Zal and Rudabeh · A8.13

Sahm Marches on Kabul

Zal interposes his own body between Kabul and destruction. His appeal tests Sahm’s reputation for justice against the son to whom he has repeatedly done wrong.

F&R English · 57 couplets · 7 commentary entries

Parallel text ↓Commentary ↓

The chapter in five texts

Text	Chapter treatment and distinctive choices
F&R English	Fifty-seven couplets bring abandonment, maternal grief and a threatened city into one argument, ending in a renewed paternal undertaking.
Moscow	Pp 198–201 retain confrontation and concession with bracketed amplifications.
Mohl	Pp 152–155 support the fuller appeal and reassurance around the proposed letter.
Ganjoor	Sh15.1–51 supplies the chapter; “no quarrel” differs from English “No equal.”
Khaleghi	The father-and-son confrontation is consulted within pp 226–231.

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.

1–10+

Mehrab and Zal heard all that late had passed;

The Shah’s command left all Kabul aghast.

A cry arose throughout Mehrab’s domain;

Fear swept through house and court and open plain.

Sindokht, Mehrab, and Rudabeh all

Despaired of life before the threatened fall.

Then Zal departed, stern though sorrow-worn,

Yet firm in will, though inwardly forlorn:

“Should some grim dragon breathe its wrathful fire,

And set the whole world blazing like a pyre,

And should it seek to ravage Kabul’s land,

It first must take my head beneath its hand.”

With troubled heart and thoughts that surged and turned,

He rode in haste, and in his heart he burned.

News reached brave Sahm: “Your lion-cub draws near.”

At once the army rose with mounting cheer.

Fereydoon’s banner rose above the throng,

And welcoming tabiras thundered long.

On elephants bright-colored banners flew,

In red and yellow, violet in hue.

به مهراب و دستان رسید این سخن

که شاه و سپهبد فگندند بن

خروشان ز کابل همی رفت زال

فروهشته لفج و برآورده یال

همی گفت اگر اژدهای دژم

بیاید که گیتی بسوزد به دم

چو کابلستان را بخواهد بسود

نخستین سر من بباید درود

به پیش پدر شد پر از خون جگر

پر اندیشه دل پر ز گفتار سر

چو آگاهی آمد به سام دلیر

که آمد ز ره بچهٔ نره شیر

همه لشکر از جای برخاستند

درفش فریدون بیاراستند

پذیره شدن را تبیره زدند

سپاه و سپهبد پذیره شدند

همه پشت پیلان به رنگین درفش

بیاراسته سرخ و زرد و بنفش

Ganjoor · m15:1-9

11–19+

They rode to greet him. Zal, when he drew near,

Dismounted, bowed, and came with reverent fear.

The chiefs of either side dismounted, each:

The crowned, and those with crowns still out of reach.

Zal kissed the earth; his father spoke at length,

Then Zal remounted in his youthful strength.

He rode a bay Tazi horse, swift and grand,

Like some high golden mountain through the land.

They murmured, “Your father’s anger shows;

Go offer an excuse; no prideful pose.”

Zal answered, “There is nothing here to dread;

At last all mortal flesh to dust is led.

If wisdom enters in my father’s head,

No harm will pass beyond the words he said.

And if my father speaks in angry blame,

My tears will answer him with filial shame.”

Thus to Sahm’s court they came with spirits clear;

The chief dismounted; Zal was summoned near.

چو روی پدر دید دستان سام

پیاده شد از اسپ و بگذارد گام

بزرگان پیاده شدند از دو روی

چه سالارخواه و چه سالارجوی

زمین را ببوسید زال دلیر

سخن گفت با او پدر نیز دیر

نشست از بر تازی اسپ سمند

چو زرین درخشنده کوهی بلند

بزرگان همه پیش او آمدند

به تیمار و با گفت و گو آمدند

که آزرده گشتست بر تو پدر

یکی پوزش آور مکش هیچ سر

چنین داد پاسخ کزین باک نیست

سرانجام آخر به جز خاک نیست

پدر گر به مغز اندر آرد خرد

همانا سخن بر سخن نگذرد

و گر برگشاید زبان را به خشم

پس از شرمش آب اندر آرم به چشم

چنین تا به درگاه سام آمدند

گشاده‌دل و شادکام آمدند

فرود آمد از باره سام سوار

هم اندر زمان زال را داد بار

Ganjoor · m15:10-20

20–27+

He bowed and kissed the ground before his sire,

His eyes with tears, his heart alive with fire.

