When Sekandar learned that Dara had once more ascended the throne and rallied his forces, he mobilized an immeasurable host from the lands of Iraq, invoking the name of God among his Roman warriors. The army stretched beyond the horizon, while Dara’s fortune was no longer young. From Istakhr of Pars, Dara brought forth a host so vast that it seemed the stars were blinded and the heavens denied passage.
The two grand armies drew up their lines, a forest of spears, maces, and daggers. A mighty clamor arose that tore the ears of the sky, and the earth turned into a sea of blood strewn with headless corpses. In that terrible carnage, no father showed pity to his son, nor did the turning heavens grant mercy. For the third time, defeat befell Dara, while Sekandar pressed the charge relentlessly.
With a heavy heart, Dara drew his broken forces toward Kerman to save his life from enemy malice. Meanwhile, Sekandar entered Istakhr of Pars—the glorious seat of kings and the pride of Persia. A resonant proclamation echoed from his court: amnesty was granted to all who sought refuge and turned to God. He pledged to spare the wounded, cease the shedding of blood, and protect the property of the realm, attributing his royal glory and victory to the Almighty while bestowing the spoils of war upon his troops.
In Kerman, Dara looked upon his depleted ranks, where two-thirds of the realm's nobility had fallen. The remaining soldiers wept bitterly over their dark fate. Dara gathered the surviving elders and wise men, confessing that this unprecedented disaster was brought about by their own destiny. The nobles wept, recounting how their mothers, sisters, daughters, and royal treasures had all fallen into Roman hands. They advised Dara that force was no longer an option; only tact, gentle words, and a conciliatory letter to Sekandar could appease the storm and buy time. Recognizing the wisdom in their despairing counsel, Dara agreed to write the letter as befitted a monarch facing the turns of Fate.
#1
سکندر چو از کارش آگاه شد
✦
که دارا به تخت افسر ماه شد
“When Sekandar became aware of his deeds—that Dara had ascended the throne with the moon-bright crown,”
#2
سپه برگرفت از عراق و براند
✦
به رومی همی نام یزدان بخواند
“He raised an army from Iraq and marched, while the Romans invoked the name of God.”
#3
سپه را میان و کرانه نبود
✦
همان بخت دارا جوانه نبود
“The host had neither flank nor center visible, nor was Dara’s fortune youthful anymore.”
#4
پذیره شدن را بیاراست شاه
✦
بیاورد ز اصطخر چندان سپاه
“To meet him in battle, King Dara arrayed his forces, leading out such a host from Istakhr,”
#5
که گفتی ستاره نتابد همی
✦
فلک راه رفتن نیابد همی
“That you would say the stars could no longer shine, nor could the heavens find room to move.”
#6
سپاه دو کشور کشیدند صف
✦
همه نیزه و گرز و خنجر به کف
“The armies of two kingdoms drew up their ranks, all holding spears, maces, and daggers.”
#7
برآمد چنان از دو لشکر خروش
✦
که چرخ فلک را بدرید گوش
“Such a roar arose from both forces that it pierced the ears of the celestial sphere.”
#8
چو دریا شد از خون گردان زمین
✦
تن بی‌سران بد همه دشت کین
“When the earth turned into a sea with the blood of heroes, the field of strife became filled with headless bodies.”
#9
پدر را نبد بر پسر جای مهر
✦
بریشان نبخشید گردان سپهر
“No father felt love for his son, nor did the turning sky show them any mercy.”
#10
سیم ره به دارا درآمد شکست
✦
سکندر میان تاختن را ببست
“For the third time defeat befell Dara, while Sekandar girded his loins for the charge.”
#11
جهاندار لشکر به کرمان کشید
✦
همی از بد دشمنان جان کشید
“The ruler of the army retreated to Kerman, striving to preserve his life from the malice of his foes.”
#12
سکندر بیامد زی اصطخر پارس
✦
که دیهیم شاهان بد و فخر پارس
“Sekandar arrived at Istakhr of Pars, which was the crown of kings and the pride of Persia.”
#13
خروشی بلند آمد از بارگاه
✦
که ای مهتران نماینده راه
“A loud cry resounded from the royal court: 'O nobles who guide the path!'”
#14
هرانکس که زنهار خواهد همی
✦
ز کرده به یزدان پناهد همی
“'Whoever desires quarter and seeks refuge in God for what he has done,'”
#15
همه یکسره در پناه منید
✦
بدانید اگر نیک‌خواه منید
“'Are all together under my protection; know this, if you are well-wishers to me.'”
#16
همه خستگان را ببخشیم چیز
✦
همان خون دشمن نریزیم نیز
“'We shall grant riches to all the wounded, and we shall not shed the blood of the enemy.'”
#17
ز چیز کسان دست کوته کنیم
✦
خرد را سوی روشنی ره کنیم
“'We shall withhold our hands from the possessions of others, and guide wisdom toward the light.'”
#18
که پیروزگر دادمان فرهی
✦
بزرگی و دیهیم شاهنشهی
“'For the Victorious One has granted us glory, majesty, and the imperial crown.'”
