Stirred to the core by the words of his father Zal, the young giant Rostam set out to find a warhorse worthy of his titanic strength and armor. Herdsmen brought forth endless droves of horses from Zabulistan and Kabulistan, all bearing the royal brands of kings. Yet, as Rostam placed his heavy hand upon the back of each stallion to test its endurance, the horse's spine would bend beneath his weight until its belly touched the earth.
From Kabul unto Zarang, Rostam sought among all the colorful droves without success, until his gaze fell upon a swift mare broad-chested as a lion, short-legged, with ears like tempered daggers and a slender waist. Trotting behind her was a colt equal in height and stature—black-eyed, chestnut-browed, with a tail like a bull, hooves of solid steel, and a hide gleaming like saffron sprinkled with the crimson spots of wild roses. Rostam saw the elephant-bodied colt and coiled his royal lasso.
An aged shepherd called out, warning him not to take another's horse. Rostam asked to whom belonged this unbranded beast. The shepherd replied that none owned him; he was called Rakhsh—fiery in color and spirit. For three years he had been ready for the saddle, yet none could capture him, and the folk spoke of him only as 'Rostam's Rakhsh.' Moreover, his mother would tear apart any rider who dared throw a rope at her foal.
Ignoring the warning, Rostam cast the Kiani lasso, ensnaring the colt. Instantly, the mother mare charged like a furious lioness, intending to bite off the champion's head with her bared teeth. Rostam let out a roar so terrifying that the mare froze in shock; then he struck her neck with a single massive fist, causing her whole body to tremble before she stumbled, turned, and fled back to the herd.
Rostam then pressed his mighty hand down upon the back of Rakhsh with all his titanic strength. Astonishingly, the rose-dappled colt did not bow or buckle under the crushing weight—it stood firm and untamed, as though feeling no burden at all! Rostam smiled in delight, knowing he had found his true mount. When he asked the shepherd the colt's price, the old man answered: 'If thou art Rostam, the price of this beast is the whole realm of Iran, for upon his back thou shalt restore righteousness to the world.'
Rostam praised Yazdan with a joyous heart and saddled the glorious steed. Rakhsh proved so swift and majestic in battle that wild rue was burned every night to shield him from evil eyes. Seeing the young champion mounted upon his matchless steed, the heart of Zal زر bloomed like spring, and he flung open his treasures to distribute gold freely without a thought for tomorrow.
#1
چنان شد ز گفتار او پهلوان
✦
که گفتی برافشاند خواهد روان
“So stirred was the champion by his father's words, that you would say he was ready to pour out his very soul.”
#2
گله هرچ بودش به زابلستان
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بیاورد لختی به کابلستان
“Whatever herds were in Zabulistan, they drove a portion of them into Kabulistan.”
#3
همه پیش رستم همی راندند
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برو داغ شاهان همی خواندند
“They drove them all before Rostam, who read upon them the brands of kings.”
#4
هر اسپی که رستم کشیدیش پیش
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به پشتش بیفشاردی دست خویش
“Every horse that Rostam drew toward himself, he pressed his mighty hand upon its back.”
#5
ز نیروی او پشت کردی به خم
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نهادی به روی زمین بر شکم
“Under his immense power, its back would bend until its belly touched the ground.”
#6
چنین تا ز کابل بیامد زرنگ
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فسیله همی تاخت از رنگ‌رنگ
“Thus he searched from Kabul to Zarang, running droves of all colors before him.”
#7
یکی مادیان تیز بگذشت خنگ
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برش چون بر شیر و کوتاه لنگ
“Then passed a swift grey mare, broad-chested like a lion and short of leg.”
#8
دو گوشش چو دو خنجر آبدار
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بر و یال فربه میانش نزار
“Her two ears were like sharp daggers; her chest and mane were thick, her waist slender.”
#9
یکی کره از پس به بالای او
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سرین و برش هم به پهنای او
“Behind her trotted a colt of her own height, with hips and chest as broad as hers.”
#10
سیه چشم و بورابرش و گاودم
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سیه خایه و تند و پولادسم
“Dark-eyed, chestnut-browed, with a tail like an ox, fierce-natured and steel-hooved.”
#11
تنش پرنگار از کران تا کران
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چو داغ گل سرخ بر زعفران
“His body was dappled from edge to edge, like red rose spots sprinkled upon saffron.”
#12
چو رستم بران مادیان بنگرید
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مر آن کرهٔ پیلتن را بدید
“When Rostam looked upon that mare and saw that elephant-bodied colt,”
#13
کمند کیانی همی داد خم
✦
که آن کره را بازگیرد ز رم
“He coiled his Kiani lasso to catch that colt from the herd.”
#14
به رستم چنین گفت چوپان پیر
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که ای مهتر اسپ کسان را مگیر
“An old shepherd spoke to Rostam, saying: 'O lord, do not take the horse of others!'”
