#1
دلِ روشنِ من چو برگشت از اوی
✦
سوی تختِ شاهِ جهان کَرد روی
“When my enlightened mind turned away from him, it set its face toward the throne of the King of the World,”
#2
که این نامه را دَستِ پیش آوَرَم
✦
زِ دفتر به گفتارِ خویش آوَرَم
“That I might lay my hand upon this epic work, and turn the ancient book into my own verse.”
#3
بِپُرسیدَم از هر کسی بی‌شُمار
✦
بتَرسیدَم از گردشِ روزگار
“I made countless inquiries from everyone, fearing the unpredictable shifts of fortune,”
#4
مَگر خود دِرَنگم نباشَد بَسی
✦
ببایَد سِپُردَن به دیگر کَسی
“Lest my own time on earth be short, leaving the great task to be entrusted to someone else.”
#5
و دیگر که گَنجَم وَفادار نیست
✦
همین رَنج را کَس خریدار نیست
“Moreover, my treasury possessed no wealth, and none was buying the fruits of such labor.”
#6
بر این گونه یِک چَند بُگذاشتَم
✦
سخن را نَهُفته هَمی داشتَم
“In this manner I passed a season of time, keeping my poem hidden and unspoken.”
#7
سَراسَر زَمانه پُر از جَنگ بود
✦
به جویندگان بَر جَهان تَنگ بود
“The entire world was filled with turmoil and war, and life was narrowed for those seeking greatness.”
#8
زِ نیکو سُخن بِهْ چه اَندر جَهان
✦
به نَزدِ سُخن سَنجِ فَرُّخ مَهان
“Yet what in this world is superior to noble speech, in the eyes of the wise and exalted who discern its worth?”
#9
اگر نامَدی این سخن از خُدای
✦
نَبی کِی بُدی نَزدِ ما رَهنُمای
“Had this gift of speech not descended from God, how could the Divine Book have been our guidance?”
#10
به شَهرَم یکی مِهربان دوست بود
✦
تو گفتی که با مَن به یِک پوست بود
“I had a loving and compassionate friend in my city; you would say we shared a single soul in two bodies.”
#11
مَرا گُفت خوب آمَد این رای تو
✦
به نیکی گِراید هَمی پای تو
“He said to me: 'This decision of yours is truly admirable, and your step is directed toward goodness.”
#12
نِبِشته من این نامهٔ پَهلَوی
✦
به پیشِ تو آرَم مَگَر نَغنَوی
“I have brought to you this Pahlavi manuscript, so that you may not slumber in inaction.”
#13
گشاده زَبان و جوانیت هَست
✦
سخن گفتنِ پَهلوانیت هَست
“Yours is an eloquent tongue, youth of heart, and the skill to recite the epic deeds of hero-kings.'”
#14
شو این نامهٔ خسروان باز گوی
✦
بدین جوی نَزدِ مَهان آبروی
“'Go then, and retell this Chronicle of Kings, seeking honor among the great through this noble channel.'”
#15
چو آوَرد این نامه نَزدیکِ مَن
✦
بَر اَفروخت این جانِ تاریکِ مَن
“When he brought this manuscript unto me, he set ablaze my dark and longing soul with joy.”