When Time reveals its hidden face to you,
And the shifts of Destiny extend their reach toward you,

Fear not Death when it approaches; meet it head-on,
And repel it by any means you can.

Do not choose to settle your body in a place
Where honor is stripped and dignity is torn away.

The physician tells you, "I have your cure,"
When he touches your palm and your forearm.

Yet, if the physician knew a cure for every disease
That could ward off death, he would not suffer his own agony.

On the day of the battle , we left behind
A legendary tale of our deeds, widely known to all.

With slender spears, we set up the marketplace of war,
And made the souls of men the goods bought and sold within it.

My horse was the broker of death in that market,
Plunging into its dust, buying and selling lives.

And my sword was a physician in the heat of battle,
Curing the headache of anyone who complained of pain.

I am the slave-warrior you have heard so much about,
And now you see me before you, so leave the rumors behind.

If I were to send my spear with a coward into battle,
The spear, carrying my aura, would confront the fiercest lions.

I filled the earth with dread of my sharp blade,
Until my enemies could find no room left to escape.

When the bravest champions flee in terror of my might,
You see the vast lands shrink to the span of a hand...

Let your sword judge the necks of your enemies
And if you enter a land of disgrace, depart
And if you are afflicted with an oppressor, become an oppressor
And if you meet ignorant people, become ignorant


And if the coward forbids you from war
Fearing you would be outnumbered by the enemy's legion
Disobey him and do not pay him any mind
And rush to the front lines

And choose yourself a high rank
Or die honorably under the battle dust's shade
For death cannot be escaped
Even if you were hidden behind a fortress of rocks
A boy's death in honor is better for him
Than living captive in a woman's kohl-drawn eye

I have witnesses in my spear and sword
I have attained greatness by my spear and sword
Not by my relatives or large armies
I rode my horse into the middle of battle
With flames sparking from the edges of blades
O you visitors in our home and stronghold
Did you witness my tenacity?
Your prestige and my humiliation for your acceptance have lasted too long
And it is a wonder you are esteemed while I am humiliated
Do not pour me the water of life while I am disgraced
I would rather you pour me colocynth while I am honored
A life disgraced is like hell
And hell with honor is the finest of homes