Amidst the thunderous clash of war, Prince Talkhand gazed down from the height of his war elephant upon a battlefield churning like the dark waters of the Nile. Scorching winds, relentless sun, and flashing blades encircled him, offering neither relief nor escape. Overcome by intense thirst, heat, and the overwhelming heartbreak of defeat, the young prince collapsed upon his golden saddle and breathed his last, surrendering the fate of India into the hands of his brother, Gav.
Observing from the heart of his army, King Gav noticed that Talkhand's radiant ruby banner had vanished from the skyline. He dispatched a swift horseman to ride around the royal elephant and investigate. The messenger rode forth and discovered the enemy ranks in utter disarray, seeking their vanished lord. Returning like the wind, he brought the tragic tidings to King Gav. Struck with grief, Gav dismounted his elephant and walked two miles on foot, weeping bitterly until he reached his brother's corpse. Upon inspecting Talkhand's body from head to toe, he found not a single physical wound. In agony, Gav rent his arms and cast himself onto the dust.
Gav lamented that harsh fate and headstrong disobedience to wise counsel had claimed Talkhand's young life, breaking their mother's heart. At that moment, the wise vizier Farzaneh arrived. Seeing the monarch rolling in the dust, Farzaneh imparted profound wisdom: 'What avails this endless grieving? What was fated has come to pass. Render thanks to Yazdan that your own hands are free of your brother's blood. The astrologers foretold that his defiance would bring his demise. Now, the army looks to you; compose yourself. A king is like a goblet of rosewater—a single speck of dust tarnishes him, and an uncomposed ruler loses respect before his troops.'
King Gav heeded the sage advice, composed his heart, and granted full amnesty to Talkhand's remaining host, welcoming them into his protection. He then summoned master artisans and scholars to fashion a magnificent sarcophagus of ivory, gold, turquoise, and ebony. Draping Talkhand's body in fine Chinese silk, they sealed the coffin with camphor, musk, pitch, and dababi cloth, after which King Gav marched his victorious army swiftly homeward.
#1
نگه کرد طلخند از پشت پیل
✦
زمین دید برسان دریای نیل
“Talkhand looked out from the back of his war elephant, beholding the earth like the surge of the dark Nile.”
#2
همه باد بر سوی طلخند گشت
✦
به راه و به آب آرزومند گشت
“The blistering wind turned against Talkhand, and he grew desperate for water and a way of escape.”
#3
ز باد و ز خورشید و شمشیر تیز
✦
نه آرام دید و نه راه گریز
“Between the wind, the burning sun, and the sharp swords, he found neither rest nor any path to flee.”
#4
بران زین زرین بخفت و بمرد
✦
همه کشور هند گو راسپرد
“Upon that golden saddle he lay down and died, surrendering the whole realm of India to Gav.”
#5
ببیشی نهادست مردم دو چشم
✦
ز کمی بود دل پر از درد وخشم
“Mankind sets two eyes upon excess, yet from lack and loss the heart is filled with pain and wrath.”
#6
نه آن ماند ای مرد دانا نه این
✦
ز گیتی همه شادمانی گزین
“Neither this remains nor that, O wise man; choose joy alone from all the world.”
#7
اگر چند بفزاید از رنج گنج
✦
همان گنج گیتی نیرزد به رنج
“Though wealth may grow through toil and suffering, the treasures of the earth are not worth such agony.”
#8
زقلب سپه چون نگه کرد گو
✦
ندید آن درفش سپهدار نو
“When Gav looked out from the heart of his host, he no longer saw the banner of the new commander.”
#9
سواری فرستاد تا پشت پیل
✦
بگردد بجوید همه میل میل
“He dispatched a horseman to the elephant's side to search every distance and corner.”
#10
ببیند که آن لعل رخشان درفش
✦
کزو بود روی سواران بنفش
“To see where that glowing ruby banner had gone, which made the faces of horsemen shine violet.”
#11
کجاشد که بنشست جوش نبرد
✦
مگر چشم من تیره گون شد ز گرد
“'Where has he gone that the fury of battle has hushed? Or has my vision grown dim from dust?'”
#12
سوار آمد و سر به سر بنگرید
✦
درفش سرنامداران ندید
“The horseman arrived and searched all around, but saw no trace of the leader's banner.”
#13
همه قلب گه دید پر گفت و گوی
✦
سواران کشور همه شاه جوی
“He found the heart of the host full of confused whispers, all the country's horsemen seeking their king.”
#14
فرستاده برگشت و آمد چو باد
✦
سخنها همه پیش او کرد یاد
“The messenger returned like the wind and related all the tidings before Gav.”
#15
سپهبد فرود آمد از پشت پیل
✦
پیاده همی‌رفت گریان دو میل
“The commander descended from his elephant and walked two miles on foot, weeping.”
#16
بیامد چوطلخند را مرده دید
✦
دل لشکر از درد پژمرده دید
“He arrived and saw Talkhand dead, and the heart of the army withered in grief.”
#17
سراپای او سر به سر بنگرید
✦
به جایی برو پوست خسته ندید
“He examined his body from head to foot, yet found no wounded skin anywhere upon him.”
