In the borderlands of Bost, Faramarz was consumed by agonizing grief. The capture of his white-haired grandfather Zal, bound in iron chains by the Kianian monarch Bahman, and the tragic demise of his father Rostam had filled the young champion's heart with fiery sorrow and vengeance. Gathering the luminous nobles of Zabulistan and Kabol, Faramarz spoke with a heavy heart, recalling the prophetic warnings of his uncle Zavareh. Long ago, Zavareh had cautioned Rostam that Esfandiyar's line would one day demand blood for blood, yet Rostam, in his proud glory, had dismissed the advice. Now, those dire prophecies had come to pass: Bahman had marched forth with a host dark as a thundercloud to exact retribution for Esfandiyar, Nush-Azar, and Mehr-nush.
Faramarz lamented how their glorious lineage, which had served as Iran's unbreakable shield for generations, was now being devastated, its realm plundered, and its elders shackled. Moved by his grief, the loyal chieftains of Zabul swore absolute allegiance, declaring themselves his steadfast servants unto death. Reinvigorated by their fierce resolve, Faramarz donned his battle mail, assembled his forces, and marched forth to face the Kianian king.
When news reached King Bahman, he was inflamed with rage upon his throne. He mobilized his army and advanced into the rugged territory of Ghor. The two armies collided in a cataclysmic clash. The dust raised by thousands of horsemen blotted out the glowing sun, while the roar of war-trumpets and Indian bells shook the very foundations of the mountains. For three days and three nights, the bloody carnage endured without respite. Arrows rained down like deadly hail, axes splintered shields, and heavy maces smashed armor, leaving mounds of the slain towering across the blood-soaked earth.
On the fourth day, the tides of war turned when a violent windstorm erupted, blowing dense clouds of blinding dust directly into the faces of the Zabul forces. Blinded and demoralized, the warriors of Zabul and Kabol broke formation and fled the field, abandoning Faramarz. Though left with only a handful of loyal fighters and his body covered in sword wounds, Faramarz fought like a wounded lion, refusing to retreat.
Eventually, the warrior Yaz-Ardashir overwhelmed the exhausted hero and dragged him in chains before King Bahman. Showing no mercy or clemency for the line of Rostam, Bahman ordered a tall gibbet to be erected. Faramarz was bound and suspended alive upside down upon the gallows. Then, at the King's command, the Iranian archers raised their bows, subjecting the formidable prince of Zabulistan to a brutal rain of arrows until his valiant spirit departed.
#1
غمی شد فرامرز در مرز بست
✦
ز درد نیا دست کین را بشست
“Faramarz grew deeply sorrowful in the border region of Bost; from the pain of his grandfather's fate, he washed his hands of vengeance.”
#2
همه نامداران روشن‌روان
✦
برفتند یکسر بر پهلوان
“All the bright-souled nobles gathered together and went before the champion.”
#3
بدان نامداران زبان برگشاد
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ز گفت زواره بسی کرد یاد
“To those nobles he opened his speech, recalling much of what Zavareh had once said:”
#4
که پیش پدرم آن جهاندیده مرد
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همی گفت و لبها پر از بادسرد
“"Who used to say before my father, that battle-tested man, with lips full of cold sighs,”
#5
که بهمن ز ما کین اسفندیار
✦
بخواهد تو این را به بازی مدار
“'Bahman will surely seek revenge from us for Esfandiyar; do not treat this matter as a joke!'”
#6
پدرم آن جهاندیدهٔ نامور
✦
ز گفت زواره بپیچید سر
“My father, that world-renowned battle-tested hero, turned his head away from Zavareh's words;”
#7
نپذرفت و نشنید اندرز او
✦
ازو گشت ویران کنون مرز او
“He did not accept or listen to his counsel, and because of that, his realm has now been destroyed.”
#8
نیا چون گذشت او به شاهی رسید
✦
سر تاج شاهی به ماهی رسید
“When my grandfather passed, Bahman succeeded to the throne, and the crown of his kingship reached the moon.”
#9
کنون بهمن نامور شهریار
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همی نو کند کین اسفندیار
“Now the renowned King Bahman renews the vengeance for Esfandiyar,”
#10
هم از کین مهر آن سوار دلیر
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ز نوش‌آذر آن گرد درنده شیر
“And also revenge for the love of that brave horseman Mehr, and for Nush-Azar, that fierce, tearing lion.”
#11
کنون خواهد از ما همی کین‌شان
✦
به جای آورد کین و آیین‌شان
“Now he demands revenge from us, seeking to fulfill their vengeance and custom.”
#12
ز ایران سپاهی چو ابر سیاه
✦
بیاورد نزدیک ما کینه‌خواه
“From Iran he brought an army like a dark cloud toward us, seeking vengeance.”
#13
نیای من آن نامدار بلند
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گرفت و به زنجیر کردش به بند
“He seized my noble grandfather and bound him fast in chains—”
#14
که بودی سپر پیش ایرانیان
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به مردی بهر کینه بسته میان
“He who was the shield before all Iranians, girded in valor for every battle!”
#15
چه آمد بدین نامور دودمان
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که آید ز هر سو بمابر زیان
“What has befallen this illustrious lineage, that harm assails us from every side?”
#16
پدر کشته و بند سایه نیا
✦
به مغز اندرون خون بود کیمیا
“My father slain, and my venerable grandfather in chains—blood boils like alchemy within my brain!”
