King Ardashir assembled an immeasurable army from the ancient realm of Istakhr, intent upon crushing the rebellions of the mountain Kurds and seeking divine reward by purging the land of bandits. Yet as Ardashir entered the narrow mountainous passes, the Kurd chieftains united in vast numbers to meet him, outnumbering his warriors thirty to one. A ferocious conflict erupted, raging continuously from dawn until the fall of night. The blazing sun and swirling dust parched the throats of the fighters, and beneath the relentless pressure, the Persian forces gave way and fled. The battlefield turned narrow, choked with the fallen and wounded, leaving Ardashir with only a meager remnant of his retinue.
As night unfurled its dark standard over the blood-soaked earth, Ardashir spotted a distant flame flickering high upon the mountain slopes. Guiding his tired horse toward the light, he encountered humble shepherds guarding their flocks of sheep and goats. Thirsty and covered in the dust of defeat, the King dismounted and asked for water. The shepherds hastily brought him bowls of cool water mixed with yogurt. Refreshing himself with their simple fare, Ardashir wrapped his sturdy battle armor around himself as a blanket, laid his royal helmet under his head as a pillow, and collapsed into deep slumber.
When dawn rose above the cosmic waters, the chief shepherd approached the sleeping monarch, marveling that such noble warriors were resting in these rugged highlands. Ardashir inquired after the path to a settled realm, and the old shepherd provided seasoned guides to lead him four leagues down into a valley where continuous villages were governed by prominent lords. Upon reaching the populated lands, the local chieftain hastened to serve Ardashir. The King immediately dispatched couriers across Fars to Khurreh-ye Ardashir, summoning his scattered forces. Hearing that their sovereign had survived, the troops rallied with joyful hearts.
Ardashir secretly dispatched intelligence agents to observe the Kurds. The spies returned reporting that the enemy was celebrating their victory in overconfident folly, convinced that Ardashir was trapped in Istakhr, aged and forsaken by fortune. Rejoicing at their arrogance, Ardashir put his past defeat behind him. From the newly gathered host, he handpicked thirty thousand formidable, sword-wielding cavalry and a thousand master archers, preparing to strike a devastating counter-blow against the unsuspecting mountain rebel forces.
#1
سپاهی ز اصطخر بی‌مر ببرد
✦
بشد ساخته تا کند رزم کرد
“He led an uncounted host out from Istakhr, fully equipped to wage war against the Kurds.”
#2
به نیکی ز یزدان همی جست مزد
✦
که ریزد بر آن بوم و بر خون دزد
“He sought a righteous reward from Yazdan by shedding the blood of thieves upon that soil.”
#3
چو شاه اردشیر اندرآمد به تنگ
✦
پذیره شدش کرد بی‌مر به جنگ
“When King Ardashir entered the mountain narrow, an endless force of Kurds advanced to meet him in battle.”
#4
یکی کار بدخوار دشوار گشت
✦
ابا کرد کشور همه یار گشت
“The enterprise became severe and arduous, as the whole surrounding region allied with the Kurds.”
#5
یکی لشکری کرد بد پارسی
✦
فزونتر ز گردان او یک به سی
“They fielded a fierce host against the Persians, outnumbering his brave warriors by thirty to one.”
#6
یکی روز تا شب برآویختند
✦
سپاه جهاندار بگریختند
“From dawn until dark night they clashed violently, until the King's troops broke and fled.”
#7
ز بس کشته و خسته بر دشت جنگ
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شد آوردگه را همه جای تنگ
“From the multitude of slain and wounded upon the field of battle, the entire space grew constricted.”
#8
جز از شاه با خوارمایه سپاه
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نبد نامداران بدان رزمگاه
“Save for the King and a wretched, meager force, no famed warriors remained upon that battlefield.”
#9
ز خورشید تابان وز گرد و خاک
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زبانها شد از تشنگی چاک چاک
“From the scorching sun and the heavy swirling dust, tongues were cracked and parched with thirst.”
#10
هم‌انگه درفشی برآورد شب
✦
که بنشاند آن جنگ و جوش و جلب
“At that hour, night unfurled its dark banner, silencing the clamor, chaos, and fury of war.”
#11
یکی آتشی دید بر سوی کوه
✦
بیامد جهاندار با آن گروه
“The world-possessor saw a fire gleaming high upon the mountain, and marched toward it with his remnant band.”
