When Aghriras, the righteous and wise prince of Turan, arrived from Amol at Ray, word of his merciful release of the Iranian captives reached Afrasiab. The Turanian king flared with terrible fury, confronting his brother: 'What folly is this you have wrought, blending sweet honey with bitter poison? Did I not command you to put those captives to the sword? A true warrior's head knows no scholar's wisdom, nor can vengeance ever mix with mildness!'
Aghriras stood firm, answering with calm nobility: 'A man must possess a measure of shame and godly fear. Whenever power grants you access to evil, fear Yazdan and inflict harm on no one. For the crown and throne have seen countless rulers pass; they will never yield tamely to anyone forever.' But wisdom could find no entry into a heart dominated by dark passions. Driven mad like a enraged elephant, Afrasiab drew his blade and struck down his own brother, cleaving him in two upon the earth.
When tidings of the noble Aghriras's martyr-like fate reached Zal the white-haired hero, Dastan declared that such monstrous fratricide would cast a dark shadow over Afrasiab's fortune and plunge his throne into ruin. Trumpets of brass sounded and war drums thundered upon the backs of war elephants. Zal assembled a host as brilliant and sharp as a rooster's eye, leading his vast army toward Pars with a heart intent on vengeance. From sea to sea the warriors marched, raising a cloud of dust that veiled the sun and moon.
Learning of the colossal force unleashed by Dastan, Afrasiab marched his Turanian ranks toward Khar-e Ray, setting his vanguard firmly in position. Day and night the vanguards clashed in relentless skirmishes, rendering the world narrow and suffocating for both sides, while scores of renowned champions fell slain upon the battleground.
#1
چو اغریرث آمد ز آمل به ری
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وزان کارها آگهی یافت کی
“When Aghriras arrived from Amol at Ray, King Afrasiab was informed of all that had come to pass.”
#2
بدو گفت کاین چیست کانگیختی
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که با شهد حنظل برآمیختی
“Afrasiab spoke to him, saying: 'What is this madness you have wrought, mixing sweet honey with bitter colocynth?'”
#3
بفرمودمت کای برادر به کش
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که جای خرد نیست و هنگام هش
“'I commanded you, brother, to put them to the sword; this was no time for wisdom, nor an hour for mind!'”
#4
به دانش نیاید سر جنگجوی
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نباید به جنگ اندرون آبروی
“'A warrior's mind does not bow to scholarly counsel, nor should honor in war be sought through leniency.'”
#5
سر مرد جنگی خرد نسپرد
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که هرگز نیامیخت کین با خرد
“'A fighting man's head never trusts to reason, for vengeance has never mixed with wisdom!'”
#6
چنین داد پاسخ به افراسیاب
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که لختی بباید همی شرم و آب
“Aghriras answered Afrasiab: 'A man must retain a measure of shame and modesty!'”
#7
هر آنگه کت آید به بد دسترس
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ز یزدان بترس و مکن بد به کس
“'Whenever you gain the power to do evil, fear God and inflict no harm upon anyone.'”
#8
که تاج و کمر چون تو بیند بسی
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نخواهد شدن رام با هر کسی
“'For the crown and belt of kingship have seen many like you; they will not yield obediently to anyone forever.'”
#9
یکی پر ز آتش یکی پر‌خرد
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خرد با سر دیو کی درخورد؟
“One full of fury and fire, the other full of wisdom—how could wisdom ever dwell within the head of a demon?”
#10
سپهبد برآشفت چون پیل مست
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به پاسخ به شمشیر یازید دست
“The Turanian warlord flew into a fury like a mad elephant, and in reply laid his hand upon his sword.”
#11
میان برادر به دو‌نیم کرد
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چنان سنگدل ناهشیوار مرد
“He cleaved his brother in two at the waist—such a stone-hearted, senseless man!”
#12
چو از کار اغریرث نامدار
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خبر شد به نزدیک زال سوار
“When news of the fate of renowned Aghriras reached Zal, the illustrious horseman,”
#13
چنین گفت که‌اکنون سر بخت اوی
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شود تار و ویران‌شود تخت اوی
“Zal declared: 'Now shall Afrasiab's fortune turn to darkness, and his throne be cast into ruin!'”
#14
بزد نای رویین و بربست کوس
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بیاراست لشکر چو چشم خروس
“He sounded the brass trumpets and bound the war drums on the elephants, arraying an army as vibrant as a rooster's eye.”
#15
سپهبد سوی پارس بنهاد روی
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همی‌رفت پر‌خشم و دل کینه‌جوی
“The warlord set his face toward Pars, marching in fierce rage with a heart bent on vengeance.”
#16
ز دریا به دریا همی مرد بود
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رخ ماه و خورشید پر گرد بود
“From sea to sea, warriors stood rank upon rank, until the face of the sun and moon was shrouded in dust.”
#17
چو بشنید افراسیاب این سخن
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که دستان جنگی چه افگند بن
“When Afrasiab heard the tidings of what warlike Dastan (Zal) had set in motion,”
#18
بیاورد لشکر سوی خوار ری
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بیاراست جنگ و بیفشارد پی
“He brought his host toward Khar-e Ray, arranged his battle lines, and stood firm.”
#19
طلایه شب و روز در جنگ بود
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تو گفتی که گیتی بر او تنگ بود
“The vanguards clashed by night and day; you would say the world grew too narrow for him.”
#20
مبارز بسی کشته شد بر دو روی
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همه نامداران پرخاشجوی
“Many champions were slain on both sides—all renowned and fierce warriors of battle.”