When the second morning broke, both armies refreshed themselves briefly before marching back into the fury of war. The Iranians drew up their ranks in the magnificent, ordered custom of Kianyan kings, while across the plain, Afrasiab sounded the heavy bronze drums and marshaled his vast Turanian host. A towering dark cloud of horse-hoof dust choked the sky, veiling the very sun, while war-cries echoed so fiercely that the plains and mountains merged into a single blur of chaos.
The battle joined with apocalyptic fury, blood flowing down the arid terrain like surging rivers. Wherever the Iranian champion Qaran charged into the darkness, blood rained down; wherever the formidable Afrasiab rode, the desert became a scarlet sea. At last, King Nowzar rode forth from the heart of the Iranian center to challenge Afrasiab himself. Spear locked against spear and lance twisted with lance like raging serpents intertwined; never had kings fought in such terrifying direct combat. They clashed relentless until the dark mantle of night descended, whereupon the overwhelming force of Pashang's son pushed the Iranian lines to utter collapse. Wounded and exhausted, the Iranian warriors broke ranks in helpless despair, abandoning their dead upon the barren field.
King Nowzar's soul was wracked with agony, his royal crown covered in dust by the heavy turns of fate. As the thunder of war-drums died down across the field, he summoned his two sons, Tus and Gustahm. The young princes arrived with trembling lips and sorrowful hearts. Tears of blood filled Nowzar's eyes as he recalled the tragic prophecy of his wise father, King Manuchehr—who had warned that a boundless host from Turkestan and China would one day overrun Iran, inflicting endless suffering upon its throne.
Nowzar declared that the dark day foretold by his father had finally arrived. He commanded Tus and Gustahm to slip away silently into the night toward Spahan and Pars, gather the royal women and children from the harem, and spirit them away to the sanctuary of Zaveh Mountain and the heights of Mount Alborz, ensuring that the ancient lineage of Fereydun would not be extinguished from the earth. He warned them to conceal their departure from the army, lest the soldiers lose all remaining heart. Accepting the harsh decree of the high heavens, the King embraced his sons, weeping bitterly as he bade them what he knew would be their final farewell.
#1
برآسود پس لشکر از هر دو روی
✦
برفتند روز دوم جنگجوی
“Then both armies rested for a while; on the second day, the warriors marched forth once more.”
#2
رده برکشیدند ایرانیان
✦
چنان چون بود ساز جنگ کیان
“The Iranians drew up their battle lines in the majestic manner fitting for royal kings.”
#3
چو افراسیاب آن سپه را بدید
✦
بزد کوس رویین و صف برکشید
“When Afrasiab beheld that host, he sounded the bronze kettle-drum and arranged his battle lines.”
#4
چنان شد ز گرد سواران جهان
✦
که خورشید گفتی شد اندر نهان
“So dense was the dust of the horsemen that you would say the sun was hidden behind a veil.”
#5
دهاده برآمد ز هر دو گروه
✦
بیابان نبود ایچ پیدا ز کوه
“A tumultuous clamor arose from both armies; neither plain nor mountain could be distinguished.”
#6
برانسان سپه بر هم آویختند
✦
چو رود روان خون همی ریختند
“In such fashion the hosts clashed together, pouring blood like a running stream.”
#7
به هر سو که قارن شدی رزمخواه
✦
فرو ریختی خون ز گرد سیاه
“Wherever Qaran turned seeking combat, blood streamed down through the black dust.”
#8
کجا خاستی گُردْ افراسیاب
✦
همه خون شدی دشت چون رود آب
“And wherever the brave Afrasiab arose, the desert became red with blood like a river of water.”
#9
سرانجام نوذر ز قلب سپاه
✦
بیامد به نزدیک او رزمخواه
“At last, Nowzar came forth from the center of the army, riding out to meet him in combat.”
#10
چنان نیزه بر نیزه انداختند
✦
سنان یک به دیگر برافراختند
“They thrust spear against spear, raising their sharp lance-heads against one another,”
#11
که بر هم نپیچد بران گونه مار
✦
شهان را چنین کی بود کارزار
“Such that even intertwined serpents would not twist so tightly; when had kings ever fought in such a manner?”
#12
چنین تا شب تیره آمد به تنگ
✦
برو خیره شد دست پور پشنگ
“Thus they fought until dark night fell upon them, and the hand of Pashang's son prevailed in strength.”
