turanian camp. Clearing the wide moat, he charged single-handedly into the eighty-man advance guard of the Turanian army, smiting many with his blade as he forced his way toward King Goshtasp.
#1
چو شب شد چو آهرمن کینه‌خواه
✦
خروش جرس خاست از بارگاه
“When night fell like envious Ahriman, the clamor of bells arose from the royal court.”
#2
بران بارهٔ پهلوی برنشست
✦
یکی تیغ هندی گرفته به دست
“He mounted his noble Pahlavi charger, holding a blade of Indian steel in hand.”
#3
چو نوشاذر و بهمن و مهرنوش
✦
برفتند یکسر پر از جنگ و جوش
“Nush-Azhar, Bahman, and Mehr-Nush set forth together, full of battle zeal.”
#4
ورا راهبر پیش جاماسپ بود
✦
که دستور فرخنده گشتاسپ بود
“Their guide was Jamasp, the blessed minister of King Goshtasp.”
#5
ازان بارهٔ دژ چو بیرون شدند
✦
سواران جنگی به هامون شدند
“When they issued forth from that fortress, the warlike horsemen entered the desert plain.”
#6
سپهبد سوی آسمان کرد روی
✦
چنین گفت کای داور راست‌گوی
“The commander turned his face to heaven and said: 'O Truthful Judge!'”
#7
توی آفریننده و کامگار
✦
فروزندهٔ جان اسفندیار
“'You are the Creator and Sovereign, the illuminator of Esfandiyar's soul.'”
#8
تو دانی که از خون فرشیدورد
✦
دلم گشت پر درد و رخساره زرد
“'You know that because of Farshidvard's blood, my heart is filled with pain and my face has turned pale.'”
#9
گر ایدونک پیروز گردم به جنگ
✦
کنم روی گیتی بر ارجاسپ تنگ
“'If I emerge victorious in battle, I shall narrow the face of the earth for Arjasp.'”
#10
بخواهیم ازو کین لهراسپ شاه
✦
همان کین چندین سر بیگناه
“'We will demand vengeance from him for King Lohrasp, as well as for so many innocent heads.'”
#11
برادر جهان بین من سی و هشت
✦
که از خونشان لعل شد خاک دشت
“'My thirty-eight clear-sighted brothers, whose blood turned the dust of the plain ruby-red.'”
#12
پذیرفتم از داور دادگر
✦
که کینه نگیرم ز بند پدر
“'I have pledged to the Just Judge that I will seek no vengeance for my father's fetters.'”
#13
به گیتی صد آتشکده نو کنم
✦
جهان از ستمگاره بی‌خو کنم
“'I shall construct a hundred new fire-temples in the world, and cleanse the earth of oppressors.'”
#14
نبیند کسی پای من بر بساط
✦
مگر در بیابان کنم صد رباط
“'No one shall see my feet resting on carpets until I erect a hundred caravanserais in the wilderness.'”
#15
به شاخی که کرگس برو نگذرد
✦
بدو گور و نخچیر پی نسپرد
“'Upon desolate peaks where even vultures do not fly, and wild game leaves no track...'”
#16
کنم چاه آب اندرو صدهزار
✦
توانگر کنم مردم خیش کار
“'I will dig a hundred thousand water wells, and make the working folk prosperous.'”
#17
همه بی‌رهان را بدین آورم
✦
سر جادوان بر زمین آورم
“'I will bring all lost souls to the true Faith, and cast the heads of sorcerers to the ground.'”
#18
بگفت این و برگاشت اسپ نبرد
✦
بیامد به نزدیک فرشیدورد
“He spoke thus, turned his warhorse, and came to Farshidvard's side.”
#19
ورا از بر جامه بر خفته دید
✦
تن خسته در جامه بنهفته دید
“He saw him lying beneath his battle armor, his wounded body hidden inside his garments.”
#20
ز دیده ببارید چندان سرشک
✦
که با درد او آشنا شد پزشک
“Tears poured from his eyes in such measure that even the physician grieved for his pain.”
#21
بدو گفت کای شاه پرخاشجوی
✦
ترا این گزند از که آمد به روی
“He said to him: 'O warlike king, who brought this severe blow upon you?'”
#22
کزو کین تو باز خواهم به جنگ
✦
اگر شیر جنگیست او گر پلنگ
“'For I shall exact your vengeance in battle, be he a fierce lion or a leopard!'”
#23
چنین داد پاسخ که ای پهلوان
✦
ز گشتاسپم من خلیده‌روان
“He answered: 'O champion, my soul is wounded on account of Goshtasp.'”
#24
چو پای ترا او نکردی به بند
✦
ز ترکان بما نامدی این گزند
“'Had he not bound your feet in chains, this harm from the Turks would never have reached us.'”
#25
همان شاه لهراسپ با پیر سر
✦
همه بلخ ازو گشت زیر و زبر
“'Nor would old King Lohrasp have seen all Balkh turned upside down.'”
#26
ز گفت گُرَزم آنچ بر ما رسید
✦
ندیدست هرگز کسی نه شنید
“'What befell us through Gorazm's words—none has ever seen or heard the like.'”
#27
بدرد من اکنون تو خرسند باش
✦
به گیتی درخت برومند باش
“'Be content now with my suffering, and remain a fruitful tree in the world.'”
#28
که من رفتنی‌ام به دیگر سرای
✦
تو باید که باشی همیشه به جای
“'For I am departing to the other realm; you must abide forever in your place.'”
#29
چو رفتم ز گیتی مرا یاددار
✦
به بخشش روان مرا شاددار
“'When I depart this world, remember me, and gladden my soul with acts of charity.'”
#30
تو پدرود باش ای جهان پهلوان
✦
که جاوید بادی و روشن‌روان
“'Farewell, O World Champion! May you live forever with a luminous soul!'”
