As the sun sank beneath the dark horizon, King Ardashir’s heart was weighed down with deep anxiety following his bitter defeat against the formidable Worm of Haftvad. Withdrawing his battered forces from the water's edge, he spurred his horse toward Pars. Yet the enemy pursued relentlessly, cutting down his renowned champions and crying out in triumph, exolting the glory of Haftvad's monstrous beast. Terrified and lone, Ardashir galloped across valleys and steep slopes until he reached a great city.
At the entrance of a quiet dwelling, he encountered two noble young brothers standing by the door. Seeing a dust-covered, distraught rider in the late hour, they asked who he was and whence he fled. Concealing his true title, Ardashir replied that the King had fled from the wicked army of Haftvad and the demonic Worm, leaving his followers behind in utter disarray. Moved to deep sorrow upon hearing of the King's plight, the youths at once helped him dismount, welcomed him into their house, and prepared a lavish banquet.
As they served him, the two brothers offered profound words of comfort: 'Neither sorrow nor joy endures forever in this fleeting world. Consider the fate of the tyrant Zahhak, the malevolent Afrasiab, and Alexander the conqueror—they all passed away, leaving behind only evil names. So too shall Haftvad meet his ruin.' Reassured by their wisdom, Ardashir revealed his true lineage: 'I am Ardashir, son of Sasan! Give me your counsel, for how can we overcome Haftvad and his beast?' The brothers bowed in homage and revealed the secret of the enemy's strength: the Worm was no ordinary creature, but an Ahrimanic, blood-spilling demon roosting in a high mountain fortress flanked by the sea.
Emboldened by their counsel and taking the two youths as his trusted guides, Ardashir rode to Khurrah-i Ardashir, where his dispersed army and wise counselors rallied around him once more. Rested and reinvigorated, the King led his host toward Jahrom to punish the rebellious traitor, Mehrak Nushzad. Though Mehrak tried to hide, Ardashir captured him, struck off his head with an Indian blade, threw his headless corpse into the flames, and put his entire lineage to the sword—sparing only one hidden daughter who managed to vanish into secrecy.
#1
پراندیشه بود آن شب از کرم شاه
✦
چو بنشست خورشید بر جایگاه
“That night, the King was filled with deep anxiety as the sun set in its place.”
#2
سپه برگرفت از لب آبگیر
✦
سوی پارس آمد دمان اردشیر
“Ardashir withdrew his army from the edge of the lake and rushed impetuously toward Pars.”
#3
پس لشکر او بیامد سپاه
✦
ز هر سو گرفتند بر شاه راه
“Behind his army came the enemy host, blocking the King's path from every direction.”
#4
بکشتند هرکس که بد نامدار
✦
همی تاختند از پس شهریار
“They killed whoever was renowned among his men, constantly charging after the monarch.”
#5
خروش آمد از پس که ای بخت کرم
✦
که رخشنده بادا سر از تخت کرم
“A shout echoed from behind: 'O fortune of the Worm! May the throne of the Worm shine bright!'”
#6
همی هرکسی گفت کاینت شگفت
✦
کزین هرکس اندازه باید گرفت
“Everyone said: 'What a wonder this is; from this every man must take a lesson!'”
#7
بیامد گریزان و دل پر نهیب
✦
همی تاخت اندر فراز و نشیب
“He arrived fleeing, his heart full of dread, riding fast across high and low lands.”
#8
یکی شارستان دید جایی بزرگ
✦
ازان سو براندند گردان چو گرگ
“He saw a great settlement in that place, while from behind, warriors rode like wolves.”
#9
چو تنگ اندر آمد یکی خانه دید
✦
به در بر دو برنای بیگانه دید
“As he drew near, he saw a house, and at its door stood two young strangers.”
