When the dark skirts of night pulled back and dawn crested the black mountains, Maqatura clad himself in war mail and grasped his sharp Turi blade to seek ultimate battle. Hearing the challenge, Bahram Chubin called for his steed and donned his royal Khosrow-sculpted armor. The two warriors chose a barren, waterless ridge—a rocky precipice so wild that no panther had ever laid paw upon its desolate stone. Upon hearing of the clash, the Khaqan mounted his charger with his chieftains to behold which of these two raging lions fate had destined for the grave.
Maqatura rode into the dusty plain, raising a cloud to the heavens, and shouted arrogantly to Bahram: 'Show now what manhood you possess! Will you strike first, or shall I, the lion-hearted servant of the Khaqan?' Bahram calmly replied that Maqatura should loose the first arrow, for he was the one who had opened this quarrel. Maqatura called upon the Almighty, bent his dark bow, drew the arrow back to its thumb-ring, and loosed a violent shot straight at Bahram's waist. Yet the hardened steel of Bahram's armor defied the point, remaining unpierced.
Seeing Bahram pause motionless, Maqatura believed the Persian commander was slain; he bellowed in triumph and turned to ride back toward the war tents. But Bahram’s thunderous voice halted him in his tracks: 'O warrior! Do not run to your pavilion—you have not slain me! You spoke your part, now stand and hear the reply!' Selecting a heavy mail-piercing shaft capable of cleaving solid rock, Bahram loosed his bow. The shaft struck Maqatura square in the midsection, ending his appetite for battle and gold forever.
Because Maqatura’s feet had been bound to the saddle by his brother before the fray to prevent retreat, his lifeless body slumped forward over the horse, eyes blinded with blood and tears. The Khaqan, beholding Bahram's terrifying mastery, laughed inwardly with quiet satisfaction and returned to his palace amazed. His joy reached the stars. He commanded that vast treasures—golden vessels, priceless jewels, bloodstock chargers, royal crowns, and magnificent armor—be bestowed upon Bahram, who entrusted the vast booty to his treasury.
#1
چوشب دامن تیره اندر کشید
✦
سپیده ز کوه سیه بر دمید
“As night drew in its dark skirt, dawn emerged from behind the black mountain.”
#2
مقاتوره پوشید خفتان جنگ
✦
بیامد یکی تیغ توری به چنگ
“Maqatura donned his battle coat of mail and came forth holding a sharp Turanian sword.”
#3
چو بهرام بشنید بالای خواست
✦
یکی جوشن خسرو آرای خواست
“When Bahram heard the battle call, he requested his royal armor fit for kings.”
#4
گزیدند جایی که هرگز پلنگ
✦
بر آن شخ بی‌آب ننهاد چنگ
“They chose a place where never a panther had laid its paw upon that waterless cliff.”
#5
چو خاقان شنید این سخن برنشست
✦
برفتند ترکان خسرو پرست
“When the Khaqan heard of this, he mounted, and the King-devoted Turks rode out with him,”
#6
بدان کار تا زین دو شیر دمان
✦
کرا پیشتر خواهد آمد زمان
“To witness, between these two roaring lions, whose time would come first.”
#7
مقاتوره چون شد به دشت نبرد
✦
ز هامون به ابر اندر آورد گرد
“When Maqatura reached the battlefield, he raised dust from the plain to the clouds.”
#8
به بهرام گردنکش آواز داد
✦
که اکنون ز مردی چه داری بیاد
“He called out haughtily to Bahram: 'What remembrance of manhood do you now possess?”
#9
تو تازی بدین جنگ بر پیشدست
✦
و گر شیردل ترک خاقان پرست
“Will you strike first in this battle, or shall I, the lion-hearted warrior of the Khaqan?'”
#10
بدو گفت بهرام پیشی تو کن
✦
کجا پی تو افگنده‌ای این سخن
“Bahram said to him: 'Take the first shot yourself, for it was you who opened this dispute.'”
#11
مقاتوره کرد از جهاندار یاد
✦
دو زاغ کمان را به زه برنهاد
“Maqatura remembered the Lord of the World, and placed the bowstring upon the two notches of the bow.”
