When the army drew near to the land of Iran

At once the news reached the ears of Fereydun

He ordered that Manuchehr, the king so great

Should lead his troops from the hills to the plain

The wise old sage told a tale profound

Of a young man who was virtuous and sound

He’s caught between an unwary sheep ahead

And behind him a leopard and a hunter’s dread

With patience, wisdom, and reason’s might

The lion is lured from the desert to the trap's sight

And from the evil deeds of wicked men

In the end, they shall suffer and twist within

Swift as the wind comes the retribution's toll

As if iron heated would twist and roll

When Manuchehr’s troops reached the open plain

They camped for eight days, their resolve to maintain

Fereydun, as he saw him preparing to leave,

Shared words of wisdom to help him achieve

Manuchehr said, 'O king of great pride,

Who dares against you, with vengeance, to stride?'

Only ill fate could his mind mislead,

And make him betray his own life’s need

Now I gird my waist with Roman mail,

Its knots upon me shall never fail

I march to seek vengeance on the battlefield wide,

And raise a dust cloud to block the sun’s light

From this assembly, none I see as my peer,

To match me in battle or face me without fear

He ordered Qaren, the warrior of fame,

To lead the troops from the hills to the plain

The king’s pavilion was raised in sight,

And the blessed banner spread over the height

The troops advanced in groups, row by row,

Like the sea roaring, plains and mountains did flow

The bright day turned dark from the dust in the air,

It seemed as if the sun had turned sapphire rare

From the land rose a clamor loud and clear,

Piercing the ears of those sharp to hear

The neighing of Arab steeds from the plain,

Drowned out the sound of the drums' refrain

From the warriors' camp, two miles afar,

Were rows of battle elephants, mighty in war

Upon sixty, golden thrones were set high,

Adorned with gold and gems that would dazzle the eye

Three hundred carried supplies for the field,

And three hundred more were armed with steel

Each wrapped in armor, their forms concealed,

Only their eyes from the iron revealed

The king's pavilion they moved outside,

From Tamisha, the troops spread far and wide

The vengeful general, Qaren by name,

Led three hundred thousand warriors to fame

All renowned knights clad in shining mail,

With heavy maces, their foes to impale

Each brave as a lion, fierce and grand,

All sworn to avenge Iraj, hand in hand

At the forefront flew the Kaveh banner,

Their hands wielding swords of violet manner

Manuchehr with Qaren, the elephant-like knight,

Emerged from the forest, ready for the fight

He came forth and inspected the lines,

Arrayed his troops across the wide designs

The left wing to Garshasp he assigned,

And the right to Sam and Qobad combined

The ranks of soldiers stretched far and wide,

Manuchehr stood with Sarv at the center side

He shone like the moon amid his troops,

The mountains were lost to the dust that loops

Qaren the leader and Sam the brave,

Drew their swords from sheaths, troops to save

The vanguard led by Qobad, alert,

And ambushers hidden, their traps covert

An army arrayed like a bride so fair,

With lions of war and the kettledrums' blare

To Tur and Salm, the news they conveyed,

That the Iranians their battle arrayed

From the forest to the plain they marched in line,

Their fury brought froth of blood to their lips divine

The two bloodthirsty foes with armies vast,

Moved forward, their leaders with vengeance cast

The army was drawn to the battlefield plain

The stronghold behind them, a distant refrain

One by one, the vanguard led by Qobad

When news reached Tur, he came like the wind, ironclad

To him, he said, 'Go to Manuchehr, convey this'

Tell him, 'O new king, of rootless abyss'

If a daughter sprang from the lineage of Iraj

Who gave you sword, mace, and battle vestige?

He replied, 'Yes, I will deliver your words'

In the same way you’ve spoken and made your claims heard'

But if reflection stretches long and deep

Wisdom with your heart will in harmony seep

You’ll know your path ahead is of dread

And you’ll fear your hasty words unsaid

If beasts and traps haunt you night and day

It would not be strange to weep that way

From the elm grove to the borders of Chin

Are warriors mounted, and avengers keen

The flashing of purple blades you’ll behold

When you see the Kaveh banner unfold

It will rend your heart and mind with dread

No height will distinguish from the low ahead

Then Qobad approached the king nearby

He told what he’d heard from the battle cry

Manuchehr laughed and then did proclaim

'Only a fool could speak such a name'

Praise to the Lord of both worlds we share

Knower of all things, seen and rare

Who knows that Iraj is my noble kin

And Ferdows, the blessed, my witness therein

Now if we raise our heads to battle’s call

Our lineage and worth shall reveal to all

By the might of the Lord of the sun and moon

I’ll dismantle his power and his throne soon

He’ll close his eyes, toppled and torn

And I’ll show his head to my army as sworn

He ordered the tables to be arranged

And the setting of wine and music exchanged