As the gloom of night enveloped the Brazen Fortress, Prince Esfandiyar cast aside his merchant disguise and put on his shining coat of mail. Unlocking the massive chests, the hidden Persian champions emerged like starved lions. Meat and wine were served, and after three deep draughts, Esfandiyar rallied his comrades, urging them to put their faith in the Divine and fight for eternal glory on this perilous night.
He divided his force into three detachments: one to secure the caravanserai, one to block the castle gates, and one to strike down the Turanian commanders who had shared his feast the evening before. Esfandiyar himself, flanked by twenty supreme warriors, charged straight for King Arjasp's inner palace like a thunderbolt. Hearing the clash of steel, his captive sisters, Homa and Beh-Afarid, ran out weeping bloody tears. Recognizing his beloved sisters, Esfandiyar gently bade them flee immediately toward his merchant camp where safety and gold awaited them.
With his Indian blade unsheathed, Esfandiyar cleaved through the guards, turning the grand hall into a sea of blood and fallen bodies. Awakened by the tumult, King Arjasp leaped from his bed in dread, donning his coat of mail and Roman helmet. Esfandiyar confronted the Turanian monarch with a roar: 'Here is the retribution for King Luhrasp, sealed with the reign of Vishtaspa!' A titanic duel erupted as blades rained down upon torso and helm. But Esfandiyar's supernatural might prevailed—he shattered Arjasp's defenses, brought the elephant-like king to his knees, and severed his head with a single swift stroke.
A wail of despair pierced the palace as the tyrant fell. Esfandiyar ordered torches lit, secured the women's quarters without touching a single item of plunder, and sealed the royal treasury. Mounting prime Arabian steeds, Esfandiyar placed his sisters upon horses and entrusted the fortress to the Iranian hero Savah, instructing him to display Arjasp's head upon the parapet when the fleeing Turanian troops returned. With one hundred and sixty chosen horsemen, Esfandiyar swept down to the plain to rejoin his brother Pashotan, whose army marveled in awe at the prince's impossible triumph.
#1
چو تاریکتر شد شب اسفندیار
✦
بپوشید نو جامهٔ کارزار
“When the night grew darker around Esfandiyar, he put on new garments of war.”
#2
سر بند صندوقها برگشاد
✦
یکی تا بدان بستگان جست باد
“He opened the locks of the chests, so that those bound within might find air.”
#3
کباب و می آورد و نوشیدنی
✦
همان جامهٔ رزم و پوشیدنی
“He brought roast meat, wine, and drink, as well as garments of battle and armor.”
#4
چو نان خورده شد هر یکی را سه جام
✦
بدادند و گشتند زان شادکام
“When they had eaten bread, each was given three goblets of wine, and they became joyful.”
#5
چنین گفت کامشب شبی پربلاست
✦
اگر نام گیریم ز ایدر سزاست
“He spoke thus: 'Tonight is a night full of peril; it is fitting if we seek everlasting fame.'”
#6
بکوشید و پیکار مردان کنید
✦
پناه از بلاها به یزدان کنید
“'Strive hard and fight the battle of men; seek refuge from calamities in God Almighty.'”
#7
ازان پس یلان را به سه بهر کرد
✦
هرانکس که جستند ننگ و نبرد
“Thereafter he divided the heroes into three groups—all those who sought valor and combat.”
#8
یکی بهره زیشان میان حصار
✦
که سازند با هرکسی کارزار
“One part of them remained inside the fortress, to deal with whoever fought back.”
#9
دگر بهره تا بر در دژ شوند
✦
ز پیکار و خون ریختن نغنوند
“Another part went to the gate of the fortress, to fight and spill blood without slumber.”
#10
سیم بهره را گفت از سرکشان
✦
که باید که یابید زیشان نشان
“To the third group of champions he said: 'You must seek out those lords...'”
#11
که بودند با ما ز می دوش مست
✦
سرانشان به خنجر ببرید پست
“'...who were drunk with us on wine last night, and cut off their heads low with daggers.'”
