After two days of uneasy rest, as the world-illuminating sun rose on the third morn, the host of Iran and Turan drew up their lines once more. King Nowzar had no choice but to commit to battle, for Afrasiab swept across the plains like a tempestuous sea. Thunderous battle-horns sounded from Afrasiab’s royal pavilion, echoing the heavy metallic clangor of Indian bells. Nowzar and his champions donned iron helmets and readied their weapons, while in the enemy camp, none had slept through the night as blades were honed and javelins polished. From mountain to mountain, the earth gleamed with armor, forming an unbroken chain of steel.
Qaran marshaled the center of the Iranian formation to stand as a fortress around King Nowzar. Taliman took command of the left flank, while the indomitable Shapur held the right. Yet as the shadows of the spears lengthened across the dirt, shadow fell upon the fate of Iran. The Turanians struck with furious power, sweeping over the flank held by Shapur. Shapur fought with desperate bravery until he was cut down, and with his fall, fortune turned away from the throne of Iran.
Beaten back, the Iranian forces retreated into the stronghold of Dehestan, where Afrasiab promptly laid tight siege to them. Seeking to deal a decisive strike, Afrasiab summoned Karukhan, a renowned chieftain of Viseh's lineage, and dispatched him with a formidable warband across the desert toward Pars, aiming to seize the royal wives and treasury of Iran.
When word of Karukhan's march reached Qaran, his heart burned with wrath and shame. Striding before King Nowzar like an enraged panther, Qaran urged that they could not sit idle while the royal women were led into captivity. Though Nowzar counseled caution—reminding Qaran that Gustahm and Tus had already been dispatched to protect the realm's rear—Qaran, alongside Shidush and Kashvad, swore that remaining besieged was a dishonor worse than death.
At midnight, Qaran and his warriors slipped out from the fortress gates. Guarding the passage was Barman, the Turanian leader who had slain Qaran's brother Qobad. Driven by fiercely burning vengeance, Qaran charged like a lion and drove his spear through Barman's belt, snapping his spine in a single thrust. As the leaderless Turanians scattered, Qaran led his triumphant force through the darkness, riding hard toward Pars to defend his homeland.