New NaqqaliFereydoon and His Sons · A6.20
Manuchehr Attacks the Army of Tur
An exhortation promises sacred reward and material honor, then disciplined ranks become a field of blood.
The chapter in five texts
| Text | Chapter treatment and distinctive choices |
|---|---|
| F&R English | Thirty-three couplets preserve the sixteen-couplet exhortation followed by seventeen couplets of battle. |
| Moscow | Battle follows the army’s preparations, with a distinct rallying speech before the action. |
| Mohl | Pp 94–95 retain the reward language, discipline and blood-stone imagery. |
| Ganjoor | Sh15 and sh16 supply 16 and 17 couplets; their sequence is preserved. |
| Khaleghi | The corresponding main text juxtaposes martial sanctification, ordered violence and the instability of success. |
Parallel text
English left · Persian right. Ganjoor is the reference except where a row names a printed source. Select a number to open the relevant note. G identifiers distinguish digital sections across chapter boundaries.
1–9+
When the bright world grew dark, around the plain
The scouts spread out to watch the hostile train.
Before the army Gharan held the line,
With Sarv of Yemen, wise in war’s design.
A cry arose before the whole array:
“O Shah’s famed warriors, yield to none today!
Fight hard; this war is Ahriman’s own,
With pain and vengeance, blood by blood is sown.
Gird up your waists and keep yourselves awake;
Keep faith with the Creator for His sake.
Whoever falls upon this battlefield
Shall reach bright heaven, cleansed of sin and healed.
Who spills the blood of Rum and Chin shall claim
Their land, and win a lasting honored name.
Their good name shall endure through every age,
With sacred farr to grace their lasting page.
From Shah, the crown and throne shall be their gain;
From chief, bright gold; from God, good fortune’s reign.
بدان گه که روشن جهان تیره گشت
طلایه پراگنده بر گرد دشت
به پیش سپه قارن رزم زن
ابا رای زن سرو شاه یمن
خروشی برآمد ز پیش سپاه
که ای نامداران و مردان شاه
بکوشید کاین جنگ آهرمنست
همان درد و کین است و خون خستنست
میان بسته دارید و بیدار بید
همه در پناه جهاندار بید
کسی کو شود کشته زین رزمگاه
بهشتی بود شسته پاک از گناه
هر آن کس که از لشکر چین و روم
بریزند خون و بگیرند بوم
همه نیکنامند تا جاودان
بمانند با فرهٔ موبدان
هم از شاه یابند دیهیم و تخت
ز سالار زر و ز دادار بخت
Ganjoor · f15:1-9
10–16+
When pure white day stands radiant in the light,
And sun has crossed two portions of its flight,
Then gird yourselves as warriors battle-tried,
With gorz and Kabul khanjar at your side.
Each man must hold the place that bears his name;
Let none break rank in pursuit of fame.”
The chiefs and nobles stood, a fearless wall,
And heard their lion-hearted leader’s call.
They said, “We are your slaves; while we yet live,
Our lives are for the Shah and his to give.
Whatever he commands, that deed is done;
We shall make earth a Jihun before war is won.”
Then to their tents the warriors returned,
Their hearts set hard on vengeance as they burned.
چو پیدا شود پاک روز سپید
دو بهره بپیماید از چرخ شید
ببندید یکسر میان یلی
ابا گرز و با خنجر کابلی
بدارید یکسر همه جای خویش
یکی از دگر پای منهید پیش
سران سپه مهتران دلیر
کشیدند صف پیش سالار شیر
به سالار گفتند ما بنده‌ایم
خود اندر جهان شاه را زنده‌ایم
چو فرمان دهد ما همیدون کنیم
زمین را ز خون رود جیحون کنیم
سوی خیمهٔ خویش باز آمدند
همه با سری کینه ساز آمدند
Ganjoor · f15:10-16
17–25+
When dawn rose bright and night withdrew from sight,
Manuchehr rose beneath the banners’ height.
In Roman helm and jowshan all arrayed,
He held the center, sword and steel displayed.
The army raised one cry beneath the sky,
And lifted spears into the clouds on high.
Their heads were filled with wrath, their brows with strain,
As though their march rolled thunder through the plain.
