When word of King Manuchehr’s passing and the troubled onset of Nowzar’s reign swept across the realm of Turan, King Pashang felt the dormant embers of ancient vengeance flare within his heart. Remembering his forefathers—Zadasham, Salm, and Tur—he summoned the illustrious chieftains and military commanders of his nation: Viseh the ruthless commander, Garsivaz, Barman, Kulbad, and Arjasp.
Before this grand assembly, Pashang called forth his formidable son, Afrasiab—a warrior of monstrous stature, whose heart burned with relentless rage. Pashang spoke of the blood debt owed by Iran, reminding his son of how Tur and Salm had been slain, urging him to unleash the iron might of Turan upon the weakened enemy realm.
Enflamed by his father’s speech, Afrasiab cast aside all rest and comfort. Girding his loins for battle, he stepped forward with a tongue as sharp as a sword edge and a soul fueled by vengeance. He boasted that he alone was the true match for Iran’s bravest lions, swearing upon the memory of King Zadasham that his blade would accomplish what earlier generations had left unfinished, turning Iran into a furnace of destruction.
Pashang’s heart swelled with pride as he beheld his giant son—possessing the torso of a lion, the strength of an elephant, and a heart as vast as the sea. He granted Afrasiab full command of Turan’s war host. Yet, before the armies marched, Pashang’s second son, Aghriras—a man of profound wisdom and foresight—entered the royal hall. Deeply concerned for the fate of his kingdom, Aghriras urged caution. He reminded his father that though Manuchehr was dead, Iran remained guarded by legendary champions such as Sam the son of Nariman, Qaran the formidable battle-lord, and Garshasp—the very wolves who had slaughtered Salm and Tur in bygone days.
Pashang rejected Aghriras’s counsel of peace, praising Afrasiab as a predatory leviathan and a ferocious war-elephant. He ordered Aghriras to accompany his brother to guide the army’s council while enforcing his royal command: as spring carpeted the steppes in green, Turan’s host would invade Amol, Dehestan, and Gorgan, drowning the plains of Iran in a crimson deluge of blood.
#1
پس آنگه ز مرگ منوچهر شاه
✦
بشد آگهی تا به توران سپاه
“Thereafter, news of King Manuchehr’s death reached the host of Turan.”
#2
ز نارفتن کار نوذر همان
✦
یکایک بگفتند با بدگمان
“Likewise, they reported the misrule and troubles of Nowzar to the malevolent king.”
#3
چو بشنید سالار ترکان پشنگ
✦
چنان خواست کاید به ایران به جنگ
“When Pashang, the lord of the Turks, heard this, he resolved to march against Iran in war.”
#4
یکی یاد کرد از نیا زادشم
✦
هم از تور بر زد یکی تیز دم
“He recalled his ancestor Zadasham, and uttered a fiery sigh for the sake of Tur.”
#5
ز کار منوچهر و از لشکرش
✦
ز گردان و سالار و از کشورش
“He pondered the deeds of Manuchehr, his army, his champions, his chieftain, and his realm.”
#6
همه نامداران کشورش را
✦
بخواند و بزرگان لشکرش را
“He summoned all the renowned noblemen of his realm and the grandees of his host,”
#7
چو ارجسپ و گرسیوز و بارمان
✦
چو کلباد جنگی هژبر دمان
“Chieftains such as Arjasp, Garsivaz, Barman, and the warlike, roaring-lion Kulbad,”
#8
سپهبدش چون ویسهٔ تیزچنگ
✦
که سالار بد بر سپاه پشنگ
“Along with his fierce commander Viseh, who was the supreme leader of Pashang's war host.”
#9
جهان پهلوان پورش افراسیاب
✦
بخواندش درنگی و آمد شتاب
“He summoned his son, the world-champion Afrasiab, who tarried not and came in all haste.”
#10
سخن راند از تور و از سلم گفت
✦
که کین زیر دامن نشاید نهفت
“Pashang spoke of Tur and Salm, saying: 'This hatred must no longer remain hidden beneath the hem.'”
#11
کسی را کجا مغز جوشیده نیست
✦
برو بر چنین کار پوشیده نیست
“'To anyone whose mind is not clouded, such a duty is crystal clear:'”
#12
که با ما چه کردند ایرانیان
✦
بدی را ببستند یک یک میان
“'What the Iranians did to us, girding their loins one by one to do us ill.'”
#13
کنون روز تندی و کین جستنست
✦
رخ از خون دیده گه شستنست
“'Now is the day of fury and seeking revenge; now is the time to wash one's face with tears of blood.'”
#14
ز گفت پدر مغز افراسیاب
✦
برآمد ز آرام وز خورد و خواب
“At his father's words, Afrasiab's mind boiled over; peace, food, and sleep vanished from him.”
#15
به پیش پدر شد گشاده زبان
✦
دل آگنده از کین کمر برمیان
“He came before his father with an open, fiery tongue, his heart filled with vengeance and his waist girded.”
#16
که شایستهٔ جنگ شیران منم
✦
هم‌آورد سالار ایران منم
“'I am the one worthy of fighting the lions; I am the equal of Iran's warlord!'”
#17
اگر زادشم تیغ برداشتی
✦
جهان را به گرشاسپ نگذاشتی
“'Had Zadasham raised his sword, he would not have left the world in the hands of Garshasp!'”
#18
میان را ببستی به کین آوری
✦
بایران نکردی مگر سروری
“'He would have girded himself for vengeance and established supreme mastery over Iran!'”
#19
کنون هرچه مانیده بود از نیا
✦
ز کین جستن و چاره و کیمیا
“'Now, whatever remains of our ancestor’s legacy—of seeking revenge, strategy, and alchemy—'”
#20
گشادنش بر تیغ تیز منست
✦
گه شورش و رستخیز منست
“'Its execution relies upon my sharp blade; this is my hour of turmoil and resurrection!'”
