بهرام در خانه پیرزن و نبرد نیستان
Bahram at the Old Woman's House and the Battle in the Reeds
بدو گفت کای مام با فرهی ز کار جهان چیستت آگهی بدو پیرزن گفت چندان سخن شنیدم کزان گشت مغزم کهن ز شهر آمد امروز بسیار کس همی جنگ چوبینه گویند و بس که شد لشکر او به نزدیک شاه سپهبد گریزان به شد بیسپاه بدو گفت بهرام کای پاک زن مرا اندرین داستانی بزن که این از خرد بود بهرام را وگر برگزید از هوا کام را بدو پیرزن گفت کای شهره مرد چرا دیو چشم تو را تیره کرد ندانی که بهرام پور گشسپ چوبا پور هرمز بر انگیزد اسپ بخندد برو هرک دارد خرد کس اورا ز گردنکشان نشمرد بدو گفت بهرام گر آرزوی چنین کرد گو میخوران در کدوی برین گونه غربیل بر نان جو همیدار در پیش تا جو درو بران هم خورش یک شب آرام یافت همی کام دل جست و ناکام یافت چو خورشید برچرخ بگشاد راز سپهدار جنگی بزد طبل باز بیاورد چندانک بودش سپاه گرانمایگان برگرفتند راه بره بر یکی نیستان بود نو بسی اندرو مردم نیدرو چو از دور دیدند بهرام را چنان لشکرگشن و خودکام را به بهرام گفتند انوشه بدی ز راه نیستان چرا آمدی که بیمر سپاهست پیش اندرون همه جنگ را دست شسته به خون چنین گفت بهرام کایدر سوار نباشد جز از لشکر شهریار فرود آمدند اندران نیستان همه جنگ را تنگ بسته میان شنیدم که چون ما ز پرده سرای بسی چیدن راه کردیم رای جهاندار بگزید نستود را جهان جوی بیتار و بیپود را ابا سه هزار از سواران مرد کجا پای دارند روز نبرد بدان تا بیاید پس ما دمان چو بینم مر او را سرآرم زمان همه اسپ را تنگها برکشید همه گرد این بیشه لشکر کشید سواران سبک برکشیدند تنگ گرفتند شمشیر هندی به چنگ همه نیستان آتش اندر زدند سپه را یکایک بهم بر زدند نیستان سراسر شد افروخته یکی کشته و دیگری سوخته چونستود را دید بهرام گرد عنان بارهی تیزتگ را سپرد ز زین برگرفتش به خم کمند بیاورد و کردش هم آنگه ببند همیخواست نستود زو زینهار همیگفت کای نامور شهریار چرا ریخت خواهی همی خون من ببخشای بر بخت و ارون من مکش مر مرا تا دوان پیش تو بیایم بوم زار درویش تو بدو گفت بهرام من چون تو مرد نخواهم که باشد به دشت نبرد نبرم سرت را که ننگ آیدم که چون تو سواری به جنگ آیدم چو یابی رهایی ز دستم بپوی ز من هرچ دیدی به خسرو بگوی چو بشنید نستود روی زمین ببوسید و بسیار کرد آفرین
Bahram said to her: "O noble mother, what news do you have of the affairs of the world?" The old woman replied: "I have heard so much talk that my brain has gone grey from it. Many people came from the city today. All they speak of is the war with Chobin — that his army drew near the king, and the general fled without his forces."
Bahram said: "O pure woman, give me your honest judgment on this. Did Bahram act from wisdom, or did he choose desire over reason?" The old woman answered: "O famous man, why has the demon darkened your eyes? Do you not know that Bahram son of Gushasp, when he rides against the son of Hormizd — anyone with sense laughs at him. No one counts him among the great."
Bahram said: "If that is how you see it, then drink your wine from a gourd. Keep sifting your barley bread and wait for the harvest." He spent one restless night on that same coarse food — seeking the heart's desire and finding only disappointment.
When the sun revealed its secrets on the wheel of heaven, the battle commander beat the drum of the hawk. He marshaled what forces he had, and the nobles set out on the road. Along the way stood a fresh reed-bed, with many reed-cutters working inside. When they saw Bahram from a distance — that vast, self-willed army — they called out: "May you live forever! Why have you come by way of the reeds? There is a countless army just ahead, all of them with hands washed in blood for battle."
Bahram replied: "The only horsemen here belong to the king's army." They dismounted in the reed-bed, every man cinching his belt tight for combat. When they had left the royal encampment and deliberated over which route to take, the lord of the world had chosen Nastud — that insubstantial world-seeker — with three thousand mounted warriors who could hold their ground on the day of battle, ordering him to come charging after Bahram's retreating column.
Bahram commanded: "Tighten every saddle-girth. Encircle this thicket with troops." The horsemen swiftly cinched their girths and took Indian swords in hand. They set fire to the entire reed-bed and fell upon the enemy all at once. The reeds blazed from end to end — some men were cut down, others burned alive.
When Bahram the warrior spotted Nastud, he gave rein to his swift-galloping horse, snatched him from the saddle with the loop of his lasso, and bound him on the spot. Nastud begged for his life: "O renowned king, why would you spill my blood? Have mercy on my fortune and my fate. Do not kill me — I will run before you as your wretched servant."
Bahram told him: "I do not want a man like you on any battlefield. I will not take your head — it would shame me that a horseman like you had come against me in war. When you get free of me, go straight to Khosrow and tell him everything you witnessed here." Nastud heard this, kissed the earth, and heaped blessings upon him.
Notes
Bahram Chobin, the rebel general, now in flight after his defeat by Khosrow's combined Iranian-Roman forces. Traveling incognito, he tests public opinion by asking an old woman what people think of him.
Nastud — a minor commander sent by Khosrow with 3,000 cavalry to pursue Bahram's retreating forces. Bahram captures him but spares his life contemptuously, sending him back to Khosrow as a messenger.
The old woman's blunt assessment — that anyone with sense laughs at Bahram for challenging the son of Hormizd — gives Bahram an unvarnished picture of how common people view his rebellion. He responds with bitter sarcasm.
The reed-bed ambush is a signature Bahram Chobin tactic: luring a pursuing force into enclosed terrain, surrounding them, and setting the vegetation on fire. It demonstrates his continued military brilliance even in retreat.