#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.”