At the onset of the Third Trial, Prince Esfandiyar summoned the treacherous Gurgsar and plied him with three goblets of ruby wine. Once the captive was merry, Esfandiyar inquired what ordeal lay ahead on the morrow. Gurgsar warned him of a monstrous dragon inhabiting the next stage—a beast whose body was like a mountain of solid flint, breathing blazes of fire and capable of pulling leviathans out of the sea with its breath. Gurgsar urged the prince to turn back and spare his own life and the lives of his host.
Esfandiyar scoffed at the warning, declaring that no monster could escape his blade. He commanded master carpenters to construct a heavy wooden chariot bristling with razor-sharp blades along its frame, topped with a sturdy wooden box. Equipping the carriage with two noble steeds, Esfandiyar tested the invention, locking himself inside the box while driving the horses.
At break of dawn, clad in full mail with a Kabuli dagger at his side, Esfandiyar entrusted the host to his loyal brother Peshotan and drove the bladed chariot toward the beast's lair. Hearing the rumble of wheels, the dark dragon emerged like a storm cloud, roaring and spouting fire. Opening its cavernous jaws, it swallowed both horses and the chariot whole. However, the protruding blades slashed its mouth and throat, pinning its jaws wide open like swords trapped in a sheath.
Seizing the moment, Esfandiyar leapt out from inside the wooden chest and drove his sword deep into the beast's skull, shattering its brain. As the dragon perished, a thick plume of venomous smoke erupted from its carcass, suffocating the prince and rendering him unconscious on the earth. Peshotan and the army rushed forward in dismay. Opening his eyes, Esfandiyar reassured his men that he had suffered no wound save for fainting from toxic fumes. He then washed in nearby waters, donned fresh garments, and bowed his head in humble prayer to Yazdan for his miraculous victory.
#1
بفرمود تا پیش او گرگسار
✦
بیامد بداندیش و بد روزگار
“He commanded that Gurgsar be brought before him—that ill-wishing, ill-fated captive.”
#2
سه جام می لعل فامش بداد
✦
چو آهرمن از جام می گشت شاد
“He gave him three goblets of ruby wine, and like Ahriman, the captive grew merry from the wine.”
#3
بدو گفت کای مرد بدبخت خوار
✦
که فردا چه پیش آورد روزگار
“He said to him: 'O wretched and wretched man, what shall fate bring forth tomorrow?'”
#4
بدو گفت کای شاه برتر منش
✦
ز تو دور بادا بد بدکنش
“He replied: 'O high-minded king, may evil be far from thee and thy evil-wishing foes!”
#5
چو آتش به پیکار بشتافتی
✦
چنین بر بلاها گذر یافتی
“Though thou hast rushed into battle like fire and overcome all tribulations thus far,”
#6
ندانی که فردا چه آیدت پیش
✦
ببخشای بر بخت بیدار خویش
“Thou knowest not what awaits thee tomorrow; take pity upon thy vigilant good fortune!”
#7
از ایدر چو فردا به منزل رسی
✦
یکی کار پیش است از این یک بسی
“When tomorrow thou reachest the next stage from here, a trial awaits far greater than all these.”
#8
یکی اژدها پیشت آید دژم
✦
که ماهی برآرد ز دریا به دم
“A grim dragon shall confront thee, capable of pulling leviathans out of the sea with its breath.”
#9
همی آتش افروزد از کام اوی
✦
یکی کوه خاراست اندام اوی
“Fire blazes from its throat, and its massive body is like a mountain of flint stone.”
#10
از این راه گر بازگردی رواست
✦
روانت بر این پند من بر گواست
“If thou turnest back from this path, it is right; my soul bears witness to the truth of this counsel.”
#11
دریغت نیاید همی خویشتن
✦
سپاهی شده ز این نشان انجمن
“Dost thou not pity thine own self and this vast army assembled here?'”
#12
چنین داد پاسخ که ای بدنشان
✦
به بندت همی برد خواهم کشان
“Esfandiyar answered: 'O evil-omened captive, I shall drag thee along in bonds!”
#13
ببینی که از چنگ من اژدها
✦
ز شمشیر تیزم نیابد رها
“Thou shalt see that the dragon shall find no escape from the clutches of my sharp sword.'”
#14
بفرمود تا درگران آورند
✦
سزاوار چوب گران آورند
“He commanded that master carpenters be brought, alongside heavy beams of sturdy timber.”
#15
یکی نغز گردون چوبین بساخت
✦
به گرد اندرش تیغها در نشاخت
“They crafted a wondrous wooden chariot, and fitted sharp blades all around its sides.”
#16
به سر بر یکی گرد صندوق نغز
✦
بیاراست آن درگر پاک مغز
“Atop the chariot, the pure-minded carpenter fashioned a fine, secure wooden chest.”
#17
به صندوق در مرد دیهیم جوی
✦
دو اسپ گرانمایه بست اندر اوی
“Inside the chest sat the crown-seeking prince, and two noble horses were harnessed to it.”
#18
نشست آزمون را به صندوق شاه
✦
زمانی همی راند اسپان به راه
“The king sat in the chest to test it, driving the horses along the road for a time.”
#19
زره‌دار با خنجر کابلی
✦
به سر بر نهاده کلاه یلی
“Clad in mail with a Kabuli dagger at his side, and a hero's helmet upon his head.”
#20
چو شد جنگ آن اژدها ساخته
✦
جهانجوی ز این رنج پرداخته
“When the harness for battling the dragon was completed, the world-seeker rested from his toil.”
