Following the passing of King Zou, his kinsman Garshasp ascended the Kayanid throne and placed the royal crown upon his head. Yet this fleeting interlude of peace was soon cut short by death, leaving the throne of Iran vacant once more and causing the tree of vengeance to bear bitter fruit. When news of the empty throne reached the Turanians, a fever of ambition swept their lands. Pashang, the ruler of Turan—who had long shunned his fierce son Afrasiab in grief and rage over Afrasiab's treacherous murder of his own brother Aghriras—saw the golden opportunity. He dispatched a stone-hard message urging Afrasiab to cross the Oxus River (Jayhun) and claim the Iranian realm before any sovereign could take the throne.
Afrasiab assembled a colossal host stretching from the plains of Spijab to the banks of the river. The earth trembled beneath their march like a churning sky, and the dust raised by their horsehooves blotted out the sun. As news of Afrasiab's advance at Khar-e Ray sent shockwaves across the land, the noble chieftains of Iran hastened to Zabulistan to seek aid from Zal. They lamented that since the days of Sam, no guardian had stood to shield them, and if Zal did not act, the nation would perish.
Zal answered them with deep solemnity, revealing that decades of relentless warfare had bent his back and stolen the strength of his arm. Yet he offered them grand hope: Rostam had grown tall and formidable as a soaring cypress, ready to bear the mantle of greatness. Desiring to test the young champion's spirit, Zal spoke to Rostam of the grueling hardship ahead, questioning whether one so young, still sweet with the innocence of youth, was truly ready for the horrors of war. Rostam replied with fiery resolve, declaring that his mighty arms and tiger-like strength were not nurtured for luxury or wine-cups. He vowed that with Divine favor, he would wield a blade like a stormcloud raining blood, asking only for a mountain-like steed and a mace heavy as a crag to crush the Turanian warlords and sweep the invaders from the sacred soil of Iran.
#1
پسر بود زو را یکی خویش کام
✦
پدر کرده بودیش گرشاسپ نام
“Zou had a relative of his own heart, whom his father had named Garshasp.”
#2
بیامد نشست از بر تخت و گاه
✦
به سر بر نهاد آن کیانی کلاه
“He came and sat upon the throne and royal seat, placing upon his head the Kayanid crown.”
#3
چو بنشست بر تخت و گاه پدر
✦
جهان را همی داشت با زیب و فر
“When he sat upon his father's throne, he held the world in splendour and divine grace.”
#4
چنین تا برآمد برین روزگار
✦
درخت بلا کینه آورد بار
“Thus passed the time until the tree of hardship bore the fruit of vengeance.”
#5
به ترکان خبر شد که زو درگذشت
✦
بران سان که بد تخت بی‌کار گشت
“Word reached the Turks that Zou had passed away, and that the throne was left empty and without a king.”
#6
بیامد به خوار ری افراسیاب
✦
ببخشید گیتی و بگذاشت آب
“Afrasiab arrived at Khar-e Ray; he partitioned the realm and crossed the waters.”
#7
نیاورد یک تن درود پشنگ
✦
سرش پر ز کین بود و دل پر ز جنگ
“Pashang sent him no greeting; his head was filled with malice and his heart with war.”
#8
دلش خود ز تخت و کله گشته بود
✦
به تیمار اغریرث آغشته بود
“His heart had grown weary of throne and crown, stained with sorrow for the slain Aghriras.”
#9
بدو روی ننمود هرگز پشنگ
✦
شد آن تیغ روشن پر از تیره زنگ
“Pashang never showed his face to him; that gleaming sword was rusted with dark grief.”
#10
فرستاده رفتی به نزدیک اوی
✦
بدو سال و مه هیچ ننمود روی
“Messengers went to him continuously, yet for years Pashang would not grant him an audience.”
#11
همی گفت اگر تخت را سر بدی
✦
چو اغریرثش یار درخور بدی
“He kept saying: 'If the throne had a true lord, someone like Aghriras would have been his worthy companion.'”
