When word reached Bahram Chubin of the tragic blinding of King Hormoz IV and the coronation of his son Khosrow Parviz, the formidable general was struck with astonishment and deep sorrow at the fickle turn of fortune. Without delay, Bahram ordered the war drums to be bound to the backs of elephants and raised the banner of vengeance. Gathering an army as immense and unstoppable as a moving mountain, he marched boldly toward Nahrawan.
Upon learning of Bahram's swift advance and fierce determination, King Khosrow grew heavy-hearted. The young monarch secretly dispatched keen-sighted scouts to investigate Bahram's host, instructing them to ascertain whether the troops were truly united behind their warlord, how Bahram positioned himself on the march, whether he held court like a king, and if he still pursued hunting or literature.
The spies traversed the terrain unnoticed and returned with grave intelligence: every soldier in Bahram's army, from seasoned veterans to young warriors, stood utterly devoted to his single command. On the march, Bahram moved constantly among his troops—visiting the right wing, the left, and the baggage train. He shared his tactical secrets only with his trusted inner circle, needing no outside counsel. He held audience with royal majesty, hunted in the wilderness, and in hours of rest, constantly studied the sage book of Kalilah wa Dimnah to refine his strategic mind.
Hearing this, Khosrow turned to his inner council—Bandoy, Gustahm, Gardoy, Shapur, Andiyan, and Radman the commander of Armenia—and declared: 'A long and daunting struggle lies before us. When Bahram charges into battle, he shatters the dragon's heart even in the depths of the sea. He knows the ways of kings, and he uses the wisdom of Kalilah wa Dimnah as his prime minister.'
Seeking a solution, Khosrow consulted his high Mobad, who spoke of Wisdom being divided by Destiny into four shares: one major half reserved for the Divine Glory of Kings, another for the righteous, a third for loyal servants of the crown, and a remaining fragment for wise landholders. He affirmed that wisdom never abides with the ungrateful or ungodly.
Khosrow praised the Mobad's speech as pure jewel, yet revealed his own courageous plan: 'When the two armies stand face to face and lances clash, I shall feel no shame to ride out from my main vanguard alone and unarmed toward Bahram. I will call out to him, offer a countenance of peace, and praise him generously. If he accepts my words of reconciliation, he shall be elevated above all at my court; but if he insists on war, then we shall give him battle.'
The assembled chieftains praised the young king's magnanimity and vision, proclaiming him the true sovereign of the world. Khosrow then marched his army out of Baghdad, pitching royal pavilions in the open plain of Nahrawan. As night fell and dawn broke to the thunder of kettle-drums, Khosrow, flanked by Bandoy and Gustahm, rode out toward the springs of Nahrawan to face his fateful encounter with Bahram.
#1
چو بشنید بهرام کز روزگار
✦
چه آمد بران نامور شهریار
“When Bahram learned what twist of fate had befallen that renowned monarch,”
#2
نهادند بر چشم روشنش داغ
✦
بمرد آن چراغ دو نرگس بباغ
“How they had branded his bright eyes, extinguishing the twin lamps of his sight,”
#3
پسر برنشست از بر تخت اوی
✦
بپا اندر آمد سر وبخت اوی
“And how his son had mounted the royal throne, elevating his head and fortune,”
#4
ازان ماند بهرام اندر شگفت
✦
بپژمرد واندیشه اندر گرفت
“Bahram remained lost in utter astonishment; he withered with grief and fell deep into anxious thought.”
#5
بفرمود تا کوس بیرون برند
✦
درفش بزرگی به هامون برند
“He commanded the war drums to be brought forth and the grand banner to be raised upon the open plain.”
#6
بنه برنهاد وسپه برنشست
✦
بپیکار خسرو میان را ببست
“He packed his baggage, mounted his charger, and girded his loins for battle against Khosrow.”
#7
سپاهی بکردار کوه روان
✦
همی‌راند گستاخ تا نهروان
“He assembled an army vast as a moving mountain, advancing boldly all the way to Nahrawan.”
