#1
ازان نامداران سواری بجست
✦
گهی شد پیاده گهی برنشست
“From among those chieftains, a single rider escaped, galloping by turns and walking by turns.”
#2
چو آمد سوی زابلستان بگفت
✦
که پیل ژیان گشت با خاک جفت
“When he arrived in Zabulistan, he announced: 'The raging elephant has been joined with the dust!'”
#3
زواره همان و سپاهش همان
✦
سواری نجست از بد بدگمان
“Zavareh and his host met the same fate; not a single warrior escaped the villain’s trap.”
#4
خروشی برآمد ز زابلستان
✦
ز بدخواه وز شاه کابلستان
“A wailing roar arose from Zabulistan against that evil-doer and the King of Kabulistan.”
#5
همی ریخت زال از بر یال خاک
✦
همی‌کرد روی و بر خویش چاک
“Zal poured dust upon his head and neck, tearing at his face and his chest in agony.”
#6
همی‌گفت زار ای گو پیلتن
✦
نخواهم که پوشد تنم جز کفن
“He cried out bitterly: 'O elephant-bodied hero! I wish for my body no garment now save the shroud!'”
#7
گو سرفراز اژدهای دلیر
✦
زواره که بد نامبردار شیر
“'And proud Zavareh, that valiant dragon and renowned lion among warriors!'”
#8
شغاد آن بنفرین شوریده‌بخت
✦
بکند از بن این خسروانی درخت
“'Shaghad, that cursed and wretched fool, uprooted this royal tree from its very base!'”
#9
که داند که با پیل روباه شوم
✦
همی کین سگالد بران مرز و بوم
“'Who could believe that an ominous fox would plot such deadly vengeance against an elephant?'”
#10
که دارد به یاد این چنین روزگار
✦
که داند شنیدن ز آموزگار
“'Who remembers such a tragic time? Who has heard such a tale from any teacher?'”
#11
که چون رستمی پیش بینم به خاک
✦
به گفتار روباه گردد هلاک
“'That I should see a lion like Rostam laid in dust, perished through the cunning words of a fox!'”
#12
چرا پیش ایشان نمردم به زار
✦
چرا ماندم اندر جهان یادگار
“'Why did I not die miserably before them? Why was I left behind in this world as a remembrance?'”
#13
چرا بایدم زندگانی و گاه
✦
چرا بایدم خواب و آرامگاه
“'Why do I need life and throne? Why do I need sleep and a place of rest?'”
#14
پس‌انگه بسی مویه آغاز کرد
✦
چو بر پور پهلو همی ساز کرد
“Then he began a deep and bitter lamentation, as he sang the dirge for his heroic son.”
#15
گوا شیرگیرا یلا مهترا
✦
دلاور جهاندیده گُندآورا
“'O lion-capturing champion, O hero and master! O brave, world-experienced warrior!'”
#16
کجات آن دلیری و مردانگی
✦
کجات آن بزرگی و فرزانگی
“'Where is your courage and chivalry now? Where is your greatness and your wisdom?'”
#17
کجات آن دل و رای و روشن‌روان
✦
کجات آن بر و برز و یال گران
“'Where is your brave heart, sound judgment, and bright spirit? Where is your mighty stature and heavy chest?'”
#18
کجات آن بزرگ اژدهافش درفش
✦
کجا تیر و گوپال و تیغ بنفش
“'Where is your dragon-shaped banner? Where are your arrows, your heavy mace, and violet sword?'”
#19
نماندی به گیتی و رفتی به خاک
✦
که بادا سر دشمنت در مغاک
“'You remained not in this world and went to dust; may your enemy's head be cast into the pit!'”
#20
پس انگه فرامرز را با سپاه
✦
فرستاد تا رزم جوید ز شاه
“Thereupon he dispatched Faramarz with an army, that he might seek battle against the King of Kabul,”
#21
تن کشته از چاه باز آورد
✦
جهان را به زاری نیاز آورد
“To bring back the slain bodies from the pit, and to turn the world into a realm of mourning.”
#22
فرامرز چون پیش کابل رسید
✦
به شهر اندرون نامداری ندید
“When Faramarz reached the gates of Kabul, he saw no chieftain remaining within the city.”
#23
گریزان همه شهر، گریان شده
✦
ز سوک جهانگیر بریان شده
“The entire city had fled in tears, their hearts consumed with grief for the world-conqueror.”
