The war-horns blared with a harrowing roar, and the vast army surged forward like an unchained ocean. From the relentless tramping of hooves, a dense pillar of dust mounted to the heavens, so deafening and obscure that even the keenest ears were stilled and the light of day vanished. Through that veil of swirling ash, diamond-tipped lances flashed like fiery bolts behind a azure curtain, crashing upon tempered helmets with devastating force.
For three unbearable days the carnage raged upon the parched earth, until human heads were trampled into the dust beneath the heavy hooves of warhorses. Agonizing thirst withered the hands of mighty champions and exhausted even the hardiest steeds. The lips of Rostam Farrokhzad turned as dry as dust; his eloquent tongue cracked within his mouth. Burning with heat and tears, both men and horses resorted to eating wet clay from the earth to sustain the last flickers of life.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed across the plain. Rostam on one side and Sa'd on the other broke away from the centers of their hosts and rode toward a secluded fringe of the battlefield. Beneath the shadow of a solitary tall cypress, the two vengeful commanders closed in single combat. With a shout that resembled crashing thunder, Rostam struck a ferocious blow upon the head of Sa'd's warhorse. The beast collapsed headlong, throwing the warlike Sa'd to the dust.
Rostam drew his sharp blade to end his foe, intending to sever his head, but the blinding storm of dust veiled his vision completely. Dismounting from his leopard-skin saddle, Rostam tied the horse's reins to his belt to battle on foot. Taking advantage of the impenetrable dust, Sa'd crept stealthily around the fallen champion. He lunged and struck his sword squarely upon Rostam's helmet, causing blood to surge from his crown and stream over his eyes. Blinded by his own gore, the great Iranian general was overcome; Sa'd struck another terrible blow across Rostam's neck and chest, casting his heroic body lifeless into the dirt.
Neither army knew the outcome of the duel, for none could penetrate the murky veil. But when the Iranian warriors pushed forward to the front lines, they discovered their leader lying drenched in blood and dust, his body slashed by sword-cuts. A wave of despair swept through the ranks, and the Iranian host broke into disastrous retreat. Countless noble lords perished upon their saddles from thirst and wounds, their allotted days brought to a sorrowful end. Flying night and day, the remnants of the broken army made their way toward King Yazdegerd, who was then in Baghdad desperately trying to assemble fresh legions.
#1
بفرمود تابرکشیدند نای
✦
سپاه اندر آمد چو دریا ز جای
“He commanded the war-horns to sound; the army rose up like a surging sea.”
#2
برآمد یکی ابر و برشد خروش
✦
همی کر شد مردم تیزگوش
“A cloud of dust arose and a clamor erupted, deafening even those with the sharpest hearing.”
#3
سنانهای الماس در تیره گرد
✦
چو آتش پس پردهٔ لاژورد
“Diamond-tipped spearheads flashed in the dark dust, like fire behind an azure curtain.”
#4
همی نیزه بر مغفر آبدار
✦
نیامد به زخم اندرون پایدار
“No lance struck upon a tempered steel helmet without delivering a deadly, unyielding blow.”
#5
سه روز اندر آن جایگه جنگ بود
✦
سر آدمی سم اسپان به سود
“For three days battle raged in that place; the hooves of horses crushed the heads of fallen men.”
#6
شد ازتشنگی دست گردان ز کار
✦
هم اسپ گرانمایه از کارزار
“From bitter thirst, the hands of warriors failed, and even the noble steeds grew exhausted from the fray.”
#7
لب رستم از تشنگی شد چو خاک
✦
دهن خشک و گویا زبان چاک چاک
“Rostam's lips turned to dry dust from thirst; his mouth was parched and his eloquent tongue cracked.”
#8
چو بریان و گریان شدند از نبرد
✦
گل تر به خوردن گرفت اسپ و مرد
“As men and steeds burned and wept from combat, both horse and rider began consuming wet mud for moisture.”
