
Sahm Slays the Kashaf River Dragon
From A8.14, Zal Going as an Envoy before Manuchehr. It illustrates A8.14.37–45:
- A8.14.37I set a khadang, diamond at its head,And drew the bow until the shaft was sped.
- A8.14.38I drove the shaft to sew one side in place;Its tongue protruded, fixed across its face.
- A8.14.39A second arrow struck its mouth and tore;It twisted, writhing from the wound it bore.
- A8.14.40A third shaft struck the center of its maw;A stream of liver-blood ran red and raw.
- A8.14.41It pressed me hard and narrowed all the ground;I drew my ox-head gorz of vengeance round.
- A8.14.42Through Yazdan’s strength I drove my charger on,And swung my gorz until the beast was gone.
- A8.14.43I struck its head; the heavens seemed to rainA mountain down upon the monster’s brain.
- A8.14.44Its skull broke like a worn-out elephant’s head;Its poison poured like Nile waters running red.
- A8.14.45One blow I struck; it fell and could not rise;Its brains lay scattered under mountain skies.
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