#1
جهان آفرین تا جهان آفرید
✦
چون او مرزبانی نیامد پدید
“Since the Creator fashioned the world, no ruler like him hath appeared upon the earth.”
#2
چو خورشید بر چرخ بنمود تاج
✦
زمین شد به کردار تابنده عاج
“When he revealed his crown like the sun in the heavens, the earth grew radiant like gleaming ivory.”
#3
چه گویم که خورشید تابان که بود
✦
کز او در جهان روشنایی فزود
“What shall I say of who this radiant sun was, through whom light increased across the cosmos?”
#4
ابوالقاسم آن شاه پیروز بخت
✦
نهاد از بر تاج خورشید تخت
“Abul-Qasim, that king of auspicious fortune, set his throne above the sun's crown.”
#5
ز خاور بیاراست تا باختر
✦
پدید آمد از فرّ او کان زر
“From east to west he adorned the world; from his royal glory, mines of gold burst forth.”
#6
مرا اختر خفته بیدار گشت
✦
به مغز اندر اندیشه بسیار گشت
“My slumbering star of destiny awakened, and manifold thoughts stirred within my mind.”
#7
بدانستم آمد زمان سخن
✦
کنون نو شود روزگار کهن
“I knew the season for discourse had arrived, that ancient times might now be made anew.”
#8
بر اندیشهٔ شهریار زمین
✦
بخفتم شبی لب پر از آفرین
“Pondering the sovereign of the earth, I went to sleep one night with lips overflowing with praise.”
#9
دل من چو نور اندر آن تیره شب
✦
نخفته گشاده دل و بسته لب
“My heart shone like light in that dark night—awake, open-hearted, though my lips were sealed.”
#10
چنان دید روشن روانم به خواب
✦
که رخشنده شمعی بر آمد ز آب
“Thus my luminous soul beheld in sleep: a brilliant candle rising up from the waters.”
#11
همه روی گیتی شب لاژورد
✦
از آن شمع گشتی چو یاقوت زرد
“The whole face of the earth, in lapis lazuli night, turned like a yellow ruby from that candle's gleam.”
#12
در و دشت بر سان دیبا شدی
✦
یکی تخت پیروزه پیدا شدی
“Valley and plain turned like brocade, and a throne of turquoise came into view.”
#13
نشسته بر او شهریاری چو ماه
✦
یکی تاج بر سر به جای کلاه
“Seated upon it was a king radiant as the moon, wearing a majestic crown instead of a common cap.”
#14
رده بر کشیده سپاهش دو میل
✦
به دست چپش هفتصد ژنده پیل
“His army stood arrayed for two miles long, and on his left hand were seven hundred war-elephants.”
#15
یکی پاک دستور پیشش به پای
✦
به داد و به دین شاه را رهنمای
“A pure-hearted minister stood before him, guiding the king with justice and faith.”
#16
مرا خیره گشتی سر از فرّ شاه
✦
و زان ژنده پیلان و چندان سپاه
“My mind was dazzled by the king's royal glory, and by those mighty elephants and vast host.”
#17
چو آن چهرهٔ خسروی دیدمی
✦
از آن نامداران بپرسیدمی
“When I beheld that regal countenance, I asked of those noble figures standing around:”
#18
که این چرخ و ماه است یا تاج و گاه
✦
ستاره است پیش اندرش یا سپاه
“"Is this the sky and moon, or crown and throne? Are these stars before him, or an army?"”
#19
یکی گفت کاین شاه روم است و هند
✦
ز قنّوج تا پیش دریای سند
“One answered: "This is the king of Rome and India, from Qannauj to the shore of the Indus sea.”
#20
به ایران و توران ورا بنده‌اند
✦
به رای و به فرمان او زنده‌اند
“In Iran and Turan all are his servants; by his counsel and decree do they live."”
#21
بیاراست روی زمین را به داد
✦
بپردخت از آن تاج بر سر نهاد
“He adorned the face of the earth with justice, clearing all turmoil before setting the crown upon his head.”
#22
جهاندار محمود شاه بزرگ
✦
به آبشخور آرد همی میش و گرگ
“The world-conqueror Mahmud, the great king, bringeth the wolf and the sheep to drink together.”
#23
ز کشمیر تا پیش دریای چین
✦
بر او شهریاران کنند آفرین
“From Kashmir to the shore of the Sea of China, rulers chant his praise and blessings.”
#24
چو کودک لب از شیر مادر بشست
✦
ز گهواره محمود گوید نخست
“When an infant washes its lips from mother's milk, the first word it utters from the cradle is Mahmud!”
