He went from the riverbank to the presence of Pashang

His tongue full of words, and his harp short in clang

He said to him, O renowned king

It is a sin for you to seek such a fight

One who breaks a pact with a king

The wise ancestors never saw such a thing

The world did not become pure from the seed of Iraj

Nor did the poison-spitter turn into opium's lash

One disappears, another takes its place

The world cannot remain without a head in its space

Qobad came and placed the crown on his head

With enmity, he opened a new path to tread

A rider appeared from the seed of Sam

Whose hands bore the name of Rustam’s fame

He came like a grim whale from the abyss

As if he would burn the earth with a hiss

He galloped through the highs and the lows

Striking with mace, sword, and in all his foes

From his strike, the air was filled with cracks and gaps

My soul shivered as if struck by a clump of ash

Our entire army was torn apart in twain

None in the world had seen such pain

He saw my banner on the far side

And brought forth his heavy mace in stride

I lifted such a dart from its saddle with speed

You’d think I had nothing but a stone to feed

The belt broke, and the robe’s clasp gave way

I fell from his grasp, down beneath his sway

By that strength, there could never be a lion’s share

His feet to the earth, his head in the air

All the war riders were grouped in one band

They dragged me from before the barren land

You know that kingship is my heart and harp’s ring

In battle, my power and music do sing

I am but a mosquito in his hand’s grasp

From that creation, I am full of thought and clasp

I saw a hero and a lion’s claw

No wisdom, no knowledge, no thought or pause

He entrusted the reins to that drunken elephant

Holding a mace with the body of a bull in his hand

Indeed, the steel cap of three hundred thousand

Struck upon his head with the armor of a dragon's horn

You said it was made of iron

From stone and its face they fashioned it, so firm

Whether the sea before him or a tiger's sign

Whether a lion's ferocity or an elephant's might

He galloped in the same way as a hunter’s day

In sport, the battlefield would come his way

Had you fallen into the hands of Sam’s trickery

You would not have remained proud before the Turks' misery

There is no counsel but reconciliation

For you cannot stand against his army’s station

A land where Afridun circled around

Then handed it over to the brave Tour’s sound

They had given it to me, truthfully granted

You should not seek vengeance for past anger planted

You know that seeing is not the same as knowing

Between hearing, there's always an empty showing

The garden which blooms today in splendor’s air

Tomorrow, not a flower will be there

From today, do not delay work till tomorrow

For who knows what time may bring to sorrow?

To you, the war of Iran appeared as play

In the game, it lengthened the army’s fray

Look, for what strength the hero’s stature bears

Both from golden bows and shields that flare

The same Arabian horse with golden reins

The same Indian sword with golden veins

More than this, the renowned ones gathered

Kavadh came in and carried away in disgrace

Like Kalbad and like the brave Barman

Who was the prey of all the male lions

Where Khazravân’s wisdom broke by Zal

He showed him a heavy mace and seized his hand

Shamasa, the warlike refuge of the army

Who Karun killed in the battlefield’s rally

Except for these nameless ones, a hundred thousand’s blood

More were slain when the battle was won

Worse than all this name and shame’s defeat

A defeat which could never be confined or beat

If my head became renowned from my deeds

That of Agirith, the wise, who was slain in needs

Youthful and good, the days of fortune

I took today as the day of affliction

For those came before me, the rebellious ones

With banners behind each, they were shunned

Much the times had taught me

With breath of sorrow and a run of misery

Now do not recall the past mistakes

Turn towards peace, return to Kaveh’s state

If another wish comes your heart to find

The army shall come from all directions, combined

In one hand, Rustam, shining like the sun

With battle, no force could overcome

On another side, Karun, the warrior

Whose eyes had never seen defeat’s horror

Three others like Kashwad, crowned in gold

Who came to Amol to lead the army bold

Fourth, like Mehrab, Kabul’s lord of might

Who was the king's commander, and Zabul’s god in light