When King Dara retreated before Alexander's advance, he dispatched swift riders to every corner of the realm, summoning the grandees and chieftains of Iran. Opening his royal treasuries, he bestowed riches upon his warriors, raising a formidable army. Crossing the waters once more, he drew up his battle lines across the vast plain. Hearing of the Iranian mobilization, Alexander marched forth to meet him. For three harrowing days, the two mighty hosts clashed in fierce combat; so dense was the slaughter that the plain grew narrow with the slain. But fortune turned her face from Dara, and the Lord of the Moon granted him no victory. Devastated and heart-broken, Dara fled the blood-soaked field as thousands of Iranian warriors lay dead.
Alexander pursued like a raging whirlwind, rendering profound praise to Yazdan, the Maker of the World. He issued a grand proclamation to the vanquished: "O people of Iran who have lost your way! Fear not my wrath, for my army seeks no harm upon you. Return in peace to your hearths and commit your lives unto God." Reassured by Alexander's clemency, the Iranians turned their hearts toward the victorious king, while Alexander distributed the spoils of battle among his troops and rested his forces for four months.
Meanwhile, the sorrowful Dara reached Jahrom, the sanctuary of royal treasuries. A mantle of mourning hung over the land; fathers wept for sons they would never hold again, and sons mourned their fallen fathers. From Jahrom, Dara pressed on to Istakhr, the ancient pride of the noble-born. He dispatched messengers across all provinces, gathering the realm's sages, warlords, and princes within his royal hall. Seated upon his golden throne, with a sallow face and lapis-hued lips, tears streaming from his eyes, Dara addressed the assembly: "To die with honor today is far better than to live in shameful subjugation to a triumphant enemy! Our forefathers exacted tribute from Rome year after year; now the stars of the Iranian noble-born have darkened. If we do not stand shoulder-to-shoulder, Rome will become as Zahhak, and we as fallen Jamshid! All of Fars will turn to a sea of blood, and our women and children will be dragged into captivity!"
At these agonizing words, the wise elders and valiant chieftains arose. A mighty roar resounded through Iran: "We desire no world without our rightful King! We shall bind our sashes together and defend our soil to the last drop of blood!" Encouraged by their fiery loyalty, King Dara distributed arms and treasure to his host, forging a united front to challenge the conqueror once more.
#1
چو دارا ز پیش سکندر برفت
✦
به هر سو سواران فرستاد تفت
“When Dara departed from before Alexander, he hastily sent riders in every direction.”
#2
از ایران سران و مهان را بخواند
✦
درم داد و روزی دهان را بخواند
“He summoned the leaders and grandees of Iran; he distributed coin and gathered his army's providers.”
#3
سر ماه را لشکر آباد کرد
✦
سر نامداران پر از باد کرد
“By the start of the month he had marshaled a thriving host, filling the heads of the chieftains with fire and pride.”
#4
دگر باره از آب زان سو گذشت
✦
بیاراست لشکر بران پهن دشت
“Once more he crossed over the river, drawing up his ranks across that broad plain.”
#5
سکندر چو بشنید لشکر براند
✦
پذیره شد و سازش آنجا بماند
“When Alexander heard this, he marched his army forth; he came to meet him, halting his preparations there.”
#6
سپه را چو روی اندرآمد به روی
✦
زمان و زمین گشت پرخاشجوی
“As the two hosts faced each other eye to eye, time and earth became fiercely belligerent.”
#7
سه روز اندران رزمشان شد درنگ
✦
چنان گشت کز کشته شد جای تنگ
“For three full days their battle raged, until the battlefield grew narrow with the fallen slain.”
#8
فراوان ز ایرانیان کشته شد
✦
جهانگیر را روز برگشته شد
“Multitudes of Iranians were slain, and the fortune of the world-conqueror turned dark.”
#9
پر از درد برگشت ز آوردگاه
✦
چو یاری ندادش خداوند ماه
“Full of anguish, he withdrew from the battlefield, for the Lord of the Moon granted him no aid.”
#10
سکندر بیامد پس او چو گرد
✦
بسی از جهان‌آفرین یاد کرد
“Alexander pursued him like a dust storm, offering abundant praise to the Creator of the World.”
#11
خروشی برآمد ز پیش سپاه
✦
که ای زیردستان گم کرده راه
“A cry went up from the head of his host: "O subjects who have lost your way!”
#12
شما را ز من بیم و آزار نیست
✦
سپاه مرا با شما کار نیست
“You need fear no harm nor threat from me; my army has no quarrel with you.”
#13
بباشید ایمن به ایوان خویش
✦
به یزدان سپرده تن و جان خویش
“Remain secure within your halls, entrusting your body and soul unto God.”
#14
به جان و تن از رومیان رسته‌اید
✦
اگر چه به خون دستها شسته‌اید
“In soul and body you are safe from the Romans, even though you have washed your hands in blood."”
#15
چو ایرانیان ایمنی یافتند
✦
همه رخ سوی رومیان تافتند
“When the Iranians found safety, they all turned their faces toward the Romans.”
#16
سکندر بیامد به دشت نبرد
✦
همه خواسته سربسر گرد کرد
“Alexander came to the field of battle and gathered all the spoils together.”
#17
ببخشید بر لشکرش خواسته
✦
به نیرو سپاهی شد آراسته
“He bestowed the spoils upon his army, and his host became mighty and splendidly adorned.”
