As he drew near, they contemplated him; behold, he was an Indian man, riding an ash-gray (ashhab) elephant. He was adorned with robes (faratiq) of red silk, wearing the armor of war, and upon his head was a circlet (iklil) and a crown of gold encrusted with varieties of pearls and jewels. If one were to take a single pearl or jewel from it, its equal would not be found in the world; the smallest pearl therein was like the egg of an ostrich. He was girded with a belt matching that circlet and crown. He was of a towering, ancient stature ('adiyy al-khilqa) and held a spear in his hand. He approached until he stood before them.

When Khosrow looked upon him, he was terrified and struck with panic; a great awe overwhelmed him. He took refuge behind Hormuz and said: "O Hormuz, what do you make of this magnificent being? Of this rider with such a formidable appearance and beautiful gear, the likes of which I have never seen nor heard of? And of this beast which has been humbled before this rider? He has headed straight for us, and I do not think we have the strength to face him. We have been negligent in our affair and in coming to this spot, and we have committed a crime [against ourselves]."

Hormuz said to him: "I shall approach him and ask him of his state—where is his destination? From whence did he arrive? What is his aim? From which region is he, and how did he come? You stay upon your horse from another side.