Hearing Esfandiyar's haughty and provocative taunts, Rostam raised his chest and delivered his formidable reply. He urged the young prince to calm his fiery spirit and restrain his pride, reminding him that true monarchs speak only words of truth and nobility, free from the whispers of demons.
Then, Rostam unfolded the epic scroll of his unparalleled ancestry and glorious deeds. He declared himself the son of Zal the White-Haired, whose wisdom is witnessed by the Creator Himself. Zal was the offspring of Sam, son of Nariman, son of King Garshasp. Rostam recounted the legendary exploits of his grandfather Sam—the hero of single blows—who destroyed the monstrous dragon of Tus, a beast so fearsome that even ocean-dwelling crocodiles and mountain leopards fled its breath, and vultures burned their feathers in the sky above it. He spoke of the titan demon whose waist was buried in the Sea of China, who pulled great fish from the depths and roasted them against the sun, until Sam's sword laid the terror low.
Turning to his maternal heritage, Rostam spoke of his mother Rudabeh, daughter of King Mehrab of Kabul, through whom his lineage traced back to Zahhak the Serpent King. He challenged any warrior to claim a grander descent or greater knightly mastery. For over five hundred years, Rostam had stood as the shield of Iran, steadfastly loyal to the ancient covenants of Kay Kavus and Kay Khosrow the Just. He reminded Esfandiyar of how he crossed the treacherous Jayhun river, driving King Afrasiab into Chinese exile, and how he braved the perils of Mazandaran alone to slaughter the White Demon, Arzhang, Sanjeh, Ovlad, and Bid. With a sorrowful heart, he recalled the tragedy of Sohrab—his supreme son, whom he unwittingly sacrificed solely to preserve the Iranian throne.
Finally, Rostam counseled Esfandiyar that despite his royal glory, he remained young and unversed in the secret mysteries of fate. Warning the prince against self-absorption, Rostam invited him to set aside harsh words, lay down anger, and share a golden cup of wine, letting song and fellowship wash away the heavy burdens of the mind.
#1
بدو گفت رستم که آرام گیر
✦
چه گویی سخنهای نادلپذیر
“Rostam said to him, 'Calm yourself; why do you speak such ungracious words?'”
#2
دلت بیش کژی بپالد همی
✦
روانت ز دیوان ببالد همی
“'Your heart strains after crookedness, and your spirit feeds upon the pride of demons.'”
#3
تو آن گوی کز پادشاهان سزاست
✦
نگوید سخن پادشا جز که راست
“'Speak that which is worthy of kings; a monarch speaks naught but the truth.'”
#4
جهاندار داند که دستان سام
✦
بزرگست و بادانش و نیک‌نام
“'The Ruler of the World knows that Dastan, son of Sam, is mighty, wise, and renowned.'”
#5
همان سام پور نریمان بدست
✦
نریمان گرد از کریمان بدست
“'And Sam was the son of Nariman, and Nariman the brave was among the noblest of men.'”
#6
بزرگست و گرشاسپ بودش پدر
✦
به گیتی بدی خسرو تاجور
“'Great was Nariman, whose father was Garshasp, a crowned king across the world.'”
#7
همانا شنیدستی آواز سام
✦
نبد در زمانه چنو نیک‌نام
“'Surely you have heard of the fame of Sam; in all the world, none was as honorable as he.'”
#8
بکشتش به طوس اندرون اژدها
✦
که از چنگ او کس نیابد رها
“'He slew the dragon in Tus, from whose fierce claws none could ever escape.'”
#9
به دریا نهنگ و به خشکی پلنگ
✦
ورا کس ندیدی گریزان ز جنگ
“'In the sea a crocodile and on land a leopard—none ever saw him flee from battle.'”
#10
به دریا سر ماهیان برفروخت
✦
هم‌اندر هوا پر کرگس بسوخت
“'The fire of his fury set light to the heads of fish in the sea, and in mid-air scorched the wings of vultures.'”
#11
همی پیل را درکشیدی به دم
✦
دل خرم از یاد او شد دژم
“'He could drag a wild elephant with his breath; at the mere thought of him, cheerful hearts turned grim.'”
#12
و دیگر یکی دیو بُد بدگمان
✦
تنش بر زمین و سرش بآسمان
“'And another monster was a malevolent demon, whose body rested on earth while his head reached the sky.'”
#13
که دریای چین تا میانش بدی
✦
ز تابیدن خور زیانش بدی
“'The Sea of China reached only to his waist, and the heat of the sun brought him grief and pain.'”
#14
همی ماهی از آب برداشتی
✦
سر از گنبد ماه بگذاشتی
“'He would snatch giant fish straight from the ocean, lifting his head beyond the dome of the moon.'”
#15
به خورشید ماهیش بریان شدی
✦
ازو چرخ گردنده گریان شدی
“'He roasted his fish directly against the sun, while the rolling heavens wept at his monstrous power.'”
