When King Dara read the unyielding reply from Alexander, he was struck with profound astonishment at the unpredictable turn of fate. He declared in bitter grief that resting in a silent tomb would be far more noble than girding his loins in servitude before a Roman conqueror. He remembered how he had once been the refuge and champion of kings across the world; yet now, isolated and abandoned, he found no savior save for Yazdan, the Supreme Lord.
Finding no ally near or far, Dara penned a letter laden with distress and humility to Fur, the wise and mighty monarch of India. Commencing his missive with praise to the Maker of the World, he recounted how the armies of Alexander had stripped him of his crown, throne, lineage, and prosperous realm. He promised Fur that should he bring his legions to his aid, Dara would bestow upon him unimaginable treasures of jewels and crown his name with eternal glory. The swift messenger rode like the wind toward the realms of Hind.
Yet word of this alliance reached Alexander. Instantly, he commanded the war horns to blare and the Indian bells to chime. A colossal Roman host marched out from Istakhr, obscuring the sun with their rising dust. The opposing forces assembled, but the heart had gone out of the Iranian army. Weary of battle and disheartened by misfortune, those who once fought like fierce lions shrank like foxes before the Roman blades. Iranian nobles surrendered, falling from greatness into humiliation.
Seeing his army dissolve and victory slip away, Dara fled the field with three hundred faithful horsemen. Among his closest retinue rode his two trusted ministers and treasurers: a mobad named Mahyar and his companion Janushyar. As they rode through the gathering darkness, treason took root in the hearts of the two advisors. Realizing that Dara's star had set forever, they whispered to one another that slaying the fallen king would earn them royal favor and governorships from Alexander.
Under the cover of night, while a cold wind stirred the wilderness, Janushyar rode to the king's left and Mahyar to his right. Drawing a sharp dagger, Janushyar plunged it deep into the royal breast of Dara. The great king collapsed from his steed, and with his blood staining the soil, the final breath of the royal Kianian line ebbed away into night.
#1
چو آن پاسخ نامه دارا بخواند
✦
ز کار جهان در شگفتی بماند
“When Dara read the answer to his letter, he remained utterly bewildered by the turn of the world.”
#2
سرانجام گفت این ز کشتن بتر
✦
که من پیش رومی ببندم کمر
“At last he said: 'This is worse than death, that I should gird my waist in service before a Roman!'”
#3
ستودان مرا بهتر آید ز ننگ
✦
یکی داستان زد برین مرد سنگ
“'The tomb is better for me than disgrace'; he cited a proverb fitting this stern moment:”
#4
که گر آب دریا بخواهد رسید
✦
درو قطره باران نیاید پدید
“'If the water of the sea is destined to recede, not a single raindrop will fall upon it.'”
#5
همی بودمی یار هرکس به جنگ
✦
چو شد مر مرا زین نشان کار تنگ
“'I used to be everyone's helper in battle; now that my own affairs have become so desperate,'”
#6
نبینم همی در جهان یار کس
✦
بجز ایزدم نیست فریادرس
“'I see no helper in the world; none but God is my savior.'”
#7
چو یاور نبودش ز نزدیک و دور
✦
یکی نامه بنوشت نزدیک فور
“Since he had no ally near or far, he wrote a letter to Fur, King of India.”
#8
پر از لابه و زیردستی و درد
✦
نخست آفرین بر جهاندار کرد
“Full of entreaty, submission, and sorrow, he first offered praise to the Lord of the world.”
#9
دگر گفت کای مهتر هندوان
✦
خردمند و دانا و روشن‌روان
“Then he said: 'O leader of the Indians, wise, knowing, and bright of spirit!'”
#10
همانا که نزد تو آمد خبر
✦
که ما را چه آمد ز اختر به سر
“'Surely word has reached you of what fate and the stars have brought upon us.'”
#11
سکندر بیاورد لشکر ز روم
✦
نه برماند ما را نه آباد بوم
“'Alexander brought an army from Rome, leaving us neither a prosperous land,'”
#12
نه پیوند و فرزند و تخت و کلاه
✦
نه دیهیم شاهی نه گنج و سپاه
“'Nor family, child, throne, crown, royal diadem, treasure, or host.'”
