Pashotan, the noble and wise vizier, felt his heart deeply grieved by the plunder and slaughter that King Bahman had wrought upon Zabolistan. Standing before the young monarch, he spoke words of profound wisdom: 'O righteous King, if your heart sought vengeance, the score has been settled and truth has emerged. Issue no more commands for pillage and carnage. Fear God and look upon the turning wheel of Time, which raises one man to the high clouds only to cast another down in humiliation. Was it not your father Esfandiyar who returned in a wooden coffin to Nimruz? And did not Rostam perish in the treacherous pit of Kabul? No mortal abides forever. As long as you live, do not afflict those of noble lineage. If Zal, son of Sam Nariman, should cry out to the Almighty from his fetters and lay his grievance before the Creator, your star, bright though it may be, will wane. Remember that the Kianian throne endured through Rostam’s blade; from Kay Qobad to the pure-minded Kay Khosrow, every sovereign held their majesty by his strength. If you are wise, unclasp his chains and turn your heart from evil.'
Upon hearing Pashotan's counsel, Bahman was struck with remorse for his ancient grudge. A cry went out from the royal pavilion ordering the champions to cease pillaging and prepare to march back. Bahman commanded that the iron fetters be removed from Zal’s feet and offered him wise words of respect, while ordering the bodies of the fallen to be enshrined in tombs.
When Zal stepped out of prison into his hall, he and Rudabeh wept bitterly over their agonizing loss. Rudabeh wailed aloud: 'Alas, brave Rostam! While you were alive, who even knew that Goshtasp held the kingship of the world? Now our treasures are looted, Zal was fettered, and my champion son lies slain by an arrow! May no eye behold such bitter days!'
The sound of Rudabeh's grief reached Pashotan, whose face turned pale with sorrow. He approached Bahman once more, saying: 'O new King, lead the host away from this borderland at break of dawn, for this matter has become heavy and perilous. It is not fitting for the Shahanshah to linger in the sorrowful house of Zal.' As dawn painted the mountains the yellow hue of sandarach, warhorns and heavy cymbals echoed through the court. Bahman led his army out of Zabolistan back to the heartland of Iran. Settling upon the throne in joy, he governed with tradition and justice, bestowing coin upon the poor—even as the fickle World continues to afflict the hearts of all those it nurtures.
#1
گرامی پشوتن که دستور بود
✦
ز کشتن دلش سخت رنجور بود
“Dear Pashotan, who was the counselor, was deeply grieved in heart by the slaughter.”
#2
به پیش جهاندار بر پای خاست
✦
چنین گفت کای خسرو داد و راست
“He stood up before the ruler of the world and spoke thus: 'O King of justice and truth...'”
#3
اگر کینه بودت به دل خواستی
✦
پدید آمد از کاستی راستی
“'If you harbored vengeance in your heart, truth has now emerged from diminution.'”
#4
کنون غارت و کشتن و جنگ و جوش
✦
مفرمای و مپسند چندین خروش
“'Command no more plunder, killing, war, and turmoil, nor approve such endless uproar.'”
#5
ز یزدان بترس و ز ما شرم‌دار
✦
نگه کن بدین گردش روزگار
“'Fear God and feel shame before us; look upon this turning of fate.'”
#6
یکی را برآرد به ابر بلند
✦
یکی زو شود زار و خوار و نژند
“'It raises one man to the high clouds, while another becomes wretched, lowly, and broken.'”
#7
پدرت آن جهانگیر لشکر فروز
✦
نه تابوت را شد سوی نیمروز
“'Was it not your father, that world-conquering army-illuminator, who went in a coffin toward Nimruz?'”
#8
نه رستم به کابل به نخچیرگاه
✦
بدان شد که تا نیست گردد به چاه
“'Was it not Rostam who went to the hunting ground in Kabul only to perish in a pit?'”
#9
تو تا باشی ای خسرو پاک و راد
✦
مرنجان کسی را که دارد نژاد
“'So long as you live, O noble and pure king, do not afflict anyone of high descent.'”
#10
چو فرزند سام نریمان ز بند
✦
بنالد به پروردگار بلند
“'For if the son of Sam Nariman cries out in his chains to the Almighty Lord...'”
#11
بپیچی ازان گرچه نیک‌اختری
✦
چو با کردگار افگند داوری
“'You will suffer greatly, fortunate though you are, if he lays his grievance before the Creator.'”
#12
چو رستم نگهدار تخت کیان
✦
همی بر در رنج بستی میان
“'Rostam, the guardian of the Kianian throne, ever girded his loins in hardship for this realm.'”
#13
تو این تاج ازو یافتی یادگار
✦
نه از راه گشتاسپ و اسفندیار
“'You inherited this crown as a legacy from him, not merely through Goshtasp and Esfandiyar.'”
#14
ز هنگامهٔ کی قباد اندرآی
✦
چنین تا به کیخسرو پاک‌رای
“'Consider from the era of Kay Qobad down to the pure-minded Kay Khosrow...'”
