As the battlefield grew quiet after the clash between the royal brothers, their distraught mother, unable to eat or sleep, placed a vigilant lookout upon the highest watchtower. From two leagues away, the watcher observed the horizon fill with dust as an army spread across the realm. The royal standard of Prince Gav fluttered high, yet nowhere were the golden crown, the royal war-elephant, or the golden slippers of young King Talkhand to be seen.
When word reached the mother that Talkhand’s divine royal glory had faded and he had perished atop his saddle, her grief shattered all bounds. She tore her garments, scratched her cheeks in agony, and struck her head against the stone walls. In her desperate sorrow, she ordered the royal treasury, the palace, and the crowns to be committed to the flames. She then prepared a towering pyre to immolate herself according to the ancient Indian rites of mourning.
News of her intended fate reached Prince Gav, who spurred his swift steed and rode frantically to the burning palace. Clasping his weeping mother in his arms, his own eyes flowing with blood-red tears, he implored her to stay her hand. He swore fervently that neither he nor any champion in his host had struck Talkhand or raised a weapon against him; rather, it was the turn of cruel fate and cosmic destiny that had extinguished his brother's breath as he sat motionless atop his war-elephant.
The mother bitterly rebuked him, declaring that no murderer of a brother for the sake of a throne could ever be called blessed. Yet Gav swore by the Almighty Creator of light, love, and the spinning heavens that he would renounce horse, mace, crown, and throne forever unless he demonstrated the truth of the battle and eased her sorrow. He reminded her that when the candle of life flickers out, no armor of forged steel can preserve a man from death. He vowed that if she still doubted him, he would cast himself into the flames before her eyes. Moved by his grief and noble posture, the mother relented, bidding him to show her precisely how King Talkhand had died upon his elephant, so that her burning heart might finally find peace.
#1
چو شاهان گزیدند جای نبرد
✦
بشد مادر از خواب و آرام و خورد
“When the kings chose the place of battle, the mother lost all sleep, peace, and nourishment.”
#2
همیشه بره دیدبان داشتی
✦
به تلخی همی روز بگذاشتی
“She constantly kept a lookout on the road, passing her days in bitter anxiety.”
#3
چو از راه برخاست گرد سپاه
✦
نگه کرد بینادل از دیده‌گاه
“When the dust of the army rose from the road, the clear-sighted watcher looked out from the watchtower.”
#4
همی دیده‌بان بنگرید از دو میل
✦
که بیند مگر تاج طلخند و پیل
“The watcher scanned two miles away, hoping to glimpse Talkhand's crown and elephant.”
#5
ز بالا درفش گو آمد پدید
✦
همه روی کشور سپه گسترید
“From the height, the banner of Prince Gav appeared, and the army spread across the whole realm.”
#6
نیامد پدید از میان سپاه
✦
سواری برافگند از دیده‌گاه
“No rider emerged from the midst of the army; the watcher dispatched a swift message from the tower,”
#7
که لشکر گذر کرد زین روی کوه
✦
گو وهرک بودند با او گروه
“Saying: 'The army has crossed from this side of the mountain, and Prince Vahrack and his group were with him.'”
#8
نه طلخند پیدا نه پیل و درفش
✦
نه آن نامداران زرینه کفش
“'Yet neither Talkhand is visible, nor the elephant and banner, nor those golden-shod nobles.'”
#9
ز مژگان فروریخت خون مادرش
✦
فراوان به دیوار بر زد سرش
“Blood gushed from his mother's eyelashes; repeatedly she struck her head against the wall.”
#10
ازان پس چوآمد به مام آگهی
✦
که تیره شد آن فر شاهنشهی
“Thereafter, when word came to the mother that the royal glory of the King of Kings had darkened,”
#11
جهاندار طلخند بر زین بمرد
✦
سرگاه شاهی بگو در سپرد
“That King Talkhand had died upon his saddle and relinquished the royal throne to Prince Gav,”
#12
همی جامه زد چاک و رخ را بکند
✦
به گنجور گنج آتش اندر فگند
“She tore her robes, scratched her face, and set fire to the treasury through the treasurer.”
#13
به ایوان او شد دمان مادرش
✦
به خون اندرون غرقه گشته سرش
“The mother rushed impetuously into her palace, her head steeped in grief and tears of blood.”