#9
خروشی بر آمد به کردار رعد
✦
ازین روی رستم وزان روی سعد
“A thunderous roar erupted across the field: Rostam on one side, and Sa'd on the other.”
#10
برفتند هر دو ز قلب سپاه
✦
بیکسو کشیدند ز آوردگاه
“Both rode out from the center of their armies and withdrew toward a flank of the battlefield.”
#11
چو از لشکر آن هر دو تنها شدند
✦
به زیر یکی سرو بالا شدند
“When both were isolated from their hosts, they came together beneath a tall cypress tree.”
#12
همی‌تاختند اندر آوردگاه
✦
دو سالار هر دو به دل کینه خواه
“They charged upon each other in the arena of war, both commanders harboring vengeance in their hearts.”
#13
خروشی برآمد ز رستم چو رعد
✦
یکی تیغ زد بر سر اسپ سعد
“A thunderous cry broke from Rostam, and he struck a blow with his sword upon the head of Sa'd's steed.”
#14
چواسپ نبرد اندرآمد به سر
✦
جدا شد ازو سعد پرخاشخر
“When the warhorse collapsed headlong, the combative Sa'd was thrown to the ground.”
#15
بر آهیخت رستم یکی تیغ تیز
✦
بدان تا نماید به دو رستخیز
“Rostam drew a sharp sword, intending to bring doom upon him.”
#16
همی‌خواست از تن سرش رابرید
✦
ز گرد سپه این مران را ندید
“He sought to sever Sa'd's head from his body, but through the swirl of army dust, neither could clearly see the other.”
#17
فرود آمد از پشت زین پلنگ
✦
به زد بر کمر بر سر پالهنگ
“He dismounted from his leopard-skin saddle cloth, tying the reins securely to his waist belt.”
#18
بپوشید دیدار رستم ز گرد
✦
بشد سعد پویان به جای نبرد
“Dust obscured Rostam's sight; Sa'd crept forward stealthily across the place of combat.”
#19
یکی تیغ زد بر سر ترگ اوی
✦
که خون اندر آمد ز تارک بروی
“Sa'd struck a sword blow upon Rostam's helmet, sending blood streaming down from his crown unto his face.”
#20
چو دیدار رستم ز خون تیره شد
✦
جهانجوی تازی بدو چیره شد
“When Rostam's vision was darkened with blood, the Arab conqueror gained the upper hand over him.”
#21
دگر تیغ زد بربر و گردنش
✦
به خاک اندر افگند جنگی تنش
“Sa'd struck another sword blow upon his chest and neck, casting his warrior body down into the dust.”
#22
سپاه از دو رویه خودآگاه نه
✦
کسی را سوی پهلوان راه نه
“Neither army was aware of what had transpired, for no one had a path toward where the chieftain lay.”
#23
همی‌جست مر پهلوان را سپاه
✦
برفتند تا پیش آوردگاه
“The Iranian host went searching for their warlord, advancing to the very front of the battleground.”
#24
بدیدندش از دور پر خون و خاک
✦
سرا پای کردن به شمشیر چاک
“They beheld him from afar, covered in blood and dirt, his body slashed from head to foot with sword cuts.”
#25
هزیمت گرفتند ایرانیان
✦
بسی نامور کشته شد در میان
“The Iranians broke into defeat and flight; many famous nobles were slain among them.”
#26
بسی تشنه بر زین بمردند نیز
✦
پر آمد ز شاهان جهان را قفیز
“Many died of thirst upon their saddles; the measure of the kings' world was filled to overflowing.”
#27
سوی شاه ایران بیامد سپاه
✦
شب تیره و روز تازان به راه
“The routed army sped toward the King of Iran, fleeing along the road through dark night and day.”
#28
به بغداد بود آن زمان یزدگرد
✦
که او را سپاه اندآورد گرد
“Yazdegerd was in Baghdad at that time, gathering forces around himself.”