#24
بیامد بران دشت نخچیرگاه
✦
به جایی کجا کنده بودند چاه
“He came upon that hunting plain, to the place where they had dug the pit.”
#25
چو روی پدر دید پور دلیر
✦
خروشی برآورد بر سان شیر
“When the brave son beheld his father's face, he raised a roar like a lion in anger.”
#26
بدان گونه بر خاک تن پر ز خون
✦
به روی زمین بر فگنده نگون
“Seeing his body thus covered in blood upon the earth, cast face down upon the ground,”
#27
همی گفت کای پهلوان بلند
✦
به رویت که آورد زین سان گزند
“He cried out: 'O exalted hero! Who brought such harm upon your noble face?'”
#28
که نفرین بران مرد بی‌باک باد
✦
به جای کله بر سرش خاک باد
“'Cursed be that ruthless villain! May dust cover his head instead of a crown!'”
#29
به یزدان و جان تو ای نامدار
✦
به خاک نریمان و سام سوار
“'By Almighty God, and by your pure soul, O famous knight, and by the sacred dust of Nariman and Sam,'”
#30
که هرگز نبیند تنم جز زره
✦
بیوسنده و برفگنده گره
“'My body shall never see any attire save mail, tightly strapped and buckled for war,'”
#31
بدان تا که کین گو پیلتن
✦
بخواهم ازان بی‌وفا انجمن
“'Until I exact full vengeance for the elephant-bodied hero from that treacherous assembly,'”
#32
هم‌انکس که با او بدین کین میان
✦
ببستند و آمد به ما بر زبان
“'And all those who bound themselves to this malice, whose names have come to our ears,'”
#33
نمانم ز ایشان یکی را به جای
✦
هم‌انکس که بود اندرین رهنمای
“'I shall not leave a single one of them alive, nor anyone who guided them upon this path!'”
#34
بفرمود تا تختهای گران
✦
بیارند از هر سوی در کران
“He commanded heavy wooden biers to be brought from every direction,”
#35
ببردند بسیار باهوی و تخت
✦
نهادند بر تخت زیبا درخت
“They brought many wooden planks and frames, placing that beautiful royal tree upon the bier.”
#36
گشاد آن میان بستن پهلوی
✦
برآهیخت زو جامهٔ خسروی
“He untied the hero's warrior girdle and stripped off his royal armor.”
#37
نخستین بشستندش از خون گرم
✦
بر و یال و ریش و تنش نرم‌نرم
“First, they washed away the warm blood softly from his chest, arms, beard, and body.”
#38
همی عنبر و زعفران سوختند
✦
همه خستگیهاش بردوختند
“They burned amber and saffron, and carefully stitched closed all his wounds.”
#39
همی ریخت بر تارکش بر گلاب
✦
بگسترد بر تنش کافور ناب
“They poured rosewater upon his crown and spread pure camphor over his body.”
#40
به دیبا تنش را بیاراستند
✦
ازان پس گل و مشک و می خواستند
“They adorned his body with fine brocade, and then called for flowers, musk, and wine.”
#41
کفن‌دوز بر وی ببارید خون
✦
به شانه زد آن ریش کافورگون
“The shroud-sewer wept blood over him as he combed that camphor-hued beard.”
#42
نبد جا تنش را همی بر دو تخت
✦
تنی بود گر سایه‌گستر درخت؟
“His frame could hardly fit upon two biers—was it a mortal body or a shade-casting tree?”
#43
یکی نغز تابوت کردند ساج
✦
برو میخ زرین و پیکر ز عاج
“They constructed a splendid teakwood sarcophagus, with golden nails and ivory figures.”
#44
همه درزهایش گرفته به قیر
✦
برآلوده بر قیر مشک و عبیر
“They sealed all its seams with pitch, scenting the pitch with musk and ambergris.”
#45
ز چاهی برادرش را برکشید
✦
همی دوخت جایی کجا خسته دید
“From another pit he drew his brother out, stitching closed every wound he found upon his body.”
#46
زبر مشک و کافور و زیرش گلاب
✦
ازان سان همی ریخت بر جای خواب
“Above his bed was poured musk and camphor, and beneath it rosewater; thus did they prepare his resting place.”