He blessed his father, while from narcissus eyes

His tears washed roses under sorrowed skies:

“May joy attend our Pahlevan each day;

May justice ever light his heart and way.

Your sword makes diamond burn beneath its sweep;

The earth on battle-days is made to weep.

Where your dark charger moves upon the field,

The slowest ranks make haste and never yield.

The heavens, once they feel your gorz-wind rise,

Know stars themselves can scarcely keep the skies.

Through justice all the earth beneath you grows;

Its greenness from your righteous judgment flows.

All people through your justice live in cheer;

Yet I alone receive no justice here.

چو زال اندر آمد به پیش پدر

زمین را ببوسید و گسترد بر

یکی آفرین کرد بر سام گرد

وزاب دو نرگس همی گل سترد

که بیدار دل پهلوان شاد باد

روانش گرایندهٔ داد باد

ز تیغ تو الماس بریان شود

زمین روز جنگ از تو گریان شود

کجا دیزهٔ تو چمد روز جنگ

شتاب آید اندر سپاه درنگ

سپهری کجا باد گُرز تو دید

همانا ستاره نیارد کشید

زمین نَسپَرد شیر با داد تو

روان و خرد کشته بنیاد تو

همه مردم از داد تو شادمان

ز تو داد یابد زمین و زمان

مگر من که از داد بی‌بهره‌ام

و گرچه به پیوند تو شهره‌ام

Ganjoor · m15:21-29

28–36+

A bird-reared, dust-eating man am I;

No equal have I underneath the sky.

I know no crime that I have done or planned,

No man has rightful grievance at my hand,

Except that mighty Sahm himself is sire;

If skill is mine, it springs from such a fire.

Right at my birth, you cast me from your side,

And left me on the mountains bare and wide.

You cast my grieving mother into pain,

And gave her growing child to fire’s reign.

No cradle knew I, nor my mother’s breast;

No kinsman stood beside me, gave me rest.

You bore me to the mountain, cast me bare,

And tore my heart from comfort, ease, and care.

You made war on the World-Creator’s right:

‘Why has He made one black, another white?’

Yet God preserved me, turned to me His face,

And gave me strength no hardship could erase.

یکی مرغ پرورده‌ام خاک خورد

به گیتی مرا نیست با کس نبرد

ندانم همی خویشتن را گناه

که بر من کسی را بران هست راه

مگر آنکه سام یلستم پدر

و گر هست با این نژادم هنر

ز مادر بزادم بینداختی

به کوه اندرم جایگه ساختی

فگندی به تیمار زاینده را

به آتش سپردی فزاینده را

ترا با جهان آفرین نیست جنگ

که از چه سیاه و سپیدست رنگ

کنون کم جهان آفرین پرورید

به چشم خدایی به من بنگرید

Ganjoor · m15:30-36

37–46+

I gained both skill and manhood, warrior’s blade,

And found a friend whose worth will never fade:

Mehrab of Kabul, with his crown and gold,

His throne and heavy gorz in warrior’s hold,

With counsel, wisdom, and crowned chiefs beside;

Such is the lord with whom I now abide.

By your own word I made his realm my base,

And kept your counsel ever in its place.

You said: ‘No grief from me shall come your way;

The tree you plant shall bear its fruit one day.’

From Mazandaran comes this gift you send;

From Gorgasaran you hastened to this end,

To ruin now the prosperous house I made;

Is this the justice I am to be paid?

Behold, alive before you here I stand;

My living body waits upon your hand.

Saw me in two across the waist instead;

But speak no more of Kabul when I am dead.

