#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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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.”