#8
چوآگاه شد خسرو از کاراوی
✦
غمی گشت زان تیز بازار اوی
“When Khosrow learned of Bahram's warlike advance, he grew deeply grieved by his fierce zeal.”
#9
فرستاد بیدار کارآگهان
✦
که تا بازجویند کارجهان
“He dispatched vigilant spies into the night, to investigate the secrets of the realm and the enemy.”
#10
به کارآگهان گفت راز ازنخست
✦
زلشکر همی‌کرد باید درست
“He first imparted his secrets to the spies, bidding them ascertain the truth of Bahram's host:”
#11
که بااو یکی اند لشکر به جنگ
✦
وگر گردد این کار ما با درنگ
“Whether the army stands fully united with him in battle, or if our struggle will drag into delay;”
#12
دگر آنک بهرام در قلبگاه
✦
بود بیشتر گر میان سپاه
“And furthermore, whether Bahram rides in the center vanguard or moves amid the body of the host;”
#13
چگونه نشیند بهنگام بار
✦
برفتن کند هیچ رای شکار
“How he holds court during audience, and whether he inclines toward hunting while on the march.”
#14
برفتند کارآگهان از درش
✦
نبود آگه از کار وز لشکرش
“The spies departed from his presence, while he remained unaware of Bahram's army and designs.”
#15
چو رفتند و دیدند و بازآمدند
✦
نهانی بر او فراز آمدند
“When they had scouted and returned, they came to him in secret with their report:”
#16
که لشکر بهرکار با اویکیست
✦
اگر نامدارست وگر کودکیست
“That the entire army is at one with him in every matter, whether noble warriors or young troops;”
#17
هرانگه که لشکر براند به راه
✦
بود یک زمان در میان سپاه
“Whenever he marches his host upon the road, he stays a while among the ranks of the army;”
#18
زمانی شود بر سوی میمنه
✦
گهی بر چپ و گاه سوی بنه
“At times he rides to the right wing, at times to the left, and sometimes toward the baggage train;”
#19
همه مردم خویش دارد براز
✦
ببیگانگانشان نیاید نیاز
“He keeps all his confidence within his own circle, having no need of strangers;”
#20
بکردار شاهان نشیند ببار
✦
همان در در و دشت جوید شکار
“He holds audience after the manner of monarchs, and likewise hunts across plains and wilderness.”
#21
چو از رزم شاهان نراند همی
✦
همه دفتر دمنه خواند همی
“When he is not directing royal battles, he reads constantly from the book of Kalilah wa Dimnah.”
#22
چنین گفت خسرو بدستور خویش
✦
که کاری درازست ما را به پیش
“Khosrow turned to his chief minister and said: 'A long and hard trial lies before us.”
#23
چو بهرام بر دشمن اسپ افکند
✦
بدریا دل اژدها بشکند
“When Bahram spurs his horse against the enemy, he shatters the dragon's heart within the deep sea.”
#24
دگر آنک آیین شاهنشهان
✦
بیاموخت از شهریار جهان
“Furthermore, he has mastered the noble customs of kings from the sovereign of the world.”
#25
سیم کش کلیله است ودمنه وزیر
✦
چون او رای زن کس ندارد دبیر
“Thirdly, Kalilah wa Dimnah is his counsellor; no scribe possesses a advisor as prudent as his.'”
#26
ازان پس ببندوی و گستهم گفت
✦
که ما با غم و رنج گشتیم جفت
“Afterward, he said to Bandoy and Gustahm: 'We have become wedded to grief and pain.'”
#27
چوگردوی و شاپور و چون اندیان
✦
سپهدار ارمینیه رادمان
“With Gardoy, Shapur, Andiyan, and Radman—the noble commander of Armenia—”
#28
نشستند با شاه ایران براز
✦
بزرگان فرزانه رزمساز
“They sat in secret council with the King of Iran—wise and battle-seasoned chieftains.”
#29
چنین گفت خسرو بدان مهتران
✦
که ای سرفرازان و جنگ آوران
“Khosrow spoke to those grandees: 'O exalted ones and brave warriors!”
