🦅 IRANLORE | ایران‌نامه
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Historical Era (Parthian & Sasanian)

Anooshirvan

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13 distichs in this chapter
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Nushzad's Defiance and the Outbreak of Battle
Nushzad stood resolute before the venerable general Ram-Burzin, mocking the commander's advanced years and dismissing his calls for surrender. He proclaimed that neither he nor the proud warriors under his banner would ever plead for mercy or renounce their chosen path. Rejecting the Mazdean faith of his father, Khosrow Anushirvan, Nushzad declared his solemn devotion to the Christian faith of his mother, vowing never to stray from its holy light. He drew strength from the remembrance of Christ, declaring that though the Savior met a mortal end, His divine glory remained untarnished as His pure spirit ascended to the Almighty, far above the dark impurities of the earthly realm. Unafraid of martyrdom, Nushzad asserted that wherever the poison of death resides, the divine antidote of eternal salvation awaits.

With these defiant words spoken, the air vibrated with the thunder of war drums and the blare of brass trumpets. Nushzad spurred his warhorse like a streak of living flame, descending upon the Sasanian ranks like the sacred fire Azar Goshasp. His fierce onslaught shattered the left wing of the imperial Persian army, scattering dust and felling countless seasoned warriors. Enraged by the terrible toll exacted upon his troops, Ram-Burzin took command of the battle line and ordered his archers to unleash a relentless barrage, veiling the sky in a dense deluge of arrows that fell like spring hail upon the rebel host.
#1
چنین داد پاسخ ورانوش‌زاد
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که‌ای پیر فرتوت سر پر ز باد
“Nushzad thus gave answer to him, saying: 'O foolish, aged man whose head is filled with wind!'”
#2
ز لشکر مرا زینهاری مخواه
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سرافراز گردان و فرزند شاه
“'Seek no quarter or surrender from my host—from these proud warriors and from the son of the King.'”
#3
مرا دین کسری نباید همی
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دلم سوی مادر گراید همی
“'I have no desire for the faith of Khosrow; my heart inclines wholly toward my mother's realm.'”
#4
که دین مسیحاست آیین اوی
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نگردم من از فره و دین اوی
“'For her creed is the religion of Christ, and I shall never turn away from His glory and His faith.'”
#5
مسیحای دین دار اگرکشته شد
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نه فر جهاندار ازو گشته شد
“'Though Christ the keeper of the faith was slain, His world-ruling glory was never stripped from Him.'”
#6
سوی پاک یزدان شد آن رای پاک
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بلندی ندید اندرین تیره خاک
“'That pure spirit ascended to Almighty God, finding no true exaltation in this dark earth.'”
#7
اگرمن شوم کشته زان باک نیست
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کجا زهر مرگست و تریاک نیست
“'If I too am slain, I have no dread, for where death's poison lies, there is its antidote also.'”
#8
بگفت این سخن پیش پیروز پیر
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بپوشید روی هوا را بتیر
“Having spoken these words before the victorious old general, he veiled the face of the sky with arrows.”
#9
برفتند گردان لشکر ز جای
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خروش آمد از کوس وز کرنای
“The brave champions moved from their places, as clamor arose from the war-drums and trumpets.”
#10
سپهبد چوآتش برانگیخت اسب
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بیامد بکردار آذر گشسب
“The prince spurred his steed like blazing fire, charging into battle like the sacred flame Azar Goshasp.”
#11
چپ لشکر شاه ایران ببرد
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به پیش سپه در نماند ایچ گرد
“He shattered the left flank of the King of Iran's army, leaving no dust before his advancing host.”
#12
فراوان ز مردان لشکر بکشت
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ازان کار شد رام برزین درشت
“He slew countless warriors of the royal army, so that Ram-Burzin grew harsh and fierce at this sight.”
#13
بفرمود تا تیرباران کنند
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هوا چون تگرگ بهاران کنند
“He commanded his archers to unleash a hail of arrows, turning the air like a storm of spring hail.”

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