#1
هم آنگه ز کوه اندر آمد سپاه
✦
جهان شد ز گرد سواران سیاه
“At that very moment, the army descended from the mountain; the world turned black from the dust of the horsemen.”
#2
وزان روی بهرام لشکر براند
✦
به روز اندرون روشنایی نماند
“And from the other side, Bahram drove his army forward until no light remained within the day.”
#3
همی‌گفت هرکس که راند سپاه
✦
خرد باید و مردی و دستگاه
“Everyone was saying that whoever leads an army requires wisdom, valor, and majesty.”
#4
دلیران که دیدند خشت مرا
✦
همان پهلوانی سرشت مرا
“"The brave warriors who saw my javelin and witnessed my heroic nature,”
#5
مرا برگزیدند بر خسروان
✦
به خاک افگنم نام نوشین روان
“Chose me over the kings; I shall cast the name of Nushin-Ravan into the dust!"”
#6
ز لشکر بر شاه شد خیره خیر
✦
کمان را بزه کرد و یک چوبه تیر
“From the army, an arrow was swiftly aimed at the king; a bow was strung and a single arrow released.”
#7
بزد ناگهان بر کمرگاه شاه
✦
بکژ اندر آویخت پیکان به راه
“It struck suddenly at the king's waist; the arrowhead hung crookedly in its trajectory.”
#8
یکی بنده چون زخم پیکان بدید
✦
بیامد ز دیباش بیرون کشید
“A servant, seeing the strike of the arrowhead, came forward and drew it out from the silk garment.”
#9
سبک شهریار اندر آمد دمان
✦
به بهرام چوبینهٔ بد نشان
“Swiftly the king charged furiously toward the ill-omened Bahram Chubin.”
#10
بزد نیزه‌ای بر کمربند اوی
✦
زره بود نگسست پیوند اوی
“He struck a spear thrust upon his belt; but his armor held, and its links did not yield.”
#11
سنان سر نیزه شد به دونیم
✦
دل مرد بی‌راه شد پر ز بیم
“The tip of the spear snapped in two, and the heart of the misguided warrior was filled with dread.”
#12
چو بشکست نیزه بر آشفت شاه
✦
بزد تیغ بر مغفر کینه خواه
“When the spear shattered, the enraged king struck his sword upon the helmet of his vengeful foe.”
#13
سراسر همه تیغ برهم شکست
✦
بدان پیکر مغفر اندر نشست
“The sword shattered completely against it, lodging firmly into the frame of the iron helmet.”
#14
همی آفرین کرد هرکس که دید
✦
هم آنکس که آواز آهن شنید
“Everyone who witnessed it offered praises, as did all who heard the clashing sound of iron.”
#15
گرانمایگان از پس اندر شدند
✦
چنان لشکری را بهم بر زدند
“The noble warriors pressed from behind, scattering and throwing such a vast army into disarray.”
#16
خرامید بندوی نزدیک شاه
✦
که‌ای تاج تو برتر از چرخ ماه
“Bandoy stepped near the king and said: "O King whose crown stands higher than the moon's sphere!”
#17
یکی لشکرست این چومور وملخ
✦
گرفته بیابان همه ریگ و شخ
“This army is like ants and locusts, covering all the desert sand and rocky ground.”
#18
نه والا بود خیره خون ریختن
✦
نه این شاه با بنده آویختن
“It is not noble to shed blood pointlessly, nor for the king to duel directly with a servant.”
#19
هر آنکس که خواهد ز ما زینهار
✦
به از کشته یا خسته در کارزار
“Whoever among them seeks quarter from us, granting pardon is far better than slaying or wounding in battle."”
#20
بدو گفت خسرو که هر کز گناه
✦
بپیچد برو من نیم کینه خواه
“Khosrow answered him: "Whoever turns back from sin, I harbor no vengeance against him.”
#21
همه پاک در زینهار منند
✦
به تاج اندرون گوشوار منند
“They are all under my imperial protection, hanging like precious earrings upon my royal crown."”
#22
برآمد هم آنگه شب از تیره کوه
✦
سپه بازگشتند هر دو گروه
“At that moment, night descended from the dark mountain; both armies withdrew from combat.”
#23
چوآمد غوپاسبان و جرس
✦
ز لشکر نبد خفته بسیار کس
“When the call of the sentinels and bells echoed, few among the troops could find sleep.”
#24
جهان جوی بندوی ز آنجا برفت
✦
میان دو لشکر خرامید تفت
“The world-seeking Bandoy departed from there, advancing swiftly between the two camps.”
#25
ز لشکر نگه کرد کنداوری
✦
خوش آواز و گویا منادیگری
“He looked among the host for a heroic, silver-tongued, and eloquent herald.”
#26
بفرمود تا بارگی برنشست
✦
به بیدار کردن میان را ببست
“He commanded him to mount a steed and gird his waist to awaken the enemy host.”
#27
چنین تا میان دولشکر براند
✦
کزو تا بدشمن فراوان نماند
“Thus he rode into the space between the two hosts until little distance remained to the enemy.”
#28
خروشی برآورد کای بندگان
✦
گنه کرده و بخت جویندگان
“He raised a great shout: "O servants who have sinned yet seek good fortune!”
#29
هران کز شما او گنهکارتر
✦
به جنگ اندرون نامبردارتر
“Whoever among you is most sinful, yet most famous in war,”
#30
به یزدانش بخشید شاه جهان
✦
گناهی‌که کرد آشکار و نهان
“The King of the World has forgiven him in the name of God, for all sins made manifest or concealed!"”
#31
به تیره شبان چون برآمد خروش
✦
نهادند هرکس به آواز گوش
“As the cry echoed through the dark night, everyone lent an ear to the sound.”
#32
همه نامداران بهرامیان
✦
برفتن ببستند یک سر میان
“All the chieftains of Bahram's army girded their waists to depart in secret.”
#33
چو برزد سر از کوه گیتی فروز
✦
زمین را به ملحم بیاراست روز
“When the world-illuminating sun rose over the mountain, decorating the earth with brilliant silk,”
#34
همه دشت بی‌مرد و خرگاه بود
✦
که بهرام زان شب نه آگاه بود
“The entire plain was devoid of men, leaving only tents; for Bahram knew nothing of that night's events.”
#35
بدان خیمه‌ها در ندیدند کس
✦
جز از ویژه یاران بهرام و بس
“They saw no one within those tents, save for Bahram's intimate companions alone.”
#36
چو بهرام زان لشکر آگاه گشت
✦
بیامد بران خیمه‌ها برگذشت
“When Bahram learned of his army's desertion, he came out and passed among those empty tents.”
#37
به یاران چنین گفت کاکنون گریز
✦
به آید ز آرام با رستخیز
“He said to his companions: "Flight now is better than waiting for quiet destruction!"”
#38
شتر خواست از ساروان سه هزار
✦
هیونان کفک افگن و نامدار
“He summoned three thousand camels from the camel-driver, swift, renowned, foam-mouthed beasts.”
#39
ز چیزی که در گنج بد بردنی
✦
ز گستردنیها و از خوردنی
“Whatever was portable from the royal treasury, of carpets, robes, and provisions,”
#40
ز زرین و سیمین وز تخت عاج
✦
همان یاره و طوق زرین وتاج
“Of gold and silver, ivory thrones, armlets, golden collars, and crowns,”
#41
همه بار کردند و خود برنشست
✦
میان از پی بازگشتن ببست
“They loaded it all, mounted their steeds, and girded themselves to flee.”