As the radiant sun ascended the sky, the scouts of King Khosrow Parviz discovered that Bahram Chubin's encampment stood deserted; the rebellious general had slipped away under the cloak of night. Upon hearing this, the king's heart grew heavy with anger at his rival's escape. Khosrow selected three thousand armored cavalrymen and commanded Nastuh to lead them in swift pursuit of the fleeing rebel.
Meanwhile, Bahram Chubin traversed perilous, offbeat paths in deep anxiety, taking his vast stores of gold and silver with him. Renowned warriors such as Yalan Sineh and Izad Gashasp rode beside him, reciting the tales of ancient kings to console their weary hearts. Eventually, they reached a humble, ruined hamlet. Parched with thirst, Bahram approached the cottage of a solitary old woman and politely requested food and water. Possessing almost nothing, the woman produced an old sieve, laid a rag over it, and served them dried curd bread. Yalan Sineh performed the sacred Barsam ritual, and they gratefully partook of the meal.
After eating, they asked for wine. The old woman fetched a hollowed-out gourd cup filled with wine. Bahram took the humble vessel with joy, drank, and rewarded the old woman with a cup filled with gold. He then asked her: 'What news have you heard of the world and this conflict?' She replied: 'Travelers from the city report that Bahram Chubin's host has been shattered and he has fled alone.' Bahram asked: 'Tell me, wise mother, did Bahram act out of wisdom, or was he blinded by ambition?' The old woman, unaware of his identity, answered: 'Why did a demon obscure Bahram's vision? Does he not know that if Bahram son of Gashasp raises his lance against the prince, the son of Hormoz, every wise person laughs at his madness?' Bahram accepted her bitter reproof with a silent smile.
At dawn, Bahram rallied his men and reached a dense reed-bed where reed-cutters warned him that a vast royal army lay ahead. Recognizing that this pursuer was none other than Nastuh, Bahram and his warriors set the entire reed-bed ablaze, surprising the royal force. Bahram captured Nastuh with his lasso, but magnanimously spared his life, commanding him to return to Khosrow and recount what he had witnessed. Thereafter, Bahram Chubin turned his steps toward the court of the Khagan.
#1
چو خورشید روشن بیاراست گاه
✦
طلایه بیامد ز نزدیک شاه
“When the bright sun adorned the heavenly throne, the vanguard arrived from near the King.”
#2
به پرده سرای اندرون کس ندید
✦
همان خیمه بر پای بر بس ندید
“Inside the royal pavilion none was to be seen, nor were the tents left standing upon their poles.”
#3
طلایه بیامد بگفت این به شاه
✦
دل شاه شد تنگ زان رزمخواه
“The vanguard came and told this to the King, and the King's heart grew heavy regarding that seeker of battle.”
#4
گزین کرد زان جنگیان سه هزار
✦
زره دار و برگستوان ور سوار
“He selected three thousand of those warriors, armored men and riders upon mailed steeds.”
#5
به نستود فرمود تا برنشست
✦
میان یلی تاختن را ببست
“He commanded Nastuh to mount, girding his heroic waist for the pursuit.”
#6
همی‌راند نستود دل پر ز درد
✦
نبد مرد بهرام روز نبرد
“Nastuh rode forth with a heart full of grief, yet Bahram was no easy adversary on the day of battle.”
#7
همان نیز بهرام با لشکرش
✦
نبود ایمن از راه وز کشورش
“Likewise Bahram, along with his host, felt no security from the road nor from the realm.”
#8
همی‌راند بی‌راه دل پر ز بیم
✦
همی‌برد با خویشتن زر و سیم
“He rode along offbeat paths with a heart full of dread, taking with him his stores of gold and silver.”
#9
یلان سینه و گرد ایزد گشسپ
✦
ز یک سوی لشکر همی‌راند اسپ
“The heroes Yalan Sineh and the brave Izad Gashasp rode their steeds beside the host.”
#10
به بی‌راه لشکر همی‌راندند
✦
سخنهای شاهان همی‌خواندند
“Through offbeat ways they led the troops, reciting the tales of former kings.”
#11
پدید آمد از دور یک پاره ده
✦
کجا ده نبود از در مرد مه
“From afar a tiny hamlet came into view, which was hardly fit for a great man's dwelling.”
#12
همی‌راند بهرام پیش اندرون
✦
پشیمان شده دل پر از درد و خون
“Bahram rode ahead of them all, repentant in heart and full of grief and aching blood.”
#13
چو از تشنگی خشک شدشان دهن
✦
بیامد به خان یکی پیرزن
“When their mouths grew dry with parching thirst, he came upon the dwelling of an old woman.”