#19
کسی کو ز فرمان ما بگذرد
✦
همی گردن اژدها بشکرد
“'Whoever transgresses our command is hunting the neck of a dragon.'”
#20
ز چیزی که دید اندران رزمگاه
✦
ببخشید یکسر همه بر سپاه
“Whatever he saw in that battlefield, he bestowed entirely upon his army.”
#21
چو دارا ز ایران به کرمان رسید
✦
دو بهر از بزرگان لشکر ندید
“When Dara arrived in Kerman from Iran, he saw two parts of his nobles lost.”
#22
خروشی بد اندر میان سپاه
✦
یکی را ندیدند بر سر کلاه
“A great wailing was amongst the army; not one of them was seen with a helmet on his head.”
#23
بزرگان فرزانه را گرد کرد
✦
کسی را که با او بد اندر نبرد
“He gathered the wise elders and all who had been with him in the fight.”
#24
همه مهتران زار و گریان شدند
✦
ز بخت بد خویش بریان شدند
“All the nobles wept bitterly, burning in agony over their ill fortune.”
#25
چنین گفت دارا که هم بی‌گمان
✦
ز ما بود بر ما بد آسمان
“Dara spoke thus: 'Without a doubt, this evil from heaven came upon us because of ourselves.'”
#26
شکن زین نشان در جهان کس ندید
✦
نه از کاردانان پیشین شنید
“'No one has ever seen such a defeat in the world, nor heard of it from the wise men of old.'”
#27
زن و کودک شهریاران اسیر
✦
وگر کشته خسته به ژوپین و تیر
“'The wives and children of the monarchs are captive, or wounded and slain by javelin and arrow.'”
#28
چه بینید و این را چه درمان کنید
✦
که بدخواه را زین پشیمان کنید
“'What do you see, and what remedy can you find to make the enemy regret this?'”
#29
نه کشور نه لشکر نه تخت و کلاه
✦
نه شاهی نه فرزند و گنج و سپاه
“'Neither realm nor army remains, nor throne nor crown; neither kingship nor children, treasure nor host.'”
#30
ار ایدونک بخشایش کردگار
✦
نباشد تبه شد به ما روزگار
“'Unless the compassion of the Creator helps us, our time is utterly ruined.'”
#31
کسی کز گرانمایگان زیستند
✦
به پیش شهنشاه بگریستند
“Those among the noble ones who survived wept aloud before the King of Kings.”
#32
به آواز گفتند کای شهریار
✦
همه خسته‌ایم از بد روزگار
“They cried out: 'O Sovereign! We are all broken by the evil of fortune.'”
#33
سپه را ز کوشش سخن درگذشت
✦
ز تارک دم آب برتر گذشت
“'The matter of striving has passed for the army; the crest of the flood has risen above our heads.'”
#34
پدر بی‌پسر شد پسر بی‌پدر
✦
چنین آمد از چرخ گردان به سر
“'Fathers are left without sons, sons without fathers; such has come upon us from the turning sphere.'”
#35
کرا مادر و خواهر و دختر است
✦
همه پاک بر دست اسکندر است
“'Whoever had a mother, sister, or daughter—they are all entirely in Sekandar’s hands.'”
#36
همان پاک پوشیده‌رویان تو
✦
که بودند لرزنده بر جان تو
“'As well as your own chaste veiled women, for whose lives you were ever trembling.'”
#37
چو گنج نیاکان برترمنش
✦
که آمد به دست تو بی‌سرزنش
“'Along with the treasure of high-minded ancestors, which reached your hands without reproach.'”
#38
کنون مانده اندر کف رومیان
✦
نژاد بزرگان و گنج کیان
“'Now the lineage of the nobles and the Kianian treasure remain in the hands of the Romans.'”
#39
ترا چاره با او مداراست بس
✦
که تاج بزرگی نماند به کس
“'Your only remedy with him is conciliation, for the crown of greatness abides with no one forever.'”
#40
کسی گوید آتش زبانش نسوخت
✦
به چاره بد از تن بباید سپوخت
“'Whoever says fire did not burn his tongue, must banish evil from his body through clever tact.'”
#41
تو او را به تن زیردستی نمای
✦
یکی در سخن نیز چربی فزای
“'Show yourself compliant to him in person, and add sweetness and softness to your speech.'”
#42
ببینیم فرجام تا چون بود
✦
که گردش ز اندیشه بیرون بود
“'Let us see what the outcome will be, for the turning of Fate is beyond human thought.'”
#43
یکی نامه بنویس نزدیک او
✦
پراندیشه کن جان تاریک او
“'Write a letter to him, and fill his dark soul with deep reflection.'”
#44
هم این چرخ گردان برو بگذرد
✦
چنین داند آنکس که دارد خرد
“'This turning sky shall pass over him too; whoever possesses wisdom knows this well.'”
#45
از ایشان چو بشنید فرمان گزید
✦
چنان کز دل شهریاران سزید
“When he heard this from them, he chose their command, as befitted the heart of sovereigns.”