#21
به مغز پشنگ اندر آمد شتاب
✦
چو دید آن سهی قد افراسیاب
“Pride and eagerness flooded Pashang's mind when he beheld tall, imposing Afrasiab,”
#22
بر و بازوی شیر و هم زور پیل
✦
وزو سایه گسترده بر چند میل
“With the chest and arms of a lion and the strength of an elephant, casting a shadow miles wide.”
#23
زبانش به کردار برنده تیغ
✦
چو دریا دل و کف چو بارنده میغ
“His tongue was like a cutting sword, his heart vast as the sea, and his palm like a rain-bearing cloud.”
#24
بفرمود تا برکشد تیغ جنگ
✦
به ایران شود با سپاه پشنگ
“Pashang commanded him to unsheathe the sword of war and march into Iran with his army.”
#25
سپهبد چو شایسته بیند پسر
✦
سزد گر برآرد به خورشید سر
“When a king sees such a worthy son, it is right for him to raise his head to the sun.”
#26
پس از مرگ باشد سر او به جای
✦
ازیرا پسر نام زد رهنمای
“Even after death, his name shall endure, for he has named a son to guide his path.”
#27
چو شد ساخته کار جنگ آزمای
✦
به کاخ آمد اغریرث رهنمای
“When the warlike army was made ready, prudent Aghriras entered the palace.”
#28
به پیش پدر شد پراندیشه دل
✦
که اندیشه دارد همی پیشه دل
“He came before his father with a heart laden with deep concern, for foresight was his mind's habit.”
#29
چنین گفت کای کار دیده پدر
✦
ز ترکان به مردی برآورده سر
“He said: 'O world-experienced father, who has raised your head above the Turks in manhood,'”
#30
منوچهر از ایران اگر کم شدست
✦
سپهدار چون سام نیرم شدست
“'Though Manuchehr is gone from Iran, a commander such as Sam, son of Nariman, still remains!'”
#31
چو گرشاسپ و چون قارن رزم زن
✦
جز این نامداران آن انجمن
“'Likewise Garshasp and battle-loving Qaran, alongside other renowned lords of that assembly.'”
#32
تو دانی که با سلم و تور سترگ
✦
چه آمد ازان تیغ زن پیر گرگ؟
“'You well know what befell mighty Salm and Tur at the hands of those old sword-wielding wolves!'”
#33
نیا زادشم شاه توران سپاه
✦
که ترگش همی سود بر چرخ و ماه
“'Our ancestor Zadasham, king of Turan's host, whose helmet touched the heavens and the moon,'”
#34
ازین در سخن هیچ گونه نراند
✦
به آرام بر نامهٔ کین نخواند
“'Spoke no word of such revenge, nor read the scroll of vengeance in times of peace.'”
#35
اگر ما نشوریم بهتر بود
✦
کزین جنبش آشوب کشور بود
“'If we do not stir up war, it will be better, for this movement will bring turmoil upon the land.'”
#36
پسر را چنین داد پاسخ پشنگ
✦
که افراسیاب آن دلاور نهنگ
“Pashang answered his son thus: 'Afrasiab, that brave sea-monster,'”
#37
یکی نره شیرست روز شکار
✦
یکی پیل جنگی گه کارزار
“'Is a male lion on the day of the hunt, and a war elephant in the hour of battle!'”
#38
ترا نیز با او بباید شدن
✦
به هر بیش و کم رای فرخ زدن
“'You too must accompany him, providing auspicious counsel in every matter, great or small.'”
#39
نبیره که کین نیا را نجست
✦
سزد گر نخوانی نژادش درست
“'If a descendant does not seek vengeance for his ancestor, his lineage may rightfully be questioned.'”
#40
چو از دامن ابر چین کم شود
✦
بیابان ز باران پر از نم شود
“'When the skirts of clouds recede from China, the desert becomes soaked with rain.'”
#41
چراگاه اسپان شود کوه و دشت
✦
گیاها ز یال یلان برگذشت
“'The mountains and plains will become pasture for horses, and the grass will grow taller than the mane of heroes' steeds.'”
#42
جهان سر به سر سبز گردد ز خوید
✦
به هامون سراپرده باید کشید
“'The world will become entirely green with tender herbs; then we must pitch our royal tents upon the plains!'”
#43
سپه را همه سوی آمل براند
✦
دلی شاد بر سبزه و گل براند
“'Lead the army entirely toward Amol, driving with a glad heart over grass and blossom.'”
#44
دهستان و گرگان همه زیر نعل
✦
بکوبید وز خون کنید آب لعل
“'Trample Dehestan and Gorgan beneath your horses' hooves, and turn the waters ruby-red with blood!'”
#45
منوچهر از آن جایگه جنگجوی
✦
به کینه سوی تور بنهاد روی
“'From that very spot, Manuchehr the warrior set out with malice toward Tur.'”
#46
بکوشید با قارن رزم زن
✦
دگر گرد گرشاسپ زان انجمن
“Strive relentlessly against Qaran, the fierce warrior, and Garshasp, the noble champion of that assembly.”
#47
مگر دست یابید بر دشت کین
✦
برین دو سرافراز ایران زمین
“Perchance upon the field of vengeance you may prevail over these two illustrious leaders of the Iranian realm.”
#48
روان نیاگان ما خوش کنید
✦
دل بدسگالان پرآتش کنید
“Gladden the souls of our fallen ancestors, and set the hearts of our ill-wishing enemies ablaze with grief.”
#49
چنین گفت با نامور نامجوی
✦
که من خون به کین اندر آرم به جوی
“Thus replied the ambitious prince to his renowned father: 'In retribution, I shall make streams of blood flow like rivers!'”