#17
به تاراج داده همه مرز خویش
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نبینم سر مایهٔ ارز خویش
“All his land given over to plunder; I see no remnant of our worth and treasure.”
#18
شما نیز یکسر چه گویید باز
✦
هرانکس که هستید گردن‌فراز
“Now, what do all of you reply, whoever among you is proud and exalted?"”
#19
بگفتند کای گرد روشن‌روان
✦
پدر بر پدر بر توی پهلوان
“They said: "O warrior of luminous soul! You are our champion, generation after generation.”
#20
همه یک به یک پیش تو بنده‌ایم
✦
برای و به فرمان تو زنده‌ایم
“We are one and all your servants; we live by your counsel and your command."”
#21
چو بشنید پوشید خفتان جنگ
✦
دلی پر ز کینه سری پر ز ننگ
“When he heard this, he donned his armor of battle, his heart full of vengeance, his head full of shame.”
#22
سپه کرد و سر سوی بهمن نهاد
✦
ز رزم تهمتن بسی کرد یاد
“He raised an army and turned his head toward Bahman, remembering much of Tahamtan's warfare.”
#23
چو نزدیک بهمن رسید آگهی
✦
برآشفت بر تخت شاهنشهی
“When word reached Bahman, he became enraged upon the royal throne.”
#24
بنه برنهاد و سپه برنشاند
✦
به غور اندر آمد دو هفته بماند
“He packed his baggage, mounted his army, entered Ghor, and remained there for two weeks.”
#25
فرامرز پیش آمدش با سپاه
✦
جهان شد ز گرد سواران سیاه
“Faramarz advanced against him with his army; the world turned dark from the dust of the horsemen.”
#26
وزان روی بهمن صفی برکشید
✦
که خورشید تابان زمین را ندید
“And from that side, Bahman drew up his ranks so densely that the radiant sun could not see the earth.”
#27
ز آواز شیپور و هندی درای
✦
همی کوه را دل برآمد ز جای
“From the sound of trumpets and Indian bells, the heart of the mountains was displaced.”
#28
بشست آسمان روی گیتی به قیر
✦
ببارید چون ژاله از ابر تیر
“The sky washed the face of the world with pitch; arrows rained down like hail from the clouds.”
#29
ز چاک تبرزین و جر کمان
✦
زمین گشت جنبان‌تر از آسمان
“From the striking of battle-axes and the snapping of bows, the earth shook more violently than the heavens.”
#30
سه روز و سه شب هم برین رزمگاه
✦
به رخشنده روز و به تابنده ماه
“For three days and three nights upon this battlefield, under the radiant sun and shining moon,”
#31
همی گرز بارید و پولاد تیغ
✦
ز گرد سپاه آسمان گشت میغ
“Heavy maces and steel swords rained down continuously; sky became mist from the army's dust.”
#32
به روز چهارم یکی باد خاست
✦
تو گفتی که با روز شب گشت راست
“On the fourth day, a violent wind arose, as if day had merged directly into night.”
#33
به سوی فرامرز برگشت باد
✦
جهاندار گشت از دم باد شاد
“The wind turned straight against Faramarz; the king grew glad from the blast of that wind.”
#34
همی شد پس گرد با تیغ تیز
✦
برآورد زان انجمن رستخیز
“He rushed behind the dust with a sharp sword, unleashing a resurrection of slaughter upon that assembly.”
#35
ز بستی و از لشکر زابلی
✦
ز گردان شمشیر زن کابلی
“Of the men of Bost and the Zabul army, of the sword-wielding champions of Kabul,”
#36
برآوردگه بر سواری نماند
✦
وزان سرکشان نامداری نماند
“Not a single rider remained on the battlefield, nor any renowned chieftain left alive.”
#37
همه سربسر پشت برگاشتند
✦
فرامرز را خوار بگذاشتند
“They all turned their backs and fled, wretchedly abandoning Faramarz.”
#38
همه رزمگه کشته چون کوه کوه
✦
به هم برفگنده ز هر دو گروه
“The entire battlefield was filled with corpses piled high like mountains from both hosts.”
#39
فرامرز با اندکی رزمجوی
✦
به مردی به روی اندر آورد روی
“Faramarz, with a handful of remaining warriors, bravely turned to face the enemy head-on.”
#40
همه تنش پر زخم شمشیر بود
✦
که فرزند شیران بد و شیر بود
“His whole body was covered in sword wounds, for he was the son of lions and himself a lion.”
#41
سرانجام بر دست یاز اردشیر
✦
گرفتار شد نامدار دلیر
“At last, at the hands of Yaz-Ardashir, that brave, renowned warrior was captured.”
#42
بر بهمن آوردش از رزمگاه
✦
بدو کرد کین‌دار چندی نگاه
“He brought him from the battlefield before Bahman, who looked upon his vengeance-bound enemy for a while.”
#43
چو دیدش ندادش به جان زینهار
✦
بفرمود داری زدن شهریار
“When he saw him, he granted him no mercy for his life; the King commanded a gallows to be set up.”
#44
فرامرز را زنده بر دار کرد
✦
تن پیلوارش نگونسار کرد
“They hanged Faramarz alive upon the gibbet, turning his elephant-like body upside down.”
#45
ازان پس بفرمود شاه اردشیر
✦
که کشتند او را به باران تیر
“Thereafter, King Ardashir commanded that they slay him with a rain of arrows.”