#1
شب آمد یکی آتشی برفروخت
✦
که تفش همی آسمان را بسوخت
“Night fell, and he kindled a fire whose blazing heat scorched the very sky.”
#2
چو از دیده‌گه دیده‌بان بنگرید
✦
به شب آتش و روز پردود دید
“When the lookout watched from his vantage post, he saw fire by night and dense smoke by day.”
#3
ز جایی که بد شادمان بازگشت
✦
تو گفتی که با باد همباز گشت
“Joyfully he returned from his post, as though he flew in company with the wind.”
#4
چو از راه نزد پشوتن رسید
✦
بگفت آنچ از آتش و دود دید
“When he reached Peshotan along the way, he reported all he had seen of the fire and smoke.”
#5
پشوتن چنین گفت کز پیل و شیر
✦
به تنبل فزونست مرد دلیر
“Peshotan said: 'Through clever craft, a brave champion surpasses even elephants and lions.'”
#6
که چشم بدان از تنش دور باد
✦
همه روزگاران او سور باد
“'May evil eyes be cast far from his body, and may all his days be spent in triumph and feast!'”
#7
بزد نای رویین و رویینه خم
✦
برآمد ز در نالهٔ گاودم
“He sounded the brass trumpets and curved horns; the thunderous roar of war-horns arose from the gates.”
#8
ز هامون سوی دژ بیامد سپاه
✦
شد از گرد خورشید تابان سیاه
“From the plain, the army marched toward the fortress, until the bright sun turned black with rising dust.”
#9
همه زیر خفتان و خود اندرون
✦
همی از جگرشان بجوشید خون
“All clad beneath mail coats and helmets, their hearts boiling with war-fury.”
#10
به دژ چون خبر شد که آمد سپاه
✦
جهان نیست پیدا ز گرد سیاه
“When news reached the fortress that an army drew near, and the world was hid behind black dust,”
#11
همه دژ پر از نام اسفندیار
✦
درخت بلا حنظل آورد بار
“The entire fortress echoed with the name of Esfandiyar; the tree of calamity bore bitter fruit for them.”
#12
بپوشید ارجاسپ خفتان جنگ
✦
بمالید بر چنگ بسیار چنگ
“Arjasp donned his battle armor and rubbed his hands together in anxiety and rage.”
#13
بفرمود تا کهرم شیرگیر
✦
برد لشکر و کوس و شمشیر وتیر
“He commanded Kahram, the lion-capturer, to lead the host with drums, swords, and arrows.”
#14
به طرخان چنین گفت کای سرفراز
✦
برو تیز با لشکری رزمساز
“He said to Tarkhan: 'O proud champion, go swiftly with a host prepared for battle!'”
#15
ببر نامدران دژ ده هزار
✦
همه رزم جویان خنجرگزار
“'Take ten thousand renowned warriors of the fortress, all eager for battle and skilled with blades.'”
#16
نگه کن که این جنگجویان کیند
✦
وزین تاختن ساختن برچیند
“'Observe who these warriors are, and cut short their assault.'”
#17
سرافراز طرخان بیامد دوان
✦
بدین روی دژ با یکی ترجمان
“Noble Tarkhan came running toward this side of the fortress, accompanied by an interpreter.”
#18
سپه دید با جوشن و ساز جنگ
✦
درفشی سیه پیکر او پلنگ
“He saw an army clad in mail and warlike gear, bearing a black banner decorated with a leopard.”
#19
سپه‌کش پشوتن به قلب اندرون
✦
سپاهی همه دست شسته به خون
“Commander Peshotan stood in the army's center, leading a host whose hands were washed in blood.”
#20
به چنگ اندرون گرز اسفندیار
✦
به زیر اندرون بارهٔ نامدار
“In his grip he held the mace of Esfandiyar, and beneath him was a renowned warhorse.”
#21
جز اسفندیار تهم را نماند
✦
کس او را به جز شاه ایران نخواند
“He resembled none other than the mighty Esfandiyar; everyone addressed him as the Prince-King of Iran.”
#22
سپه میسره میمنه برکشید
✦
چنان شد که کس روز روشن ندید
“The host arranged its left and right flanks; such darkness arose that none could see the bright day.”
#23
ز زخم سنانهای الماس گون
✦
تو گفتی همی بارد از ابر خون
“From the thrusts of diamond-bright spearheads, it seemed blood rained down from the sky.”
#24
به جنگ اندر آمد سپاه از دو روی
✦
هرانکس که بد گرد و پرخاشجوی
“Armies from both sides plunged into battle, every champion and belligerent warrior joining the fight.”
#25
بشد پیش نوش‌آذر تیغ‌زن
✦
همی جست پرخاش زان انجمن
“The sword-striking Nush-Azar rode to the front, seeking combat from the enemy ranks.”
#26
بیامد سرافراز طرخان برش
✦
که از تن به خاک اندر آرد سرش
“Noble Tarkhan advanced against him, intending to sever his head and hurl it to the dust.”
#27
چو نوش‌آذر او را به هامون بدید
✦
بزد دست و تیغ از میان برکشید
“When Nush-Azar saw him in the plain, he drew his sharp sword from his waist.”
#28
کمرگاه طرخان بدو نیم کرد
✦
دل کهرم از درد پربیم کرد
“He cleaved Tarkhan in two at the waist, filling Kahram's heart with sorrow and dread.”
#29
چنان هم بقلب سپه حمله برد
✦
بزرگش یکی بود با مرد خرد
“He then charged into the host's center; to his wrath, the noble and the humble were all as one.”
#30
بران‌سان دو لشکر بهم برشکست
✦
که از تیر بر سرکشان ابر بست
“The two armies clashed so fiercely together that a cloud of arrows hovered over the champions.”
#31
سرافراز کهرم سوی دژ برفت
✦
گریزان و لشکر همی راند تفت
“Noble Kahram retreated toward the fortress, fleeing and swiftly driving his army back.”
#32
چنین گفت کهرم به پیش پدر
✦
که ای نامور شاه خورشیدفر
“Kahram said before his father: 'O renowned king with the radiance of the sun!'”
#33
از ایران سپاهی بیامد بزرگ
✦
به پیش اندرون نامداری سترگ
“'A vast army has arrived from Iran, led at its head by a formidable champion!'”
#34
سرافراز اسفندیارست و بس
✦
بدین دژ نیاید جزو هیچ‌کس
“'It is none other than the proud Esfandiyar; no one else would dare march against this fortress!'”
#35
همان نیزهٔ جنگ دارد به چنگ
✦
که در گنبدان دژ تو دیدی به جنگ
“'He holds in his grip the very war-spear that you saw in battle at Gonbadan Castle!'”
#36
غمی شد دل ارجاسپ را زان سخن
✦
که نو شد دگر باره کین کهن
“Arjasp's heart grew heavy at those words, as ancient vengeance flared up once again.”
#37
به ترکان همه گفت بیرون شوید
✦
ز دژ یکسره سوی هامون شوید
“He said to all the Turanians: 'Go forth from the fortress, march all together into the plain!'”
#38
همه لشکر اندر میان آورید
✦
خروش هژبر ژیان آورید
“'Encircle their whole army and raise the thunderous roar of raging lions!'”
#39
یکی زنده زیشان ممانید نیز
✦
کسی نام ایشان مخوانید نیز
“'Leave not a single one of them alive, nor let anyone ever speak their names again!'”
#40
همه لشکر از دژ به راه آمدند
✦
جگر خسته و کینه‌خواه آمدند
“The entire host poured forth from the fortress, their hearts wounded and hungry for revenge.”