#25
نپیچد کسی سر ز فرمان اوی
✦
نیارد گذشتن ز پیمان اوی
“None turneth their head from his command, nor dareth any break his covenant.”
#26
تو نیز آفرین کن که گوینده‌ای
✦
بدو نام جاوید جوینده‌ای
“Praise him thou too, for thou art a poet, seeking eternal fame through his name!”
#27
چو بیدار گشتم بجستم ز جای
✦
چه مایه شب تیره بودم به پای
“When I awoke, I leaped up from my place, and stood erect through much of that dark night.”
#28
بر آن شهریار آفرین خواندم
✦
نبودم درم جان بر افشاندم
“I sang blessings upon that sovereign; having no coin, I offered my very soul.”
#29
به دل گفتم این خواب را پاسخ است
✦
که آواز او بر جهان فرخ است
“I said to my heart: This dream hath a true meaning, for his renown is auspicious over the whole world.”
#30
بر آن آفرین کو کند آفرین
✦
بر آن بخت بیدار و فرخ زمین
“Blessed be He who created such a lord, blessed be that vigilant fortune and auspicious land!”
#31
ز فرش جهان شد چو باغ بهار
✦
هوا پر ز ابر و زمین پر نگار
“By his splendor, the world turned like a springtime garden—the air filled with clouds, the earth with colorful patterns.”
#32
از ابر اندر آمد به هنگام نم
✦
جهان شد به کردار باغ ارم
“Rain poured down in season from the clouds, transforming the world into the Garden of Iram.”
#33
به ایران همه خوبی از داد اوست
✦
کجا هست مردم همه یاد اوست
“Throughout Iran, all goodness stems from his justice; wherever people dwell, his memory lives.”
#34
به بزم اندرون آسمان سخاست
✦
به رزم اندرون تیز چنگ اژدهاست
“In feast he is the heaven of bounty; in battle, a sharp-clawed dragon.”
#35
به تن ژنده پیل و به جان جبرئیل
✦
به کف ابر بهمن به دل رود نیل
“In body a mighty elephant, in spirit Gabriel; in generosity a rain-cloud of Bahman, at heart the River Nile.”
#36
سر بخت بدخواه با خشم اوی
✦
چو دینار خوارست بر چشم اوی
“Before his wrath, the head of an ill-wisher's fortune is held as worthless as gold coin in his generous eyes.”
#37
نه کند آوری گیرد از باج و گنج
✦
نه دل تیره دارد ز رزم و ز رنج
“He seeks no valor merely from tribute or hoard, nor does his heart grow dark from battle and hardship.”
#38
هر آن کس که دارد ز پروردگان
✦
از آزاد و از نیک‌دل بردگان
“And every person nurtured under his royal care, whether freeborn nobles or loyal-hearted servants,”
#39
شهنشاه را سر به سر دوست‌وار
✦
به فرمان ببسته کمر استوار
“Are wholly bound in love to the King of Kings, their loins firmly girded to execute his commands.”
#40
نخستین برادرش که‌تر به سال
✦
که در مردمی کس ندارد همال
“First is his younger brother, unequaled by any in chivalry and human virtue,”
#41
ز گیتی پرستندهٔ فر و نصر
✦
زیَد شاد در سایهٔ شاه عصر
“Who devotes himself to glory and victory, living joyfully beneath the shadow of the King of the Age.”
#42
کسی کش پدر ناصرالدین بود
✦
سر تخت او تاج پروین بود
“One whose sire is Nasir al-Din shall see the Pleiades as the crown upon his exalted throne.”
#43
و دیگر دلاور سپهدار طوس
✦
که در جنگ بر شیر دارد فسوس
“And next, the brave warlord of Tus, who mockingly triumphs over fierce lions in battle,”
#44
ببخشد درم هر چه یابد ز دهر
✦
همی آفرین یابد از دهر بهر
“He bestows whatever coin he earns from the world, receiving praise and blessing from time in return.”
#45
به یزدان بود خلق را رهنمای
✦
سر شاه خواهد که باشد به جای
“He guides the creation toward God, desiring only that the monarch's head remain firmly in place.”
#46
جهان بی‌سر و تاج خسرو مباد
✦
همیشه بماناد جاوید و شاد
“May the world never be bereft of the sovereign head and crown; may he reign eternal and full of joy.”
#47
همیشه تن آباد با تاج و تخت
✦
ز درد و غم آزاد و پیروز بخت
“May his body forever flourish upon throne and crown, free from pain and grief, blessed with victorious fortune.”
#48
کنون باز گردم به آغاز کار
✦
سوی نامهٔ نامور شهریار
“Now I return to the beginning of my task, turning back to the grand chronicle of the renowned King.”