When tidings of Ardashir’s advancing host reached Ardavan, a dark dread gripped his heart. He remembered the solemn counsel of ancient sages—that when the wheel of fortune turns, no human struggle can alter destiny's decree—for he had never imagined Ardashir would rise to claim the world. Opening his royal treasuries, Ardavan marshaled a immense force, incorporating fierce warriors from Gilan and Deylam, and marched forth. Opposite him, Ardashir brought forward a tempestuous army that seemed to bar the very path of the wind. Warhorns blared, trumpets echoed, and brass bells resounded across the plain as the two armies drew within two bowshots of each other.
For forty relentless days, a bitter struggle raged. Provisions ran low, and corpses piled upon the battlefield like rugged hills, breaking the spirits of the survivors. At last, a dark cloud enveloped the sky, and a howling, supernatural wind tore through the assembly. The mountains roared and the plains trembled. Seeing this divine omen, Ardavan’s army despaired, recognizing that fate had abandoned their lord, and began seeking terms of surrender. Seizing the moment, Ardashir charged from the center of his host amid a tempest of arrows and the clash of purple steel.
In the chaos, Ardavan was surrounded. A warrior named Kharad seized the bridle of the King’s steed, taking the wounded, desolate monarch captive, and brought him before Ardashir. Seeing his fallen rival, Ardashir commanded his executioner to draw a dagger and sever Ardavan in two, striking fear into the hearts of all foes. Thus ended the life of Ardavan, proving the cruel transience of the rotating heavens, which exalt a man to the stars only to hurl him back into the dusty earth. Two of Ardavan's sons were chained and cast into deep prisons, while two others fled weeping across the borders to Hindustan.
Ardashir ordered the vast spoils of the battleground divided among his loyal troops. Amidst the aftermath, a noble named Sabak washed the blood from Ardavan’s body, arrayed him in silk, anointed him with camphor, and laid him to rest in a tomb fit for kings. Sabak then approached Ardashir, advising him to wed Ardavan's high-born daughter to legally unite the crown, throne, and treasuries of the Arsacids. Ardashir heeded this wisdom and took the princess as his bride, abiding in the royal palace of Ray for two months in glory.
Thereafter, the conqueror returned to Pars, where he founded a grand city adorned with palaces, lush gardens, and abundant springs. Wise elders came to call this wondrous city Khurrah-Ardashir, while border lords called it Gur. Beside a crystal spring, Ardashir raised a magnificent Fire Temple, reviving the radiant rites of Mehregan and the Sadeh Festival. By cutting through the surrounding mountains, his engineers channeled a hundred streams into the plain, transforming Gur into a flourishing cradle of royalty, architecture, and prosperity.
#1
چو آگاهی آمد سوی اردوان
✦
دلش گشت پربیم و تیره‌روان
“When news reached Ardavan, his heart turned dark and filled with dread.”
#2
چنین گفت کین راز چرخ بلند
✦
همی گفت با من خداوند پند
“He mused, 'The sage once warned me of this secret of the revolving sky:'”
#3
هران بد کز اندیشه بیرون بود
✦
ز بخشش به کوشش گذر چون بود
“'Whatever evil is beyond thought—how can human effort surpass divine fate?'”
#4
گمانی نبردم که از اردشیر
✦
یکی نامجوی آید و شهرگیر
“'I never surmised that from Ardashir a renown-seeker and conqueror would arise.'”
#5
در گنج بگشاد و روزی بداد
✦
سپه بر گرفت و بنه برنهاد
“He opened the treasure doors, distributed pay, raised his army, and packed the baggage train.”
#6
ز گیل و ز دیلم بیامد سپاه
✦
همی گرد لشکر برآمد به ماه
“Troops poured in from Gilan and Deylam, their dust rising up to the moon.”
#7
وزان روی لشکر بیاورد شاه
✦
سپاهی که بر باد بربست راه
“And from the other side came King Ardashir, leading an army that blocked the very wind.”
#8
ز بس نالهٔ بوق و با کرنای
✦
ترنگیدن زنگ و هندی درای
“From the ceaseless wail of horns and trumpets, the clatter of bells and Indian chimes resounded.”
#9
میان دو لشکر دو پرتاب ماند
✦
به خاک اندرون مار بی‌تاب ماند
“Between the two armies lay just two bowshots; even the serpent in the dust lost its breath.”
