When word of Zal and Rudabeh's passionate affection spread throughout the realm of Kabul, tranquility vanished from the palace of King Mehrab. Terrified of King Manuchehr’s imperial wrath and knowing that his lineage traced back to Zahhak, Mehrab knew his kingdom could never withstand the thunderous blow of Sam's one-strike mace. Overwhelmed by fear and rage, Mehrab summoned his queen, Sindokht, laying the entire blame upon her and swearing that the only way to appease the monarch of Iran was to put both Sindokht and her disgraced daughter, Rudabeh, to death in public, sacrificing them to save Kabul from annihilation.
Sindokht listened silently, bowing low while her sharp, diplomatic mind sought a resolution. Rising with graceful dignity and folding her arms in reverence, she addressed the agitated king: 'If wealth exists to safeguard life, then squander it without regret. Though a night be long and cloaked in deepest gloom, darkness cannot endure forever; dawn inevitably breaks, transforming the world into a radiant ruby.' Mehrab retorted in fury, demanding that she drop philosophical allegiances and offer a concrete solution or prepare her body for a shroud of blood.
Unmoved by his threats, Sindokht declared that her blood would not be shed. She volunteered to embark on a perilous mission to Sam's camp, wielding her eloquence like a drawn sword to soften the world-champion's heart. Her sole conditions were complete access to the royal treasury and a binding, solemn oath from Mehrab that he would inflict no harm upon Rudabeh during her absence. Struck by her courage, Mehrab surrendered the keys to the vaults and swore the oath.
Sindokht then assembled an extraordinary diplomatic caravan: thirty thousand pure gold dinars; thirty Arabian and Persian steeds caparisoned in solid gold; sixty attendants wearing golden collars and holding goblets brimful of musk, camphor, turquoise, and precious jewels; forty imperial brocade robes glittering with gems; two hundred and thirty tempered Indian blades, thirty of which were steeped in poison; a hundred red-haired she-camels; a hundred pack mules; a magnificent jeweled crown with matching armlets; and a majestic golden throne loaded upon four massive Indian war elephants. Thus arrayed, the resolute queen set forth into the lion's den, armed with wisdom and boundless treasure to shield her daughter and city from the fires of war.
#1
چو در کابل این داستان فاش گشت
✦
سر مرزبان پر ز پرخاش گشت
“When this story became public knowledge in Kabul, the heart of the marchlord overflowed with fury.”
#2
برآشفت و سیندخت را پیش خواند
✦
همه خشم رودابه بر وی براند
“He flew into a rage, summoned Sindokht before him, and vented all his anger about Rudabeh upon her.”
#3
بدو گفت کاکنون جزین رای نیست
✦
که با شاه گیتی مرا پای نیست
“He said to her: 'Now I see no other choice, for I cannot withstand the King of the world.'”
#4
که آرمت با دخت ناپاک تن
✦
کشم زارتان بر سر انجمن
“'Save to bring you and your foul-bodied daughter forth, and slay you both miserably before the assembly,'”
#5
مگر شاه ایران ازین خشم و کین
✦
برآساید و رام گردد زمین
“'So that perchance the King of Iran may be appeased from this rage and malice, and the land find rest.'”
#6
به کابل که با سام یارد چخید
✦
ازان زخم گرزش که یارد چشید
“'Who in Kabul dares to do battle with Sam? Who can endure the blow of his mace?'”
#7
چو بشنید سیندخت بنشست پست
✦
دل چاره‌جوی اندر اندیشه بست
“When Sindokht heard this, she sat down low, her resourceful heart deep in reflection.”
#8
یکی چاره آورد از دل به جای
✦
که بد ژرف بین و فزاینده رای
“She brought forth a clever scheme from her mind, being deep-sighted and of growing judgment.”
#9
وزان پس دوان دست کرده به کش
✦
بیامد بر شاه خورشید فش
“Then running with arms folded across her chest, she came before the sun-bright king.”
#10
بدو گفت بشنو ز من یک سخن
✦
چو دیگر یکی کامت آید بکن
“She said to him: 'Hear one word from me, and after that, do whatever your heart desires.'”
#11
ترا خواسته گر ز بهر تنست
✦
ببخش و بدان کین شب آبستنست
“'If wealth is meant to protect the body, give it freely, and know that this night is pregnant with events.'”
#12
اگر چند باشد شب دیریاز
✦
برو تیرگی هم نماند دراز
“'Though a night be long and lingering, its darkness will not endure forever.'”
#13
شود روز چون چشمه روشن شود
✦
جهان چون نگین بدخشان شود
“'Day shall come when the bright fountain shines, making the world glisten like a Badakhshan ruby.'”
