Sikandar directed his vast host toward Babylon, their march raising such clouds of dust that the light of the sun was extinguished from the heavens. For a full month the army pressed onward without rest, until they encountered a colossal granite mountain whose zenith was veiled in dark clouds, seemingly touching the sphere of Saturn. Finding no passage, both King and army stood bewildered, yet through immense toil they breached the stony peaks. Upon descending the far side, a boundless and deep sea stretched before their eyes.
Rejoicing at the sight of the open waters and plains, the host offered praise to the Creator of the World. In this wild realm, beast and game abounded, providing the sole sustenance for the soldiers. Suddenly, a giant figure appeared from afar—his skin beneath a thick coat of hair was dark as indigo, and he possessed two tremendous ears resembling those of an elephant. Sikandar's warriors bound the creature and dragged him before the monarch. Astonished by this apparition, Sikandar invoked the name of God and inquired of the stranger's identity, origin, and desire.
The creature replied that his parents had named him Gosh-Bastar (the Ear-Bedded). When Sikandar asked about the land across the waters where the sun rose, Gosh-Bastar revealed the existence of a paradise-like city built not of earth, but entirely of fish skin and ivory bones. He recounted how the grand palaces were adorned with radiant portraits of Afrasiab and the glorious Kay Khosrow, and how its people subsisted entirely upon the yield of the sea in a realm free of dust.
At Sikandar's command, Gosh-Bastar crossed the waters and summoned the leaders of that magical city. Seventy venerable elders and wise youths returned, attired in garments of silk and fur. The elders presented golden cups brimming with lustrous pearls, while the youths carried royal crowns, bowing low in homage before Caesar. Sikandar accepted their tribute and feasted through the night. At cockcrow, to the thunderous echo of war drums, he broke camp and resumed his great march toward Babylon.
#1
سکندر سپه را به بابل کشید
✦
ز گرد سپه شد هوا ناپدید
“Sikandar led his army toward Babylon; the sky vanished behind the dust of his troops.”
#2
همی راند یک ماه خود با سپاه
✦
ندیدند زیشان کس آرامگاه
“For a full month he marched with his host, and none among them found a moment's rest.”
#3
بدین‌گونه تا سوی کوهی رسید
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ز دیدار دیده سرش ناپدید
“Thus they advanced until they reached a mountain whose head was hidden from human sight.”
#4
به سر بر یکی ابر تاریک بود
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به کیوان تو گفتی که نزدیک بود
“A dark cloud hovered above its summit, which seemed so high as to touch the sphere of Saturn.”
#5
به جایی بروبر ندیدند راه
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فروماند از راه شاه و سپاه
“Nowhere could they discover a path to cross; the King and his army stood utterly helpless.”
#6
گذشتند بر کوه خارا به رنج
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وزو خیره شد مرد باریک سنج
“With great effort they traversed that mountain of granite, perplexing even the most discerning thinkers.”
#7
ز رفتن چو گشتند یکسر ستوه
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یکی ژرف دریا بد آن روی کوه
“When they were utterly exhausted from marching, a deep sea appeared on the other side of the mountain.”
#8
پدید آمد و شاد شد زان سپاه
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که دریا و هامون بدیدند راه
“The host rejoiced at the sight, for they finally beheld a way by sea and open plain.”
#9
سوی ژرف دریا همی راندند
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جهان‌آفرین را همی خواندند
“They pressed forward toward that deep sea, calling continuously upon the Creator of the World.”
#10
دد و دام بد هر سوی بی‌شمار
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سپه را نبد خوردنی جز شکار
“Wild beasts abounded on every side; the army had no food save what they hunted.”
#11
پدید آمد از دور مردی سترگ
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پر از موی با گوشهای بزرگ
“From afar there appeared a monstrous man, covered in thick hair and possessing gigantic ears.”
#12
تنش زیر موی اندرون همچو نیل
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دو گوشش به کردار دو گوش پیل
“His body beneath the hair was dark as indigo, and his two ears resembled the ears of an elephant.”
