Darab, long sensing that his true bloodline differed from the humble washerman and his wife, at last gave voice to his inner doubt. He declared to the washerman that no filial affection stirred within his heart, nor did his features bear any resemblance to the man who claimed him. The washerman lamented the years of toil he had bestowed upon him, advising the youth to seek the truth from his mother.
One day, when the washerman had gone to the riverbank, Darab barred the doors, drew his blade, and demanded the truth from the washerman's wife. Fearing for her life and invoking the Almighty, she unraveled the mystery: she recounted the floating chest upon the waters, the nursing babe, the vast treasure of gold dinars, and the uncut royal jewel. She confessed that they were merely simple artisans, and that all their worldly possessions—their garments and mounts—belonged solely to him.
Equipped with his portion of gold and the shimmering gem, Darab purchased a fine horse, a modest saddle, and a lariat. He traveled to the domain of a wise and noble border warden (Marzban) who welcomed him with honor. Yet peaceful days were cut short when a hostile host from Rome invaded the borderlands. In the ensuing clash, the brave Marzban was slain, leaving his forces in disarray.
When news of the Roman aggression reached Queen Humay, she appointed her formidable commander-in-chief, Rashnawad, to assemble a vast army and ravage the invaders' lands. Eager for glory, Darab hastened to the muster ground and inscribed his name in the military rolls. On the day of the imperial review, Queen Humay arrived with her grandees to inspect the troops. As the ranks filed past, her gaze fell upon Darab—a majestic youth wielding a steel mace, whose towering presence seemed to dwarf the surrounding plain. Upon beholding his glorious countenance and noble stature, the secret bond of nature awakened, and milk miraculously began to flow from the Queen's breasts. Spellbound, Humay questioned her general about this valiant, towering rider whose sublime carriage far surpassed his humble armor.
#1
به گازر چنین گفت روزی که من
✦
همی این نهان دارم از انجمن
“One day he said to the washerman: 'I keep this secret hidden from the assembly.'”
#2
نجنبد همی بر تو بر مهر من
✦
نماند به چهر تو هم چهر من
“'No affection for you stirs within me, nor does my countenance resemble yours.'”
#3
شگفت آیدم چون پسر خوانیم
✦
به دکان بر خویش بنشانیم
“'It fills me with wonder that you call me son, and seat me beside yourself at the shop.'”
#4
بدو گفت گازر که اینت سخن
✦
دریغ آن شده رنجهای کهن
“The washerman replied: 'What words are these? Alas for all my ancient toil gone to waste!'”
#5
تراگر منش زان من برتر است
✦
پدرجوی را راز با مادر است
“'If your nature is higher than mine, one who seeks his father must seek the secret from his mother.'”
#6
چنان بد که یک روز گازر برفت
✦
ز خانه سوی رود یازید تفت
“It so happened that one day the washerman left, making his way swiftly to the river.”
#7
در خانه را تنگ داراب بست
✦
بیامد به شمشیر یازید دست
“Darab securely barred the door of the house, drew his sword, and stepped forward.”
#8
به زن گفت کژی و تاری مجوی
✦
هرآنچت بپرسم سخن راست گوی
“He said to the woman: 'Seek no deceit or obscurity; whatever I ask of you, speak the truth.'”
#9
شما را که باشم به گوهر کیم
✦
به نزدیک گازر ز بهر چیم
“'Whose son am I, and of what origin? Why am I staying with this washerman?'”
#10
زن گازر از بیم زنهار خواست
✦
خداوند داننده را یار خواست
“Fearing for her life, the washerman's wife asked for mercy and called upon the all-knowing God for aid.”
#11
بدو گفت خون سر من مجوی
✦
بگویم ترا هرچ گفتی بگوی
“She said to him: 'Do not seek my life's blood; I shall tell you everything you have asked.'”
#12
سخنها یکایک بر و بر شمرد
✦
بکوشید وز کار کژی نبرد
“She recounted the matters one by one, striving to conceal nothing in deceit.”
#13
ز صندوق وز کودک شیرخوار
✦
ز دینار وز گوهر شاهوار
“She spoke of the chest, the suckling babe, the dinars, and the royal jewels.”
#14
بدو گفت ما دستکاران بدیم
✦
نه از تخمهٔ کامکاران بدیم
“She said: 'We were poor artisans, not of any noble or prosperous lineage.'”
#15
ازان تو داریم چیزی که هست
✦
ز پوشیدنی جامه و برنشست
“'Whatever we possess—clothing to wear and mounts to ride—comes from what was yours.'”
#16
پرستنده ماییم و فرمان تراست
✦
نگر تا چه باید تن و جان تراست
“'We are your servants and the command is yours; see what is needed, for our body and soul belong to you.'”
#17
چو بشنید داراب خیره بماند
✦
روان را به اندیشه اندر نشاند
“When Darab heard this, he was astonished, and immersed his soul in deep thought.”
#18
بدو گفت زین خواسته هیچ ماند
✦
وگر گازر آن را همه برفشاند
“He asked her: 'Is any of that wealth left, or did the washerman squander it all?'”
#19
که باشد بهای یکی بارگی
✦
بدین روز کندی و بیچارگی
“'Enough to pay for a steed in these days of helplessness and slowness?'”