#12
خود و بیست مرد از دلیران گرد
✦
بشد تیز و دیگر بدیشان سپرد
“He himself took twenty brave, heroic men and went swiftly, entrusting the rest to them.”
#13
به درگاه ارجاسپ آمد دلیر
✦
زره‌دار و غران به کردار شیر
“He arrived boldly at Arjasp's court, armored and roaring like a lion.”
#14
چو زخم خروش آمد از در سرای
✦
دوان پیش آزادگان شد همای
“When the clashing uproar echoed from the palace gate, Homa came running before the nobles.”
#15
ابا خواهر خویش به آفرید
✦
به خون مژه کرده رخ ناپدید
“Together with her sister Beh-Afarid, their cheeks obscured by bloody tears.”
#16
چو آمد به تنگ اندر اسفندیار
✦
دو پوشیده را دید چون نوبهار
“When Esfandiyar drew near, he saw the two veiled maidens looking like early spring.”
#17
چنین گفت با خواهران شیرمرد
✦
کز ایدر بپویید برسان گرد
“The lion-hearted hero said to his sisters: 'Hasten from this place like the wind!'”
#18
بدانجا که بازارگاه منست
✦
بسی زر و سیم است و گاه منست
“'Go to the place where my merchant's bazaar is; there is much gold, silver, and my throne.'”
#19
مباشید با من بدین رزمگاه
✦
اگر سر دهم گر ستانم کلاه
“'Do not remain with me in this battlefield, whether I lose my life or win the crown.'”
#20
بیامد یکی تیغ هندی به مشت
✦
کسی را که دید از دلیران بکشت
“He grasped an Indian sword in hand, slaying every champion he encountered.”
#21
همه بارگاهش چنان شد که راه
✦
نبود اندران نامور بارگاه
“His whole court became such that no pathway remained through that famed palace.”
#22
ز بس خسته و کشته و کوفته
✦
زمین همچو دریای آشوفته
“From so many wounded, slain, and crushed, the ground became like a turbulent sea.”
#23
چو ارجاسپ از خواب بیدار شد
✦
ز غلغل دلش پر ز تیمار شد
“When Arjasp woke from sleep, his heart was filled with anguish at the clamor.”
#24
بجوشید ارجاسپ از جایگاه
✦
بپوشید خفتان و رومی کلاه
“Arjasp leaped up from his place, put on his armor and a Roman helmet.”
#25
به دست اندرش خنجر آب‌گون
✦
دهن پر ز آواز و دل پر ز خون
“In his hand was a water-tempered dagger, his mouth full of cries, his heart full of blood.”
#26
بدو گفت کز مرد بازارگان
✦
بیابی کنون تیغ و دینارگان
“Esfandiyar said to him: 'Now from the merchant you shall receive sword and coins!'”
#27
یکی هدیه آرمت لهراسپی
✦
نهاده برو مهر گشتاسپی
“'I bring you a gift of Luhrasp, stamped with the seal of Goshtasp!'”
#28
برآویخت ارجاسپ و اسفندیار
✦
از اندازه بگذشتشان کارزار
“Arjasp and Esfandiyar locked in combat; their battle exceeded all measure.”
#29
پیاپی بسی تیغ و خنجر زدند
✦
گهی بر میان گاه بر سر زدند
“In succession they struck with sword and dagger, now at the waist, now at the head.”
#30
به زخم اندر ارجاسپ را کرد سست
✦
ندیدند بر تنش جایی درست
“With powerful blows Esfandiyar weakened Arjasp; no healthy spot remained on his body.”
#31
ز پای اندر آمد تن پیلوار
✦
جدا کردش از تن سر اسفندیار
“His elephant-like body fell to the ground, and Esfandiyar severed his head from his body.”
#32
چو شد کشته ارجاسپ آزرده‌جان
✦
خروشی برآمد ز کاخ زنان
“When Arjasp was slain with tormented soul, a great wail rose from the women's palace.”
