When word reached the Turanian prince Afrasiab that his celebrated chieftains had fallen in battle, a violent fire of grief and fury ignited in his breast, weeping tears of blood. He demanded the head of King Nowzar to appease the blood-feud of Viseh and the Turanian ancestors. The executioners dragged the defeated Iranian monarch out of his tent—bareheaded, barefooted, and stripped of all majesty. Realizing his time had come, Nowzar faced his doom. Afrasiab evoked the ancient vengeance of Tur and Salm, cast all royal mercy aside, and drew his blade, severing the head of Manuchehr’s last heir and leaving the realm of Iran bereft of crown and sovereign.
Following the King's slaying, Afrasiab ordered the remaining Iranian captives to be brought forth for execution. Yet Aghriras, his noble and compassionate brother, intervened with a burning heart. He argued fiercely that slaughtering unarmed, bound prisoners brought no honor to a king. He implored Afrasiab to spare their lives and entrust them to his custody, proposing to imprison them safely in the caves of Sari. Moved by his brother's solemn plea, Afrasiab granted their lives and ordered them bound in iron and led away. Thereupon, the Turanian conqueror drove his host swiftly from Dehestan to Ray, where he mounted the Kianid throne and unlocked the royal treasuries.
#1
سوی شاه ترکان رسید آگهی
✦
کزان نامداران جهان شد تهی
“Word reached the King of the Turanians that the world had been emptied of his glorious chieftains.”
#2
دلش گشت پر آتش از درد و غم
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دو رخ را به خون جگر داد نم
“His heart caught fire with grief and pain, and blood from his liver moistened his cheeks.”
#3
برآشفت و گفتا که نوذر کجاست
✦
کزو ویسه خواهد همی کینه خواست
“Enraged, he cried: 'Where is Nowzar, that Viseh may exact his vengeance upon him?'”
#4
چه چاره است جز خون او ریختن
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یکی کینهٔ نو برانگیختن
“'What remedy is there save spilling his blood, and rekindling an ancient grudge anew?'”
#5
به دژخیم فرمود کو را کشان
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ببر تا بیاموزد او سرفشان
“He commanded the executioner to drag him forth, so he might be taught the severing of heads.”
#6
سپهدار نوذر چو آگاه شد
✦
بدانست کش روز کوتاه شد
“When Commander Nowzar learned of this, he knew that his days were brought to a close.”
#7
سپاهی پر از غلغل و گفت و گوی
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سوی شاه نوذر نهادند روی
“A throng full of clamor and outcry marched toward King Nowzar.”
#8
ببستند بازوش با بند تنگ
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کشیدندش از جای پیش نهنگ
“They bound his arms tight with cords, and dragged him out before the dragon.”
#9
به دشت آوریدندش از خیمه خوار
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برهنه سر و پای و برگشته کار
“They brought him into the plain from his pavilion, wretched, bare of head and foot, his fortune overthrown.”
#10
چو از دور دیدش زبان برگشاد
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ز کین نیاگان همی کرد یاد
“When Afrasiab saw him from afar, he unloosed his tongue, recalling the vengeance of his ancestors.”
#11
ز تور و ز سلم اندر آمد نخست
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دل و دیده از شرم شاهان بشست
“Beginning with Tur and Salm, he washed all royal shame and mercy from his heart and eyes.”
#12
بدو گفت هر بد که آید سزاست
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بگفت و برآشفت و شمشیر خواست
“He said: 'Every evil that befalls is deserved!' Then in wrath, he demanded a sword.”
#13
بزد گردن خسرو تاجدار
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تنش را بخاک اندر افگند خوار
“He struck off the crowned King's head, and cast his body down into the dirt with scorn.”
#14
شد آن یادگار منوچهر شاه
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تهی ماند ایران ز تخت و کلاه
“Gone was that remembrance of King Manuchehr; Iran was left empty of throne and crown.”
#15
ایا دانشی مرد بسیار هوش
✦
همه چادر آزمندی مپوش
“O man of wisdom and great understanding, wrap not thyself in the cloak of greed,”
#16
که تخت و کله چون تو بسیار دید
✦
چنین داستان چند خواهی شنید
“For throne and crown have seen many like thee; how many such tales wilt thou hear?”
#17
رسیدی به جایی که بشتافتی
✦
سرآمد کزو آرزو یافتی
“Thou hast reached the place to which thou didst hasten; thy life is ended, wherein thou didst find desire.”
#18
چه جویی از این تیره خاک نژند
✦
که هم بازگرداندت مستمند
“What seekest thou from this dark, gloomy dust, which in the end returns thee broken-hearted?”
#19
که گر چرخ گردان کشد زین تو
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سرانجام خاکست بالین تو
“Though the turning sky saddle thy steed, in the end the earth shall be thy pillow.”
#20
پس آن بستگان را کشیدند خوار
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به جان خواستند آنگهی زینهار
“Then they dragged the captives out in humiliation, who implored for their very lives.”
#21
چو اغریرث پرهنر آن بدید
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دل او ببر در چو آتش دمید
“When the accomplished Aghriras saw this, his heart flared up within him like fire.”
#22
همی گفت چندین سر بی‌گناه
✦
ز تن دور ماند به فرمان شاه
“He kept saying: 'Should so many guiltless heads be separated from their bodies by royal decree?'”
#23
بیامد خروشان به خواهشگری
✦
بیاراست با نامور داوری
“He came forward shouting in entreaty, entering into earnest debate with the famous prince.”
#24
که چندین سرافراز گرد و سوار
✦
نه با ترگ و جوشن نه در کارزار
“'So many exalted champions and horsemen—neither wearing helmets and armor, nor in the midst of battle!'”
#25
گرفتار کشتن نه والا بود
✦
نشیبست جایی که بالا بود
“'To slay captives is not the way of greatness; high fortune may quickly turn into low downfalls.'”
#26
سزد گر نیاید به جانشان گزند
✦
سپاری همیدون به من شان ببند
“'It is fitting if no harm comes to their lives; hand them over to me bound as they are.'”
#27
بریشان یکی غار زندان کنم
✦
نگهدارشان هوشمندان کنم
“'I will make a cave into a prison for them, and place wise guards over them.'”
#28
به ساری به زاری برآرند هوش
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تو از خون به کش دست و چندین مکوش
“'Let them spend their lives in sorrow in Sari; pull back thy hand from blood and slay no more!'”
#29
ببخشید جانشان به گفتار اوی
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چو بشنید با درد پیکار اوی
“Afrasiab granted their lives at his word, hearing his pained contention.”
#30
بفرمودشان تا به ساری برند
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به غل و به مسمار و خواری برند
“He commanded them to be taken to Sari, bound with chains, iron pegs, and in humiliation.”
#31
چو این کرده شد ساز رفتن گرفت
✦
زمین زیر اسپان نهفتن گرفت
“When this was accomplished, he prepared to move; the ground was hidden beneath the horses' hooves.”
#32
ز پیش دهستان سوی ری کشید
✦
از اسپان به رنج و به تک خوی کشید
“From Dehestan he marched toward Ray, sweat dripping from the horses with pain and speed.”
#33
کلاه کیانی به سر بر نهاد
✦
به دینار دادن در اندرگشاد
“He placed the Kianid crown upon his head, and opened the doors of treasury to bestow gold.”