#12
تو خون برادر بریزی همی
✦
ز پرورده مرغی گریزی همی
“'You spill the blood of your own brother, yet you flee from a bird raised in a nest!'”
#13
مرا با تو تا جاودان کار نیست
✦
به نزد منت راه دیدار نیست
“'I have no business with you forever; there is no path for you to see my face.'”
#14
پرآواز شد گوش ازین آگهی
✦
که بی‌کار شد تخت شاهنشهی
“Yet ears were filled with the news that the imperial throne had become empty.”
#15
پیامی بیامد به کردار سنگ
✦
به افراسیاب از دلاور پشنگ
“A message hard as stone came to Afrasiab from the valiant Pashang:”
#16
که بگذار جیحون و برکش سپاه
✦
ممان تا کسی برنشیند به گاه
“'Cross the Jayhun and mobilize the army; do not let anyone sit upon the throne!'”
#17
یکی لشکری ساخت افراسیاب
✦
ز دشت سپیجاب تا رود آب
“Afrasiab raised an army stretching from the plain of Spijab to the river's edge.”
#18
که گفتی زمین شد سپهر روان
✦
همی بارد از تیغ هندی روان
“You would say the earth became a moving firmament, and souls rained down from Indian steel blades.”
#19
یکایک به ایران رسید آگهی
✦
که آمد خریدار تخت مهی
“One by one, tidings reached Iran that a seeker of the grand throne had arrived.”
#20
سوی زابلستان نهادند روی
✦
جهان شد سراسر پر از گفت‌وگوی
“They turned their faces toward Zabulistan; the whole world became filled with anxious talk.”
#21
بگفتند با زال چندی درشت
✦
که گیتی بس آسان گرفتی به مشت
“They spoke harshly to Zal, saying: 'You have taken the world too lightly in your fist!'”
#22
پس از سام تا تو شدی پهلوان
✦
نبودیم یک روز روشن روان
“'Since Sam passed away and you became our champion, we have not enjoyed a single bright day.'”
#23
سپاهی ز جیحون بدین سو کشید
✦
که شد آفتاب از جهان ناپدید
“'An army has crossed over from Jayhun so immense that the sun has vanished from the sky.'”
#24
اگر چاره دانی مراین را بساز
✦
که آمد سپهبد به تنگی فراز
“'If you know a remedy, prepare it now, for the enemy chieftain has pressed close upon us.'”
#25
چنین گفت پس نامور زال زر
✦
که تا من ببستم به مردی کمر
“Then spoke the renowned Zal the White-Haired: 'Ever since I girded my loins in manly valor,'”
#26
سواری چو من پای بر زین نگاشت
✦
کسی تیغ و گرز مرا برنداشت
“'When a rider like me set foot in the stirrup, no man could withstand my sword and mace.'”
#27
به جایی که من پای بفشاردم
✦
عنان سواران شدی پاردم
“'Wherever I pressed my foot, the reins of horsemen turned to cruppers in flight.'”
#28
شب و روز در جنگ یکسان بدم
✦
ز پیری همه ساله ترسان بدم
“'Night and day I stood constant in battle, yet I ever feared the onset of old age.'”
#29
کنون چنبری گشت یال یلی
✦
نتابد همی خنجر کابلی
“'Now my hero's neck has grown bent like a hoop, and my Kabuli dagger no longer shines.'”
#30
کنون گشت رستم چو سرو سهی
✦
بزیبد برو بر کلاه مهی
“'Yet now Rostam has grown like a tall cypress; the crown of greatness fits him well.'”
#31
یکی اسپ جنگیش باید همی
✦
کزین تازی اسپان نشاید همی
“'He needs a warhorse of mighty size, for these Arabian steeds will not suffice.'”