#14
زبان را به چربی بیاراستند
✦
وزان پیرزن آب و نان خواستند
“They adorned their speech with sweet words and requested water and bread from that old woman.”
#15
زن پیر گفتار ایشان شنید
✦
یکی کهنه غربیل پیش آورید
“The old woman heard their request and brought forward an old, worn sieve.”
#16
برو بر به گسترده یک پاره مشک
✦
نهاده به غربیل بر نان کشک
“Upon it she spread a scrap of cloth, and placed dried curd bread upon the sieve.”
#17
یلان سینه برسم به بهرام داد
✦
نیامد همی در غم از واژ یاد
“Yalan Sineh handed the sacred Barsam to Bahram, nor did he forget the holy Baj prayer despite his grief.”
#18
گرفتند واژ و بخوردند نان
✦
نظاره بدان نامداران زنان
“They performed the ritual and ate the bread, while the women looked on at those famous nobles.”
#19
چو کشکین بخوردند می خواستند
✦
زبانها به زمزم بیاراستند
“Having eaten the curd bread, they asked for wine, tuning their voices to holy chants.”
#20
زن پیر گفت ار میت آرزوست
✦
میست و یکی نیز کهنه کدوست
“The old woman said: 'If wine is what you desire, there is wine inside an old gourd cup.'”
#21
بریدم کدو را که نوبد سرش
✦
یکی جام کردم نهادم برش
“'I cut the gourd since it had no lid, fashioned a vessel, and placed it aside.'”
#22
بدو گفت بهرام چون می بود
✦
ازان خوبتر جامها کی بود
“Bahram said to her: 'If wine is within, what finer goblet could there ever be?'”
#23
زن پیر رفت و بیاورد جام
✦
ازان جام بهرام شد شادکام
“The old woman went and brought the vessel, and from that cup Bahram was well contented.”
#24
یکی جام پر بر کفش برنهاد
✦
بدان تا شود پیرزن نیز شاد
“He placed a cup filled with gold upon her palm, so that the old woman too might rejoice.”
#25
بدو گفت کای مام با فرهی
✦
ز کار جهان چیستت آگهی
“He said to her: 'O noble mother, what knowledge have you of the world's affairs?'”
#26
بدو پیرزن گفت چندان سخن
✦
شنیدم کزان گشت مغزم کهن
“The old woman replied: 'I have heard so much talk that my brain has grown weary with age.'”
#27
ز شهر آمد امروز بسیار کس
✦
همی جنگ چوبینه گویند و بس
“'Many people arrived today from the city, speaking of nothing but Chubin's war,'”
#28
که شد لشکر او به نزدیک شاه
✦
سپهبد گریزان بشد بی‌سپاه
“'Saying his army defected to the King, and the chieftain fled without a host.'”
#29
بدو گفت بهرام کای پاک زن
✦
مرا اندرین داستانی بزن
“Bahram said to her: 'O pure woman, tell me a parable concerning this matter:'”
#30
که این از خرد بود بهرام را
✦
وگر برگزید از هوا کام را
“'Was this deed done out of wisdom by Bahram, or did he pursue passion and pride?'”
#31
بدو پیرزن گفت کای شهره مرد
✦
چرا دیو چشم تو را تیره کرد
“The old woman said: 'O renowned man, why did the demon obscure his sight?'”
#32
ندانی که بهرام پور گشسپ
✦
چوبا پور هرمز بر انگیزد اسپ
“'Knows he not that when Bahram son of Gashasp spurs his horse against the son of Hormoz,'”
#33
بخندد برو هرک دارد خرد
✦
کس اورا ز گردنکشان نشمرد
“'Every possessor of wisdom laughs at him, nor does anyone count him among true nobles?'”
#34
بدو گفت بهرام گر آرزوی
✦
چنین کرد گو می‌خوران در کدوی
“Bahram said to himself: 'If desire led to this, drink wine from a gourd;'”
#35
برین گونه غربیل بر نان جو
✦
همی‌دار در پیش تا جو درو
“'Keep barley bread upon a sieve before you, until you reap the barley you sowed.'”
#36
بران هم خورش یک شب آرام یافت
✦
همی کام دل جست و ناکام یافت
“Upon such fare he found rest for a night; seeking his heart's desire, he found frustration.”
#37
چو خورشید برچرخ بگشاد راز
✦
سپهدار جنگی بزد طبل باز
“When the sun revealed its secret upon the sphere, the warlike commander beat the drum once more.”
#38
بیاورد چندانک بودش سپاه
✦
گرانمایگان برگرفتند راه
“He gathered such troops as remained to him, and the nobles set forth upon their way.”
