#1
بیامد یکی موبدی چرب دست
✦
مر آن ماه رخ را به می کرد مست
“A skilled and adept physician came forth, and rendered that moon-faced lady slumberous with wine.”
#2
بکافید بی‌رنج پهلوی ماه
✦
بتابید مر بچه را سر ز راه
“Without pain he opened the moon-like lady's side, and turned the infant's head away from the narrow path.”
#3
چنان بی‌گزندش برون آورید
✦
که کس در جهان این شگفتی ندید
“He brought him forth so completely unharmed that none in the whole world had ever witnessed such a marvel.”
#4
یکی بچه بُد چون گَوی شیرفَش
✦
به بالا بلند و به دیدار کش
“A child was born like a lion cub, tall of stature and handsome to behold.”
#5
شگفت اندرو مانده بد مرد و زن
✦
که نشنید کس بچهٔ پیل تن
“Every man and woman remained spellbound in wonder, for no one had ever heard of an elephant-bodied infant.”
#6
همان دردگاهش فرو دوختند
✦
به دارو همه درد بسپوختند
“Then they stitched up her wound and quenched all pain with healing balm.”
#7
شبانروز مادر ز می خفته بود
✦
ز می خفته و هش ازو رفته بود
“For a full day and night the mother slept from the potion, her senses suspended in slumber.”
#8
چو از خواب بیدار شد سرو بن
✦
به سیندخت بگشاد لب بر سخن
“When that cypress-statured lady awakened from her sleep, she opened her lips to Sindokht in speech.”
#9
بر او زر و گوهر برافشاندند
✦
ابر کردگار آفرین خواندند
“They scattered gold and jewels upon her, and offered praise unto the Creator.”
#10
مر آن بچه را پیش او تاختند
✦
به سان سپهری برافراختند
“They brought the infant before her, holding him exalted like the celestial sphere.”
#11
بخندید از آن بچه سرو سُهی
✦
بدید اندرو فر شاهنشهی
“That upright cypress smiled upon the child, perceiving in him the royal splendor of monarchs.”
#12
بِرَستم بگفتا غم آمد به سر
✦
نهادند رُستَمَش نام پسر
“She declared, 'I am delivered (Be-rastam) from pain!' And so they named her son Rostam.”
#13
یکی کودکی دوختند از حریر
✦
به بالای آن شیر ناخورده شیر
“They fashioned a child out of silk, exact in stature to that milk-unweaned lion.”
#14
درون وی آگنده موی سمور
✦
به رخ بر نگاریده ناهید و هور
“Inside it was stuffed with sable fur, and on its face were depicted the Sun and Venus.”
#15
به بازوش بر اژدهای دلیر
✦
به چنگ اندرش داده چنگال شیر
“Upon its arm was painted a fierce dragon, and within its hand was placed a lion's claw.”
#16
به زیر کش اندر گرفته سنان
✦
به یک دست کوپال و دیگر عنان
“Under its armpit rested a spear, in one hand a heavy mace and in the other a rein.”
#17
نشاندندش آنگه بر اسپ سمند
✦
به گرد اندرش چاکران نیز چند
“Then they seated the effigy upon a golden bay horse, surrounded by several retainers.”
#18
چو شد کار یکسر همه ساخته
✦
چنان چون ببایست پرداخته
“When the task was completed entirely, crafted in every way as it ought to be,”
#19
هیون تکاور برانگیختند
✦
به فرمان بران بر درم ریختند
“They dispatched swift dromedaries, while coins were showered upon the servants.”
#20
پس آن صورت رستم گرزدار
✦
ببردند نزدیک سام سوار
“Thus they carried that effigy of mace-wielding Rostam unto Sam, the horseman hero.”
#21
یکی جشن کردند در گلستان
✦
ز زاولستان تا به کابلستان
“They held a grand festival in the rose garden, extending from Zabulistan all the way to Kabulistan.”
#22
همه دشت پر باده و نای بود
✦
به هر کنج صد مجلس آرای بود
“The entire plain was filled with wine and flutes, with a hundred festive gatherings in every corner.”
#23
به زاولستان از کران تا کران
✦
نشسته به هر جای رامشگران
“Across Zabulistan, from border to border, musicians sat performing in every place.”
#24
نبد کهتر از مهتران بر فرود
✦
نشسته چنان چون بود تار و پود
“None of the humble were set lower than the noble; all sat in harmony like warp and weft.”
#25
پس آن پیکر رستم شیرخوار
✦
ببردند نزدیک سام سوار
“Then they brought that effigy of the suckling Rostam into the presence of Sam, the warrior.”