#10
خروشان سپاه و درفشان درفش
✦
سرافشان دل از تیغهای بنفش
“The armies roared, banners fluttered, and hearts trembled before purple blades.”
#11
چهل روز زین سان همی جنگ بود
✦
بران زیردستان جهان تنگ بود
“For forty days the fierce battle raged, making the world narrow for the subjects.”
#12
ز هرگونه‌ای تنگ شد خوردنی
✦
همان تنگ شد راه آوردنی
“Provisions of every kind grew scarce, and supply routes were tightly blocked.”
#13
ز بس کشته شد روی هامون چو کوه
✦
بشد خسته از زندگانی ستوه
“So many fell that the plain resembled mountains of slain, and men grew weary of life itself.”
#14
سرانجام ابری برآمد سیاه
✦
بشد کوشش و رزم را دستگاه
“At last, a dark cloud arose above, casting gloom over the battle's momentum.”
#15
یکی باد برخاست از انجمن
✦
دل جنگیان گشت زان پرشکن
“A howling wind burst from the heavens, twisting the courage of the warriors into dread.”
#16
بتوفید کوه و بلرزید دشت
✦
خروشش همی از هوا برگذشت
“The mountains roared and the plain shook; the howling passed beyond the sky.”
#17
بترسید زان لشکر اردوان
✦
شدند اندرین یک سخن هم‌زبان
“Ardavan’s army was filled with terror, speaking with one voice in their despair:”
#18
که این کار بر اردوان ایزدیست
✦
بدین لشکر اکنون بباید گریست
“'This turn of events against Ardavan is from God; now we must weep for this army.'”
#19
به روزی کجا سخت شد کارزار
✦
همه خواستند آنگهی زینهار
“On that fateful day when war grew hardest, all begged for quarter and mercy.”
#20
بیامد ز قلب سپاه اردشیر
✦
چکاچاک برخاست و باران تیر
“From the center of the army Ardashir charged; the clatter of swords arose and arrows rained down.”
#21
گرفتار شد در میان اردوان
✦
بداد از پی تاج شیرین روان
“Ardavan was trapped in the thick of fight, forfeiting his sweet soul for the crown.”
#22
به دست یکی مرد خراد نام
✦
چو بگرفت بردش گرفته لگام
“By the hand of a man named Kharad, who seized his steed's rein and led him away bound.”
#23
به پیش جهانجوی بردش اسیر
✦
ز دور اردوان را بدید اردشیر
“He led him captive before the world-conqueror; Ardashir saw Ardavan from afar.”
#24
فرود آمد از باره شاه اردوان
✦
تنش خستهٔ تیر و تیره‌روان
“King Ardavan dismounted his warhorse, his body wounded by arrows and his soul darkened.”
#25
به دژخیم فرمود شاه اردشیر
✦
که رو دشمن پادشا را بگیر
“King Ardashir commanded the executioner: 'Go, seize the enemy of the realm!'”
#26
به خنجر میانش به دو نیم کن
✦
دل بدسگالان پر از بیم کن
“'With a dagger, cleave him in two; strike fear into the hearts of ill-wishers!'”
#27
بیامد دژآگاه و فرمان گزید
✦
شد آن نامدار از جهان ناپدید
“The swift executioner stepped forward and executed the command; that famous ruler vanished from the earth.”
#28
چنین است کردار این چرخ پیر
✦
چه با اردوان و چه با اردشیر
“Such is the way of this aged sphere, whether toward Ardavan or toward Ardashir.”
#29
اگر تا ستاره برآرد بلند
✦
سپارد هم آخر به خاک نژند
“Though it exalt a man to the highest stars, in the end it consigns him to the gloomy dust.”
#30
دو فرزند او هم گرفتار شد
✦
برو تخمهٔ آرشی خوار شد
“Two of Ardavan's sons were also captured, and the line of Arash was humbled.”
#31
مر آن هر دو را پای کرده به بند
✦
به زندان فرستاد شاه بلند
“The lofty King bound both their feet in chains and sent them off to prison.”
#32
دو بدمهر از رزم بگریختند
✦
به دام بلا در نیاویختند
“Two malevolent sons fled from the battle, avoiding the trap of calamity.”
#33
برفتند گریان به هندوستان
✦
سزد گر کنی زین سخن داستان
“They departed weeping for Hindustan; fitting it is if you make a story of this tale.”
