The brazen drums on the elephants were sounded as the signal of departure, and the army proceeded rapidly to its destination, overshadowing the earth in its progress. Afrásiyáb had penetrated as far as the Jihún before Nauder was aware of his approach. Upon receiving this intelligence of the activity of the enemy, the warriors of the Persian army immediately moved in that direction, and on their arrival at Dehstán, prepared for battle.
Afrásiyáb despatched thirty thousand of his troops under the command of Shimasás and Khazerván to Zábulistán, to act against Zál, having heard on his march of the death of the illustrious Sám, and advanced himself upon Dehstán with four hundred thousand soldiers, covering the ground like swarms of ants and locusts. He soon discovered that Nauder's forces did not exceed one hundred and forty thousand men, and wrote to Poshang, his father, in high spirits, especially on account of not having to contend against Sám, the warrior, and informed him that he had detached Shimasás against Zábulistán. When the armies had approached to within two leagues of each other, Bármán, one of the Túránian chiefs, offered to challenge any one of the enemy to single combat: but Aghríras objected to it, not wishing that so valuable a hero should run the hazard of discomfiture. At this Afrásiyáb was very indignant and directed Bármán to follow the bent of his own inclinations.
"'Tis not for us to shrink from Persian foe, Put on thy armour, and prepare thy bow."
Accordingly the challenge was given. Kárun looked round, and the only person who answered the call was the aged Kobád, his brother. Kárun and Kobád were both sons of Kavah, the blacksmith, and both leaders in the Persian army. No persuasion could restrain Kobád from the unequal conflict. He resisted all the entreaties of Kárun, who said to him--
"O, should thy hoary locks be stained with blood, Thy legions will be overwhelmed with grief, And, in despair, decline the coming battle." But what was the reply of brave Kobád? "Brother, this body, this frail tenement, Belongs to death. No living man has ever Gone up to Heaven--for all are doomed to die.-- Some by the sword, the dagger, or the spear, And some, devoured by roaring beasts of prey; Some peacefully upon their beds, and others Snatched suddenly from life, endure the lot Ordained by the Creator. If I perish, Does not my brother live, my noble brother, To bury me beneath a warrior's tomb, And bless my memory?"