#30
هرآن مغز کو را خرد روشنست
✦
زدانش یکی بر تنش جوشنست
“Any mind whose intellect is illuminated wears a coat of armor made of knowledge upon his body.”
#31
کس آنرا نبرد مگر تیغ مرگ
✦
شود موم ازان زخم پولاد ترگ
“Nothing can pierce it save the blade of death; through its stroke, steel helmets turn to soft wax.”
#32
کنون من بسال ازشما کهترم
✦
برای جوانی جهان نسپرم
“Now I am younger in years than you, yet I do not traverse the world with youthful folly.”
#33
بگویید تا چارهٔ کارچیست
✦
بران خستگیها پرآزار کیست
“Speak, and reveal what remedy we must apply, and who grieves most over these wounds.'”
#34
بدو گفت موبد انوشه بدی
✦
همه مغز را فر وتوشه بدی
“The Mobad replied: 'May you live immortal! May divine glory and strength ever nourish your mind!”
#35
چوپیدا شد این راز گردنده دهر
✦
خرد را ببخشید بر چاربهر
“When this mystery of the revolving heavens was revealed, Wisdom was apportioned into four shares:”
#36
چونیمی ازو بهرهٔ پادشاست
✦
که فر و خرد پادشا را سزاست
“One half belongs entirely to the King, for divine glory and wisdom are fitting for monarchs;”
#37
دگر بهرهٔ مردم پارسا
✦
سدیگر پرستنده پادشا
“Another share belongs to devout, righteous folk, and a third to the loyal servants of the throne.”
#38
چو نزدیک باشد بشاه جهان
✦
خرد خویشتن زو ندارد نهان
“When wisdom dwells near the Lord of the World, it does not hide its secrets from him.”
#39
کنون از خرد پاره‌ای ماند خرد
✦
که دانا ورا بهر دهقان شمرد
“Now a small fragment of wisdom remains, which the wise assign to the noble landholders.”
#40
خرد نیست با مردم ناسپاس
✦
نه آنرا که او نیست یزدان شناس
“Wisdom dwells not with the ungrateful, nor with him who acknowledges not God.”
#41
اگر بشنود شهریار این سخن
✦
که گفته‌ست بیدار مرد کهن
“If the King would hear this truthful discourse spoken by wise men of old...'”
#42
بدو گفت شاه این سخن گر بزر
✦
نویسم جز این نیست آیین و فر
“The King answered: 'If this word is written in gold, it carries no less than imperial tradition and grace.”
#43
سخن گفتن موبدان گوهرست
✦
مرا در دل اندیشه دیگرست
“The discourse of mobads is pure jewel, yet in my heart dwells another resolve:”
#44
که چون این دو لشکر برابر شود
✦
سر نیزه‌ها بر دو پیکر شود
“When the two armies stand face to face and the tips of lances clash above our bodies,”
#45
نباشد مرا ننگ کز قلبگاه
✦
برانم شوم پیش او بی‌سپاه
“I shall hold it no shame to spur out from the main vanguard and approach him without an army.”
#46
بخوانم به آواز بهرام را
✦
سپهدار بدنام خودکام را
“I shall call out aloud to Bahram, that self-willed and ill-reputed commander.”
#47
یکی ز آشتی روی بنمایمش
✦
نوازمش بسیار و بستایمش
“I shall show him a face of peace, soothe him greatly, and offer him high praise.”
#48
اگر خود پذیرد سخن به بود
✦
که چون او بدرگاه بر که بود
“If he accepts my words, it shall be best, for who at court was ever equal to him?”
#49
وگر جنگ جوید منم جنگ جوی
✦
سپه را بروی اندر آریم روی
“And if he seeks war, then war I too shall seek, and we shall bring our hosts face to face.”
#50
همه کاردانان بدین داستان
✦
کجا گفت گشتند همداستان
“All the wise and experienced advisers agreed completely with this discourse.”
#51
بزرگان برو آفرین خواندند
✦
ورا شهریار زمین خواندند
“The nobles showered praises upon him and proclaimed him the sovereign king of the earth.”