#34
همه رزمگه پر ستام و کمر
✦
پر از آلت و لشکر و سیم و زر
“The battlefield was filled with reins, belts, weapons, armies, silver, and gold.”
#35
بفرمود تا گرد کردند شاه
✦
ببخشید زان پس همه بر سپاه
“The King commanded all to be gathered, then distributed the spoils among his army.”
#36
برفت از میان بزرگان سباک
✦
تن اردوان را ز خون کرد پاک
“Sabak stepped out from among the nobles and cleansed Ardavan's body of blood.”
#37
خروشان بشستش ز خاک نبرد
✦
بر آیین شاهان یکی دخمه کرد
“Wailing, he washed him clean of battlefield dust and built a royal tomb after the custom of kings.”
#38
به دیبا بپوشید خسته برش
✦
ز کافور کرد افسری بر سرش
“He draped his wounded breast in silk and placed a crown of camphor upon his head.”
#39
به پیمود آن خاک کاخش به پی
✦
ز لشکر هران‌کس که شد سوی ری
“Whoever of the army went toward Ray walked upon the ground of his former palace.”
#40
وزان پس بیامد بر اردشیر
✦
چنین گفت کای شاه دانش‌پذیر
“Thereafter Sabak came before Ardashir and spoke: 'O wise King,'”
#41
تو فرمان بر و دختر او بخواه
✦
که با فر و برزست و با تاج و گاه
“'Take command and demand his daughter in marriage, for she has glory, stature, crown, and throne.'”
#42
به دست آیدت افسر و تاج و گنج
✦
کجا اردوان گرد کرد آن به رنج
“'Thus will you gain the crown, throne, and treasury that Ardavan gathered with such toil.'”
#43
ازو پند بشنید و گفتا رواست
✦
هم اندر زمان دختر او بخواست
“Ardashir listened to his counsel and said, 'It is right.' And forthwith he asked for her hand.”
#44
به ایوان او بد همی یک دو ماه
✦
توانگر سپهبد توانگر سپاه
“For a month or two he stayed in her palace; the commander grew wealthy, and wealthy grew the troops.”
#45
سوی پارس آمد ز ری نامجوی
✦
برآسوده از رزم وز گفت‌وگوی
“Then the renowned king left Ray for Pars, rested from warfare and disputes.”
#46
یکی شارستان کرد پر کاخ و باغ
✦
بدو اندرون چشمه و دشت و راغ
“He built a grand city filled with palaces and gardens, containing within its bounds clear springs, plains, and lush meadows.”
#47
که اکنون گرانمایه دهقان پیر
✦
همی خواندش خوره اردشیر
“Which nowadays the noble, venerable chieftain calls Khwarrah-i Ardashir.”
#48
یکی چشمه بد بی‌کران اندروی
✦
فراوان ازو رود بگشاد و جوی
“Within it lay a vast and abundant spring, from which he directed numerous rivers and streams.”
#49
برآورد زان چشمه آتشکده
✦
بدو تازه شد مهر و جشن سده
“Beside that spring he erected a sacred fire-temple, rekindling through it the warmth of faith and the Feast of Sadeh.”
#50
به گرد اندرش باغ و میدان و کاخ
✦
برآورده شد جایگاه فراخ
“Surrounding it were gardens, grounds, and palaces, creating a spacious and grand domain.”
#51
چو شد شاه با دانش و فر و زور
✦
همی خواندش مرزبان شهر گور
“When the king was established in wisdom, divine glory, and power, the warden of the marches called it the city of Gor.”
#52
به گرد اندرش روستاها بساخت
✦
چو آباد کردش کس اندر نشاخت
“He constructed surrounding villages; when he completed its restoration, none could match its newfound prosperity.”
#53
به جایی یکی ژرف دریا بدید
✦
همی کوه بایست پیشش برید
“In one location he found a deep body of water, before which a mountain had to be cut through.”
#54
ببردند میتین و مردان کار
✦
وزان کوه ببرید صد جویبار
“Skilled workmen brought iron pickaxes, carving out a hundred streams straight through that mountain.”
#55
همی راند از کوه تا شهر گور
✦
شد آن شارستان پر سرای و ستور
“He funneled the water from the mountain to the city of Gor, until that realm overflowed with dwellings and herds.”