#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.”