#14
همه کاخ وتاج بزرگی بسوخت
✦
ازان پس بلند آتشی برفروخت
“She burned the entire palace and the crown of grandeur; thereafter, she kindled a roaring fire,”
#15
که سوزد تن خویش به آیین هند
✦
ازان سوگ پیداکند دین هند
“Intending to burn her own body after the Indian rite, manifesting her grief through the custom of India.”
#16
چو از مادر آگاهی آمد بگو
✦
برانگیخت آن بارهٔ تیزرو
“When word reached Prince Gav concerning his mother, he spurred his swift-footed steed.”
#17
بیامد ورا تنگ در بر گرفت
✦
پر از خون مژه خواهش اندر گرفت
“He arrived and embraced her tightly, his eyelashes filled with blood as he began his entreaty,”
#18
بدو گفت کای مهربان گوش دار
✦
که ما بیگناهیم زین کارزار
“Saying to her: 'O loving mother, listen to me, for we are blameless in this battle!'”
#19
نه من کشتم او را نه یاران من
✦
نه گردی گمان برد زین انجمن
“'Neither did I kill him, nor my companions, nor did any warrior in this assembly entertain such a thought.'”
#20
که خود پیش او دم توان زد درشت
✦
ورا گردش اختر بد بکشت
“'None dared even speak harshly in his presence; it was the turn of evil stars and fate that killed him.'”
#21
بدو گفت مادر که ای بدکنش
✦
ز چرخ بلند آیدت سرزنش
“His mother said to him: 'O evil-doer, reproach shall come upon you from the lofty heaven!'”
#22
برادر کشی از پی تاج و تخت
✦
نخواند تو را نیکدل نیکبخت
“'Slaying a brother for the sake of crown and throne—no kind heart will call you blessed.'”
#23
چنین داد پاسخ که ای مهربان
✦
نشاید که برمن شوی بدگمان
“He answered thus: 'O loving mother, it is not fitting that you harbour bad suspicions against me.'”
#24
بیارام تا گردش رزمگاه
✦
نمایم تو را کار شاه و سپاه
“'Calm yourself so I may show you the workings of the battlefield and the deeds of king and host.'”
#25
که یارست شد پیش او رزمجوی
✦
کرا بود در سر خود این گفت وگوی
“'Who dared face him seeking battle? Who had such a thought in his mind?'”
#26
به دادار کو داد ومهر آفرید
✦
شب و روز و گردان سپهر آفرید
“'By the Creator who made justice and love, who created night and day and the revolving sky!'”
#27
کزین پس نبیند مرا مهر و گاه
✦
نه اسب و نه گرز و نه تخت و کلاه
“'Henceforth, affection, throne, horse, mace, crown, and royal cap shall see me no more,'”
#28
مگر کین سخن آشکارا کنم
✦
ز تندی دلت پر مدارا کنم
“'Unless I make this matter fully plain and fill your stern heart with tolerance and peace.'”
#29
که او را بدست کسی بد زمان
✦
که مردم رهایی نیابد ازان
“'For his appointed time came by no man's hand—a fate from which no mortal finds escape.'”
#30
که یابد به گیتی رهایی ز مرگ
✦
وگر جان بپوشد به پولاد ترگ
“'Who in this world finds deliverance from death, even if he covers his soul in armor of steel?'”
#31
چنان شمع رخشان فرو پژمرد
✦
به گیتی کسی یک نفس نشمرد
“'When such a radiant candle fades, no one in this world can count a single extra breath.'”
#32
وگر چون نمایم نگردی تو رام
✦
به دادار دارنده کو راست کام
“'And if I demonstrate how it transpired and you still yield not, I swear by the Just Creator who fulfills all desires,'”
#33
که پیشت به آتش بر خویش را
✦
بسوزم ز بهر بداندیش را
“'That right before you, I will burn myself in the fire to end your misgivings against me!'”
#34
چو بشنید مادر سخنهای گو
✦
دریغ آمدش برز و بالای گو
“When the mother heard these words of Prince Gav, she felt pity for his stature and noble bearing.”
#35
بدو گفت مادر که بنمای راه
✦
که چون مرد بر پیل طلخند شاه
“His mother said to him: 'Show me the way, how King Talkhand died upon his elephant,'”
#36
مگر بر من این آشکارا شود
✦
پر آتش دلم پرمدارا شود
“'So that this truth becomes clear to me, and my fiery heart may grow patient and calm.'”