#10
ببودند بر در زمانی به پای
✦
بپرسید زو این دو پاکیزه‌رای
“They stood at the door for a moment, and those two pure-minded youths questioned him:”
#11
که بیگه چنین از کجا رفته‌اید
✦
که با گرد راهید و آشفته‌اید
“'Why have you come so late at night from afar, covered in road dust and distraught?'”
#12
بدو گفت زین سو گذشت اردشیر
✦
ازو باز ماندیم بر خیره خیر
“He answered: 'Ardashir passed this way, and we were left behind him in vain confusion,'”
#13
که بگریخت از کرم وز هفتواد
✦
وزان بی‌هنر لشکر بدنژاد
“'For he fled from the Worm and Haftvad, and from that unvirtuous, ill-bred host.'”
#14
بجستند از جای هر دو جوان
✦
پر از درد گشتند و تیره‌روان
“Both youths leaped up from their place; their souls grew filled with pain and darkened with sorrow.”
#15
فرود آوریدندش از پشت زین
✦
بران مهتران خواندند آفرین
“They helped him dismount from his saddle and sang praises upon that leader.”
#16
یکی جای خرم بپیراستند
✦
پسندیده خوانی بیاراستند
“They adorned a pleasant place for him and arranged a delightful table of food.”
#17
نشستند با شاه گردان به خوان
✦
پرستش گرفتند هر دو جوان
“They sat at the table with the King of heroes, and both youths began serving him.”
#18
به آواز گفتند کای سرفراز
✦
غم و شادمانی نماند دراز
“They raised their voices, saying: 'O exalted King! Sorrow and joy do not endure for long.'”
#19
نگه کن که ضحاک بیدادگر
✦
چه آورد زان تخت شاهی به سر
“'Consider what the tyrannical Zahhak brought upon that royal throne in the end,'”
#20
هم افراسیاب آن بداندیش مرد
✦
کزو بد دل شهریاران به درد
“'And Afrasiab, that malevolent man, whose deeds caused constant pain to the hearts of kings,'”
#21
سکندر که آمد برین روزگار
✦
بکشت آنک بد در جهان شهریار
“'And Alexander who came in his era and slew all who were rulers in the world.'”
#22
برفتند و زیشان به جز نام زشت
✦
نماند و نیابند خرم بهشت
“'They passed away, and of them nothing remained but an evil name, nor will they behold joyful paradise.'”
#23
نماند همین نیز بر هفتواد
✦
بپیچد به فرجام این بدنژاد
“'Neither shall Haftvad endure thus; in the end, this evil-born creature will be twisted in ruin.'”
#24
ز گفتار ایشان دل شهریار
✦
چنان تازه شد چون گل اندر بهار
“At their words, the monarch's heart blossomed like a rose in springtime.”
#25
خوش آمدش گفتار آن دلنواز
✦
بکرد آشکارا و بنمود راز
“Delighted by the comforting words of those kind youths, he revealed his hidden truth:”
#26
که فرزند ساسان منم اردشیر
✦
یکی پند باید مرا دلپذیر
“'I am Ardashir, son of Sasan! I need a heart-pleasing counsel from you.'”
#27
چه سازیم با کرم و با هفتواد
✦
که نام و نژادش به گیتی مباد
“'What strategy shall we forge against the Worm and Haftvad, whose name and lineage should vanish from the earth?'”
#28
سپهبدار ایران چو بگشاد راز
✦
جوانانش بردند هر دو نماز
“When the commander of Iran revealed his secret, both youths bowed low in reverence.”
#29
بگفتند هر دو که نوشه بدی
✦
همیشه ز تو دور دست بدی
“Both spoke: 'May you be blessed and immortal, and may the hand of evil ever remain far from you!'”
#30
تن و جان ما پیش تو بنده باد
✦
همیشه روان تو پاینده باد
“'May our bodies and souls be servants before you, and may your spirit endure forever.'”
#31
سخنها که پرسیدی از ما درست
✦
بگوییم تا چاره سازی نخست
“'What you have asked of us in truth, we shall explain so that you may first devise a remedy.'”