Do anything you wish; command is yours;

Whatever harms Kabul, my heart endures.”

ابا گنج و با تخت و گُرز گران

ابا رای و با تاج و تخت و سران

نشستم به کابل به فرمان تو

نگه داشتم رای و پیمان تو

که گر کینه جویی نیازارمت

درختی که کشتی به بار آرمت

ز مازندران هدیه این ساختی

هم از گرگساران بدین تاختی

که ویران کنی خان آباد من

چنین داد خواهی همی داد من

من اینک به پیش تو استاده‌ام

تن بنده خشم ترا داده‌ام

به اره میانم بدو نیم کن

ز کابل مپیمای با من سخن

Ganjoor · m15:37-43

47–52+

Sahm heard these words, raised ears, and lowered mane;

The truth of Zal’s reproach brought inward pain.

At last he said: “All this you speak is true.

From first to last, I have done wrong to you.

My dealings with you all were born of wrong;

They made our enemies rejoice too long.

This one desire alone you asked of me;

In anguish you rose up to make your plea.

Yet do not act in haste; I shall decree,

I will resolve it wisely, you shall see.

I shall myself write to the Shah and plead,

And place in your own hands the scroll you need.

سپهبد چو بشنید گفتار زال

برافراخت گوش و فرو برد یال

بدو گفت آری همینست راست

زبان تو بر راستی بر گواست

همه کار من با تو بیداد بود

دل دشمنان بر تو بر شاد بود

ز من آرزو خود همین خواستی

به تنگی دل از جای برخاستی

مشو تیز تا چارهٔ کار تو

بسازم کنون نیز بازار تو

یکی نامه فرمایم اکنون به شاه

فرستم به دست تو ای نیک‌خواه

Ganjoor · m15:44-49

53–57+

The king will seek no harm when you appear,

And see your gifts and noble bearing clear.

We shall recall whatever must be said,

And turn his heart toward justice in its stead.

If he consents, your wish is safely won;

The work that you desire will all be done.

The lion does its labor with its arm;

Wherever it hunts, the quarry comes to harm.”

Then Zal bent low and kissed the earth, and blessed

His father for the pledge his words expressed.

سخن هر چه باید به یاد آورم

روان و دلش سوی داد آورم

اگر یار باشد جهاندار ما

به کام تو گردد همه کار ما

Ganjoor · m15:50-51

Narrative and poetic form

The chapter’s defense is strongest in its ethical structure. Zal’s bravery is the willingness to be harmed in place of others, and his father’s answer begins by admitting wrong. The local no-quarrel/no-equal shift should remain candidly recorded.

Couplet commentary

Quoted text · evidence · interpretation

1–10Resistance begins before the petition

1–10

Mehrab and Zal heard all that late had passed;

The Shah’s command left all Kabul aghast.

A cry arose throughout Mehrab’s domain;

Fear swept through house and court and open plain.

Sindokht, Mehrab, and Rudabeh all

Despaired of life before the threatened fall.

Then Zal departed, stern though sorrow-worn,

Yet firm in will, though inwardly forlorn:

“Should some grim dragon breathe its wrathful fire,

And set the whole world blazing like a pyre,

And should it seek to ravage Kabul’s land,

It first must take my head beneath its hand.”

With troubled heart and thoughts that surged and turned,

He rode in haste, and in his heart he burned.

News reached brave Sahm: “Your lion-cub draws near.”

At once the army rose with mounting cheer.

Fereydoon’s banner rose above the throng,

And welcoming tabiras thundered long.

On elephants bright-colored banners flew,

In red and yellow, violet in hue.