#39
بره بر یکی نیستان بود نو
✦
بسی اندرو مردم نی‌درو
“Upon the road lay a fresh reed-bed, wherein many reed-cutters were at work.”
#40
چو از دور دیدند بهرام را
✦
چنان لشکرگشن و خودکام را
“When from afar they sighted Bahram with his dense and formidable host,”
#41
به بهرام گفتند انوشه بدی
✦
ز راه نیستان چرا آمدی
“They said to Bahram: 'May you be blessed! Why have you come by the way of the reed-bed?'”
#42
که بی‌مر سپاهست پیش اندرون
✦
همه جنگ را دست شسته به خون
“'For ahead lies an innumerable army, with hands washed in blood for battle.'”
#43
چنین گفت بهرام کایدر سوار
✦
نباشد جز از لشکر شهریار
“Bahram replied: 'The horsemen here can be none other than the Sovereign's host.'”
#44
فرود آمدند اندران نیستان
✦
همه جنگ را تنگ بسته میان
“They dismounted in that reed-bed, all girding their waists tight for battle.”
#45
شنیدم که چون ما ز پرده سرای
✦
بسی چیدن راه کردیم رای
“'I have heard that as we left the pavilion, making our intent to travel the road,'”
#46
جهاندار بگزید نستود را
✦
جهان جوی بی‌تار و بی‌پود را
“The ruler of the world chose Nastud, that seeker of power who was devoid of substance and strength.”
#47
ابا سه هزار از سواران مرد
✦
کجا پای دارند روز نبرد
“He dispatched him with three thousand courageous horsemen, men steadfast and resolute upon the day of battle.”
#48
بدان تا بیاید پس ما دمان
✦
چو بینم مر او را سرآرم زمان
“So that he would advance swiftly behind us, and when I confront him, I shall bring his time to an end.”
#49
همه اسپ را تنگها برکشید
✦
همه گرد این بیشه لشکر کشید
“All tightened the saddle-girths of their steeds, and drew up their army surrounding the thicket.”
#50
سواران سبک برکشیدند تنگ
✦
گرفتند شمشیر هندی به چنگ
“The nimble cavalry cinched their saddles tight and gripped their Indian blades firmly in hand.”
#51
همه نیستان آتش اندر زدند
✦
سپه را یکایک بهم بر زدند
“They set the entire reed-bed ablaze and launched a fierce attack upon the opposing force.”
#52
نیستان سراسر شد افروخته
✦
یکی کشته و دیگری سوخته
“The whole thicket turned into a roaring flame; some were slain by the sword, while others perished in the fire.”
#53
چونستود را دید بهرام گرد
✦
عنان بارهٔ تیزتگ را سپرد
“When the hero Bahram caught sight of Nastud, he gave rein to his swift-footed charger.”
#54
ز زین برگرفتش به خم کمند
✦
بیاورد و کردش هم آنگه ببند
“With a loop of his lasso, he lifted him right off his saddle, brought him down, and bound him securely on the spot.”
#55
همی‌خواست نستود زو زینهار
✦
همی‌گفت کای نامور شهریار
“Nastud begged him for quarter and quarter, pleading: 'O renowned and illustrious sovereign!'”
#56
چرا ریخت خواهی همی خون من
✦
ببخشای بر بخت وارون من
“'Why would you shed my blood? Take pity upon my wretched and inverted fortune!'”
#57
مکش مر مرا تا دوان پیش تو
✦
بیایم بوم زار درویش تو
“'Slay me not, so that I may run ahead of your horse as your humblest and most destitute servant.'”
#58
بدو گفت بهرام من چون تو مرد
✦
نخواهم که باشد به دشت نبرد
“Bahram replied: 'I do not desire such a man as you to stand upon the battlefield!'”
#59
نبرم سرت را که ننگ آیدم
✦
که چون تو سواری به جنگ آیدم
“'I shall not sever your head, for it brings me shame that a knight such as you came to face me in battle.'”
#60
چو یابی رهایی ز دستم بپوی
✦
ز من هرچ دیدی به خسرو بگوی
“'When you gain release from my hands, make haste, and tell Khosrow all that you have witnessed here.'”
#61
چو بشنید نستود روی زمین
✦
ببوسید و بسیار کرد آفرین
“When Nastud heard this, he fell to the earth, kissed the ground, and showered him with praises.”
#62
وزان بیشه بهرام شد تابری
✦
ابا او دلیران فرخنده پی
“Then Bahram departed from that thicket toward Bari, accompanied by his auspicious and valiant warriors.”
#63
ببود و برآسود و ز آنجا برفت
✦
به نزدیک خاقان خرامید تفت
“He tarried there, rested, and then moved onward, making haste toward the court of the Khaqan.”