When Bahman ascended the imperial throne of his ancestors, he bound his waist with justice and opened wide the doors of his royal treasury. He showered his host with silver and gold, bestowing vast domains and lordships upon his realm's noble chieftains. Then, he summoned a grand assembly of wise elders, veterans, and enlightened counselors, his head heavy with grief and his heart dripping blood as he brought forth the memory of his fallen father, Esfandiyar.
Addressing the assembly, Bahman declared: 'O enlightened minds, both young and old, remember well the turns of Fortune and the fate of Esfandiyar! Remember what Rostam and the sorcerous old Zal brought upon us, and how Faramarz now seeks our ruin both openly and in secret! My mind is consumed by anguish for Nush-Azar and Mehr-Nush, and for Esfandiyar, by whose glory the noble world once flourished. Even the painted murals upon the palace walls weep bitterly for Esfandiyar's blood. He who springs from pure lineage must never let the honor of his forefathers be buried in the dust! Just as King Fereydun avenged Jamshid upon Zahhak, Manuchehr brought a mighty army from Amol to avenge Iraj upon Salm and Tur, Kay Khosrow turned the world into a crimson sea to avenge Siyavash, and even Faramarz laid Kabul to dust to avenge Rostam—so too am I the most bound by duty to ride against the roaring lions!'
Upon hearing Bahman's impassioned decree, the captains and the host cried out in unison: 'We are thy humble servants! Our hearts are filled with thy love, and thy wisdom surpasses all. Do whatever thy royal will desires, for none shall turn away from thy command!' Reassured by his army's absolute loyalty, Bahman's fury burned hotter still. At dawn, the thunderous roar of the war-drums echoed through the encampment, raising ebony clouds of dust into the heavens as one hundred thousand sword-wielding horsemen rode forth toward the realm of Sistan.
#1
چو بهمن به تخت نیا بر نشست
✦
کمر با میان بست و بگشاد دست
“When Bahman ascended his grandfather's throne, he girt his waist and opened wide his generous hand.”
#2
سپه را درم داد و دینار داد
✦
همان کشور و مرز بسیار داد
“He distributed silver and gold among his host, bestowing vast domains and territories upon them.”
#3
یکی انجمن ساخت از بخردان
✦
بزرگان و کار آزموده ردان
“He gathered an assembly of the wise, the great nobles, and experienced chieftains.”
#4
چنین گفت کز کار اسفندیار
✦
ز نیک و بد گردش روزگار
“He spoke to them: 'Concerning the fate of Esfandiyar, and the good and ill of Fortune's turn,'”
#5
همه یاد دارید پیر و جوان
✦
هرانکس که هستید روشن‌روان
“'All of you remember—young and old alike, every enlightened soul among you—'”
#6
که رستم گه زندگانی چه کرد
✦
همان زال افسونگر آن پیرمرد
“'What Rostam did in his lifespan, and how that sorcerous old man Zal acted,'”
#7
فرامرز جز کین ما در جهان
✦
نجوید همی آشکار و نهان
“'And how Faramarz now seeks nothing in this world, openly or in secret, save malice against us!'”
#8
سرم پر ز دردست و دل پر ز خون
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جز از کین ندارم به مغز اندرون
“'My head is brimmed with anguish, my heart bleeds, and in my mind I harbour nothing but vengeance!'”
#9
دو جنگی چو نوش‌آذر و مهرنوش
✦
که از درد ایشان برآمد خروش
“'For two such warriors as Nush-Azar and Mehr-Nush, whose agonizing loss raised cries of grief,'”
#10
چو اسفندیاری که اندر جهان
✦
بدو تازه بد روزگار مهان
“'And for Esfandiyar, by whose noble presence the era of heroes flourished in the world!'”
#11
به زابلستان زان نشان کشته شد
✦
ز دردش دد و دام سرگشته شد
“'He was slain thus in Zabulistan, so that wild beasts and cattle wandered bewildered by his loss.'”
#12
همانا که بر خون اسفندیار
✦
به زاری بگرید به ایوان نگار
“'Truly, even the painted figures upon the palace walls weep bitterly for the blood of Esfandiyar,'”
#13
هم از خون آن نامداران ما
✦
جوانان و جنگی سواران ما
“'And for the blood of our illustrious nobles, our youth, and our valiant horsemen.'”