#32
تو در جنگ با کرم و با هفتواد
✦
بسنده نه‌ای گر نپیچی ز داد
“'You cannot prevail in battle against the Worm and Haftvad unless you turn to wisdom and justice.'”
#33
یکی جای دارند بر تیغ کوه
✦
بدو اندرون کرم و گنج و گروه
“'They possess a stronghold upon the mountain peak, inside which lie the Worm, treasure, and host.'”
#34
به پیش اندرون شهر و دریا بپشت
✦
دژی بر سر کوه و راهی درشت
“'Before it lies the city, behind it the sea—a fortress atop a mountain with a rugged path.'”
#35
همان کرم کز مغز آهرمنست
✦
جهان آفریننده را دشمنست
“'That same Worm born of Ahriman's brain, an outright enemy to the Creator of the world.'”
#36
همی کرم خوانی به چرم اندرون
✦
یکی دیو جنگیست ریزنده خون
“'You call it a Worm inside a hide, yet it is a blood-spilling demon of war.'”
#37
سخنها چو بشنید زو اردشیر
✦
همه مهر جوینده و دلپذیر
“When Ardashir heard these words, filled with affection, seeking truth, and pleasing to the heart,”
#38
بدیشان چنین گفت کآری رواست
✦
بد و نیک ایشان مرا با شماست
“He said to them: 'Indeed, it is right; their evil and good are now shared between me and you.'”
#39
جوانان ورا پاسخ آراستند
✦
دل هوشمندش بپیراستند
“The youths prepared their response and adorned his intelligent mind:”
#40
که ما بندگانیم پیشت به پای
✦
همیشه به نیکی ترا رهنمای
“'We are servants standing before you, ever guiding you toward goodness.'”
#41
ز گفتار ایشان دلش گشت شاد
✦
همی رفت پیروز و دل پر ز داد
“From their speech his heart became joyful; he departed victorious, his heart full of justice.”
#42
چو برداشت زانجا جهاندار شاه
✦
جوانان برفتند با او به راه
“When the world-conquering King set out from there, the youths accompanied him along the way.”
#43
همی رفت روشن‌دل و یادگیر
✦
سرافراز تا خورهٔ اردشیر
“He went forth with an enlightened heart and keen mind, exalted, unto Khurrah-i Ardashir.”
#44
چو بر شاه بر شد سپاه انجمن
✦
بزرگان فرزانه و رای‌زن
“When the army gathered around the King, along with wise elders and counselors,”
#45
برآسود یک چند و روزی به داد
✦
بیامد سوی مهرک نوش‌زاد
“He rested for a time, and one day, in justice, he marched toward Mehrak-e Nushzad.”
#46
چو مهرک بیارست رفتن به جنگ
✦
جهان کرد بر خویشتن تار و تنگ
“When Mehrak dared to march forth to war, he rendered the world dark and narrow for himself.”
#47
به جهرم چو نزدیک شد پادشا
✦
نهان گشت زو مهرک بی‌وفا
“As the King drew near unto Jahrom, the faithless Mehrak vanished in dread from his sight.”
#48
دل پادشا پر ز پیکار شد
✦
همی بود تا او گرفتار شد
“The King’s heart burned with determination for battle; he bided his time until Mehrak was ensnared.”
#49
به شمشیر هندی بزد گردنش
✦
به آتش در انداخت بی‌سر تنش
“With an Indian blade he severed his head, and cast his headless corpse into the fire.”
#50
هرانکس کزان تخمه آمد به مشت
✦
به خنجر هم اندر زمانش بکشت
“Whosoever of that lineage fell into his hands, he straightway put to death with a dagger.”
#51
مگر دختری کان نهان گشت زوی
✦
همه شهر ازو گشت پر جست و جوی
“Save for a daughter who lay hidden from him, for whom the entire city became filled with eager search.”