Word reached King Khosrow Anushirvan that while his realm enjoyed glory, the Baluch marauders were devastating the frontiers with endless raiding and slaughter, and Gilan had fallen into deep turmoil. Sorrow clouded the king's heart. He addressed the assembled Persian nobles, decrying how an empire whose blades made the kings of India and the Alans tremble like silk could tolerate inside its borders sheep defying lions.
An elder counselor reminded the monarch that even Ardashir Babakan, despite his wisdom and military prowess, had failed to subdue the elusive Baluch warriors and had been forced to leave their rugged lands alone. Hearing this history only incensed Khosrow further. Resolving to accomplish what his ancestor could not, he marched his grand army directly to the mountain fastnesses of Baluchistan.
His forces encircled the craggy heights so tightly that even the wind could not slip through. Khosrow ordered his heralds to issue a ruthless decree: no one, young or old, warrior or woman, was to be spared. The Iranian troops swept through the valleys, putting every rebel to the sword until the entire Baluch threat was completely eradicated. So absolute was the peace restored that herds grazed unattended across the mountains, and travelers left their belongings in the open without fear of theft.
Without delay, Khosrow turned his host toward Gilan and Deylam, whose people had also rebelled against royal authority. From the shores of the sea to the high peaks, the royal banners blotted out the sun. The assault was devastating; mountains of corpses piled up and blood drenched the countryside. Realizing total doom was at hand, the surviving nobles and warriors of Gilan bound their own hands, placed their children in front, and walked into the King's camp with torn robes and dust upon their heads. They wept aloud, begging for royal clemency and offering even to sever their own heads if it would assuage Khosrow's wrath.
Moved by their agonizing cries and utter submission, Khosrow stayed his blade and granted them forgiveness. To ensure future obedience, he demanded two hundred high-born hostages from Gilan and Deylam, stationed a trusted paladin governor over the region, and led his victorious army back to the imperial heartland.
#1
به راه اندر آگاهی آمد به شاه
✦
که گشت از بلوچی جهانی سیاه
“Upon the road, news came unto the King that the world had turned dark because of the Baluch.”
#2
ز بس کشتن و غارت و تاختن
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زمین را به آب اندر انداختن
“From so much killing, looting, and raiding, they had cast the very earth into ruin.”
#3
ز گیلان تباهی فزونست ازین
✦
ز نفرین پراگنده شد آفرین
“The devastation in Gilan was even greater, replacing all blessings with widespread curses.”
#4
دل شاه نوشین روان شد غمی
✦
برآمیخت اندوه با خرمی
“The heart of King Noshinravan grew sorrowful, and grief mingled with his joyous triumphs.”
#5
به ایرانیان گفت الانان و هند
✦
شد از بیم شمشیر ما چون پرند
“He said to the Iranians: 'The Alans and India have turned fragile as silk from fear of our sword...'”
#6
بسنده نباشیم با شهر خویش
✦
همی شیر جوییم پیچان ز میش
“'...yet we cannot secure our own realm? Shall we seek out lions while recoiling from sheep?'”
#7
بدو گفت گوینده کای شهریار
✦
به پالیز گل نیست بی‌زخم خار
“A speaker said to him: 'O King! In no garden does a rose bloom without the wound of a thorn.'”
#8
همان مرز تا بود با رنج بود
✦
ز بهر پراگندن گنج بود
“'That frontier has ever been a cause of grief, serving only to drain royal treasures.'”
#9
ز کار بلوچ ارجمند اردشیر
✦
بکوشید با کاردانان پیر
“'Even the glorious Ardashir strove hard with experienced, elderly counselors regarding the Baluch...'”
#10
نبد سودمندی به افسون و رنگ
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نه از بند وز رنج و پیکار و جنگ
“'...yet neither magic, tricks, chains, suffering, battle, nor war brought any gain.'”
#11
اگرچند بد این سخن ناگزیر
✦
بپوشید بر خویشتن اردشیر
“'Although it was a bitter truth, Ardashir was forced to conceal his failure.'”
#12
ز گفتار دهقان برآشفت شاه
✦
به سوی بلوچ اندر آمد ز راه
“Enraged by the words of the noble councilor, the King turned his route straight toward the Baluch.”
#13
چو آمد به نزدیک آن مرز و کوه
✦
بگردید گرد اندرش با گروه
“When he drew near to that frontier and mountain, he encircled it entirely with his host.”
#14
برآنگونه گرد اندر آمد سپاه
✦
که بستند ز انبوه بر باد راه
“The army surrounded the land so tightly that by their density they blocked even the wind's passage.”
#15
همه دامن کوه تا روی شخ
✦
سپه بود برسان مور و ملخ
“From the mountain slopes to the rocky ridges, troops swarmed like ants and locusts.”
#16
منادیگری گرد لشکر بگشت
✦
خروش آمد از غار وز کوه و دشت
“A herald rode around the army, making shouts echo from cave, mountain, and plain:”
#17
که از کوچگه هرک یابید خرد
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وگر تیغ دارند مردان گرد
“'Whomever you find among their settlements, whether small children or mighty men bearing swords...'”
