Marching from the lands of Arman with vengeful hearts, the forces of Turan turned their war banners toward Zabulistan. Shamasas, advancing swiftly from beyond the Jayhun river, joined Khazarvan and thirty thousand formidable, blade-wielding Turanian chieftains. Vigilant and unyielding, they swept to the banks of the Hirmand River. At that very hour, Zal Zal-e Zar was enveloped in sorrow at Gurab, attending to the tomb of his illustrious father, Sam the Knight.
Within the city stood Mehrab, ruler of Kabul—a prince of luminous mind and vigilant spirit. Learning of the hostile host, Mehrab dispatched an envoy straight to Shamasas. The herald alighted before the grand pavilion and delivered Mehrab's solemn greetings, conveying his clever message: that his bloodline hailed from Zahhak the Arab, and he held no genuine love for the Iranian realm, having bound his house to Zal merely to safeguard his realm's survival. He claimed that now, with Zal away mourning at Sam's tomb, his heart was glad at Zal's distress, praying he might never see the white-haired champion's face again.
Mehrab requested a truce to dispatch a swift messenger to Afrasiab, to reveal his true allegiance, silence detractors, and send tribute fitting for a great king. Should Afrasiab summon him, Mehrab pledged to bow before the Turanian throne and surrender all his realm willingly.
With these deceitful assurances, Mehrab lulled the Turanian commander's suspicions. But even as he wove this diplomatic net, he secretly sent a courier riding like a falcon to Zal, warning him: 'Unfurl your wings like a bird of prey and hasten back! Two warlords with a leopard-like host have camped at the Hirmand. I have bound their feet only with gold and promises; if you delay even for a moment, the malicious intent of the enemy shall prevail, and Zabulistan will fall!'
#1
و دیگر که از شهر ارمان شدند
✦
به کینه سوی زابلستان شدند
“Furthermore, departing from the land of Arman, they marched with vengeful hearts toward Zabulistan.”
#2
شماساس کز پیش جیحون برفت
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سوی سیستان روی بنهاد و تفت
“Shamasas, who had advanced from the banks of the Jayhun, turned rapidly toward Sistan.”
#3
خزروان ابا تیغ‌زن سی هزار
✦
ز ترکان بزرگان خنجرگزار
“Alongside Khazarvan came thirty thousand swordsmen—eminent Turanian lords skilled with the dagger.”
#4
برفتند بیدار تا هیرمند
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ابا تیغ و با گرز و بخت بلند
“They marched alertly to the Hirmand river, armed with swords and maces, bearing high fortune.”
#5
ز بهر پدر زال با سوگ و درد
✦
به گوراب اندر همی دخمه کرد
“Meanwhile, Zal, consumed by grief and pain for his father, was erecting a tomb in Gurab.”
#6
به شهر اندرون گرد مهراب بود
✦
که روشن روان بود و بی‌خواب بود
“Within the city stood the knight Mehrab—luminous of soul and ever-vigilant.”
#7
فرستاده‌ای آمد از نزد اوی
✦
به سوی شماساس بنهاد روی
“An envoy arrived from Mehrab's court, setting out directly toward Shamasas.”
#8
به پیش سراپرده آمد فرود
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ز مهراب دادش فراوان درود
“He dismounted before the royal pavilion and delivered abundant greetings from Mehrab.”
#9
که بیداردل شاه توران سپاه
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بماناد تا جاودان با کلاه
“Saying: 'May the wise king of the Turanian host remain forever crowned in glory!'”
#10
ز ضحاک تازیست ما را نژاد
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بدین پادشاهی نیم سخت شاد
“'Our lineage descends from Zahhak the Arab, and I take little joy in this Iranian dominion.'”
#11
به پیوستگی جان خریدم همی
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جز این نیز چاره ندیدم همی
“'Through alliance with Zal I merely bought my realm's safety, seeing no other remedy before me.'”
#12
کنون این سرای و نشست منست
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همان زاولستان به دست منست
“'Now this abode and seat are mine, and Zabulistan itself lies within my grasp.'”
#13
ازایدر چو دستان بشد سوگوار
✦
ز بهر ستودان سام سوار
“'Since Dastan departed hence in deep mourning to prepare the charnel site for Sam the Knight,'”
#14
دلم شادمان شد به تیمار اوی
✦
برآنم که هرگز نبینمش روی
“'My heart was gladdened by his distress, and I pray I shall never behold his face again.'”
#15
زمان خواهم از نامور پهلوان
✦
بدان تا فرستم هیونی دوان
“'I seek a brief respite from the renowned warlord, that I may dispatch a swift courier,'”
#16
یکی مرد بینادل و پرشتاب
✦
فرستم به نزدیک افراسیاب
“'To send an insightful and speedy messenger straight to King Afrasiab,'”
#17
مگر کز نهان من آگه شود
✦
سخنهای گوینده کوته شود
“'So that he may become aware of my hidden intent, and the rumors of gossip-mongers may cease.'”
#18
نثاری فرستم چنان چون سزاست
✦
جز این نیز هرچ از در پادشاست
“'I shall send tributes fit for a sovereign, along with all that is worthy of a great monarch.'”
#19
گر ایدونک گوید به نزد من آی
✦
جز از پیش تختش نباشم به پای
“'If he commands me to come before him, I shall stand nowhere except at the foot of his throne.'”
#20
همه پادشاهی سپارم بدوی
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همیشه دلی شاد دارم بدوی
“'I shall surrender my entire realm to him, keeping my heart ever joyful in his service.'”
#21
تن پهلوان را نیارم به رنج
✦
فرستمش هرگونه آگنده گنج
“'I shall not bring grief upon the warlord's heart, but shall send him treasures of every kind.'”
#22
ازین سو دل پهلوان را ببست
✦
وزان در سوی چاره یازید دست
“In this manner he lulled the Turanian commander's heart, while secretly reaching out toward clever remedies.”
#23
نوندی برافگند نزدیک زال
✦
که پرنده شو باز کن پر و بال
“He dispatched a swift courier to Zal, saying: 'Fly like a falcon, spread wide your wings!'”
#24
به دستان بگو آنچ دیدی ز کار
✦
بگویش که از آمدن سر مخار
“'Relate to Dastan all that has transpired, and tell him not to turn his head away from returning.'”
#25
که دو پهلوان آمد ایدر بجنگ
✦
ز ترکان سپاهی چو دشتی پلنگ
“'For two warlords have arrived here to wage war, accompanied by a Turanian army fierce as leopards.'”
#26
دو لشکر کشیدند بر هیرمند
✦
به دینارشان پای کردم به بند
“'Two armies have encamped along the Hirmand, and I have bound their feet only with promises of gold.'”
#27
گر از آمدن دم زنی یک زمان
✦
برآید همی کامهٔ بدگمان
“'If you hesitate even for a breath to come, the ill-wisher's desire shall surely be fulfilled.'”