He set the left, the right, the heart, each wing,
All ordered as befitted Iran’s king.
The earth became a ship on water’s sweep,
As though it hastened toward the drowning deep.
The signal sounded from the bull-elephant’s height;
The earth swayed like the Nile beneath their might.
Before the elephants the drummers cried,
While roaring, seething beasts surged at their side.
From karnay blast and wailing karnay sound,
One might have thought a feast had filled the ground.
سپیده چو از تیره شب بردمید
میان شب تیره اندر خمید
منوچهر برخاست از قلب‌گاه
ابا جوشن و تیغ و رومی کلاه
سپه یکسره نعره برداشتند
سنان‌ها به ابر اندر افراشتند
پر از خشم سر ابروان پر ز چین
همی بر نوشتند روی زمین
چپ و راست و قلب و جناح سپاه
بیاراست لشکر چو بایست شاه
زمین شد به کردار کشتی بر آب
تو گفتی سوی غرق دارد شتاب
بزد مهره بر کوههٔ ژنده پیل
زمین جنب‌جنبان چو دریای نیل
همان پیش پیلان تبیره زنان
خروشان و جوشان و پیلان دمان
یکی بزمگاه‌ست گفتی به‌جای
ز شیپور و نالیدن کره نای
Ganjoor · f16:1-9
26–33+
They moved like mountains surging through the fray;
Both armies roared and thundered on their way.
The plain became a sea of crimson flow,
As tulips bloomed across the earth below.
The elephants stood fixed in pools of red,
Like bijadeh columns where the armies bled.
The field belonged to Iran’s youthful king,
And love for him filled every living thing.
Thus battle raged until dark night was spread,
And the bright sun withdrew its golden head.
Time never holds one course for long, but brings
Now honey and sweet wine, now poison’s stings.
The hearts of Salm and Tur with anger burned;
Toward a night assault their counsel turned.
When night gave way to day, no battle rose;
The two fierce chiefs chose waiting over blows.
برفتند از جای یکسر چو کوه
دهاده برآمد ز هر دو گروه
بیابان چو دریای خون شد درست
تو گفتی که روی زمین لاله رست
پی ژنده پیلان به خون اندرون
چنان چون ز بیجاده باشد ستون
همه چیرگی با منوچهر بود
کزو مغز گیتی پر از مهر بود
چنین تا شب تیره سر بر کشید
درخشنده خورشید شد ناپدید
زمانه به یک سان ندارد درنگ
گهی شهد و نوش است و گاهی شرنگ
دل تور و سلم اندر آمد به‌جوش
به راه شبیخون نهادند گوش
چو شب روز شد کس نیامد به جنگ
دو جنگی گرفتند ساز درنگ
Ganjoor · f16:10-17
Narrative and poetic form
The English’s strength is continuity of sound and image from court to battlefield. Notes should explain who promises the rewards and how the feast metaphor works, without interrupting every military image with the same general judgment.
Couplet commentary
Quoted text · evidence · interpretation1–9The language of martial reward
1–9
When the bright world grew dark, around the plain
The scouts spread out to watch the hostile train.
Before the army Gharan held the line,
With Sarv of Yemen, wise in war’s design.
A cry arose before the whole array:
“O Shah’s famed warriors, yield to none today!
Fight hard; this war is Ahriman’s own,
With pain and vengeance, blood by blood is sown.
Gird up your waists and keep yourselves awake;
Keep faith with the Creator for His sake.
Whoever falls upon this battlefield
Shall reach bright heaven, cleansed of sin and healed.
Who spills the blood of Rum and Chin shall claim
Their land, and win a lasting honored name.
Their good name shall endure through every age,
With sacred farr to grace their lasting page.
From Shah, the crown and throne shall be their gain;
From chief, bright gold; from God, good fortune’s reign.