#31
بگفت این و رخسارگان کرد زرد
✦
شد آن نامور شاه فرشیدورد
“Having said this, his cheeks turned pale, and the renowned Prince Farshidvard passed away.”
#32
بزد دست بر جامه اسفندیار
✦
همه پرنیان بر تنش گشت خار
“Esfandiyar tore his garments in grief; all the fine silk on his body turned into thorns.”
#33
همی گفت کای پاک برتر خدای
✦
به نیکی تو باشی مرا رهنمای
“He kept praying: 'O holy God on High, in goodness be my guide...'”
#34
که پیش آورم کین فرشیدورد
✦
برانگیزم از رود وز کوه گرد
“'That I may exact retribution for Farshidvard, raising dust from rivers and mountains!'”
#35
بریزم ز تن خون ارجاسپ را
✦
شکیبا کنم جان لهراسپ را
“'I will spill the blood of Arjasp, and bring comfort to the soul of Lohrasp!'”
#36
برادرش را مرده بر زین نهاد
✦
دلی پر ز کینه لبی پر ز باد
“He placed his dead brother upon the saddle, his heart filled with hatred and his lips with deep sighs.”
#37
ز هامون بیامد به کوه بلند
✦
برادرش بسته بر اسپ سمند
“From the plains he climbed up to the high mountain, his brother bound upon the bay horse.”
#38
همی گفت کاکنون چه سازم ترا
✦
یکی دخمه چون برفرازم ترا
“He lamented: 'What can I do for you now? How can I erect a tomb like snow for you?'”
#39
نه چیزست با من نه سیم و نه زر
✦
نه خشت و نه آب و نه دیوارگر
“'I have no gold, no silver, no bricks, no water, and no builder with me.'”
#40
به زیر درختی که بد سایه‌دار
✦
نهادش بدان جایگه نامدار
“Beneath a shady tree, the renowned hero laid him down.”
#41
برآهیخت خفتان جنگ از تنش
✦
کفن کرد دستار و پیراهنش
“He stripped his battle armor from his body, and made a shroud of his own turban and shirt.”
#42
وزانجا بیامد بدان جایگاه
✦
کجا شاه گشتاسپ گم کرد راه
“From there he came to the spot where King Goshtasp had lost his way.”
#43
بسی مرد ز ایرانیان کشته دید
✦
شده خاک و ریگ از جهان ناپدید
“He saw many slain Iranians, with earth and sand hidden beneath the corpses.”
#44
همی زار بگریست بر کشتگان
✦
پر از درد دل شد ازان خستگان
“He wept bitterly over the dead, his heart brimming with grief for the wounded.”
#45
به جایی کجا کرده بودند رزم
✦
به چشم آمدش زرد روی گُرَزم
“Where they had waged battle, his eyes fell upon the pale face of Gorazm.”
#46
به نزدیک او اسپش افگنده بود
✦
برو خاک چندی پراگنده بود
“Beside him lay his fallen steed, upon which dust had scattered.”
#47
چنین گفت با کشته اسفندیار
✦
که ای مرد نادان بد روزگار
“Thus spoke Esfandiyar to the slain man: 'O foolish warrior of evil fortune!”
#48
نگه کن که دانای ایران چه گفت
✦
بدانگه که بگشاد راز از نهفت
“Consider what the sage of Iran proclaimed when he unveiled the mystery from secret depths:”
#49
که دشمن که دانا بود به ز دوست
✦
ابا دشمن و دوست دانش نکوست
“'A wise foe is better than a foolish friend; wisdom is commendable in enemy and friend alike.”
#50
براندیشد آنکس که دانا بود
✦
به کاری که بر وی توانا بود
“He who is wise ponders only that which lies within the scope of his power,”
#51
ز چیزی که افتد بران ناتوان
✦
به جستنش رنجه ندارد روان
“And for that which exceeds his capability, he does not torment his soul in pursuit.'”
#52
از ایران همی جای من خواستی
✦
برافگندی اندر جهان کاستی
“'You coveted my realm in Iran, and thereby wrought ruin across the world.”
#53
ببردی ازین پادشاهی فروغ
✦
همی چاره جستی بگفت دروغ
“You stripped the splendor from this kingdom, seeking your ends through deceit and lies.”
#54
بدین رزم خونی که شد ریخته
✦
تو باشی بدان گیتی آویخته
“For all the blood shed in this battle, you shall be bound in torment in the realm to come.'”
#55
وزان دشت گریان سراندر کشید
✦
به انبوه گردان ترکان رسید
“Weeping, he turned his face away from that plain and reached the dense host of Turanian heroes.”
#56
سپه دید بر هفت فرسنگ دشت
✦
کزیشان همی آسمان تیره گشت
“He beheld an army stretching seven leagues across the plain, darkening the very heavens with their presence.”
#57
یکی کنده کرده به گرد اندرون
✦
به پهنای پرتاب تیری فزون
“A moat was dug around their camp, wider than the flight of a shot arrow.”
#58
ز کنده به صد چاره اندر گذشت
✦
عنان را نهاده بران سوی دشت
“With a hundred stratagems he crossed the trench and gave his steed free rein across the plain.”
#59
طلایه ز ترکان چو هشتاد مرد
✦
همی گشت بر گرد دشت نبرد
“A Turanian vanguard of eighty horsemen was patrolling the edges of the battlefield.”
#60
برآهیخت شمشیر و اندر نهاد
✦
همی کرد از رزم گشتاسپ یاد
“He unsheathed his sword and charged into their midmost, recalling the valorous battle of Goshtasp.”
#61
بیفگند زیشان فراوان به راه
✦
وزان جایگه رفت نزدیک شاه
“He struck down a multitude along his path, and from that spot he hastened toward the King.”