#14
بدو گفت مهراب کز باستان
✦
مزن در میان یلان داستان
“Mehrab said to her: 'Refrain from spinning ancient tales among heroes!'”
#15
بگو آنچه دانی و جان را بکوش
✦
وگر چادر خون به تن بر بپوش
“'Say what you know to save your life, or else put on a veil of blood!'”
#16
بدو گفت سیندخت کای سرفراز
✦
بود کت به خونم نیاید نیاز
“Sindokht said to him: 'O exalted king, there shall be no need for my blood!'”
#17
مرا رفت باید به نزدیک سام
✦
زبان برگشایم چو تیغ از نیام
“'I must go to Sam myself; I shall unsheath my tongue like a sword from its scabbard.'”
#18
بگویم بدو آنچه گفتن سزد
✦
خرد خام گفتارها را پزد
“'I will speak to him as is fitting; wisdom matures raw and unpolished words.'”
#19
ز من رنج جان و ز تو خواسته
✦
سپردن به من گنج آراسته
“'The toil of soul shall be mine, and the wealth yours; entrust the decorated treasure to me.'”
#20
بدو گفت مهراب بستان کلید
✦
غم گنج هرگز نباید کشید
“Mehrab said to her: 'Take the key! Never grieve over treasure.'”
#21
پرستنده و اسپ و تخت و کلاه
✦
بیارای و با خویشتن بر به راه
“'Equip servants, horses, throne, and crown, and set forth upon your journey.'”
#22
مگر شهر کابل نسوزد به ما
✦
چو پژمرده شد برفروزد به ما
“'Lest the city of Kabul burn around us, or having withered, flare up against us once more.'”
#23
چنین گفت سیندخت کای نامدار
✦
به جای روان خواسته خواردار
“Sindokht said: 'O renowned king, hold wealth cheap in place of life.'”
#24
نباید که چون من شوم چاره‌جوی
✦
تو رودابه را سختی آری به روی
“'While I go seeking a remedy, bring no hardship upon Rudabeh.'”
#25
مرا در جهان انده جان اوست
✦
کنون با توم روز پیمان اوست
“'My only grief in this world is for her life; today is the day of covenant with you for her sake.'”
#26
ندارم همی انده خویشتن
✦
ازویست این درد و اندوه من
“'I have no sorrow for myself; all my pain and grief stem from her.'”
#27
یکی سخت پیمان ستد زو نخست
✦
پس آنگه به مردی ره چاره جست
“First she extracted a firm vow from him; then valiantly sought the path of resolution.”
#28
بیاراست تن را به دیبا و زر
✦
به در و به یاقوت پرمایه سر
“She adorned her body in brocade and gold, and her precious head with pearls and rubies.”
#29
پس از گنج زرش ز بهر نثار
✦
برون کرد دینار چون سی‌هزار
“Then from the treasury, to offer as tribute, she brought out thirty thousand gold dinars.”
#30
به زرین ستام آوریدند سی
✦
از اسپان تازی و از پارسی
“They brought thirty Arabian and Persian horses with golden bridles and trappings.”
#31
ابا طوق زرین پرستنده شست
✦
یکی جام زر هر یکی را به دست
“Sixty attendants with golden collars, each bearing a golden goblet in hand...”
#32
پر از مشک و کافور و یاقوت و زر
✦
ز پیروزهٔ چند چندی گهر
“...Filled with musk, camphor, rubies, gold, turquoise, and precious gems.”
#33
چهل جامه دیبای پیکر به زر
✦
طرازش همه گونه گونه گهر
“Forty robes of brocade woven with gold, their borders lined with all manner of jewels.”
#34
به زرین و سیمین دوصد تیغ هند
✦
جزان سی به زهراب داده پرند
“Two hundred Indian swords of gold and silver, besides thirty dipped in poison with shimmering steel.”
#35
صد اشتر همه مادهٔ سرخ موی
✦
صد استر همه بارکش راه جوی
“A hundred red-haired female camels, and a hundred pack mules eager for the road.”
#36
یکی تاج پرگوهر شاهوار
✦
ابا طوق و با یاره و گوشوار
“A crown studded with royal jewels, along with golden collars, armlets, and earrings.”
#37
بسان سپهری یکی تخت زر
✦
برو ساخته چند گونه گهر
“A golden throne fashioned like the sky, embellished with diverse kinds of gems...”
#38
برش خسروی بیست پهنای او
✦
چو سیصد فزون بود بالای او
“...Its royal width was twenty cubits, and its length exceeded three hundred cubits.”
#39
وزان ژنده‌پیلان هندی چهار
✦
همه جامه و فرش کردند بار
“And four mighty Indian war elephants were loaded with all the garments and carpets.”