#16
دو پتیاره زین گونه پیچان شدند
✦
ز تیغ یلی هر دو بیجان شدند
“'Two such terrifying horrors writhed in fury, yet both were rendered lifeless by the hero's sword.'”
#17
همان مادرم دخت مهراب بود
✦
بدو کشور هند شاداب بود
“'Likewise, my mother was the daughter of Mehrab, by whose grace the land of Hind flourished.'”
#18
که ضحاک بودیش پنجم پدر
✦
ز شاهان گیتی برآورده سر
“'Whose fifth ancestor was Zahhak, who had raised his head supreme above all the kings of the world.'”
#19
نژادی ازین نامورتر کراست
✦
خردمند گردن نپیچد ز راست
“'Who possesses a lineage more renowned than this? A wise man never turns his neck from truth.'”
#20
دگر آنک اندر جهان سربسر
✦
یلان را ز من جست باید هنر
“'Moreover, across the whole world, all champions must seek knightly arts and valor from me.'”
#21
همان عهد کاوس دارم نخست
✦
که بر من بهانه نیارند جست
“'First, I hold the covenant of Kay Kavus, so that none may find fault or reproach in me.'”
#22
همان عهد کیخسرو دادگر
✦
که چون او نبست از کیان کس کمر
“'And likewise the covenant of Kai Khosrow the Just, the like of whom no Kianian monarch ever girded his loins.'”
#23
زمین را سراسر همه گشته‌ام
✦
بسی شاه بیدادگر کشته‌ام
“'I have traversed the whole earth from end to end, and have slain many a tyrannical king.'”
#24
چو من برگذشتم ز جیحون بر آب
✦
ز توران به چین آمد افراسیاب
“'When I crossed the waters of the Jayhun, Afrasiab fled from Turan all the way to China.'”
#25
ز کاوس در جنگ هاماوران
✦
به تنها برفتم به مازندران
“'To rescue Kay Kavus in the war of Hamavaran, I set forth alone into the dreaded realm of Mazandaran.'”
#26
نه ارژنگ ماندم نه دیو سپید
✦
نه سنجه نه اولاد غندی نه بید
“'I left neither Arzhang nor the White Demon, nor Sanjeh, nor Ovlad-e Ghandi, nor Bid.'”
#27
همی از پی شاه فرزند را
✦
بکشتم دلیر خردمند را
“'For the sake of the king, I even slew my own son—a brave and wise warrior.'”
#28
که گردی چو سهراب هرگز نبود
✦
به زور و به مردی و رزم آزمود
“'For there was never a hero like Sohrab in strength, manhood, and proven battle prowess.'”
#29
ز پانصد همانا فزونست سال
✦
که تا من جدا گشتم از پشت زال
“'It is now truly more than five hundred years since I was born of the loins of Zal.'”
#30
همی پهلوان بودم اندر جهان
✦
یکی بود با آشکارم نهان
“'Throughout all this time I have been the supreme champion of the world, my inner soul completely aligned with my outer deeds.'”
#31
به سان فریدون فرخ‌نژاد
✦
که تاج بزرگی به سر بر نهاد
“'Like Fereydun of glorious lineage, who placed the crown of greatness upon his head;'”
#32
ز تخت اندرآورد ضحاک را
✦
سپرد آن سر و تاج او خاک را
“'Who pulled Zahhak down from his throne, and committed his evil head and crown to the dust;'”
#33
دگر سام کو بود ما را نیا
✦
ببرد از جهان دانش و کیمیا
“'And like my grandfather Sam, who bore away from the world the secrets of wisdom and alchemy;'”
#34
سه دیگر که چون من ببستم کمر
✦
تن آسان شد اندر جهان تاجور
“'Thirdly, when I bound my belt for battle, the crowned kings of the world found ease and security.'”
#35
بران خرمی روز هرگز نبود
✦
پی مرد بی‌راه بر دز نبود
“'Never were days more prosperous; no foot of a traitor or villain could stand upon any fortress.'”
#36
که من بودم اندر جهان کامران
✦
مرا بود شمشیر و گرز گران
“'For I was triumphant in the world, wielding the mighty sword and heavy mace.'”
#37
بدان گفتم این تا بدانی همه
✦
تو شاهی و گردنکشان چون رمه
“'I have recounted all this so that you may know: you are a king, and proud warriors are like your flock.'”
#38
تو اندر زمانه رسیده نوی
✦
اگر چند با فر کیخسروی
“'You are newly arrived in this world, even though you possess the divine glory of Kai Khosrow.'”
#39
تن خویش بینی همی در جهان
✦
نه‌ای آگه از کارهای نهان
“'You behold only yourself in this world, unaware of the hidden workings of fate.'”
#40
چو بسیار شد گفتها می‌خوریم
✦
به می جان اندیشه را بشکریم
“'Now that words have grown lengthy, let us drink wine; with wine, let us hunt away the grief of thought.'”