#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.”