#14
هر آنکس که او باشد از آب پاک
✦
نیارد سر گوهر اندر مغاک
“'Whoever springs from pure lineage will never cast down the honor of his noble origin into the dust.'”
#15
به کردار شاه آفریدون بود
✦
چو خونین بباشد همایون بود
“'It should be after the manner of King Fereydun; when vengeance demands blood, it becomes blessed.'”
#16
که ضحاک را از پی خون جم
✦
ز نام‌آوران جهان کرد کم
“'Who, to avenge the blood of Jamshid, struck down Zahhak from among the world's renowned!'”
#17
منوچهر با سلم و تور سترگ
✦
بیاورد ز آمل سپاهی بزرگ
“'And Manuchehr, to confront mighty Salm and Tur, brought forth a formidable host from Amol,'”
#18
به چین رفت و کین نیا بازخواست
✦
مرا همچنان داستانست راست
“'He marched to China and demanded vengeance for his forefather—and my tale holds true to that example!'”
#19
چو کیخسرو آمد از افراسیاب
✦
ز خون کرد گیتی چو دریای آب
“'When Kay Khosrow sought revenge against Afrasiab, he turned the world into a sea of blood!'”
#20
پدرم آمد و کین لهراسپ خواست
✦
ز کشته زمین کرد با کوه راست
“'My own father came to avenge Lohrasp, making the slain plain level with the mountains!'”
#21
فرامرز کز بهر خون پدر
✦
به خورشید تابان برآورد سر
“'Even Faramarz, who for his father's blood, raised his head to the shining sun,'”
#22
به کابل شد و کین رستم بخواست
✦
همه بوم و بر کرد با خاک راست
“'Marched unto Kabul to avenge Rostam, leveling that entire land to dust and ash!'”
#23
زمین را ز خون بازنشناختند
✦
همی باره بر کشتگان تاختند
“'They could no longer discern the ground beneath the blood, as chargers trampled over piles of slain.'”
#24
به کینه سزاوارتر کس منم
✦
که بر شیر درنده اسپ افگنم
“'Now I am the most worthy of taking vengeance! I shall ride my charger against the fierce lion!'”
#25
اگر بشمری در جهان نامدار
✦
سواری نبینی چو اسفندیار
“'If you count the world's celebrated champions, you will find no horseman to match Esfandiyar!'”
#26
چه بیند و این را چه پاسخ دهید
✦
بکوشید تا رای فرخ نهید
“'What do you counsel in this matter, and what answer do you give? Strive to offer a blessed judgment!'”
#27
چو بشنید گفتار بهمن سپاه
✦
هرانکس که بد شاه را نیکخواه
“When the host and every loyal well-wisher of the King heard Bahman's speech,”
#28
به آواز گفتند ما بنده‌ایم
✦
همه دل به مهر تو آگنده‌ایم
“They raised their voices, crying: 'We are thy servants! Our hearts are filled with thy love!'”
#29
ز کار گذشته تو داناتری
✦
ز مردان جنگی تواناتری
“'Thou art wiser than all regarding deeds of the past, and more powerful than any warlike champion!'”
#30
به گیتی همان کن که کام آیدت
✦
وگر زان سخن فر و نام آیدت
“'Do in this world whatever thy heart desires, wherever glory and renown await thee!'”
#31
نپیچد کسی سر ز فرمان تو
✦
که یارد گذشتن ز پیمان تو
“'None shall turn his head from thy command; who would dare break a covenant with thee?'”
#32
چو پاسخ چنین یافت از لشکرش
✦
به کین اندرون تیزتر شد سرش
“When he received such an answer from his host, his passion for revenge burned even hotter.”
#33
همه سیستان را بیاراستند
✦
برین بر نهادند و برخاستند
“They targeted the entire land of Sistan for ruin, resolved upon this cause, and rose to march.”
#34
به شبگیر برخاست آوای کوس
✦
شد از گرد لشکر سپهر آبنوس
“At twilight, the thunderous roar of the war-drums echoed, and the sky turned ebony with dust raised by the host!”
#35
همی رفت زان لشکر نامدار
✦
سواران شمشیرزن صد هزار
“And from that famous host marched one hundred thousand sword-wielding horsemen!”