#20
چنین داد پاسخ که بیش است ازین
✦
درخت برومند و باغ و زمین
“She answered: 'There is more than that—fruitful trees, a garden, and land.'”
#21
بدو داد دینار چندانک بود
✦
بماند آن گران گوهر نابسود
“She gave him whatever dinars remained, along with that precious, untouched gem.”
#22
به دینار اسپی خرید او پسند
✦
یکی کم‌بها زین و دیگر کمند
“With the dinars he bought a desirable horse, a simple saddle, and a lasso.”
#23
یکی مرزبان بود با سنگ و رای
✦
بزرگ و پسندیده و رهنمای
“There was a border warden, wise, prudent, great, esteemed, and a guiding leader.”
#24
خرامید داراب نزدیک اوی
✦
پراندیشه بد جان تاریک اوی
“Darab journeyed to him, his dark soul full of anxious thoughts.”
#25
همی داشتش مرزبان ارجمند
✦
ز گیتی نیامد بروبر گزند
“The border warden held him dear, and no harm from the world befell him there.”
#26
چنان بد که آمد سپاهی ز روم
✦
به غارت بران مرز آباد بوم
“It came to pass that a Roman army arrived to plunder that prosperous border land.”
#27
به رزم اندرون مرزبان کشته شد
✦
سر لشکرش زان سخن گشته شد
“In the battle, the border warden was slain, and his troops were thrown into disarray.”
#28
چو آگاهی آمد به نزد همای
✦
که رومی نهاد اندرین مرز پای
“When news reached Queen Humay that the Romans had set foot upon that realm,”
#29
یکی مرد بد نام او رشنواد
✦
سپهبد بد او هم سپهبدنژاد
“There was a famed warrior named Rashnawad, a general of noble general's lineage.”
#30
بفرمود تا برکشد سوی روم
✦
به شمشیر ویران کند روی بوم
“She commanded him to march toward Rome and devastate their land with the sword.”
#31
سپه گرد کرد آن زمان رشنواد
✦
عرض‌گاه بنهاد و روزی بداد
“Rashnawad gathered an army, set up a muster site, and distributed wages.”
#32
چو بشنید داراب شد شادکام
✦
به نزدیک او رفت و بنوشت نام
“When Darab heard this, he rejoiced, went to him, and had his name written in the rolls.”
#33
سپه چون فراوان شد از هر دری
✦
همی آمد از هر سوی لشکری
“As the host grew vast from every quarter, soldiers kept arriving from every direction.”
#34
بیامد ز کاخ همایون همای
✦
خود و مرزبانان پاکیزه‌رای
“Queen Humay came out from her blessed palace, accompanied by pure-minded lords,”
#35
بدان تا سپه پیش او بگذرند
✦
تن و نام و دیوانها بشمرند
“So that the army might pass before her, and their persons, names, and registers be counted.”
#36
همی بود چندی بران پهن دشت
✦
چو لشکر فراوان برو برگذشت
“She remained for a while on that wide plain as the vast host marched before her.”
#37
چو داراب را دید با فر و برز
✦
به گردن برآورده پولاد گرز
“When she beheld Darab with his royal splendor and stature, bearing a heavy steel mace on his shoulder,”
#38
تو گفتی همه دشت پهنای اوست
✦
زمین زیر پوینده بالای اوست
“You would say the entire plain was filled by his presence, and the earth shrank beneath his swift stride.”
#39
چو دید آن بر و چهرهٔ دلپذیر
✦
ز پستان مادر بپالود شیر
“When she saw that noble chest and captivating face, milk began to flow from the mother's breasts.”
#40
بپرسید و گفت این سوار از کجاست
✦
بدین شاخ و این برز و بالای راست
“She inquired and said: 'From where comes this horseman with such a limb, shoulder, and upright stature?'”
#41
نماید که این نامداری بود
✦
خردمند و جنگی سواری بود
“'He appears to be a famous man, a wise and warlike horseman.'”
#42
دلیر و سرافراز و کنداور است
✦
ولیکن سلیحش نه اندرخور است
“'He is brave, exalted, and mighty, yet his armor is not fitting for him.'”
#43
چو داراب را فرمند آمدش
✦
سپه را سراسر پسند آمدش
“As Darab appeared so splendid to her, she approved of the army in its entirety.”
#44
ز اختر یکی روزگاری گزید
✦
ز بهر سپهبد چنان چون سزید
“From the stars she chose an auspicious day for the commander, as was fitting.”
#45
چو جنگ‌آوران را یکی گشت رای
✦
ببردند لشکر ز پیش همای
“When the warriors became united in purpose, they led the army forth from before Queen Humay.”
#46
فرستاد بیدار کارآگهان
✦
بدان تا نماند سخن در نهان
“He sent forth watchful and vigilant scouts into the field, so that no hidden counsel or secret matter might remain concealed.”
#47
ز نیک و بد لشکر آگاه بود
✦
ز بدها گمانیش کوتاه بود
“He remained ever aware of both the good and ill within his host, keeping dark suspicions far removed from his mind.”
#48
همی رفت منزل به منزل سپاه
✦
زمین پر سپاه آسمان پر ز ماه
“Stage by stage the army advanced upon its march; the earth was thronged with troops, as the sky with glowing moons.”