Having traversed the eastern realms of the world, Sikandar turned his ambition toward the West, intent upon exploring the farthest horizons of the earth. Along his journey, he came upon a pristine and prosperous city whose purity seemed untouched by the harsh winds of ruin. As the thunderous roar of the royal war-drums echoed from the backs of elephants, the elders and noblemen of the city traveled two leagues to welcome the conqueror. Sikandar received them with high honors and inquired if any marvels or great afflictions existed in their domain.
With bitter tears and heavy hearts, the elders unlocked their grief, revealing a terrifying plague that cursed their existence. Beyond the towering mountain whose crest pierced the clouds dwelt the monstrous hordes of Yajuj and Majuj. They described these creatures with dread: monstrous beings with elephantine ears—one served as their mattress and the other as their blanket—black tongues, eyes suffused with blood, wild boar-like tusks, and bodies covered in thick, dark hair. Multiplying in infinite numbers, they swept across the lands like wild beasts during spring, devouring everything in their path. The people begged the triumphant king to devise a remedy and build a defensive barrier to save them from annihilation.
Moved by their distress, Sikandar resolved to aid them through divine grace and royal bounty. He offered his vast treasures, asking only for local materials and labor. Assembling the greatest philosophers, architects, and master blacksmiths from across the empire, he commanded the construction of a titanic wall between two high mountain peaks. The craftsmen layered iron, copper, sulfur, naphtha, and oil, building an immense structure. Hundreds of thousands of blacksmiths operated massive bellows, stoking roaring flames until the minerals melted together into a seamless, unbreakable barrier. Thus, the terrifying menace of Yajuj and Majuj was sealed away forever, bringing peace to the world while Sikandar refused all material reward from the grateful populace.
#1
سوی باختر شد چو خاور بدید
✦
ز گیتی همی رای رفتن گزید
“Having surveyed the East, he marched toward the West, resolving to travel across the width of the world.”
#2
بره‌بر یکی شارستان دید پاک
✦
که نگذشت گویی بروباد و خاک
“Along his path he beheld a city so pure it seemed dust and wind had never passed over it.”
#3
چو آواز کوس آمد از پشت پیل
✦
پذیره شدندش بزرگان دو میل
“When the sound of royal drums resounded from the elephant's back, the city's elders went out two leagues to welcome him.”
#4
جهانجوی چون دید بنواختشان
✦
به خورشید گردن برافراختشان
“When the world-conqueror saw them, he bestowed honors upon them and raised their heads to the sun.”
#5
بپرسید کایدر چه باشد شگفت
✦
کزان برتر اندازه نتوان گرفت
“He asked them, 'What wondrous thing exists here, the measure of which cannot be surpassed?'”
#6
زبان برگشادند بر شهریار
✦
به نالیدن از گردش روزگار
“They unloosed their tongues before the king, weeping and lamenting over the turn of fortune.”
#7
که ما را یکی کار پیش است سخت
✦
بگوییم با شاه پیروزبخت
“They said, 'A hard plight lies before us, which we must recount to the victorious king.'”
#8
بدین کوه سر تا به ابر اندرون
✦
دل ما پر از رنج و دردست و خون
“'Beyond this mountain whose crest touches the clouds, our hearts are filled with hardship, pain, and blood.'”
#9
ز چیزی که ما را بدو تاب نیست
✦
ز یاجوج و ماجوج مان خواب نیست
“'Because of a menace against which we have no power—from Yajuj and Majuj we have no rest or sleep.'”
#10
چو آیند بهری سوی شهر ما
✦
غم و رنج باشد همه بهر ما
“'Whenever a horde of them invades our city, our only lot becomes grief and anguish.'”
#11
همه رویهاشان چو روی هیون
✦
زبانها سیه دیده‌ها پر ز خون
“'All their faces resemble that of giant beasts; their tongues are black and their eyes filled with blood.'”
#12
سیه روی و دندانها چون گراز
✦
که یارد شدن نزد ایشان فراز
“'Black-faced with tusks like wild boars—who would dare to approach them?'”
