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.