#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.”