As the warhorns sounded from the city of Kajaran, Haftvad rode at the forefront of his warriors, wielding spear, blade, and arrow with lethal valor. Crushing all resistance, he slew the local lord, seized the realm, and claimed boundless hoards of shimmering gems and gold. Boundless crowds rallied around his rising banner, and Haftvad led his people from the lowlands of Kajaran up into the steep mountain peaks. Upon a razor-sharp ridge, he constructed a grand, impenetrable fortress, sealing its portal with a massive gate of iron to serve as both a tranquil refuge and an unyielding bastion of war. A clear mountain spring gushed down into the heart of the stronghold, around which he raised battlements so soaring that no human eye could behold their crown.
As the days turned, the miraculous worm outgrew its wooden chest. Haftvad ordered a colossal basin carved directly into the mountain stone, lining it with warm mortar and smoothly finished rock before placing the creature within. Every morning, Haftvad's bright-hearted daughter ran to tend to it, carefully preparing rich food to nourish its swelling frame. Five full years passed in this manner until the once-tiny thread-worm grew into an immense monster—as vast as a horned, maned elephant. In honor of the creature’s mysterious fortune and fame, Haftvad named the whole realm 'Kerman.' The maiden remained its dedicated guardian, while her father became the warlike commander of the worm's army.
Viziers and royal scribes were appointed to serve the beast, plying it daily with jars of pure honey, sweet milk, and lavish dainties. Haftvad governed the citadel with absolute authority, dispensing law, appointing royal chamberlains, and assembling an imperial court worthy of the greatest monarchs. His legions spread across the lands, stretching their influence from the Sea of China to the borders of Kerman. Armed with seven valiant sons, ten thousand formidable swordsmen, and endless hoards of weapons and treasure, his strength grew unmatched. Whenever an opposing king marched against him, the mere approach of Haftvad's ranks—and the terrifying tale of the monstrous worm—caused the enemy armies to shatter and flee without a strike. The mountain citadel of Haftvad became so formidable that even the wind could not breach its high ramparts. His fortune rose daily, the people hailed him as Sovereign King, and his rock-hewn fortress overflowed with power and gold.
#1
ز شهر کجاران برآمد نفیر
✦
برفتند با نیزه و تیغ و تیر
“From Kajaran town arose the battle-cry; out they marched with spear, blade, and arrow.”
#2
همی رفت پیش اندرون هفتواد
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به جنگ اندرون داد مردی بداد
“Ahead of all rode Haftvad, showing valiant prowess in the thick of fight.”
#3
همه شهر بگرفت و او را بکشت
✦
بسی گوهر و گنجش آمد به مشت
“He seized the entire city, slew its lord, and amassed vast stores of jewels and treasure.”
#4
به نزدیک او مردم انبوه شد
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ز شهر کجاران سوی کوه شد
“Multitudes rallied around him, and from the city of Kajaran he moved up into the mountain.”
#5
یکی دژ بکرد از بر تیغ کوه
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شد آن شهر با او همه همگروه
“He constructed a fortress upon the razor ridge of the mountain, and the entire populace joined him in allegiance.”
#6
نهاد اندران دژ دری آهنین
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هم آرامگه بود هم جای کین
“Within that fortress he set a massive iron gate; it served both as a peaceful sanctuary and a stronghold of war.”
#7
یکی چشمه‌ای بود بر کوهسار
✦
ز تخت اندرآمد میان حصار
“A natural spring gushed forth upon the mountain ridge, flowing down from the high ledge directly into the heart of the rampart.”
#8
یکی باره‌ای کرد گرداندرش
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که بینا به دیده ندیدی سرش
“He raised towering battlements around it, so tall that no sharp-sighted observer could behold their summit.”
#9
چو آن کرم را گشت صندوق تنگ
✦
یکی حوض کردند بر کوه سنگ
“When the wooden box grew too narrow for the miraculous worm, they carved a spacious basin out of the mountain stone.”
#10
چو ساروج و سنگ از هوا گشت گرم
✦
نهادند کرم اندرو نرم نرم
“When the mortar and stone smoothed and warmed in the air, they placed the worm gently within its new abode.”