#52
همی‌گفت هرکس که ای شهریار
✦
زتو دور بادا بد روزگار
“Everyone said, 'O Monarch, may evil times ever remain far from thee!”
#53
تو را باد پیروزی و فرهی
✦
بزرگی و دیهیم شاهنشهی
“May victory, divine grace, grandeur, and the royal crown be thine forever!'”
#54
چنین گفت خسرو که این باد و بس
✦
شکست و جدایی مبیناد کس
“Khosrow answered, 'May it be even so; and may no man suffer defeat and division.'”
#55
سپه را ز بغداد بیرون کشید
✦
سراپردهٔ نو به هامون کشید
“He led his army forth out of Baghdad and pitched his royal pavilions anew upon the plain.”
#56
دو لشکر چو تنگ اندر آمد به راه
✦
ازان رو سپهبد وزین روی شاه
“When the two armies drew near on the march, the general on one side and the king on the other,”
#57
چو شمع جهان شد بخم اندرون
✦
بیفشاند زلف شب تیره گون
“When the candle of the world sank low into the curve, and night unfurled its dark, musky tresses,”
#58
طلایه بیامد ز هر دو سپاه
✦
که دارد ز بدخواه خود را نگاه
“Advance guards stepped forward from both armies to guard themselves against the foe.”
#59
چو از خنجر روز بگریخت شب
✦
همی تاخت سوزان دل و خشک لب
“As night fled before the glittering dagger of day, the steeds galloped with burning hearts and dry lips.”
#60
تبیره برآمد ز هر دو سرای
✦
بدان رزم خورشید بد رهنمای
“The war-drums resounded from both camps, while the sun served as a guide to that battleground.”
#61
بگستهم و بندوی فرمود شاه
✦
که تا بر نهادند ز آهن کلاه
“The King commanded Gostahm and Bandoy to don their helmets of steel.”
#62
چنین با بزرگان روشن روان
✦
همی‌راند تا چشمهٔ نهروان
“Thus accompanied by bright-souled magnates, he rode onward to the spring of Nahrawan.”
#63
طلایه ببهرام شد ناگزیر
✦
که آمد سپه بر دو پرتاب تیر
“Word reached Bahram from his advance guard that the opposing host was now within two arrow-flights.”
#64
چوبشنید بهرام لشکر براند
✦
جهاندیدگان را برخویش خواند
“Hearing this, Bahram advanced his force and summoned his battle-hardened veterans to his side.”
#65
نشست از برابلق مشک دم
✦
خنیده سرافراز رویینه سم
“He mounted his piebald steed with its musk-black tail—famed, exalted, and iron-hooved.”
#66
سلیحش یکی هندوی تیغ بود
✦
که درزخم چون آتش میغ بود
“His weapon was an Indian blade, whose blow struck like lightning flashing from a thundercloud.”
#67
چوبرق درفشان همی‌راند اسپ
✦
بدست چپش ریمن آذرگشسپ
“He spurred his horse like gleaming lightning, with the treacherous Azargashasp at his left hand.”
#68
چو آیین گشسپ و یلان سینه نیز
✦
برفتند پرکینه و پرستیز
“Ayin-Gashasp and the brave Yalan-Sina also rode forth, filled with vengeance and strife.”
#69
سه ترک دلاور ز خاقانیان
✦
بران کین بهرام بسته میان
“Three valiant warriors of Khaqan's lineage had girded themselves in Bahram's cause.”
#70
پذیرفته هر سه که چون روی شاه
✦
ببینیم دور ازمیان سپاه
“All three had vowed: 'The moment we behold the King's face apart from his host,”
#71
اگر بسته گر کشته او را برت
✦
بیاریم و آسوده شد لشکرت
“'We shall bring him to thee, bound or slain, and thy army shall be delivered from turmoil.'”
#72
ز یک روی خسرو دگر پهلوان
✦
میان اندرون نهروان روان
“On one bank stood Khosrow, on the other the champion, with the river Nahrawan flowing between them.”
#73
نظاره بران از دو رویه سپاه
✦
که تا پهلوان چون رود نزد شاه
“The two hosts watched intently from either side to see how the champion would approach the King.”