When King Kay Kavus plummeted to the earth following his foolish attempt to conquer the heavens upon his eagle-borne throne, the Iranian host searched frantically in every direction for their fallen monarch. News reached the titan Rostam, along with Giv and Tus, who set out with a massive army and the deep thunders of war drums to locate the king.
Upon finding him, the venerable hero Gudarz confronted the monarch with blistering disdain. Gudarz declared that in all his long years he had never witnessed a king so devoid of wisdom, intellect, and sound counsel—a ruler for whom an asylum was far more fitting than a royal capital. He recounted Kavus's thrice-repeated follies: his disastrous campaign in Mazandaran, his humiliating captivity in Hamavaran, and now his mad assault on the firmament to count the stars. Gudarz urged the king to abandon his arrogant pretensions and seek nothing save humble servitude before the Almighty Divine.
Overwhelmed by deep shame, Kavus acknowledged the absolute truth of Gudarz's harsh words. Broken and contrite, he retreated into a covered litter and returned to his palace. There, he barred his court, cast off his pride, distributed vast riches to the needy, and spent forty full days prostrating himself upon the dark dust, weeping tears of blood and imploring Yazdan for forgiveness.
Seeing his genuine repentance and prolonged sorrow, the Creator bestowed His mercy upon Kavus. Returning to his throne as a transformed ruler, Kavus established a reign of profound justice and righteousness. The world blossomed in prosperity under his renewed rule, and sovereign lords from every realm returned to his court, washing their faces in the waters of loyalty and offering willing vassalage.
#1
همی کرد پوزش ز بهر گناه
✦
مر او را همی جست هر سو سپاه
“He continuously sought pardon for his sin, while the army searched for him in every direction.”
#2
خبر یافت زو رستم و گیو و طوس
✦
برفتند با لشکری گشن و کوس
“Rostam, Giv, and Tus received news of him; they set out with a massive army and the sound of war drums.”
#3
به رستم چنین گفت گودرز پیر
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که تا کرد مادر مرا سیر شیر
“Old Gudarz spoke thus to Rostam: 'Since my mother first nursed me with her milk,'”
#4
همی بینم اندر جهان تاج و تخت
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کیان و بزرگان بیدار بخت
“'I have seen crowns and thrones in this world, and vigilant, fortunate monarchs and nobles.'”
#5
چو کاووس نشنیدم اندر جهان
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ندیدم کس از کهتران و مهان
“'Yet never in this world have I heard of or seen anyone like Kavus, among the humble or the great.'”
#6
خرد نیست او را نه دانش نه رای
✦
نه هوشش بجایست و نه دل بجای
“'He possesses neither wisdom, nor knowledge, nor sound judgment; neither his reason is intact nor his heart steadfast.'”
#7
رسیدند پس پهلوانان بدوی
✦
نکوهش گر و تیز و پرخاشجوی
“Then the champions reached him, sharp-tongued, reproachful, and full of wrath.”
#8
بدو گفت گودرز بیمارستان
✦
ترا جای زیباتر از شارستان
“Gudarz said to him: 'A hospital is a much fitter home for thee than a royal city!'”
#9
به دشمن دهی هر زمان جای خویش
✦
نگویی به کس بیهده رای خویش
“'Time and again thou surrenderest thy realm to the enemy, never consulting anyone regarding thy foolish schemes.'”
#10
سه بارت چنین رنج و سختی فتاد
✦
سرت ز آزمایش نگشت اوستاد
“'Thrice hast thou fallen into such trial and torment, yet thy mind hath learned no lesson from experience.'”
#11
کشیدی سپه را به مازندران
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نگر تا چه سختی رسید اندران
“'Thou didst lead the army to Mazandaran; behold what hardship and misery befell us there!'”
#12
دگرباره مهمان دشمن شدی
✦
صنم بودی اکنون برهمن شدی
“'Once again thou becamest a guest of the enemy; thou wert an idol, yet now thou hast become an idolater!'”
#13
به گیتی جز از پاک یزدان نماند
✦
که منشور تیغ ترا برنخواند
“'In all the world none remained save Holy God who had not read the charter of thy sword.'”
#14
به جنگ زمین سر به سر تاختی
✦
کنون باسمان نیز پرداختی
“'Thou hast raided across the entire face of the earth, and now thou hast turned to assault the heavens as well!'”