به مهراب و دستان رسید این سخن

که شاه و سپهبد فگندند بن

خروشان ز کابل همی رفت زال

فروهشته لفج و برآورده یال

همی گفت اگر اژدهای دژم

بیاید که گیتی بسوزد به دم

چو کابلستان را بخواهد بسود

نخستین سر من بباید درود

به پیش پدر شد پر از خون جگر

پر اندیشه دل پر ز گفتار سر

چو آگاهی آمد به سام دلیر

که آمد ز ره بچهٔ نره شیر

همه لشکر از جای برخاستند

درفش فریدون بیاراستند

پذیره شدن را تبیره زدند

سپاه و سپهبد پذیره شدند

همه پشت پیلان به رنگین درفش

بیاراسته سرخ و زرد و بنفش

Ganjoor · m15:1-9

Textual evidence

News reaches Kabul; Zal declares that any destroying dragon must take his head first, then rides to his father and receives a ceremonial welcome.

Interpretation

The English expands the alarm into the named household’s fear. The dragon image now attaches to the force threatening Kabul, reversing the easy assumption that every use of dragon-language condemns Mehrab’s family.

Return to parallel text

11–19Reverence does not cancel disagreement

11–19

They rode to greet him. Zal, when he drew near,

Dismounted, bowed, and came with reverent fear.

The chiefs of either side dismounted, each:

The crowned, and those with crowns still out of reach.

Zal kissed the earth; his father spoke at length,

Then Zal remounted in his youthful strength.

He rode a bay Tazi horse, swift and grand,

Like some high golden mountain through the land.

They murmured, “Your father’s anger shows;

Go offer an excuse; no prideful pose.”

Zal answered, “There is nothing here to dread;

At last all mortal flesh to dust is led.

If wisdom enters in my father’s head,

No harm will pass beyond the words he said.

And if my father speaks in angry blame,

My tears will answer him with filial shame.”

Thus to Sahm’s court they came with spirits clear;

The chief dismounted; Zal was summoned near.

چو روی پدر دید دستان سام

پیاده شد از اسپ و بگذارد گام

بزرگان پیاده شدند از دو روی

چه سالارخواه و چه سالارجوی

زمین را ببوسید زال دلیر

سخن گفت با او پدر نیز دیر

نشست از بر تازی اسپ سمند

چو زرین درخشنده کوهی بلند

بزرگان همه پیش او آمدند

به تیمار و با گفت و گو آمدند

که آزرده گشتست بر تو پدر

یکی پوزش آور مکش هیچ سر

چنین داد پاسخ کزین باک نیست

سرانجام آخر به جز خاک نیست

پدر گر به مغز اندر آرد خرد

همانا سخن بر سخن نگذرد

و گر برگشاید زبان را به خشم

پس از شرمش آب اندر آرم به چشم

چنین تا به درگاه سام آمدند

گشاده‌دل و شادکام آمدند

فرود آمد از باره سام سوار

هم اندر زمان زال را داد بار

Ganjoor · m15:10-20

Textual evidence

Zal dismounts, hears warnings about his father’s anger and replies that wisdom can contain the dispute in words; shame can be answered by tears.

Interpretation

The English preserves the embodied protocol while allowing resistance. Its contrast between crowned chiefs and seekers of crowns interprets the source’s two groups around the commander; the important action is that all acknowledge rank before the confrontation.

Return to parallel text

20–27Praise ends in an exception

20–27

He bowed and kissed the ground before his sire,

His eyes with tears, his heart alive with fire.

He blessed his father, while from narcissus eyes

His tears washed roses under sorrowed skies:

“May joy attend our Pahlevan each day;

May justice ever light his heart and way.

Your sword makes diamond burn beneath its sweep;

The earth on battle-days is made to weep.

Where your dark charger moves upon the field,

The slowest ranks make haste and never yield.

The heavens, once they feel your gorz-wind rise,

Know stars themselves can scarcely keep the skies.

Through justice all the earth beneath you grows;

Its greenness from your righteous judgment flows.

All people through your justice live in cheer;

Yet I alone receive no justice here.

