When night fell, Esfandiyar kindled a roaring beacon fire atop the height, its flames scorching the dark sky. The Iranian lookout beheld the fire by night and the thick column of smoke by day, and filled with joy, he returned swiftly like the wind to report the signal to Peshotan. Peshotan praised the prince's intellect, declaring that through stratagem a brave man surpasses even elephants and lions. At his command, brass trumpets and horn-calls echoed across the plain, and the Iranian host marched toward the Brazen Fortress, raising a cloud of dust that blotted out the sun.
News of the approaching army reached Arjasp inside the fortress, and the terrifying name of Esfandiyar echoed through its halls. Arjasp donned his armor and dispatched Tarkhan with ten thousand seasoned warriors to inspect and check the assault. Tarkhan rode forth with an interpreter and saw the Iranian army lined up under a black leopard banner. In the center stood Peshotan, bearing Esfandiyar's heavy mace and mounted on a mighty charger, looking so formidable that the Turanians took him to be Esfandiyar himself.
A furious battle erupted, and spears rained blood from the darkened sky. Prince Nush-Azar charged out to fight, and when Tarkhan closed in on him, Nush-Azar drew his sword and cleaved Tarkhan in two at the waist. Terrified by this deed, Kahram retreated into the fortress and warned King Arjasp that Esfandiyar had returned with his famous spear. Enraged as ancient vengeance reignited, Arjasp ordered every Turanian warrior to pour forth from the fortress, encircle the Iranians, and cut them down without mercy.
#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.”