#15
پس از تو بدین داستانی کنند
✦
که شاهی برآمد به چرخ بلند
“'After thee, men will recite this tale: that a king ascended into the high heavens,'”
#16
که تا ماه و خورشید را بنگرد
✦
ستاره یکایک همی بشمرد
“'To gaze upon the moon and the sun, and to count the stars one by one!'”
#17
همان کن که بیدار شاهان کنند
✦
ستاینده و نیک‌خواهان کنند
“'Do that which vigilant kings do, and which praising well-wishers counsel!'”
#18
جز از بندگی پیش یزدان مجوی
✦
مزن دست در نیک و بد جز بدوی
“'Seek nothing save servitude before God, and reach out for neither good nor ill save through Him.'”
#19
چنین داد پاسخ که از راستی
✦
نیاید به کار اندرون کاستی
“He [Kavus] replied thus: 'From truth no harm or fault ever arises in any deed.'”
#20
همی داد گفتی و بیداد نیست
✦
ز نام تو جان من آزاد نیست
“'Thou hast spoken nothing but truth, and no injustice; my soul is not free from [the debt of] thy name and service.'”
#21
فروماند کاووس و تشویر خورد
✦
ازان نامداران روز نبرد
“Kavus stood helpless and consumed with shame before those illustrious heroes of the battlefield.”
#22
بسیچید و اندر عماری نشست
✦
پشیمانی و درد بودش بدست
“He prepared himself and sat inside a closed litter, possessing nothing but remorse and grief.”
#23
چو آمد بر تخت و گاه بلند
✦
دلش بود زان کار مانده نژند
“When he returned to his throne and lofty palace, his heart remained broken and grieved by that folly.”
#24
چهل روز بر پیش یزدان به پای
✦
بپیمود خاک و بپرداخت جای
“For forty days he stood before God, treading the dust and emptying his court of all worldly affairs.”
#25
همی ریخت از دیدگان آب زرد
✦
همی از جهان‌آفرین یاد کرد
“Yellow tears poured from his eyes as he continually remembered and called upon the Creator of the World.”
#26
ز شرم از در کاخ بیرون نرفت
✦
همی پوست گفتی برو بر به کفت
“Out of utter shame he did not leave the palace door; thou wouldst say his skin was peeling from his body.”
#27
همی ریخت از دیده پالوده خون
✦
همی خواست آمرزش رهنمون
“He shed pure blood from his eyes, seeking forgiveness from the Divine Guide.”
#28
ز شرم دلیران منش کرد پست
✦
خرام و در بار دادن ببست
“Ashamed before his brave heroes, he humbled his pride, ceased his haughty gait, and barred the court doors.”
#29
پشیمان شد و درد بگزید و رنج
✦
نهاده ببخشید بسیار گنج
“He repented, embraced sorrow and distress, and bestowed immense accumulated treasures upon the needy.”
#30
همی رخ بمالید بر تیره خاک
✦
نیایش کنان پیش یزدان پاک
“He rubbed his face upon the dark dust, praying humbly before Pure God.”
#31
چو بگذشت یک چند گریان چنین
✦
ببخشود بر وی جهان‌آفرین
“When some time had passed in such weeping, the Creator of the World took pity on him and forgave him.”
#32
یکی داد نو ساخت اندر جهان
✦
که تابنده شد بر کهان و مهان
“He established a new order of justice in the world, which shone brightly upon both the humble and the great.”
#33
جهان گفتی از داد دیبا شدست
✦
همان شاه بر گاه زیبا شدست
“Thou wouldst say the world had become silk through justice, and the king once more adorned his throne with grace.”
#34
ز هر کشوری نامور مهتری
✦
که بر سر نهادی بلند افسری
“From every country, renowned leaders who wore noble crowns upon their heads,”
#35
به درگاه کاووس شاه آمدند
✦
وزان سرکشیدن به راه آمدند
“Came unto the court of King Kavus, turning away from rebellion and returning to the path of loyalty.”
#36
زمانه چنان شد که بود از نخست
✦
به آب وفا روی خسرو بشست
“The times restored themselves as they were before; the king washed his face in the waters of loyalty and faith.”
#37
همه مهتران کهتر او شدند
✦
پرستنده و چاکر او شدند
“All the rulers became his vassals, serving as his faithful attendants and subjects.”
#38
کجا پادشا دادگر بود و بس
✦
نیازش نیاید بفریادرس
“Where a ruler is truly just, he standeth in no need of a savior to rescue him.”
#39
بدین داستان گفتم آن کم شنود
✦
کنون رزم رستم بباید سرود
“I have recounted this story as I heard it; now I must sing of the battles of Rostam.”