چو زال اندر آمد به پیش پدر

زمین را ببوسید و گسترد بر

یکی آفرین کرد بر سام گرد

وزاب دو نرگس همی گل سترد

که بیدار دل پهلوان شاد باد

روانش گرایندهٔ داد باد

ز تیغ تو الماس بریان شود

زمین روز جنگ از تو گریان شود

کجا دیزهٔ تو چمد روز جنگ

شتاب آید اندر سپاه درنگ

سپهری کجا باد گُرز تو دید

همانا ستاره نیارد کشید

زمین نَسپَرد شیر با داد تو

روان و خرد کشته بنیاد تو

همه مردم از داد تو شادمان

ز تو داد یابد زمین و زمان

مگر من که از داد بی‌بهره‌ام

و گرچه به پیوند تو شهره‌ام

Ganjoor · m15:21-29

Textual evidence

The blessing and martial praise culminate in the claim that everyone receives Sahm’s justice except his own son.

Interpretation

The English’s pacing gives the accusation a strong turn rather than introducing it abruptly. Public renown and private failure are measured against the same word, justice, so the son argues from the father’s professed values.

Return to parallel text

28–36Innocence and the mother’s griefLocal shift from no quarrel to no equal

28–36

A bird-reared, dust-eating man am I;

No equal have I underneath the sky.

I know no crime that I have done or planned,

No man has rightful grievance at my hand,

Except that mighty Sahm himself is sire;

If skill is mine, it springs from such a fire.

Right at my birth, you cast me from your side,

And left me on the mountains bare and wide.

You cast my grieving mother into pain,

And gave her growing child to fire’s reign.

No cradle knew I, nor my mother’s breast;

No kinsman stood beside me, gave me rest.

You bore me to the mountain, cast me bare,

And tore my heart from comfort, ease, and care.

You made war on the World-Creator’s right:

‘Why has He made one black, another white?’

Yet God preserved me, turned to me His face,

And gave me strength no hardship could erase.

یکی مرغ پرورده‌ام خاک خورد

به گیتی مرا نیست با کس نبرد

ندانم همی خویشتن را گناه

که بر من کسی را بران هست راه

مگر آنکه سام یلستم پدر

و گر هست با این نژادم هنر

ز مادر بزادم بینداختی

به کوه اندرم جایگه ساختی

فگندی به تیمار زاینده را

به آتش سپردی فزاینده را

ترا با جهان آفرین نیست جنگ

که از چه سیاه و سپیدست رنگ

کنون کم جهان آفرین پرورید

به چشم خدایی به من بنگرید

Ganjoor · m15:30-36

Textual evidence

Ganjoor 30 says that the bird-reared, dust-fed son has no quarrel with anyone; English 28 gives “No equal.” The next source lines recall abandonment, the mother’s distress and the black/white challenge to the Creator.

Interpretation

The complaint’s moral force is innocence, not superiority. The English’s “No equal” can instead suggest unrivaled prowess and therefore changes the local assertion. The mother’s grief is explicitly Persian, not a modern emotional addition to a father-and-son story.

Return to parallel text

37–46A prosperous house and an offered body

37–46

I gained both skill and manhood, warrior’s blade,

And found a friend whose worth will never fade:

Mehrab of Kabul, with his crown and gold,

His throne and heavy gorz in warrior’s hold,

With counsel, wisdom, and crowned chiefs beside;

Such is the lord with whom I now abide.

By your own word I made his realm my base,

And kept your counsel ever in its place.

You said: ‘No grief from me shall come your way;

The tree you plant shall bear its fruit one day.’

From Mazandaran comes this gift you send;

From Gorgasaran you hastened to this end,

To ruin now the prosperous house I made;

Is this the justice I am to be paid?

Behold, alive before you here I stand;

My living body waits upon your hand.

Saw me in two across the waist instead;

But speak no more of Kabul when I am dead.

Do anything you wish; command is yours;

Whatever harms Kabul, my heart endures.”

ابا گنج و با تخت و گُرز گران

ابا رای و با تاج و تخت و سران

نشستم به کابل به فرمان تو

نگه داشتم رای و پیمان تو

که گر کینه جویی نیازارمت

درختی که کشتی به بار آرمت

ز مازندران هدیه این ساختی

هم از گرگساران بدین تاختی

که ویران کنی خان آباد من

چنین داد خواهی همی داد من

من اینک به پیش تو استاده‌ام

تن بنده خشم ترا داده‌ام

به اره میانم بدو نیم کن

ز کابل مپیمای با من سخن

Ganjoor · m15:37-43

Textual evidence

The source invokes treasure, throne, counsel, obedience at Kabul, the former promise and the threatened ruin. Zal offers to be sawn in two rather than have Kabul discussed as a target.