بدان گه که روشن جهان تیره گشت
طلایه پراگنده بر گرد دشت
به پیش سپه قارن رزم زن
ابا رای زن سرو شاه یمن
خروشی برآمد ز پیش سپاه
که ای نامداران و مردان شاه
بکوشید کاین جنگ آهرمنست
همان درد و کین است و خون خستنست
میان بسته دارید و بیدار بید
همه در پناه جهاندار بید
کسی کو شود کشته زین رزمگاه
بهشتی بود شسته پاک از گناه
هر آن کس که از لشکر چین و روم
بریزند خون و بگیرند بوم
همه نیکنامند تا جاودان
بمانند با فرهٔ موبدان
هم از شاه یابند دیهیم و تخت
ز سالار زر و ز دادار بخت
Ganjoor · f15:1-9
Textual evidence
The address associates the battle with Ahriman, promises heaven to the fallen, and land, rank, wealth and good fortune to victors.
G f15 1 ↗ G f15 2 ↗ G f15 3 ↗ G f15 4 ↗ G f15 5 ↗ G f15 6 ↗ G f15 7 ↗ G f15 8 ↗ G f15 9 ↗ Moscow p 121 ↗ Moscow p 122 ↗ Moscow p 123 ↗ Moscow p 124 ↗ Mohl p 94 ↗ Mohl p 95 ↗ Khaleghi p 139 ↗ Khaleghi p 140 ↗ Khaleghi p 141 ↗ Khaleghi p 142 ↗
Interpretation
These promises belong to a mobilizing military speech. The analyzer should not convert them into a universal theological rule endorsed without context. The English preserves the mixture of sacred sanction and material reward.
10–16Discipline and the army’s reply
10–16
When pure white day stands radiant in the light,
And sun has crossed two portions of its flight,
Then gird yourselves as warriors battle-tried,
With gorz and Kabul khanjar at your side.
Each man must hold the place that bears his name;
Let none break rank in pursuit of fame.”
The chiefs and nobles stood, a fearless wall,
And heard their lion-hearted leader’s call.
They said, “We are your slaves; while we yet live,
Our lives are for the Shah and his to give.
Whatever he commands, that deed is done;
We shall make earth a Jihun before war is won.”
Then to their tents the warriors returned,
Their hearts set hard on vengeance as they burned.
چو پیدا شود پاک روز سپید
دو بهره بپیماید از چرخ شید
ببندید یکسر میان یلی
ابا گرز و با خنجر کابلی
بدارید یکسر همه جای خویش
یکی از دگر پای منهید پیش
سران سپه مهتران دلیر
کشیدند صف پیش سالار شیر
به سالار گفتند ما بنده‌ایم
خود اندر جهان شاه را زنده‌ایم
چو فرمان دهد ما همیدون کنیم
زمین را ز خون رود جیحون کنیم
سوی خیمهٔ خویش باز آمدند
همه با سری کینه ساز آمدند
Ganjoor · f15:10-16
Textual evidence
The source sets the morning hour, orders warriors to hold their places and records their collective pledge before return to tents.
G f15 10 ↗ G f15 11 ↗ G f15 12 ↗ G f15 13 ↗ G f15 14 ↗ G f15 15 ↗ G f15 16 ↗ Moscow p 121 ↗ Moscow p 122 ↗ Moscow p 123 ↗ Moscow p 124 ↗ Mohl p 94 ↗ Mohl p 95 ↗ Khaleghi p 139 ↗ Khaleghi p 140 ↗ Khaleghi p 141 ↗ Khaleghi p 142 ↗
Interpretation
The force is organized rather than an undifferentiated crowd. “Let none break rank” accurately supplies the practical sense of not stepping ahead of one another; it makes the tactical instruction intelligible.
17–25The battle sounds like a feast
17–25
When dawn rose bright and night withdrew from sight,
Manuchehr rose beneath the banners’ height.
In Roman helm and jowshan all arrayed,
He held the center, sword and steel displayed.
The army raised one cry beneath the sky,
And lifted spears into the clouds on high.
Their heads were filled with wrath, their brows with strain,
As though their march rolled thunder through the plain.
He set the left, the right, the heart, each wing,
All ordered as befitted Iran’s king.
The earth became a ship on water’s sweep,
As though it hastened toward the drowning deep.
The signal sounded from the bull-elephant’s height;
The earth swayed like the Nile beneath their might.
Before the elephants the drummers cried,
While roaring, seething beasts surged at their side.
From karnay blast and wailing karnay sound,
One might have thought a feast had filled the ground.