#11
چنان بد که دارنده هر بامداد
✦
برفتی دوان از بر هفتواد
“Every morning, the maiden keeper would run swiftly from Haftvad’s side to tend to the creature.”
#12
گزیدی به رنجش علف ساختی
✦
تن آگنده کرم آن پرداختی
“She selected rich fodder for it with great care, feeding the plump and ever-growing body of the worm.”
#13
بر آمد برین کار بر پنج سال
✦
چو پیلی شد آن کرم با شاخ و یال
“Five full years passed thus, until the worm grew as vast as a mighty elephant, adorned with horns and a powerful mane.”
#14
چو یک چند بگذشت بر هفتواد
✦
بر آواز آن کرم کرمان نهاد
“As time passed for Haftvad, he bestowed the name 'Kerman' upon the realm, echoed after the renown of that marvelous worm.”
#15
همان دخت خرم نگهدار کرم
✦
پدر گشته جنگی سپهدار کرم
“The joyful maiden remained the diligent guardian of the worm, while her father became the warlike commander in the worm's name.”
#16
بیاراستندش وزیر و دبیر
✦
برنجش بدی خوردن و شهد و شیر
“They appointed viziers and scribes to attend it, serving it rich delicacies, honey, and fresh milk.”
#17
سپهبد بدی بر دژ هفتواد
✦
همان پرسش کار بیداد و داد
“Haftvad stood as the supreme ruler of the fortress, dispensing justice and investigating all matters of tyranny and equity.”
#18
سپاهی و دستور و سالار بار
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هران چیز کاید شهان را به کار
“He gathered an army, trusted advisors, and court chamberlains—everything that sovereign kings require for their grand state.”
#19
همه هرچ بایستش آراستند
✦
چنانچون شهان را بپیراستند
“Whatever was deemed necessary was fully arrayed, establishing the royal court after the exact manner of powerful monarchs.”
#20
به کشور پراگنده شد لشکرش
✦
همه گشت آراسته کشورش
“His mighty army spread across the length and breadth of the lands, bringing order, grandeur, and prosperity to his realm.”
#21
ز دریای چین تا به کرمان رسید
✦
همه روی کشور سپه گسترید
“From the Sea of China unto the borders of Kerman, his host was deployed across the face of the earth.”
#22
پسر هفت با تیغ‌زن ده هزار
✦
همان گنج با آلت کارزار
“He had seven formidable sons and ten thousand swordsmen, alongside boundless treasures and armaments of war.”
#23
هران پادشا کو کشیدی به جنگ
✦
چو رفتی سپاهش بر کرم تنگ
“Whenever any king marched against him in war, as soon as their ranks drew near the sacred force of the worm,”
#24
شکسته شدی لشکری کامدی
✦
چو آواز این داستان بشندی
“The opposing host was shattered and put to flight upon merely hearing the miraculous legend of this beast.”
#25
چنان شد دژ نامور هفتواد
✦
که گردش نیارست جنبید باد
“So invincible grew the famous fortress of Haftvad that even the wind dared not blow past its high battlements.”
#26
همی گشت هر روز برترش بخت
✦
یکی خویشتن را بیاراست سخت
“Day by day his fortune ascended higher, and he decked himself in the magnificent insignia of royalty.”
#27
همی خواندندی ورا شهریار
✦
سر مرد بخرد ازو در خمار
“The people proclaimed him sovereign King, while the minds of wise men remained bewildered by his astounding rise.”
#28
سپهبد که بودی به مرز اندرون
✦
به یک چنگ در جنگ کردش زبون
“Any march-lord or commander within the frontiers who dared oppose him was effortlessly crushed in battle by his single hand.”
#29
نتابید با او کسی بر به جنگ
✦
برآمد برین نیز چندی درنگ
“None had the strength to stand against him in war, and in this manner a considerable period of peace and dominance passed.”
#30
حصاری شدش پر ز گنج و سپاه
✦
ندیدی بران باره‌بر باد راه
“His mountain fortress overflowed with boundless wealth and armies, a stronghold so formidable that not even the wind could find passage through its walls.”