#12
زه و تیر بگرفت شادان بدست
✦
چو شد غرق پیکانش بگشاد شست
“Gladly he took bowstring and arrow in hand, and when the arrowhead was drawn to its notch, he released his thumb.”
#13
بزد بر کمربند مرد سوار
✦
نسفت آهن از آهن آبدار
“He struck the belt of the horseman, but tempered steel could not pierce tempered steel.”
#14
زمانی همی‌بود بهرام دیر
✦
که تاشد مقاتوره از رزم سیر
“Bahram remained motionless for a moment, until Maqatura grew weary of fighting.”
#15
مقاتوره پنداشت کو شد تباه
✦
خروشید و برگشت زان رزمگاه
“Maqatura fancied that Bahram was destroyed; he shouted in triumph and turned away from the battleground.”
#16
بدو گفت بهرام کای جنگجوی
✦
نکشتی مرا سوی خرگه مپوی
“Bahram said to him: 'O warrior! You have not slain me—do not rush back toward your pavilion!”
#17
تو گفتی سخن باش و پاسخ شنو
✦
اگر بشنوی زنده مانی برو
“You spoke your word, now stay and hear the answer; if you survive after hearing it, then go!'”
#18
گزین کرد جوشن گذاری خدنگ
✦
که آهن شدی پیش او نرم و سنگ
“He chose a mail-piercing arrow of poplars, before which iron and stone would turn soft.”
#19
بزد بر میان سوار دلیر
✦
سپهبد شد از رزم و دینار سیر
“He struck the valiant warrior right in his middle, and the commander was instantly sated with battle and gold.”
#20
مقاتوره چون جنگ را برنشست
✦
برادر دو پایش بزین بر ببست
“When Maqatura had mounted for battle, his brother had bound his two feet firmly to the saddle.”
#21
بروی اندر آمد دو دیده پرآب
✦
همان زین توری شدش جای خواب
“He slumped forward with eyes full of tears/blood, and that Turanian saddle became his bed of sleep.”
#22
به خاقان چنین گفت کای کامجوی
✦
همی گورکن خواهد آن نامجوی
“Maqatura's companion said to the Khaqan: 'O seeker of desires, that famous warrior now requires a grave-digger!'”
#23
بدو گفت خاقان که بهتر ببین
✦
کجا زنده خفتست بر پشت زین
“The Khaqan replied to him: 'Look more closely! How can a living man sleep upon the back of a saddle?'”
#24
بدو گفت بهرام کای برمنش
✦
هم اکنون به خاک اندر آید تنش
“Bahram said to him: 'O proud lord, right now his body shall descend into the dust.”
#25
تن دشمن تو چنین خفته باد
✦
که او خفت بر اسپ توری نژاد
“May the body of your enemy sleep like this, for he lay sleeping upon a horse of Turanian breed!'”
#26
سواری فرستاد خاقان دلیر
✦
به نزدیک آن نامبردار شیر
“The Khaqan sent a valiant horseman to approach that famous lion.”
#27
ورا بسته و کشته دیدند خوار
✦
بر آسوده از گردش روزگار
“They found him bound and slain miserably, released forever from the turn of fortune.”
#28
بخندید خاقان به دل در نهان
✦
شگفت آمدش زان سوار جهان
“The Khaqan laughed secretly in his heart, amazed by that world-conquering knight.”
#29
پر اندیشه بد تا بایوان رسید
✦
کلاهش ز شادی به کیوان رسید
“Full of thought he reached his palace, his crown touching the heavens with joy.”
#30
سلیح و درم خواست و اسپ ورهی
✦
همان تاج و هم تخت شاهنشهی
“He requested armor, money, horses, chargers, as well as a royal crown and throne,”
#31
ز دینار وز گوهر شاهوار
✦
ز هرگونه‌ای آلت کار زار
“Along with dinars, royal jewels, and all kinds of gear for battle.”
#32
فرستاده از پیش خاقان ببرد
✦
به گنجور بهرام جنگی سپرد
“The messenger carried these forth from the Khaqan, and warlike Bahram entrusted them to his treasurer.”