#13
ار ایدونک باشی مرا یارمند
✦
که از خویشتن بازدارم گزند
“'If you will stand as my helper so that I may ward off this calamity from myself,'”
#14
فرستمت چندان گهرها ز گنج
✦
کزان پس نبینی تو از گنج رنج
“'I will send you so many gems from my treasure that you will never suffer need of wealth again.'”
#15
همان در جهان نیز نامی شوی
✦
به نزد بزرگان گرامی شوی
“'Likewise, you shall become renowned in the world, honored in the presence of the great.'”
#16
هیونی برافگند بر سان باد
✦
بیامد بر فور فوران نژاد
“He dispatched a courier swift as the wind, who arrived before Fur of noble lineage.”
#17
چو اسکندر آگاه شد زین سخن
✦
که دارای دارا چه افگند بن
“When Alexander learned of what Dara son of Darab was planning,”
#18
بفرمود تا برکشیدند نای
✦
غو کوس برخاست و هندی درای
“He commanded the pipes to be blown; the clamor of war drums and Indian bells arose.”
#19
بیامد ز اصطخر چندان سپاه
✦
که خورشید بر چرخ گم کرد راه
“Such a vast army marched from Istakhr that the sun lost its path in the heavens.”
#20
برآمد خروش سپاه از دو روی
✦
بی‌آرام شد مردم جنگجوی
“The roar of soldiers erupted from both sides, and the warriors grew restless.”
#21
سکندر به آیین صفی برکشید
✦
هوا نیلگون شد زمین ناپدید
“Alexander arranged his battle lines in order; the air turned indigo and the earth vanished.”
#22
چو دارا بیاورد لشکر به راه
✦
سپاهی نه بر آرزو رزمخواه
“When Dara brought his army to the field, it was a host unwilling to fight.”
#23
شکسته دل و گشته از رزم سیر
✦
سر بخت ایرانیان گشته زیر
“Broken-hearted and weary of battle, the fortune of the Iranians was overturned.”
#24
نیاویختند ایچ با رومیان
✦
چو روبه شد آن دشت شیر ژیان
“They clashed not at all with the Romans; that field of fierce lions turned into foxes.”
#25
گرانمایگان زینهاری شدند
✦
ز اوج بزرگی به خواری شدند
“The noble chieftains sought quarter; they fell from the height of greatness into humiliation.”
#26
چو دارا چنان دید برگاشت روی
✦
گریزان همی رفت با های هوی
“When Dara saw this state, he turned his face away and fled with loud cries of anguish.”
#27
برفتند با شاه سیصد سوار
✦
از ایران هرانکس که بد نامدار
“Three hundred horsemen fled alongside the king, whoever remained illustrious among Iran's nobles.”
#28
دو دستور بودش گرامی دو مرد
✦
که با او بدندی به دشت نبرد
“He had two revered advisors, two men who were with him upon the field of battle.”
#29
یکی موبدی نام او ماهیار
✦
دگر مرد را نام جانوشیار
“One was a mobad named Mahyar, and the other man was named Janushyar.”
#30
چو دیدند کان کار بی‌سود گشت
✦
بلند اختر و نام دارا گذشت
“When they saw that the cause was fruitless and Dara's exalted fortune and glory had set,”
#31
یکی با دگر گفت کین شوربخت
✦
ازو دور شد افسر و تاج و تخت
“One said to the other: 'From this ill-fated king, crown, throne, and sovereign power have departed.'”
#32
بباید زدن دشنه‌ای بر برش
✦
وگر تیغ هندی یکی بر سرش
“'We must strike a dagger into his chest, or a blow of an Indian blade upon his head.'”
#33
سکندر سپارد به ما کشوری
✦
بدین پادشاهی شویم افسری
“'Alexander will grant us a kingdom, and in his empire we shall become rulers.'”
#34
همی رفت با او دو دستور اوی
✦
که دستور بودند و گنجور اوی
“Thus his two viziers kept riding alongside him, who were both his counsellors and treasurers.”
#35
مهین بر چپ و ماهیارش به راست
✦
چو شب تیره شد از هوا باد خاست
“Janushyar on his left, Mahyar on his right; as night darkened, a cold wind blew through the air.”
#36
یکی دشنه بگرفت جانوشیار
✦
بزد بر بر و سینهٔ شهریار
“Janushyar drew a dagger and struck the breast and chest of the sovereign king.”
#37
نگون شد سر نامبردار شاه
✦
ازو بازگشتند یکسر سپاه
“The head of the famous king sank down, and his entire host turned away from him.”