#15
بپرسید رستم که این اسپ کیست
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که دو رانش از داغ آتش تهیست
“Rostam asked: 'Whose horse is this, whose thighs are free from the mark of fire?'”
#16
چنین داد پاسخ که داغش مجوی
✦
کزین هست هر گونه‌ای گفت‌وگوی
“The shepherd answered: 'Seek not his brand, for concerning him there are many tales.”
#17
همی رخش خوانیم بورابرش است
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به خو آتشی و به رنگ آتش است
“We call him Rakhsh; he is rose-dappled, fiery in temper and in color like fire itself.”
#18
خداوند این را ندانیم کس
✦
همی رخش رستمش خوانیم و بس
“We know no owner for him; we call him only Rostam's Rakhsh, and nothing more.”
#19
سه سالست تا این بزین آمدست
✦
به چشم بزرگان گزین آمدست
“For three years he has been fit for the saddle, approved by the eyes of the great.”
#20
چو مادرش بیند کمند سوار
✦
چو شیر اندرآید کند کارزار
“Yet when his mother sees a rider's lasso, she rushes in like a lion to wage battle.'”
#21
بینداخت رستم کیانی کمند
✦
سر ابرش آورد ناگه ببند
“Rostam cast his royal lasso and suddenly caught the rose-dappled colt by the neck.”
#22
بیامد چو شیر ژیان مادرش
✦
همی خواست کندن به دندان سرش
“The mother came on like a fierce lion, seeking to tear off his head with her teeth.”
#23
بغرید رستم چو شیر ژیان
✦
از آواز او خیره شد مادیان
“Rostam roared like a raging lion, and at his voice the mare was stunned and bewildered.”
#24
یکی مشت زد نیز بر گردنش
✦
کزان مشت برگشت لرزان تنش
“He struck her neck with a blow of his fist, so that her body trembled from the stroke.”
#25
بیفتاد و برخاست و برگشت از وی
✦
بسوی گله تیز بنهاد روی
“She fell, rose again, turned away from him, and fled swiftly toward the herd.”
#26
بیفشارد ران رستم زورمند
✦
برو تنگتر کرد خم کمند
“Mighty Rostam pressed his thighs and tightened the coils of the lasso upon the colt.”
#27
بیازید چنگال گردی بزور
✦
بیفشارد یک دست بر پشت بور
“The hero stretched forth his mighty hand and pressed with strength upon the back of the bay colt.”
#28
نکرد ایچ پشت از فشردن تهی
✦
تو گفتی ندارد همی آگهی
“The colt's back did not yield at all under the pressure; you would say he felt nothing.”
#29
بدل گفت کاین برنشست منست
✦
کنون کار کردن به دست منست
“Rostam said in his heart: 'This is my mount; now the work of battle lies in my hands.'”
#30
ز چوپان بپرسید کاین اژدها
✦
به چندست و این را که خواهد بها
“He asked the shepherd: 'What is the price of this dragon, and who claims its payment?'”
#31
چنین داد پاسخ که گر رستمی
✦
برو راست کن روی ایران زمی
“The shepherd answered: 'If thou art Rostam, set right the face of the land of Iran!”
#32
مر این را بر و بوم ایران بهاست
✦
بدین بر تو خواهی جهان کرد راست
“The realm of Iran is its price, for mounted upon him thou shalt make the world righteous.'”
#33
لب رستم از خنده شد چون بسد
✦
همی گفت نیکی ز یزدان سزد
“Rostam's lips parted in a smile like coral, as he said: 'Goodness is fitting unto Yazdan.'”
#34
به زین اندر آورد گلرنگ را
✦
سرش تیز شد کینه و جنگ را
“He put the saddle upon the rose-dappled beast, and its heart grew eager for strife and war.”
#35
گشاده زنخ دیدش و تیزتگ
✦
بدیدش که دارد دل و تاو و رگ
“He saw him wide of jaw and swift of stride, possessing courage, endurance, and power.”
#36
کشد جوشن و خود و کوپال او
✦
تن پیلوار و بر و یال او
“Capable of bearing his coat of mail, helmet, heavy mace, and his own elephant-like body, neck, and mane.”
#37
چنان گشت ابرش که هر شب سپند
✦
همی سوختندش ز بیم گزند
“Such did the dappled charger become that every night they burned wild rue for him for fear of evil eyes.”
#38
چپ و راست گفتی که جادو شدست
✦
به آورد تا زنده آهو شدست
“To left and right he moved as if by magic; in battle he could catch a live gazelle.”
#39
دل زال زر شد چو خرم بهار
✦
ز رخش نوآیین و فرخ سوار
“The heart of Zal Zar became joyful as green spring, at this novel Rakhsh and auspicious rider.”
#40
در گنج بگشاد و دینار داد
✦
از امروز و فردا نیامدش یاد
“He opened the doors of his treasury and gave away gold, taking no thought for today or tomorrow.”