#15
بزرگی به شمشیر او داشتند
✦
مهان را همه زیر او داشتند
“'They maintained their greatness by his sword, keeping all other mighty lords beneath them.'”
#16
ازو بند بردار گر بخردی
✦
دلت بازگردان ز راه بدی
“'Remove the fetters from him if you are wise, and turn your heart away from evil paths.'”
#17
چو بشنید شاه از پشوتن سخن
✦
پشیمان شد از درد و کین کهن
“When the king heard these words from Pashotan, he felt remorse for his painful, ancient grudge.”
#18
خروشی برآمد ز پرده‌سرای
✦
که ای پهلوانان با داد و رای
“A shout arose from the royal pavilion: 'O champions of justice and wisdom!'”
#19
بسیچیدن بازگشتن کنید
✦
مبادا که تاراج و کشتن کنید
“'Prepare for the return journey, and let there be no more pillaging and slaughter!'”
#20
بفرمود تا پای دستان ز بند
✦
گشادند و دادند بسیار پند
“He ordered the chains unclasped from Zal's feet, offering him much wise counsel.”
#21
تن کشته را دخمه کردند جای
✦
به گفتار دستور پاکیزه‌رای
“They placed the slain in tombs, following the words of the pure-minded counselor.”
#22
ز زندان به ایوان گذر کرد زال
✦
برو زار بگریست فرخ همال
“Zal walked from the prison into the hall, and his noble companion wept bitterly over him.”
#23
که زارا دلیرا گوا رستما
✦
نبیرهٔ گو نامور نیرما
“[Lamenting:] 'Alas, brave and mighty Rostam! O famous grandson of Nariman!'”
#24
تو تا زنده‌بودی که آگاه بود
✦
که گشتاسپ اندر جهان شاه بود
“'While you were alive, who even knew that Goshtasp held kingship in the world?'”
#25
کنون گنج تاراج و دستان اسیر
✦
پسر زار کشته به پیکان تیر
“'Now our treasure is looted, Dastan is bound, and my son lies slain by an arrow!'”
#26
مبیناد چشم کس این روزگار
✦
زمین باد بی‌تخم اسفندیار
“'May no one's eye ever behold such days; may the earth be bereft of Esfandiyar's seed!'”
#27
ازان آگهی سوی بهمن رسید
✦
به نزدیک فرخ پشوتن رسید
“News of this grief reached Bahman and came to auspicious Pashotan.”
#28
پشوتن ز رودابه پردرد شد
✦
ازان شیون او رخش زرد شد
“Pashotan's heart grew heavy with grief for Rudabeh, and his cheeks turned pale at her wailing.”
#29
به بهمن چنین گفت کای شاه نو
✦
چو بر نیمهٔ آسمان ماه نو
“He said to Bahman: 'O new king, shining like the crescent moon in mid-sky...'”
#30
به شبگیر ازین مرز لشکر بران
✦
که این کار دشوار گشت و گران
“'Lead the army away from this borderland at dawn, for this affair has become heavy and perilous.'”
#31
ز تاج تو چشم بدان دور باد
✦
همه روزگاران تو سور باد
“'May the evil eye be far from your crown, and may all your days be filled with joy!'”
#32
بدین خانهٔ زال سام دلیر
✦
سزد گر نماند شهنشاه دیر
“'It is fitting that the king of kings delay no longer in the house of Zal, son of Sam.'”
#33
چو شد کوه بر گونهٔ سندروس
✦
ز درگاه برخاست آوای کوس
“When the mountains turned yellow as sandarach at dawn, the sound of drums arose from the court.”
#34
بفرمود پس بهمن کینه‌خواه
✦
کزانجا برانند یکسر سپاه
“Then vengeance-seeking Bahman ordered the host to march entirely away from there.”
#35
هم‌انگه برآمد ز پرده‌سرای
✦
تبیره ابا بوق و هندی درای
“Instantly from the royal pavilion arose the drums, trumpets, and Indian bell bells.”
#36
از آنجا به ایران نهادند روی
✦
به گفتار دستور آزاده‌خوی
“From there they set their faces toward Iran, heeding the counsel of the noble advisor.”
#37
سپه را ز زابل به ایران کشید
✦
به نزدیک شهر دلیران کشید
“He led the host from Zabol to Iran, bringing them near the city of heroes.”
#38
برآسود و بر تخت بنشست شاد
✦
جهان را همی داشت با رسم و داد
“He rested and sat joyfully upon the throne, holding the world in justice and custom.”
#39
به درویش بخشید چندی درم
✦
ازو چند شادان و چندی دژم
“He bestowed coins upon the needy; though some grew joyful through him, others remained sad.”
#40
جهانا چه خواهی ز پروردگان
✦
چه پروردگان داغ دل بردگان
“O World! What do you demand of those you nurture—those nurtured ones who carry grief-stricken hearts?”