#18
وگر انجمن باشد از اندکی
✦
نباید که یابد رهایی یکی
“'...and whether they are gathered in small numbers or large, not a single one must be allowed to escape!'”
#19
چو آگاه شد لشکر از خشم شاه
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سوار و پیاده ببستند راه
“When the army learned of the King's wrath, horsemen and foot soldiers sealed off every exit.”
#20
از ایشان فراوان و اندک نماند
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زن و مرد جنگی و کودک نماند
“Neither many nor few of them remained; neither warrior men, women, nor infants were left.”
#21
سراسر به شمشیر بگذاشتند
✦
ستم کردن و رنج برداشتند
“They put them all to the sword, lifting tyranny and hardship entirely from the land.”
#22
ببود ایمن از رنج شاه جهان
✦
بلوچی نماند آشکار و نهان
“The King of the world became safe from harm, for no Baluch remained, whether seen or unseen.”
#23
چنان بد که بر کوه ایشان گله
✦
بدی بی‌نگهبان و کرده یله
“Thus it came to pass that upon their mountains, herds grazed untended and left free.”
#24
شبان هم نبودی پس گوسفند
✦
به هامون و بر تیغ کوه بلند
“No shepherd was needed behind the sheep, neither on the plains nor on the high mountain crests.”
#25
همه رختها خوار بگذاشتند
✦
در و کوه را خانه پنداشتند
“All belongings were left unheeded in the open, and the mountains were deemed as safe as houses.”
#26
وزان جایگه سوی گیلان کشید
✦
چو رنج آمد از گیل و دیلم پدید
“From that spot he marched toward Gilan, for trouble had manifest from the Gil and Deylam.”
#27
ز دریا سپه بود تا تیغ کوه
✦
هوا پر درفش و زمین پر گروه
“From the sea to the mountain ridge stretched the army; the air was filled with banners, the earth with troops.”
#28
پراگنده بر گرد گیلان سپاه
✦
بشد روشنایی ز خورشید و ماه
“The army spread around Gilan until the light of the sun and moon was obscured.”
#29
چنین گفت کایدر ز خرد و بزرگ
✦
نیاید که ماند یکی میش و گرگ
“He commanded: 'Here, among young and old, let neither sheep nor wolf be left alive!'”
#30
چنان شد ز کشته همه کوه و دشت
✦
که خون در همه روی کشور بگشت
“So covered in slain were mountain and plain that blood washed over the entire country.”
#31
ز بس کشتن و غارت و سوختن
✦
خروش آمد و نالهٔ مرد و زن
“From so much slaughter, pillaging, and burning, lamentations and wails arose from men and women.”
#32
ز کشته به هر سو یکی توده بود
✦
گیاها به مغز سر آلوده بود
“In every direction lay mounds of corpses, and the very grass was stained with human brains.”
#33
ز گیلان هر آنکس که جنگی بدند
✦
هشیوار و بارای و سنگی بدند
“Whoever among the Gilanis was a warrior, wise, prudent, and noble...”
#34
ببستند یک سر همه دست خویش
✦
زنان از پس و کودک خرد پیش
“...bound their hands entirely, putting women behind and young children in front.”
#35
خروشان بر شهریار آمدند
✦
دریده‌بر و خاکسار آمدند
“Wailing, they came before the King, with torn garments and covered in dust.”
#36
شدند اندران بارگاه انجمن
✦
همه دستها بسته و خسته تن
“They gathered at that royal court, all with bound hands and wounded bodies,”
#37
که ما بازگشتیم زین بدکنش
✦
مگر شاه گردد ز ما خوش منش
“Crying: 'We have repented of our evil deeds, hoping the King will turn joyful toward us!'”
#38
اگر شاه را دل ز گیلان بخست
✦
ببریم سرها ز تنها بدست
“'If the King's heart is still aggrieved by Gilan, we shall sever our own heads with our hands!'”
#39
دل شاه خشنود گردد مگر
✦
چو بیند بریده یکی توده سر
“'Perchance the King's heart will be satisfied when he beholds a pile of severed heads!'”
#40
چو چندان خروش آمد از بارگاه
✦
وزان گونه آواز بشنید شاه
“When such lamentation rose from the court and the King heard their desperate cries,”
#41
برایشان ببخشود شاه جهان
✦
گذشته شد اندر دل او نهان
“The King of the world took pity upon them, burying their past misdeeds in his heart.”
#42
نوا خواست از گیل و دیلم دوصد
✦
کزان پس نگیرد یکی راه بد
“He demanded two hundred hostages from Gil and Deylam so they would never again choose an evil path.”
#43
یکی پهلوان نزد ایشان بماند
✦
چو بایسته شد کار لشکر براند
“He left a paladin ruler with them, and when all military matters were settled, he led his army away.”