#32
بجویم یکی بارهٔ پیلتن
✦
بخواهم ز هر سو که هست انجمن
“'I will seek a steed strong as an elephant, demanding it from every herd assembled.'”
#33
بخوانم به رستم بر این داستان
✦
که هستی برین کار همداستان
“'I will recite this tale to Rostam, so that he may consent to this great task,'”
#34
که بر کینهٔ تخمهٔ زادشم
✦
ببندی میان و نباشی دژم
“'That to avenge the line of Zadasham, he may gird his loins and feel no sorrow.'”
#35
همه شهر ایران ز گفتار اوی
✦
ببودند شادان دل و تازه روی
“All the people of Iran grew joyful at his words, their hearts gladdened and their faces refreshed.”
#36
ز هر سو هیونی تکاور بتاخت
✦
سلیح سواران جنگی بساخت
“Swift couriers rode out in every direction, preparing armor and weapons for the warriors.”
#37
به رستم چنین گفت کای پیلتن
✦
به بالا سرت برتر از انجمن
“Zal said to Rostam: 'O elephant-bodied champion, whose stature towers above all assemblies!'”
#38
یکی کار پیشست و رنجی دراز
✦
کزو بگسلد خواب و آرام و ناز
“'A heavy trial lies ahead, a long labor that will sunder sleep, rest, and luxury.'”
#39
ترا نوز پورا گه رزم نیست
✦
چه سازم که هنگامهٔ بزم نیست
“'My son, it is not yet your time for battle! Yet what can I do when it is no time for feasting?'”
#40
هنوز از لبت شیر بوید همی
✦
دلت ناز و شادی بجوید همی
“'The scent of milk still lingers on your lips, and your heart still seeks delight and joy.'”
#41
چگونه فرستم به دشت نبرد
✦
ترا پیش ترکان پر کین و درد
“'How can I send you to the battlefield against Turanians filled with malice and grief?'”
#42
چه گویی چه سازی چه پاسخ دهی
✦
که جفت تو بادا مهی و بهی
“'What do you say? What will you do? What is your answer? May greatness and goodness be your companion!'”
#43
چنین گفت رستم به دستان سام
✦
که من نیستم مرد آرام و جام
“Thus answered Rostam to Zal of Sam: 'I am not a man of rest and wine-cups!'”
#44
چنین یال و این چنگهای دراز
✦
نه والا بود پروریدن به ناز
“'Such a neck and these long arms were not nurtured to be reared in soft luxury.'”
#45
اگر دشت کین آید و رزم سخت
✦
بود یار یزدان پیروزبخت
“'If the battlefield of revenge and fierce fighting comes, victorious God will be my helper.'”
#46
ببینی که در جنگ من چون شوم
✦
چو اندر پی ریزش خون شوم
“'You shall see how I behave in battle when I ride forth to shed the enemy's blood!'”
#47
یکی ابر دارم به چنگ اندرون
✦
که همرنگ آبست و بارانش خون
“'I hold a cloud within my grasp, clear as water, yet raining down blood!'”
#48
همی آتش افروزد از گوهرش
✦
همی مغز پیلان بساید سرش
“'Fire blazes from its essence, and its tip crushes the brains of giant elephants.'”
#49
یکی باره باید چو کوه بلند
✦
چنان چون من آرم به خم کمند
“'I require a steed tall as a high mountain, capable of bearing me when I cast my lasso.'”
#50
یکی گرز خواهم چو یک لخت کوه
✦
گرآیند پیشم ز توران گروه
“'I need a mace like a heavy crag, so if the host of Turan confronts me,'”
#51
سرانشان بکوبم بدان گرز بر
✦
نیاید برم هیچ پرخاشخر
“'I will smash their chiefs with that mace, so no warlord dare step before me!'”
#52
که روی زمین را کنم بی‌سپاه
✦
که خون بارد ابر اندر آوردگاه
“'So that I may empty the face of the earth of their host, and cause clouds to rain blood upon the battlefield.'”