سپیده چو از تیره شب بردمید
میان شب تیره اندر خمید
منوچهر برخاست از قلب‌گاه
ابا جوشن و تیغ و رومی کلاه
سپه یکسره نعره برداشتند
سنان‌ها به ابر اندر افراشتند
پر از خشم سر ابروان پر ز چین
همی بر نوشتند روی زمین
چپ و راست و قلب و جناح سپاه
بیاراست لشکر چو بایست شاه
زمین شد به کردار کشتی بر آب
تو گفتی سوی غرق دارد شتاب
بزد مهره بر کوههٔ ژنده پیل
زمین جنب‌جنبان چو دریای نیل
همان پیش پیلان تبیره زنان
خروشان و جوشان و پیلان دمان
یکی بزمگاه‌ست گفتی به‌جای
ز شیپور و نالیدن کره نای
Ganjoor · f16:1-9
Textual evidence
Dawn, armor, ordered wings, earth as a ship, elephant-borne signal and instrumental tumult precede the comparison to a banquet.
G f16 1 ↗ G f16 2 ↗ G f16 3 ↗ G f16 4 ↗ G f16 5 ↗ G f16 6 ↗ G f16 7 ↗ G f16 8 ↗ G f16 9 ↗ Moscow p 121 ↗ Moscow p 122 ↗ Moscow p 123 ↗ Moscow p 124 ↗ Mohl p 94 ↗ Mohl p 95 ↗ Khaleghi p 139 ↗ Khaleghi p 140 ↗ Khaleghi p 141 ↗ Khaleghi p 142 ↗
Interpretation
The feast comparison is ominous, not celebratory endorsement of killing. Familiar courtly sound has crossed into violence. The English keeps the image rather than replacing it with a generic statement that the battle was loud.
26–33Blood, victory and a night-raid decision
26–33
They moved like mountains surging through the fray;
Both armies roared and thundered on their way.
The plain became a sea of crimson flow,
As tulips bloomed across the earth below.
The elephants stood fixed in pools of red,
Like bijadeh columns where the armies bled.
The field belonged to Iran’s youthful king,
And love for him filled every living thing.
Thus battle raged until dark night was spread,
And the bright sun withdrew its golden head.
Time never holds one course for long, but brings
Now honey and sweet wine, now poison’s stings.
The hearts of Salm and Tur with anger burned;
Toward a night assault their counsel turned.
When night gave way to day, no battle rose;
The two fierce chiefs chose waiting over blows.
برفتند از جای یکسر چو کوه
دهاده برآمد ز هر دو گروه
بیابان چو دریای خون شد درست
تو گفتی که روی زمین لاله رست
پی ژنده پیلان به خون اندرون
چنان چون ز بیجاده باشد ستون
همه چیرگی با منوچهر بود
کزو مغز گیتی پر از مهر بود
چنین تا شب تیره سر بر کشید
درخشنده خورشید شد ناپدید
زمانه به یک سان ندارد درنگ
گهی شهد و نوش است و گاهی شرنگ
دل تور و سلم اندر آمد به‌جوش
به راه شبیخون نهادند گوش
چو شب روز شد کس نیامد به جنگ
دو جنگی گرفتند ساز درنگ
Ganjoor · f16:10-17
Textual evidence
The armies move like mountains, earth becomes a blood-sea and elephant feet resemble bijadeh columns. The first day ends, fortune changes and the brothers consider a night assault.
G f16 10 ↗ G f16 11 ↗ G f16 12 ↗ G f16 13 ↗ G f16 14 ↗ G f16 15 ↗ G f16 16 ↗ G f16 17 ↗ Moscow p 121 ↗ Moscow p 122 ↗ Moscow p 123 ↗ Moscow p 124 ↗ Mohl p 94 ↗ Mohl p 95 ↗ Khaleghi p 139 ↗ Khaleghi p 140 ↗ Khaleghi p 141 ↗ Khaleghi p 142 ↗
Interpretation
Bijadeh’s red precious-stone image gives the bodies and battlefield an unnatural solidity. The English preserves the source’s extravagant visualization and its immediate reminder that advantage never remains fixed.