When news reached Bizhan, ruler of Chach, that Mahuy Suri had seized the throne of royal sovereignty, his heart burned with indignation. Mahuy had dispatched signets and seals to every corner of the realm to demand allegiance, and now he was marching at the head of a battle-ready host toward the rushing waters of the Oxus. Bizhan demanded to know who had dared to bestow the crown upon such a usurper, whereupon the champion Barsam stepped forward to recount the tragic events. Barsam recounted how, after leading horsemen from Chach and capturing the vast spoils of Merv, King Yazdegerd III had been left standing alone. Mahuy had pledged to yield the golden throne, jeweled armlets, and crown of the Emperor to Chach; yet after three days of fierce combat in Merv, once the traitor was laden with riches, he showed no gratitude to Barsam's forces, ignoring them during their two-month stay. Worse still, Mahuy had secretly murdered his own monarch—a ruler so majestic that no Turkic warrior had ever withstood the terror of his crushing mace.
Barsam warned Bizhan that Mahuy's vanguard was swiftly approaching, urging him not to rest while a treacherous usurper roamed free. Outraged by this heinous betrayal, Bizhan assembled a mighty host of battle-hardened Turkic riders from Qajqarbashi, advancing without delay toward Bukhara until the entire plain of Nakhsab was covered in cavalry. Bizhan instructed his commanders to hold their ground and wait for the traitor to cross the river, so that they might avenge the fallen Sasanian monarch on the field of honor. He then inquired whether any brother, son, or daughter of King Yazdegerd remained alive whom they might place upon the throne to restore the royal line. Barsam delivered the devastating truth: the Sasanian lineage was utterly extinct, and the armies of the Arabs held sway over the realm, leaving neither a king nor a Zoroastrian worshiper of God.
Grieving the cruel fate of the realm, Bizhan placed his hands upon his head. Yet as scouts reported that Mahuy's host had crossed the river by boat—raising clouds of dust so dense they veiled the sun—and was organizing its lines at Paykand, Commander Bizhan led his army to the front. When Mahuy Suri beheld the breathtaking array of Chachi mail, golden shields, gleaming helmets, spears, and razor-sharp battle-axes, panic seized his heart and his soul nearly fled his body. Trembling with dread, the usurper drew up his own forces in desperation as the sky turned an indigo gloom and the earth vanished beneath the tread of armaments.
#1
چنین تا به بیژن رسید آگهی
✦
که ماهوی بگرفت تخت مهی
“Word came to Bizhan that Mahuy had usurped the throne of greatness.”
#2
بهر سو فرستاد مهر و نگین
✦
همی رام گردد برو بر زمین
“From every corner he dispatched royal seals and signets, seeking to bend the earth to his sway.”
#3
کنون سوی جیحون نهادست روی
✦
به پرخاش با لشکری جنگجوی
“And now he turns his face toward the Oxus River, leading a warlike host unto battle.”
#4
بپرسید بیژن که تاجش که داد
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برو کرد گوینده آن کار یاد
“Bizhan inquired, "Who bestowed upon him this crown?" and the messenger recounted to him how it came to pass.”
#5
بدو گفت برسام کای شهریار
✦
چو من بردم از چاچ چندان سوار
“Barsam spoke to him, saying, "O King, when I brought forth so many riders from Chach,”
#6
بیاوردم از مرو چندان بنه
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بشد یزدگرد از میان یک تنه
“And brought back so much booty from Merv, Yazdegerd was left standing alone.”
#7
تو را گفته بُد تخت زرین اوی
✦
همان یارهٔ گوهرآگین اوی
“Mahuy had promised thee his golden throne, together with his jewel-encrusted armlets,”
#8
همان گنج و تاجش فرستم به چاج
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تو را باید اندر جهان تخت عاج
“Saying, 'I shall send his treasure and crown to Chach, for an ivory throne befits thee in this world.'”
#9
به مرو اندرون رزم کردم سه روز
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چهارم چو بفروخت گیتی‌فروز
“Within Merv I fought for three full days; on the fourth, when the sun lit up the world,”
#10
شدم تنگدل رزم کردم درشت
✦
جفاپیشه ماهوی بنمود پشت
“Gripped by anguish, I pressed the fight hard, until the treacherous Mahuy turned his back and fled.”
#11
چو ماهوی گنج خداوند خویش
✦
بیاورد بی‌رنج و بنهاد پیش
“Thereupon Mahuy brought forth the treasures of his own lord without hardship and laid them before me.”
#12
چو آگنده شد مرد بی‌تن به چیز
✦
مرا خود تو گفتی ندیدست نیز
“Once that worthless man was filled with riches, he paid no heed to me, as if he had never seen me before.”