#13
چو دیدند گردنکشان زان نشان
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ببردند پیش سکندر کشان
“When the proud warriors beheld such a spectacle, they seized him and dragged him before Sikandar.”
#14
سکندر نگه کرد زو خیره ماند
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بروبر همی نام یزدان بخواند
“Sikandar gazed at him in sheer amazement, praising the name of God over his marvel.”
#15
چه مردی بدو گفت نام تو چیست
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ز دریا چه یابی و کام تو چیست
“"What kind of man art thou?" he asked. "What is thy name? What dost thou obtain from the sea, and what is thy desire?"”
#16
بدو گفت شاها مرا باب و مام
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همان گوش بستر نهادند نام
“He replied, "O King, my father and mother bestowed upon me the name Gosh-Bastar (Ear-Bedded)."”
#17
بپرسید کان چیست بمیان آب
✦
کزان سوی می برزند آفتاب
“The King asked, "What lies across that water, whence the sun rises into the sky?"”
#18
ازان پس چنین گفت کای شهریار
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همیشه بدی در جهان نامدار
“Gosh-Bastar said, "O Sovereign, who hast ever been renowned throughout the world,"”
#19
یکی شارستانست این چون بهشت
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که گویی نه از خاک دارد سرشت
“"There lies a city like unto paradise, as though its essence were not wrought of common earth.”
#20
نبینی بدواندر ایوان و خان
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مگر پوشش از ماهی و استخوان
“Within it thou shalt see no halls or dwellings save those fashioned from fish skin and bones.”
#21
بر ایوانها چهر افراسیاب
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نگاریده روشن‌تر از آفتاب
“Upon its palace walls, the likeness of Afrasiab is painted brighter than the sun itself.”
#22
همان چهر کیخسرو جنگ‌جوی
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بزرگی و مردی و فرهنگ اوی
“Likewise is depicted the countenance of warlike Kay Khosrow, his grandeur, his valor, and his wisdom.”
#23
بران استخوان بر نگاریده پاک
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نبینی به شهر اندرون گرد و خاک
“Painted purely upon bone, thou shalt find not a speck of dust or dirt within that realm.”
#24
ز ماهی بود مردمان را خورش
✦
ندارند چیزی جزین پرورش
“The people subsist entirely upon fish, having no other nourishment for their support.”
#25
چو فرمان دهد نامبردار شاه
✦
روم من بران شارستان بی‌سپاه
“If the illustrious King commands, I shall cross over to that city alone, without an army."”
#26
سکندر بدان گوش ور گفت رو
✦
بیاور کسی تا چه بینیم نو
“Sikandar said to that eared creature, "Go, and bring someone hence, that we may behold something novel."”
#27
بشد گوش بستر هم اندر زمان
✦
ازان شارستان برد مردم دمان
“Gosh-Bastar departed at once, and swiftly brought back inhabitants from that mysterious city.”
#28
گذشتند بر آب هفتاد مرد
✦
خرد یافته مردم سالخورد
“Seventy men crossed the water—aged elders possessing wisdom and experience.”
#29
همه جامه‌هاشان ز خز و حریر
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ازو چند برنا بد و چند پیر
“Their garments were all of beaver fur and fine silk; among them were both young men and elders.”
#30
ازو هرک پیری بد و نام داشت
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پر از در زرین یکی جام داشت
“Every renowned elder carried a goblet of gold filled to the brim with brilliant pearls.”
#31
کسی کو جوان بود تاجی به دست
✦
بر قیصر آمد سرافگنده پست
“The youths held crowns in their hands, bowing low and humbly as they approached Caesar.”
#32
برفتند و بردند پیشش نماز
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بگفتند با او زمانی دراز
“They offered homage before him and conversed with the King for a long time.”
#33
ببود آن شب و گاه بانگ خروس
✦
ز درگاه برخاست آوای کوس
“They remained that night; at cockcrow, the sound of the royal war drum echoed from the court.”
#34
وزان جایگه سوی بابل کشید
✦
زمین گشت از لشکرش ناپدید
“And from that place Sikandar moved toward Babylon, the ground vanishing beneath his marching army.”