#13
همه تن پر از موی و موی همچو نیل
✦
بر و سینه و گوشهاشان چو پیل
“'Their entire bodies are covered in hair as dark as indigo, and their chests and ears are as massive as an elephant's.'”
#14
بخسپند یکی گوش بستر کنند
✦
دگر بر تن خویش چادر کنند
“'When they sleep, they use one ear as a mattress and cover their body with the other as a blanket.'”
#15
ز هر ماده‌ای بچه زاید هزار
✦
کم و بیش ایشان که داند شمار
“'From every female a thousand offspring are born; who can count their infinite numbers?'”
#16
به گرد آمدن چون ستوران شوند
✦
تگ آرند و بر سان گوران شوند
“'When they gather, they move like herds of cattle; they run swiftly like wild onagers.'”
#17
بهاران کز ابر اندر آید خروش
✦
همان سبز دریا برآید به جوش
“'In spring, when thunder roars from the clouds and the green sea begins to boil,'”
#18
چو تنین ازان موج بردارد ابر
✦
هوا برخروشد بسان هژبر
“'When the cloud lifts the sea monster like a wave, and the air roars like a lion,'”
#19
فرود افگند ابر تنین چو کوه
✦
بیایند زیشان گروها گروه
“'The clouds cast down the sea-serpent like a mountain, and they swarm forth in endless groups.'”
#20
خورش آن بود سال تا سالشان
✦
که آگنده گردد بر و یالشان
“'That serpent serves as their nourishment year-round, filling out their chests and necks.'”
#21
گیاشان بود زان سپس خوردنی
✦
بیارند هر سو ز آوردنی
“'Afterward, their food is whatever grass they can bring in from every direction.'”
#22
چو سرما بود سخت لاغر شوند
✦
به آواز بر سان کفتر شوند
“'When severe cold sets in, they grow lean and cry out like doves.'”
#23
بهاران ببینی به کردار گرگ
✦
بغرند بر سان پیل سترگ
“'Yet in springtime you see them act like wolves, roaring like huge elephants.'”
#24
اگر پادشا چاره‌ای سازدی
✦
کزین غم دل ما بپردازدی
“'If the king could devise a remedy to relieve our hearts of this sorrow,'”
#25
بسی آفرین یابد از هرکسی
✦
ازان پس به گیتی بماند بسی
“'He will receive abundant blessings from all, and his memory will endure long in the world.'”
#26
بزرگی کن و رنج ما را بساز
✦
هم از پاک یزدان نه‌ای بی‌نیاز
“'Show your greatness and relieve our distress, for you too are not independent of holy God.'”
#27
سکندر بماند اندر ایشان شگفت
✦
غمی گشت و اندیشه‌ها برگرفت
“Sikandar was astonished by their tale; he grew sorrowful and became immersed in deep thoughts.”
#28
چنین داد پاسخ که از ماست گنج
✦
ز شهر شما یارمندی و رنج
“He answered: 'The treasure shall come from us; from your city we require assistance and labor.'”
#29
برآرم من این راه ایشان به رای
✦
بنیروی نیکی دهش یک خدای
“'I shall block their passage through wise planning, by the power of the One Good-Bestowing God.'”
#30
یکایک بگفتند کای شهریار
✦
ز تو دور بادا بد روزگار
“They all cried out together, 'O King, may the evil of bad fortune be far from thee!'”
#31
ز ما هرچ باید همه بنده‌ایم
✦
پرستنده باشیم تا زنده‌ایم
“'Whatever you require of us, we are your servants, and shall remain your worshippers as long as we live.'”
#32
بیاریم چندانک خواهی تو چیز
✦
کزین بیش کاری نداریم نیز
“'We will bring whatever materials you desire, for we have no other task beside this.'”
#33
سکندر بیامد نگه کرد کوه
✦
بیاورد زان فیلسوفان گروه
“Sikandar came and examined the mountain pass, and brought together a host of philosophers and sages.”
