He rode out at midday

From in front of his father, the world-illuminating hero

He passed two days as one

Thinking the dark night was day

Thus Rakhsh bore him swiftly along the road

Through the bright day and the dark nights

His body like the sun rose and became inflamed

He came upon a plain full of wild asses

He urged Rakhsh on swiftly

The wild ass’s pace was outstripped by his

The lasso and the pursuit of Rakhsh and Rustam

No game or beast can escape him

The lion threw the royal lasso

And caught the brave wild ass in its loop

He pulled and threw down the wild ass at that moment

And approached it like a raging lion

He lit a fire with the arrow's point

Burning the soil, straw, and wood with it

He roasted it over that fierce fire

After he had skinned and killed it

He ate and threw away the bones

That was his pot and that was his table

He took the bridle off Rakhsh in disdain

Letting it graze in the meadow

He made his bed of sleep in the reed-bed

Finding a safe place in the fearful night

In that reed-bed was the lion’s lair

Where not even an elephant dared cut a reed

When the ferocious lion passed one watch of the night

Bravely, it returned to its lair

In the reeds, it saw an elephant asleep

And a horse agitated beside it

First, it decided to subdue the horse

So that its rider would then come into its grasp

It charged towards the shining Rakhsh

At that moment, Rakhsh flared up like fire

It raised its two paws and struck his head

And sunk its sharp teeth into his back

It beat him against the ground until he was torn apart

The beast thus rendered helpless against this strategy

When Rostam, the sharp-clawed, awoke

He saw the world dark and narrow over the lion

He said to Rakhsh, 'O wise one

Who told you to battle with the lion?'

If you were killed in his grip

How would I have taken this mace and warrior's helmet

How would you have taken me to Mazandaran

The royal lasso and heavy mace

Why did you not come to me with a roar

When your roar would reach my ears

If I had been aware from my sweet sleep

Your fight with the lion would have ended

When the sun rose from the dark mountain

The mighty one came wearied from his pleasant sleep

He groomed Rakhsh's body and saddled him

He remembered the benevolence of God