#18
خروشان همه گوشت بازو بکند
✦
نشست از برش سوگوار و نژند
“Lamenting aloud, Gav tore the flesh of his own arms and sat beside him grief-stricken and sorrowful.”
#19
همی‌گفت زار ای نبرده جوان
✦
برفتی پر از درد و خسته روان
“He wailed, 'O valiant youth, you have departed full of pain and wounded soul!”
#20
تو راگردش اختر بد بکشت
✦
وگرنه نزد بر تو بادی درشت
“The movement of a malignant star slew you; otherwise, no harsh wind ever struck you.”
#21
بپیچید ز آموزگاران سرت
✦
تو رفتی ومسکین دل مادرت
“You turned your head from teachers' counsel; you departed, leaving our mother's heart wretched.”
#22
بخوبی بسی راندم با تو پند
✦
نیامد تو را پند من سودمند
“In goodness I gave you endless counsel, but my advice bore no fruit for you.'”
#23
چو فرزانه گو بد آنجا رسید
✦
جهان جوی طلخند را مرده دید
“When the wise counselor Farzaneh arrived there, he saw the world-seeking Talkhand lying dead.”
#24
برادرش گریان و پر درد گشت
✦
خروش سواران بران پهن دشت
“His brother was weeping and full of anguish, while the cries of horsemen echoed across the vast plain.”
#25
خروشان بغلتید در پیش گو
✦
همی‌گفت زار ای جهان‌دار نو
“Farzaneh cast himself weeping before Gav, crying out, 'O young ruler of the world!'”
#26
ازان پس بیاراست فرزانه پند
✦
بدو گفت کای شهریار بلند
“Thereafter, Farzaneh adorned his discourse with wisdom and said, 'O exalted King,”
#27
ازین زاری و سوگواری چه سود
✦
چنین رفت و این بودنی کار بود
“What profit lies in this weeping and mourning? Thus it was destined, and what must be has occurred.”
#28
سپاس از جهان آفرینت یکیست
✦
که طلخند بر دست تو کشته نیست
“Offer your single gratitude to the World-Creator that Talkhand was not slain by your hand.”
#29
همه بودنی گفته بودم به شاه
✦
ز کیوان و بهرام و خورشید و ماه
“I had foretold all that would be to the King, revealed by Saturn, Mars, the Sun, and the Moon,”
#30
که چندان به پیچید برزم این جوان
✦
که برخویشتن بر سر آرد زمان
“That this youth would so entangle himself in battle until he brought his own time to an end.”
#31
کنون کار طلخند چون بادگشت
✦
بنادانی و تیزی اندر گذشت
“Now Talkhand's cause has vanished like wind, passed away through ignorance and rash haste.”
#32
سپاهست چندان پر از درد و خشم
✦
سراسر همه برتو دارند چشم
“Here stands an army full of pain and wrath, all fixing their eyes upon you.”
#33
بیارام و ما را تو آرام ده
✦
خرد را به آرام دل کام ده
“Be composed, and bring quiet to us; let wisdom fulfill the heart's longing for tranquility.”
#34
که چون پادشا را ببیند سپاه
✦
پر از درد و گریان پیاده به راه
“For when an army sees its king wandering the road weeping on foot,”
#35
بکاهدش نزد سپاه آبروی
✦
فرومایه گستاخ گردد بروی
“His honor dwindles in their eyes, and the base become bold against his face.”
#36
به کردار جام گلابست شاه
✦
که از گرد یکباره گردد تباه
“A king is like a goblet of rosewater, ruined in an instant by a speck of dust.'”
#37
ز دانا خردمند بشنید پند
✦
خروشی ز لشکر برآمد بلند
“The wise Gav heard the sage counsel of the scholar, and a loud shout rose from the army:”
#38
که آن لشکر اکنون جدا نیست زین
✦
همه آفرین باد بر آن و این
“'That host is no longer separate from this; blessings be upon both sides!”
#39
همه پاک در زینهار منید
✦
وزین برمنش یادگار منید
“You are all entirely under my protection, and shall remain a living memory to me.'”
#40
ازان پس چو دانندگان را بخواند
✦
به مژگان بسی خون دل برفشاند
“Then he summoned the learned men, shedding tears of heart's blood upon his eyelashes.”
#41
ز پند آنچ طلخند را داده بود
✦
بدیشان بگفت آنچ زو هم شنود
“He recounted to them the advice he had given Talkhand and all that he had heard from him in return.”
#42
یکی تخت تابوت کردش ز عاج
✦
ز زر و ز پیروزه و خوب ساج
“He prepared a throne-like coffin for him of ivory, gold, turquoise, and fine teak wood.”
#43
بپوشید رویش به چینی پرند
✦
شد آن نامور نامبردار هند
“They covered his face with Chinese silk, thus passed that famous, renowned leader of India.”
#44
بدبق و بقیر و بکافور و مشک
✦
سرتنگ تابوت کردند خشک
“With fine cloth, pitch, camphor, and musk, they sealed tight the seams of the coffin.”
#45
وزان جایگه تیز لشکر براند
✦
به راه و به منزل فراوان نماند
“From that place he swiftly drove the army, making no long delay along the road and rest-houses.”