#34
بفرمود کاهنگران آورید
✦
مس و روی و پتک گران آورید
“He commanded: 'Bring blacksmiths, along with copper, brass, and heavy hammers.'”
#35
گچ و سنگ و هیزم فزون از شمار
✦
بیارید چندانک آید به کار
“'Bring plaster, stone, and firewood beyond count—as much as may be needed for the work.'”
#36
بی‌اندازه بردند چیزی که خواست
✦
چو شد ساخته کار و اندیشه راست
“They brought endless materials as requested; when all was prepared, his grand design was set straight.”
#37
ز دیوارگر هم ز آهنگران
✦
هرانکس که استاد بود اندران
“Every builder and master blacksmith who was skilled in the craft,”
#38
ز گیتی به پیش سکندر شدند
✦
بدان کار بایسته یاور شدند
“Gathered from across the world before Sikandar to assist in that essential task.”
#39
ز هر کشوری دانشی شد گروه
✦
دو دیوار کرد از دو پهلوی کوه
“Wise men from every land joined together, and built two giant walls connecting the two flanks of the mountain.”
#40
ز بن تا سر تیغ بالای اوی
✦
چو صد شاه‌رش کرده پهنای اوی
“From the base to the top of the mountain ridge, its width was made a hundred royal cubits wide.”
#41
ازو یک رش انگشت و آهن یکی
✦
پراگنده مس در میان اندکی
“One cubit of layer was laid with charcoal and one with iron, with melted copper scattered between.”
#42
همی ریخت گوگردش اندر میان
✦
چنین باشد افسون دانا کیان
“Sulfur was poured in between them—such is the secret craft of ancient sages.”
#43
همی ریخت هر گوهری یک رده
✦
چو از خاک تا تیغ شد آژده
“They laid a row of every precious mineral until it was filled tightly from the ground to the peak.”
#44
بسی نفت و روغن برآمیختند
✦
همی بر سر گوهران ریختند
“They mixed abundant naphtha and oil, and poured it continuously over the minerals.”
#45
به خروار انگشت بر سر زدند
✦
بفرمود تا آتش اندر زدند
“They piled loads of charcoal upon it, and the king commanded them to set it ablaze.”
#46
دم آورد و آهنگران صدهزار
✦
به فرمان پیروزگر شهریار
“A hundred thousand blacksmiths brought forth bellows, obeying the command of the victorious monarch.”
#47
خروش دمنده برآمد ز کوه
✦
ستاره شد از تف آتش ستوه
“The roar of the blowing bellows echoed from the mountain, and the stars grew weary from the fiery heat.”
#48
چنین روزگاری برآمد بران
✦
دم آتش و رنج آهنگران
“In this manner a time elapsed, amid the blast of flames and the labor of the smiths.”
#49
گهرها یک اندر دگر ساختند
✦
وزان آتش تیز بگداختند
“They fused the metals together and melted them down in that fierce, blazing fire.”
#50
ز یاجوج و ماجوج گیتی برست
✦
زمین گشت جای خرام و نشست
“Thus the world was delivered from Gog and Magog, and the earth became a sanctuary of tranquility and repose.”
#51
برش پانصد بود بالای اوی
✦
چو سیصد بدی نیز پهنای اوی
“Its height reached five hundred cubits, and its breadth was three hundred.”
#52
ازان نامور سد اسکندری
✦
جهانی برست از بد داوری
“By means of that famous Barrier of Alexander, the world was saved from cruel destiny.”
#53
برو مهتران خواندند آفرین
✦
که بی‌تو مبادا زمان و زمین
“The elders chanted blessings upon him, saying: 'May the world and time never be bereft of thee!'”
#54
ز چیزی که بود اندران جایگاه
✦
فراوان ببردند نزدیک شاه
“From all the riches present in that region, they brought forth abundant gifts unto the king.”
#55
نپذرفت ازیشان و خود برگرفت
✦
جهان مانده زان کار اندر شگفت
“He accepted nothing from them and departed, leaving all the world in awe of his grand deed.”