Yazdgerd3

When Bizhan arrayed his host, he set an ambush for Mahuy's forces. Sensing the trap, Mahuy panicked and charged out from the center of his ranks, seeking to flee toward the River Jayhun. Spotting Mahuy's standard in full retreat, Bizhan commanded the warrior Barsam to shift his division aside and block the traitor’s path, ensuring that Mahuy Suri could not escape across the river.

Barsam the Chinese warrior rode forth with fury carved into his face and curses upon his lips. He overtook Mahuy at the sands of Farab. Disdaining even to draw his sword against a fleeing traitor, Barsam demonstrated his immense strength by grabbing Mahuy by the girdle, wrenching him cleanly out of his saddle, and slamming him heavily onto the hard earth. Dismounting, Barsam bound the regicide's hands behind his back and drove him forward on foot.

As the surrounding soldiers gathered, they urged Barsam to split Mahuy's skull with an axe. But Barsam refused, stating that such a high traitor must be brought before Bizhan first. When news reached Bizhan that the faithless, bloodthirsty assassin of King Yazdegerd was captured, he rejoiced and ordered a royal pavilion pitched upon the soft sands.

Dragged before Bizhan, the guilty Mahuy lost all composure; paralyzed with fear, he threw loose sand over his head like a mourner. Bizhan reproached him bitterly: 'O ill-bred villain! How could you murder that righteous King, the crown of the realm and the noble legacy of Anushirvan?' Expecting to be flayed alive or drenched in blood, Mahuy pleaded desperately for a swift execution: 'From a wicked man comes only evil! Strike off my head now and throw it before your assembly!'

Divining the coward's inner dread of prolonged torment, Bizhan declared that vengeance would be exacted in full measure. He commanded his swordsmen to sever Mahuy's hands, proclaiming that no hand on earth had wrought greater evil. Next, his feet were cut off so he could not move from the scorching ground, followed by his ears and nose. Left maimed upon the burning desert sand under the blazing sun, he was exposed to utter shame while heralds rode through the camp proclaiming the horrific destiny awaiting any servant who rises against his rightful sovereign.

Finally, Bizhan ordered Mahuy's three young sons—who harbored ambitions of crowns and thrones—to be brought forth. A massive pyre was kindled, and Mahuy along with his three sons were cast into the roaring flames and burned to ash. Thus was the corrupt lineage of the regicide completely eradicated from the earth, leaving behind an eternal curse upon his memory for all generations to come.