#26
ابر سام یل موی بر پای خاست
✦
مرا ماند این پرنیان گفت راست
“The body hair of hero Sam stood on end, and he exclaimed, 'Truthfully, this silk creature resembles me!'”
#27
اگر نیم ازین پیکر آید تنش
✦
سرش ابر ساید زمین دامنش
“'If his body grows to even half this image, his head will touch the clouds and his hem will cover the earth!'”
#28
وزان پس فرستاده را پیش خواست
✦
درم ریخت تا بر سرش گشت راست
“Thereafter he summoned the messenger, and scattered silver coins until he was covered in wealth.”
#29
به شادی برآمد ز درگاه کوس
✦
بیاراست میدان چو چشم خروس
“In joy, war-drums sounded from the court, and he adorned the field like the eye of a rooster.”
#30
می‌آورد و رامشگران را بخواند
✦
به خواهندگان بر درم برفشاند
“He ordered wine, summoned minstrals, and scattered silver gifts upon the seekers.”
#31
بیاراست جشنی که خورشید و ماه
✦
نظاره شدند اندران بزمگاه
“He arranged a feast so brilliant that the Sun and the Moon gazed upon that banquet hall in admiration.”
#32
پس آن نامهٔ زال پاسخ نوشت
✦
بیاراست چون مرغزار بهشت
“Then he penned a response to Zal's letter, embellishing it like a meadow of paradise.”
#33
نخست آفرین کرد بر کردگار
✦
بران شادمان گردش روزگار
“First he offered praise unto the Almighty, for the joyful turning of destiny.”
#34
ستودن گرفت آنگهی زال را
✦
خداوند شمشیر و کوپال را
“Then he began to extol Zal, master of the sword and mace.”
#35
پس آمد بدان پیکر پرنیان
✦
که یال یلان داشت و فر کیان
“Next he spoke of that silk effigy, which bore the neck of champions and the royal glory of kings.”
#36
بفرمود کین را چنین ارجمند
✦
بدارید کز دم نیابد گزند
“He commanded, 'Keep this image precious and revered, so that it receives no harm from hot breath or time.'”
#37
نیایش همی کردم اندر نهان
✦
شب و روز با کردگار جهان
“'I ever offered secret supplications night and day unto the Creator of the world,'”
#38
که زنده ببیند جهانبین من
✦
ز تخم تو گردی به آیین من
“'That my eyes might live to behold a hero from your seed fashioned in my own image and custom.'”
#39
کنون شد مرا و ترا پشت راست
✦
نباید جز از زندگانیش خواست
“'Now both my back and yours stand upright; naught should we ask for him now except long life.'”
#40
فرستاده آمد چو باد دمان
✦
بر زال روشن دل و شادمان
“The messenger arrived swift as a rushing wind unto Zal, whose heart was enlightened and joyful.”
#41
چو بشنید زال این سخنهای نغز
✦
که روشن روان اندر آید به مغز
“When Zal heard these refined words, which brought radiant spirit to the mind,”
#42
به شادیش بر شادمانی فزود
✦
برافراخت گردن به چرخ کبود
“His joy multiplied upon joy, and he exalted his neck to the azure heavens.”
#43
همی گشت چندی بروبر جهان
✦
برهنه شد آن روزگار نهان
“Some time passed over him in this manner, and secret fate unveiled its secrets.”
#44
به رستم همی داد ده دایه شیر
✦
که نیروی مردست و سرمایه شیر
“Ten wet nurses gave milk to Rostam, for he possessed the strength of a full man and the sustenance of a lion.”
#45
چو از شیر آمد سوی خوردنی
✦
شد از نان و از گوشت افزودنی
“When he was weaned from milk to solid food, his growth demanded immense bread and meat.”
#46
بدی پنج مرده مراو را خورش
✦
بماندند مردم ازان پرورش
“His daily nourishment equaled that of five full-grown men, leaving all people in utter wonder at such astounding growth.”
#47
چو رستم بپیمود بالای هشت
✦
بسان یکی سرو آزاد گشت
“When Rostam attained a stature of eight cubits, he stood tall and majestic, like a noble cypress tree.”
#48
چنان شد که رخشان ستاره شود
✦
جهان بر ستاره نظاره شود
“He shone so brightly as a gleaming star that the entire world turned its eyes to behold that luminary.”
#49
تو گفتی که سام یلستی به جای
✦
به بالا و دیدار و فرهنگ و رای
“You would have declared that Sam the Hero stood in his place, matching him in stature, countenance, wisdom, and judgment.”