Interpretation

The English identifies the splendid household with Mehrab and makes the sacrifice strikingly clear. Its “when I am dead” extends the source’s demand to cease speaking of Kabul; the core action remains substitution of the son’s vulnerable body for an endangered community.

Return to parallel text

47–52The father admits the charge

47–52

Sahm heard these words, raised ears, and lowered mane;

The truth of Zal’s reproach brought inward pain.

At last he said: “All this you speak is true.

From first to last, I have done wrong to you.

My dealings with you all were born of wrong;

They made our enemies rejoice too long.

This one desire alone you asked of me;

In anguish you rose up to make your plea.

Yet do not act in haste; I shall decree,

I will resolve it wisely, you shall see.

I shall myself write to the Shah and plead,

And place in your own hands the scroll you need.

سپهبد چو بشنید گفتار زال

برافراخت گوش و فرو برد یال

بدو گفت آری همینست راست

زبان تو بر راستی بر گواست

همه کار من با تو بیداد بود

دل دشمنان بر تو بر شاد بود

ز من آرزو خود همین خواستی

به تنگی دل از جای برخاستی

مشو تیز تا چارهٔ کار تو

بسازم کنون نیز بازار تو

یکی نامه فرمایم اکنون به شاه

فرستم به دست تو ای نیک‌خواه

Ganjoor · m15:44-49

Textual evidence

Sahm raises his ears and lowers his mane, acknowledges wrong and proposes a letter carried by Zal.

Interpretation

The animal posture is a transmitted image of changed bearing. The English rightly leaves the admission uncompromising: this is not a claim that the original abandonment was justified by a favorable eventual outcome.

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53–57A renewed path remains conditional

53–57

The king will seek no harm when you appear,

And see your gifts and noble bearing clear.

We shall recall whatever must be said,

And turn his heart toward justice in its stead.

If he consents, your wish is safely won;

The work that you desire will all be done.

The lion does its labor with its arm;

Wherever it hunts, the quarry comes to harm.”

Then Zal bent low and kissed the earth, and blessed

His father for the pledge his words expressed.

سخن هر چه باید به یاد آورم

روان و دلش سوی داد آورم

اگر یار باشد جهاندار ما

به کام تو گردد همه کار ما

Ganjoor · m15:50-51

Textual evidence

Sahm promises to recall the necessary arguments and turn the king toward justice. Ganjoor makes success conditional on the world-ruler’s cooperation; Mohl p 155 carries additional reassurance and the lion’s-work close.

G m15 50 ↗ G m15 51 ↗ Moscow p 198 ↗ Moscow p 199 ↗ Moscow p 200 ↗ Moscow p 201 ↗ Mohl p 152 ↗ Mohl p 153 ↗ Mohl p 154 ↗ Mohl p 155 ↗ Khaleghi p 226 ↗ Khaleghi p 227 ↗ Khaleghi p 228 ↗ Khaleghi p 229 ↗ Khaleghi p 230 ↗ Khaleghi p 231 ↗

Interpretation

The English gives the renewed promise an encouraging cadence while retaining “If he consents.” It should be defended as a commitment to act and plead, not a guarantee that Sahm can command the Shah’s decision.

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Chapter source record

English original ↗ Ganjoor m15 ↗ Moscow p 198 ↗ Moscow p 199 ↗ Moscow p 200 ↗ Moscow p 201 ↗ Mohl p 152 ↗ Mohl p 153 ↗ Mohl p 154 ↗ Mohl p 155 ↗ Khaleghi p 226 ↗ Khaleghi p 227 ↗ Khaleghi p 228 ↗ Khaleghi p 229 ↗ Khaleghi p 230 ↗ Khaleghi p 231 ↗