#47
ازان پس تن رخش را برکشید
✦
بشست و برو جامه‌ها گسترید
“Thereafter he pulled Rakhsh's body from the pit, washed it clean, and spread fine garments over him.”
#48
بشستند و کردند دیبا کفن
✦
بجستند جایی یکی نارون
“They washed the bodies and wrapped them in brocade shrouds, then sought out a massive elm tree nearby.”
#49
برفتند بیداردل درگران
✦
بریدند ازو تختهای گران
“Wise and skilled craftsmen went forth and cut thick, heavy planks of timber from that tree.”
#50
دو روز اندران کار شد روزگار
✦
تن رخش بر پیل کردند بار
“Two days were spent in that task, after which they loaded the body of Rakhsh upon an elephant.”
#51
ز کابلستان تا به زابلستان
✦
زمین شد به کردار غلغلستان
“From Kabulistan all the way to Zabulistan, the whole earth resounded with tumultuous lamentation.”
#52
زن و مرد بد ایستاده به پای
✦
تنی را نبد بر زمین نیز جای
“Men and women stood mourning together; such was the press of people that no open space remained on the ground.”
#53
دو تابوت بر دست بگذاشتند
✦
ز انبوه چون باد پنداشتند
“They carried the two coffins upon their hands; swept forward by the crowd, it seemed as if the wind bore them.”
#54
بده روز و ده شب به زابل رسید
✦
کسش بر زمین بر نهاده ندید
“For ten days and ten nights they journeyed to Zabul, and no one saw the coffins set down upon the earth.”
#55
زمانه شد از درد او با خروش
✦
تو گفتی که هامون برآمد به جوش
“The world itself cried out in sorrow at his death; thou wouldst say the very desert boiled over with grief.”
#56
کسی نیز نشنید آواز کس
✦
همه بومها مویه کردند و بس
“No one could hear another's voice amid the tumult; across all lands, there was only weeping.”
#57
به باغ اندرون دخمه‌ای ساختند
✦
سرش را به ابر اندر افراختند
“Within a garden they constructed a magnificent tomb, exalting its summit into the clouds.”
#58
برابر نهادند زرین دو تخت
✦
بران خوابنیده گو نیکبخت
“Side by side they set two golden thrones, laying upon them the blessed champion.”
#59
هرانکس که بود از پرستندگان
✦
از آزاد وز پاکدل بندگان
“Every person who belonged to his retinue, both noble freemen and pure-hearted servants,”
#60
همی مشک باگل برآمیختند
✦
به پای گو پیلتن ریختند
“Blended musk with rose petals continuously and scattered them at the feet of the elephant-bodied hero.”
#61
همی هرکسی گفت کای نامدار
✦
چرا خواستی مشک و عنبر نثار
“Everyone wept and said: 'O glorious chieftain, why hast thou now become the recipient of musk and ambergris?'”
#62
نخواهی همی پادشاهی و بزم
✦
نپوشی همی نیز خفتان رزم
“'Thou no longer seekest sovereignty and feasts, nor wilt thou ever don thy coat of mail for battle.'”
#63
نبخشی همی گنج و دینار نیز
✦
همانا که شد پیش تو خوار چیز
“'Thou no longer bestowest treasures and gold; surely all earthly possessions have grown worthless in thy eyes.'”
#64
کنون شاد باشی به خرم بهشت
✦
که یزدانت از داد و مردی سرشت
“'Mayest thou now rejoice in green Paradise, for God fashioned thy essence out of justice and nobility.'”
#65
در دخمه بستند و گشتند باز
✦
شد آن نامور شیر گردن‌فراز
“They sealed the doorway of the mausoleum and turned back; thus departed that renowned, proud lion.”
#66
چه جویی همی زین سرای سپنج
✦
کز آغاز رنجست و فرجام رنج
“What seekest thou from this transient abode, whose beginning is sorrow and whose end is suffering?”
#67
بریزی به خاک ار همه ز آهنی
✦
اگر دین‌پرستی ور آهرمنی
“Thou shalt crumble into dust though thou wert forged of iron, whether thou art a devout believer or a demonic soul.”
#68
تو تا زنده‌ای سوی نیکی گرای
✦
مگر کام یابی به دیگر سرای
“So long as life remains, incline toward goodness, that perchance thou mayest find fulfillment in the realm to come.”