At the first light of dawn, as the rooster crowed, the thunder of war drums echoed from the threshold of Esfandiyar. The invincible prince, mighty as a war elephant, mounted his steed and set his host into motion like a raging wind. They marched until a crossroads appeared before them, where both elephant and army ground to a halt. One path wound toward the Fortress of Gonbadan, while the other inclined toward Zabol.
Suddenly, the lead camel knelt upon the earth, anchoring itself as though rooted to the ground. Though the driver struck its head repeatedly with a stick, the beast would not budge, stalling the entire caravan. Esfandiyar perceived this as a dark omen. He commanded his warriors to sever the head and mane of the camel, seeking to deflect the bad fortune back upon the creature so that only divine glory might shield them. The warriors struck off its head, yet Esfandiyar remained troubled in heart, even as he scorned the ill-starred sign. 'He who triumphs shall see his fortune light the world,' he reflected. 'Both good and ill come from Yazdan, and a man's lips must remain crowned with a smile.'
Resuming their march, they arrived at the banks of the Helmand River, though Esfandiyar was guarded, wary of impending danger. They pitched the royal pavilions according to ancient custom, and the nobles took their places. Under a grand canopy, Esfandiyar ascended his throne, called for aged wine and minstrelsy, and showered gold and gems upon the performers, bringing joy to the hearts of noble men.
As the old wine brought a rosy bloom to the faces of the chieftains, Esfandiyar addressed his companions: 'I have not swerved from the command of King Goshtasp, though I have journeyed far. He bade me prepare against Rostam and show no respite in binding him. Out of obedience to my father I have come; yet this battle-hardened elder has endured boundless toil for the leaders of the realm, restoring peace to the world with his heavy mace. All the land of Iran—be they sovereigns or servants—owes its life to him. Therefore, we must send a quick-witted, eloquent, and wise messenger; a knight possessing grace and majesty whom Rostam cannot easily deceive. If he comes to us in peace and accepts my bond through wisdom, our dark path will be illuminated, for I wish him nothing but good.'
Pashotan replied to him: 'This indeed is the righteous path. Stand firm upon this wisdom and preserve the honor of brave men.'
#1
به شبگیر هنگام بانگ خروس
✦
ز درگاه برخاست آوای کوس
“At dawn's early light, when the rooster crowed, the thunder of war drums echoed from the threshold.”
#2
چو پیلی به اسپ اندر آورد پای
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بیاورد چون باد لشکر ز جای
“Like a mighty elephant he mounted his horse, setting the army into motion swift as the wind.”
#3
همی رفت تا پیشش آمد دو راه
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فرو ماند بر جای پیل و سپاه
“They marched until two roads appeared before them; there both the war elephant and the army halted.”
#4
دژ گنبدان بود راهش یکی
✦
دگر سوی زاول کشید اندکی
“One path led toward the Fortress of Gonbadan, while the other turned slightly toward Zabol.”
#5
شتر انک در پیش بودش بخفت
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تو گفتی که گشتست با خاک جفت
“The lead camel knelt down in its tracks, as though it had become fused with the earth.”
#6
همی چوب زد بر سرش ساروان
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ز رفتن بماند آن زمان کاروان
“The driver repeatedly struck its head with a stick, yet the caravan remained stranded.”
#7
جهان‌جوی را آن بد آمد به فال
✦
بفرمود کش سر ببرند و یال
“The world-seeker took this as a sinister omen and commanded that its head and mane be severed,”
#8
بدان تا بدو بازگردد بدی
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نباشد به جز فره ایزدی
“So that the ill evil might return upon the beast, leaving nothing behind save the Divine Glory.”
#9
بریدند پرخاشجویان سرش
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بدو بازگشت آن زمان اخترش
“The fierce warriors severed its head, and in that moment its fateful star turned away.”
#10
غمی گشت زان اشتر اسفندیار
✦
گرفت آن زمان اختر شوم خوار
“Esfandiyar grew sorrowful because of the camel, yet he scorned that evil omen in his heart.”
#11
چنین گفت کآن کس که پیروز گشت
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سر بخت او گیتی افروز گشت
“He said: 'Whoever triumphs in the end, the head of his fortune illuminates the world.”
#12
بد و نیک هر دو ز یزدان بود
✦
لب مرد باید که خندان بود
“Both good and evil come from God; a man's lips should always remain smiling.'”
#13
وزانجا بیامد سوی هیرمند
✦
همی بود ترسان ز بیم گزند
“From there he marched onward to the Helmand, ever fearful of potential disaster.”
#14
بر آیین ببستند پرده‌سرای
✦
بزرگان لشگر گزیدند جای
“They pitched the royal enclosure according to custom, and the leaders of the army took their places.”
#15
شراعی بزد زود و بنهاد تخت
✦
بر آن تخت بر شد گو نیک‌بخت
“He quickly set up a pavilion and placed a throne, and the fortunate hero ascended upon it.”
#16
می آورد و رامشگران را بخواند
✦
بسی زر و گوهر بر ایشان فشاند
“He brought wine and summoned the minstrels, scattering much gold and jewels upon them.”
#17
به رامش دل خویشتن شاد کرد
✦
دل راد مردان پر از یاد کرد
“With music he made his own heart glad, and filled the hearts of noble men with remembrance.”
#18
چو گل بشکفید از می سالخورد
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رخ نامداران و شاه نبرد
“As aged wine bloomed like roses upon the cheeks of the nobles and the king of battle,”
#19
به یاران چنین گفت کز رای شاه
✦
نپیچیدم و دور گشتم ز راه
“He said to his companions: 'I did not turn away from the King's counsel, though I strayed far on this path.”
#20
مرا گفت بر کار رستم بسیچ
✦
ز بند و ز خواری میاسای هیچ
“He told me to prepare against Rostam, and never rest from binding him and bringing him low.”
#21
به کردن برفتم برای پدر
✦
کنون این گزین پیر پرخاشخر
“I set forth to act according to my father's order; yet this noble, battle-seasoned elder,”
#22
بسی رنج دارد به جای سران
✦
جهان راست کرده به گرز گران
“Has endured endless toil for the realm's leaders, restoring peace to the world with his heavy mace.”
#23
همه شهر ایران بدو زنده‌اند
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اگر شهریارند و گر بنده‌اند
“All the cities of Iran live through him, whether they be sovereigns or servants.”
#24
فرستاده باید یکی تیزویر
✦
سخن‌گوی و داننده و یادگیر
“We must send a swift-minded messenger—eloquent, wise, and receptive to knowledge—”
#25
سواری که باشد ورا فر و زیب
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نگیرد ورا رستم اندر فریب
“A knight possessing divine grace and majesty, whom Rostam cannot catch in deception.”
#26
گر ایدون که آید به نزدیک ما
✦
درفشان کند رای تاریک ما
“If he comes to us in peace, he will brighten our dark counsel.”
#27
به خوبی دهد دست بند مرا
✦
به دانش ببندد گزند مرا
“If he willingly yields to my chains, he binds all harm to me through wisdom.”
#28
نخواهم من او را به جز نیکویی
✦
اگر دور دارد سر از بدخویی
“I wish nothing for him but good, so long as he turns his head away from stubbornness.'”
#29
پشوتن بدو گفت اینست راه
✦
بر این باش و آزرم مردان بخواه
“Pashotan said to him: 'This indeed is the right path; remain upon this and honor noble men.'”