#18
ببود اندران بوم و بر چار ماه
✦
چو آسوده شد شهریار و سپاه
“He remained in that land for four months, until both the king and his army were well rested.”
#19
جهاندار دارا به جهرم رسید
✦
که آنجا بدی گنجها را کلید
“Meanwhile, King Dara reached Jahrom, where lay the key to the royal treasuries.”
#20
همه مهتران پیش باز آمدند
✦
پر از درد و گرم و گداز آمدند
“All the grandees came out to welcome him, filled with anguish, grief, and burning sorrow.”
#21
خروشان پسر چو پدر را ندید
✦
پدر همچنین چون پسر را ندید
“Sons wept aloud when they found no father, and fathers likewise when they saw no son.”
#22
همه شهر ایران پر از ناله بود
✦
به چشم اندرون آب چون ژاله بود
“The entire realm of Iran was filled with lamentation, and tears fell from eyes like dew.”
#23
ز جهرم بیامد به شهر صطخر
✦
که آزادگان را بران بود فخر
“From Jahrom he came to the city of Istakhr, in which the noble-born took great pride.”
#24
فرستاده‌ای رفت بر هر سوی
✦
به هر نامداری و هر پهلوی
“A messenger was dispatched to every direction, unto every chieftain and every warrior.”
#25
سپاه انجمن شد به ایوان شاه
✦
نهادند زرین یکی زیرگاه
“The host assembled in the king's hall, setting up a golden throne for him.”
#26
چو دارا بران کرسی زر نشست
✦
برفتند گردان خسروپرست
“When Dara sat upon that golden chair, the loyal warriors of the king stepped forward.”
#27
به ایرانیان گفت کای مهتران
✦
خردمند و شیران و جنگاوران
“He said to the Iranians: "O grandees, wise elders, lions, and valiant warriors!”
#28
ببینید تا رای پیکار چیست
✦
همی گفت با درد و چندی گریست
“Consider what our battle counsel should be!" Thus he spoke in deep anguish, weeping bitterly.”
#29
چنین گفت کامروز مردن به نام
✦
به از زنده دشمن بدو شادکام
“He said: "Today, to die with a noble name is far better than living while our enemy rejoices in triumph.”
#30
نیاکان و شاهان ما تا بدند
✦
به هر سال باژی همی بستدند
“As long as our ancestors and kings reigned, every year they exacted tribute from foreign lands.”
#31
به هر کار ما را زبون بود روم
✦
کنون بخت آزادگان گشت شوم
“In every affair Rome was subject to us, but now the fortune of the noble-born has turned dark.”
#32
همه پادشاهی سکندر گرفت
✦
جهاندار شد تخت و افسر گرفت
“Alexander has seized the entire kingdom; he has become the world-ruler, taking throne and crown.”
#33
چنین هم نماند بیاید کنون
✦
همه پارس گردد چو دریای خون
“Matters will not stop here; he will advance, and all of Fars will turn into a sea of blood.”
#34
زن و کودک و مرد گردند اسیر
✦
نماند برین بوم برنا و پیر
“Women, children, and men will all be captive; neither young nor old shall remain free on this soil.”
#35
مرا گر شوید اندرین یارمند
✦
بگردانم این رنج و درد و گزند
“If you aid me in this struggle, I shall avert this suffering, anguish, and harm.”
#36
شکار بزرگان بدند این گروه
✦
همه گشته از شهر ایران ستوه
“Once, this host were the prey of our nobles, weary of the might of the realm of Iran.”
#37
کنون ما شکاریم و ایشان پلنگ
✦
به هر کارزاری گریزان ز جنگ
“Now we have become the prey and they the leopards, while we flee from combat in every battle!”
#38
اگر پشت یکسر به پشت آورید
✦
بر و بوم ایشان به مشت آورید
“But if you stand shoulder-to-shoulder as one, you shall seize their land and realm into your hands.”
#39
کسی کاندرین جنگ سستی کند
✦
بکوشد که تا جان‌پرستی کند
“Whoever shows weakness in this battle and strives only to preserve his own life,”
#40
مدارید ازین پس به گیتی امید
✦
که شد روم ضحاک و ما جمشید
“Have no further hope in this world, for Rome has become Zahhak and we have become Jamshid!”
#41
همی گفت گریان و دل پر ز درد
✦
دو رخساره زرد و دو لب لاژورد
“Thus he spoke weeping, his heart full of pain, his two cheeks pale yellow and his two lips lapis blue.”
#42
بزرگان داننده برخاستند
✦
همه پاسخش را بیاراستند
“The wise nobles arose and prepared their answer to him in unity.”
#43
خروشی برآمد ز ایران به زار
✦
که گیتی نخواهیم بی‌شهریار
“A tearful cry arose from Iran: "We desire no world without our rightful King!”
#44
همه روی یکسر به جنگ آوریم
✦
جهان بر بداندیش تنگ آوریم
“We shall all turn our faces to battle and make the world narrow for our evil-wishing enemy.”
#45
ببندیم دامن یک اندر دگر
✦
اگر خاک یابیم اگر بوم و بر
“We shall tuck our skirts together, whether we gain mere dust or glorious lands!"”
#46
سلیح و درم داد لشکرش را
✦
همان نامداران کشورش را
“He bestowed weapons and gold upon his army, as well as upon the chieftains of his realm.”