#33
چنین است کردار گردنده دهر
✦
گهی نوش یابیم ازو گاه زهر
“Such is the way of revolving fate: at times we find sweet nectar, at times poison.”
#34
چه بندی دل اندر سرای سپنج
✦
چو دانی که ایدر نمانی مرنج
“Why bind your heart to this transient home? When you know you will not remain here, grieve not.”
#35
بپردخت ز ارجاسپ اسفندیار
✦
به کیوان برآورد ز ایوان دمار
“Esfandiyar finished with Arjasp and brought destruction upon the palace to the high heavens.”
#36
بفرمود تا شمع بفروختند
✦
به هر سوی ایوان همی سوختند
“He commanded candles to be lit, burning bright on every side of the palace.”
#37
شبستان او را به خادم سپرد
✦
ازان جایگه رشته‌تایی نبرد
“He committed Arjasp's harem to the eunuchs, taking not even a single thread from that place.”
#38
در گنج دینار او مهر کرد
✦
به ایوان نبودش کسی هم نبرد
“He sealed the gold treasure-houses; no rival remained to face him in the palace.”
#39
بیامد سوی آخور و برنشست
✦
یکی تیغ هندی گرفته به دست
“He came to the stable and mounted, holding an Indian blade in his hand.”
#40
ازان تازی اسپان کش آمد گزین
✦
بفرمود تا برنهادند زین
“Of the noble Arabian horses that pleased him, he commanded them to be saddled.”
#41
برفتند زانجا صد و شست مرد
✦
گزیده سواران روز نبرد
“One hundred and sixty men rode out from there—chosen horsemen for the day of battle.”
#42
همان خواهران را بر اسپان نشاند
✦
ز درگاه ارجاسپ لشکر براند
“He seated his sisters upon horses and drove his force away from Arjasp's palace.”
#43
وز ایرانیان نامور مرد چند
✦
به دژ ماند با ساوهٔ ارجمند
“And several famed Iranians he left in the fortress alongside noble Savah.”
#44
چو من گفت از ایدر به بیرون شوم
✦
خود و نامدارن به هامون شوم
“He said: 'When I go out from here and ride into the plain with the nobles...'”
#45
به ترکان در دژ ببندید سخت
✦
مگر یار باشد مرا نیک‌بخت
“'...lock the gates of the fortress tightly against the Turanians, if good fortune favors me.'”
#46
هرانگه که آید گمانتان که من
✦
رسیدم بدان پاک‌رای انجمن
“Whenever you surmise that I have safely reached that noble assembly,”
#47
غو دیده باید که از دیدگاه
✦
کانوشه سر و تاج گشتاسپ شاه
“A shout must be raised by the watchman from his tower: 'Immortal be the head and crown of King Goshtasp!'”
#48
چو انبوه گردد به دژ بر سپاه
✦
گریزان و برگشته از رزمگاه
“When the enemy troops crowd upon the fortress, fleeing and routed from the battlefield,”
#49
به پیروزی از بارهٔ کاخ پاس
✦
بدارید از پاک یزدان سپاس
“Offer up praises to the pure Lord from the ramparts of the palace for this victory.”
#50
سر شاه ترکان ازان دیدگاه
✦
بینداخت باید به پیش سپاه
“Then, from that very watchtower, the severed head of the King of the Turks must be cast down before the army.”
#51
بیامد ز دژ با صد و شست مرد
✦
خروشان و جوشان به دشت نبرد
“He emerged from the fortress with one hundred and sixty men, storming furiously onto the plain of battle.”
#52
چو نزد سپاه پشوتن رسید
✦
برو نامدار آفرین گسترید
“When he reached the army of Peshotan, that illustrious prince showered him with praises.”
#53
سپاهش همه مانده زو در شگفت
✦
که مرد جوان آن دلیری گرفت
“His entire army remained utterly astonished at how that young hero had accomplished such a daring feat.”