#21
جهان گشت چون روی زنگی سیاه
✦
ز برج حمل تاج بنمود ماه
“The world turned dark as a Zangi's face, and the moon showed its crown from the constellation of Aries.”
#22
نشست از بر شولک اسفندیار
✦
برفت از پسش لشکر نامدار
“Esfandiyar mounted his noble charger, and behind him rode his famous host.”
#23
دگر روز چون گشت روشن جهان
✦
درفش شب تیره شد در نهان
“The next day, when the world grew bright, the banner of dark night vanished into hiding.”
#24
پشوتن بیامد سوی نامجوی
✦
پسر با برادر همی پیش اوی
“Peshotan came before the renowned hero—brother standing before brother.”
#25
بپوشید خفتان جهاندار گرد
✦
سپه را به فرخ پشوتن سپرد
“The brave ruler donned his body armor, and entrusted the army to auspicious Peshotan.”
#26
بیاورد گردون و صندوق شیر
✦
نشست اندر او شهریار دلیر
“He brought forth the bladed chariot and wooden chest, sitting inside it like a lion.”
#27
دو اسپ گرانمایه بسته بر اوی
✦
سوی اژدها تیز بنهاد روی
“With two noble steeds bound to it, he turned his face swiftly toward the dragon.”
#28
ز دور اژدها بانگ گردون شنید
✦
خرامیدن اسپ جنگی بدید
“From afar, the dragon heard the rattle of the chariot and saw the war-horses advancing.”
#29
ز جای اندر آمد چو کوه سیاه
✦
تو گفتی که تاریک شد چرخ و ماه
“It reared up from its place like a black mountain; thou wouldst say the heavens and moon grew dark.”
#30
دو چشمش چو دو چشمه تابان ز خون
✦
همی آتش آمد ز کامش برون
“Its two eyes shone like bloody fountains, and fire gushed forth from its maw.”
#31
چو اسفندیار آن شگفتی بدید
✦
به یزدان پناهید و دم درکشید
“When Esfandiyar beheld that wonder, he took refuge in Yazdan and held his breath.”
#32
همی جست اسپ از گزندش رها
✦
به دم درکشید اسپ را اژدها
“The horses sought to leap free from harm, but the dragon drew them in with its breath.”
#33
دهن باز کرده چو کوهی سیاه
✦
همی کرد غران بدو در نگاه
“Mouth open wide like a dark mountain, it gazed at him roaring furiously.”
#34
فرو برد اسپان و گردون به دم
✦
به صندوق در گشت جنگی دژم
“It swallowed horses and chariot with its breath, while the warrior stood grim inside the chest.”
#35
به کامش چو تیغ اندر آمد بماند
✦
چو دریای خون از دهان برفشاند
“As the blades cut into its maw, they stuck fast, while a sea of blood spewed from its mouth.”
#36
نه بیرون توانست کردن ز کام
✦
چو شمشیر بد تیغ و کامش نیام
“It could neither expel the blades nor swallow; the blades were swords and its throat the sheath!”
#37
ز گردون و آن تیغها شد غمی
✦
به زور اندر آورد لختی کمی
“Weakened by the chariot and its blades, the monster's strength began to ebb.”
#38
برآمد ز صندوق مرد دلیر
✦
یکی تیز شمشیر در چنگ شیر
“Then out from the chest stepped the brave hero, clutching a sharp sword like a fierce lion.”
#39
به شمشیر مغزش همی کرد چاک
✦
همی دود زهرش برآمد ز خاک
“With his sword he cleaved its brain in twain, and poisonous smoke billowed up from the dust.”
#40
از آن دود برنده بیهوش گشت
✦
بیفتاد و بی‌مغز و بی‌توش گشت
“From that noxious smoke he fell unconscious; he collapsed strengthless and senseless.”
#41
پشوتن بیامد هم اندر زمان
✦
به نزدیک آن نامدار جهان
“Peshotan arrived in that very moment, coming close to the famous hero of the world.”
#42
جهانجوی چون چشمها باز کرد
✦
به گردان گردنکش آواز کرد
“When the world-seeker opened his eyes, he raised his voice to the exalted warriors:”
#43
که بیهوش گشتم من از دود زهر
✦
ز زخمش نیامد مرا هیچ بهر
“'I was rendered senseless only by the poison smoke; no harm or wound reached me from its blow.'”
#44
از آن خاک برخاست و شد سوی آب
✦
چو مردی که بیهوش گردد به خواب
“He rose from the dust and went toward the stream, like a man regaining sense from deep slumber.”
#45
ز گنجور خود جامهٔ نو بجست
✦
به آب اندر آمد سر و تن بشست
“He requested fresh robes from his treasurer, entered the water, and washed his head and body.”
#46
بیامد به پیش خداوند پاک
✦
همی گشت پیچان و گریان به خاک
“He came before the presence of the holy Lord, writhing and weeping in humble prayer upon the dust.”
#47
همی گفت کاین اژدها را که کشت
✦
مگر آن که بودش جهاندار پشت
“He said, 'Who could have vanquished such a dragon, save for one supported by the Sovereign of the World?'”
#48
سپاهش همه خواندند آفرین
✦
همه پیش دادار سر بر زمین
“His entire army sang praises aloud, all bowing their heads to the earth in reverence before the Creator.”
#49
نهادند و گفتند با کردگار
✦
توی پاک و بی‌عیب و پروردگار
“Prostrating themselves, they prayed to the Almighty: 'You are holy, flawless, and the Sustainer of all creation.'”