Since the dawn when the Creator fashioned the heavens and the earth, no warden of mortals has arisen of comparable majesty and equity. As the sun ascends the firmament to display its crown, transforming the dark soil into radiant ivory, so the victorious sovereign, Abolqasem, has raised his throne above the celestial spheres, adorning the mortal realm from the eastern horizons to the western seas with the splendor of his imperial grace.
Upon a deep and silent night, while the soul was steeped in reverence for the righteous monarch, a radiant vision unveiled itself to the dreaming spirit: from the depths of the dark waters, a luminous candelabrum arose, illuminating the lapis-hued night until the vast world shimmered like yellow ruby. Valleys and plains transformed into embroidered silk, and an imperial throne of turquoise appeared beneath the stars. Seated upon it was a monarch radiant as the full moon, bearing an incandescent crown; before him, disciplined legions stretched two miles into the distance, flanked on the left by seven hundred colossal war-elephants, while a noble and righteous counselor stood before the throne, guiding the dominion in justice and sacred truth.
In the presence of this awe-inspiring majesty, where celestial bodies seemed to walk the earth, a voice of the grandees answered the wonder of the soul: "Behold the ruler of Rome and Hind, whose domain stretches from Qannauj to the waters of the Indus! Throughout Iran and Turan, all bow to his sovereign decree; beneath his gentle equity, the wolf and the lamb drink together at the same stream. From Kashmir to the shores of China, kings chant his praises, babes in their cradles whisper his name, and no living soul dares break his covenant. Lift thy voice in homage, O speaker of words, that through him thy name may endure across eternity!"
Awakening into the stillness with heart ablaze, heartfelt blessings and soul were poured forth unto this reigning glory. Through his righteous presence, the earth flourishes like an orchard in spring; clouds pour forth life-giving dew, turning barren lands into the Garden of Iram. In banquets, his hand is an unceasing sky of generosity; in battle, he is a dragon of razor-sharp claws—his body a mighty elephant, his spirit noble as Gabriel, his palms laden with rain like the clouds of Bahman, and his heart deep as the flowing Nile. Beside him, his younger brother, peerless in virtue, thrives beneath the sovereign shadow, while the fearless Margrave of Tus, the lion-tamer who scatters gold across the world, stands ready in steadfast devotion. May the world never be bereft of this sovereign’s crown and presence! And now, the voice of the epic turns back to the primordial dawn, unrolling the ancient scroll of the first kings of the world.
#1
جهان آفرین تا جهان آفرید
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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به مغز اندر اندیشه بسیار گشت
“My slumbering star of destiny awakened, and manifold thoughts stirred within my mind.”
#7
بدانستم آمد زمان سخن
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.”