#12
سوی آتش آورد روی ا ردشیر
✦
همان اندکی مرد برنا و پیر
“Ardashir turned his face toward the blaze, accompanied by his remaining men, both young and old.”
#13
چو تنگ اندر آمد شبانان بدید
✦
بران میش و بز پاسبانان بدید
“As he drew near, he beheld shepherds standing watch over their sheep and goats.”
#14
فرود آمد از باره شاه و سپاه
✦
دهانش پر از خاک آوردگاه
“The King and his men dismounted from their steeds, their mouths parched and full of battlefield dust.”
#15
ازیشان سبک اردشیر آب خواست
✦
هم‌انگه ببردند با آب ماست
“Ardashir quickly requested water from them, and instantly they brought water blended with milk-curd.”
#16
بیاسود و لختی چرید آنچ دید
✦
شب تیره خفتان به سر بر کشید
“He rested, consumed what simple food was present, and pulled his armor coat over himself in the dark night.”
#17
ز خفتان شایسته بد بسترش
✦
به بالین نهاد آن کیی مغفرش
“His trusty mail served as his couch, and he laid his royal helmet beneath his head as a pillow.”
#18
سپیده چو برزد ز دریای آب
✦
سر شاه ایران برآمد ز خواب
“When morning dawned from the sea of heaven, the head of the King of Iran arose from sleep.”
#19
بیامد به بالین او سرشبان
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که پدرام باد از تو روز و شبان
“The chief shepherd came to his bedside and said: 'May your days and nights be blessed and joyful!”
#20
چه آمد که این جای راه تو بود
✦
که نه در خور خوابگاه تو بود
“'What transpired that brought your steps to this place? For this is no fitting resting place for a king.'”
#21
بپرسید زان سرشبان راه شاه
✦
کز ایدر کجا یابم آرامگاه
“The King asked the chief shepherd for directions, saying: 'Where from here may I find an inhabited city?'”
#22
چنین داد پاسخ که آباد جای
✦
نیابی مگر باشدت رهنمای
“He answered: 'You shall not find an inhabited town unless you take a guide with you.”
#23
از ایدر کنون چار فرسنگ راه
✦
چو رفتی پدید آید آرامگاه
“'From here, when you travel four leagues onward, a prosperous settlement will appear.”
#24
وزان روی پیوسته شد ده به ده
✦
به ده در یکی نامبردار مه
“'And beyond that, village is joined to village, and in each village dwells a famous chieftain.'”
#25
چو بشنید زان سرشبان اردشیر
✦
ببرد از رمه راهبر چند پیر
“When Ardashir heard this from the chief shepherd, he took several elder guides from among the herdsmen.”
#26
سپهبد ز کوه اندر آمد بده
✦
ازان ده سبک پیش او رفت مه
“The commander descended from the mountain into a village, and the village chief quickly came out to greet him.”
#27
سواران فرستاد برنا و پیر
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ازان شهر تا خورهٔ اردشیر
“He dispatched horsemen, young and old, from that city all the way to Khurreh-ye Ardashir.”
#28
سپه را چو آگاهی آمد ز شاه
✦
همه شاددل برگرفتند راه
“When news of the King reached his scattered army, they all set out on the road with joyful hearts.”
#29
به کردان فرستاده کارآگهان
✦
کجا کار ایشان بجوید نهان
“He sent shrewd intelligence-gatherers to the Kurds to secretly probe their circumstances.”
#30
برفتند پویان و بازآمدند
✦
بر شاه ایران فراز آمدند
“Swiftly they went and swiftly returned, presenting themselves before the King of Iran.”
#31
که ایشان همه نامجویند و شاد
✦
ندارد کسی بر دل از شاه یاد
“They reported: 'They are all seeking glory and rejoicing, and no one keeps the King in mind.”
#32
برآنند کاندر صطخر اردشیر
✦
کهن گشت و شد بخت برناش پیر
“'They believe that Ardashir has grown old in Istakhr, and his youthful fortune has turned gray.'”
#33
چو بشنید شاه این سخن شاد شد
✦
گذشته سخن بر دلش باد شد
“When the King heard these words he was gladdened, and past misfortune vanished like wind from his heart.”
#34
گزین کرد ازان لشکر نامدار
✦
سواران شمشیرزن سی هزار
“From that renowned host he selected thirty thousand sword-wielding horsemen.”
#35
کماندار با تیر و ترکش هزار
✦
بیاورد با خویشتن شهریار
“A thousand bowmen equipped with arrows and quivers were also mustered alongside the sovereign.”