#13
از ایران سپه بیشتر خسته شد
✦
وزان روی پیکار پیوسته شد
“Most of the Iranian host were wounded, while on the enemy side battle continued unabated.”
#14
به بیچارگی روی برگاشتند
✦
به هامون برافگنده بگذاشتند
“In helpless despair the Iranians turned back, abandoning their fallen upon the open desert.”
#15
دل نوذر از غم پر از درد بود
✦
که تاجش ز اختر پر از گرد بود
“King Nowzar's heart was laden with grief and pain, for his crown had been lowered to dust by fate.”
#16
چو از دشت بنشست آوای کوس
✦
بفرمود تا پیش او رفت طوس
“When the sound of war-drums subsided from the plain, he commanded Tus to come before him.”
#17
بشد طوس و گستهم با او به هم
✦
لبان پر ز باد و روان پر ز غم
“Tus came together with Gustahm, their lips filled with cold sighs and their souls filled with sorrow.”
#18
بگفت آنک در دل مرا درد چیست
✦
همی گفت چندی و چندی گریست
“Nowzar spoke of the pain that lay in his heart, speaking long and weeping bitterly.”
#19
از اندرز فرخ پدر یاد کرد
✦
پر از خون جگر لب پر از باد سرد
“He remembered the counsel of his glorious father, his liver bleeding and his lips filled with cold sighs.”
#20
کجا گفته بودش که از ترک و چین
✦
سپاهی بیاید به ایران زمین
“Where his father had said to him: 'An army from Turkestan and China shall march upon the land of Iran;'”
#21
ازیشان ترا دل شود دردمند
✦
بسی بر سپاه تو آید گزند
“'Your heart shall suffer great anguish because of them, and much harm shall befall your army.'”
#22
ز گفتار شاه آمد اکنون نشان
✦
فراز آمد آن روز گردنکشان
“'Now the signs of the King's words have manifested; that dark day foretold for the proud has arrived.'”
#23
کس از نامهٔ نامداران نخواند
✦
که چندین سپه کس ز ترکان براند
“'No one has ever read in the chronicles of the famous that anyone brought such a host of Turks!'”
#24
شما را سوی پارس باید شدن
✦
شبستان بیاوردن و آمدن
“'You two must now make your way toward Pars, to bring out the royal women and retreat.'”
#25
وزان جا کشیدن سوی زاوه کوه
✦
بران کوه البرز بردن گروه
“'And from there retreat toward Zaveh Mountain, carrying the royal family up into the Alborz range.'”
#26
ازیدر کنون زی سپاهان روید
✦
وزین لشکر خویش پنهان روید
“'Depart now from here toward Spahan, slipping away secretly from this army of ours.'”
#27
ز کار شما دل شکسته شوند
✦
برین خستگی نیز خسته شوند
“'For if the troops see you go, their hearts will break, adding grief to their wounded spirits.'”
#28
ز تخم فریدون مگر یک دو تن
✦
برد جان ازین بی‌شمار انجمن
“'Perchance one or two of the seed of Fereydun may escape with their lives from this countless horde.'”
#29
ندانم که دیدار باشد جزین
✦
یک امشب بکوشیم دست پسین
“'I know not if we shall ever meet again; tonight we shall strive in our final stand.'”
#30
شب و روز دارید کارآگهان
✦
بجویید هشیار کار جهان
“'Keep vigilant watchmen night and day; seek out wise knowledge of how the world turns.'”
#31
ازین لشکر ار بد دهند آگهی
✦
شود تیره این فر شاهنشهی
“'If bad news reaches this army, this imperial farr of kingly glory shall grow dark.'”
#32
شما دل مدارید بس مستمند
✦
که باید چنین بد ز چرخ بلند
“'Do not hold your heart in utter despair, for such ill misfortune must needs come from the high heavens.'”
#33
یکی را به جنگ اندر آید زمان
✦
یکی با کلاه مهی شادمان
“'To one man his appointed time comes in battle; another rests happy wearing the crown of greatness.'”
#34
تن کشته با مرده یکسان شود
✦
تپد یک زمان بازش آسان شود
“'The slain body becomes equal to the dead; it writhes for a moment, and then finds ease.'”
#35
بدادش مران پندها چون سزید
✦
پس آن دست شاهانه بیرون کشید
“Having given those wise counsels as was fitting, the King then extended his royal hand.”
#36
گرفت آن دو فرزند را در کنار
✦
فرو ریخت آب از مژه شهریار
“He took his two sons into his embrace, and tears streamed down from the eyes of the King.”