#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.'”