#13
به مرو اندرون بود لشکر دو ماه
✦
به خوبی نکرد ایچ بر ما نگاه
“For two months the army lay in Merv, yet he never looked upon us with kindness or favor.”
#14
بکشت او خداوند را در نهان
✦
چنان پادشاهی بزرگ جهان
“In secret he murdered his sovereign lord—a monarch so vast and glorious in the world!”
#15
سواری که گفتی میان سپاه
✦
همی‌برگذارد سر از چرخ ماه
“A knight who, amidst the host, seemed to raise his head above the wheel of the moon!”
#16
ز ترکان کسی پیش گرزش نرفت
✦
همی زو دل نامداران بکفت
“None among the Turks could withstand his mace; the hearts of famous champions split with dread before him.”
#17
چو او کشته شد پادشاهی گرفت
✦
بدین گونه ناپارسایی گرفت
“When he was slain, Mahuy seized the kingship; thus did unrighteousness take hold of the realm.”
#18
طلایه همی‌گوید آمد سپاه
✦
نباید که بر ما بگیرند راه
“The vanguard reports that his army advances; we must not let them block our path or surprise us!”
#19
چو بدخواه جنگی به بالین رسید
✦
نباید تو را با سپاه آرمید
“When an armed enemy reaches thy pillow, it behoves thee not to rest idly with thy host.”
#20
چنین گل به پالیز شاهان مباد
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چو باشد نیاید ز پالیز یاد
“May no such foul rose bloom in the garden of kings; for when it blossoms, the garden itself is forgotten.”
#21
چو بشنید بیژن سپه گرد کرد
✦
ز ترکان سواران روز نبرد
“When Bizhan heard this, he gathered his army—valiant Turkic horsemen bred for the day of battle.”
#22
ز قجقار باشی بیامد دمان
✦
نجست ایچ‌گونه بره بر زمان
“From Qajqarbashi he marched swiftly, seeking no delay along the way.”
#23
چو نزدیک شهر بخارا رسید
✦
همه دشت نخشب سپه گسترید
“As he drew near the city of Bukhara, he spread his forces across the whole plain of Nakhsab.”
#24
به یاران چنین گفت که اکنون شتاب
✦
مدارید تا او بدین روی آب
“He said to his companions, "Make no haste now; let him first cross to this side of the water.”
#25
به پیکار ما پیش آرد سپاه
✦
مگر باز خواهیم زو کین شاه
“Let him lead his army to fight us, that perchance we may avenge the fallen king upon him!"”
#26
ازان پس بپرسید کز نامدار
✦
که ماند ایچ فرزند کاید به کار
“Thereafter he asked, "Of that illustrious king, does any child remain who might serve the throne?”
#27
جهاندارشه را برادر بُدَست
✦
پسر گر نبود ایچ دختر بُدَست
“Did the King of the World have a brother, or if no son, perchance a daughter?”
#28
که او را بیاریم و یاری دهیم
✦
به ماهوی بر کامگاری دهیم
“That we may bring them forth, offer our aid, and grant them triumph over Mahuy?"”
#29
بدو گفت برسام کای شهریار
✦
سرآمد برین تخمه بر روزگار
“Barsam answered him, "O Sovereign! Time hath brought an end to this royal lineage.”
#30
بران شهرها تازیان راست دست
✦
که نه شاه ماند نه یزدان‌پرست
“The Arabs hold sway over those realms; neither king remains, nor any worshiper of God!"”
#31
چو بشنید بیژن سپه برگرفت
✦
ز کار جهان دست بر سر گرفت
“When Bizhan heard this, he led his army onward, placing his hands upon his head in grief over the world's turn.”
#32
طلایه بیامد که آمد سپاه
✦
به پیکند سازد همی رزمگاه
“The advance guards arrived with news that Mahuy's host had come and was preparing the battlefield at Paykand.”
#33
سپاهی بکشتی برآمد ز آب
✦
که از گرد پیدا نبود آفتاب
“An army crossed the river by boats, raising dust so thick that the sun was hidden.”
#34
سپهدار بیژن به پیش سپاه
✦
بیامد که سازد همی رزمگاه
“Bizhan, the commander, marched at the head of his host to array his forces for battle.”
#35
چو ماهوی سوری سپه را بدید
✦
تو گفتی که جانش ز تن برپرید
“When Mahuy Suri beheld that formidable host, it seemed as though his soul fled from his body.”
#36
ز بس جوشن و خود و زرین سپر
✦
ز بس نیزه و گرز و چاچی‌تبر
“So dense were the coats of mail, helmets, golden shields, spears, maces, and battle-axes of Chach,”
#37
غمی شد برابر صفی برکشید
✦
هوا نیلگون شد زمین ناپدید
“Stricken with dread, he drew up his battle line; the air turned indigo, and the ground vanished beneath them.”