#1
یکی مرد بود اندر آن روزگار
✦
ز دشت سواران نیزه گذار
“In those days, there lived a nobleman in the desert plain of the spear-wielding horsemen.”
#2
گرانمایه هم شاه و هم نیک مرد
✦
ز ترس جهاندار با باد سرد
“A noble ruler and a righteous man, who trembled in awe of the Almighty Lord.”
#3
که مرداس نام گرانمایه بود
✦
به داد و دهش برترین پایه بود
“Merdas was the name of this glorious lord, supreme in justice and boundlessly generous.”
#4
مر او را ز دوشیدنی چارپای
✦
ز هر یک هزار آمدندی به جای
“Of every kind of livestock that gave milk, he possessed ten thousand upon ten thousand.”
#5
همان گاو دوشا به فرمانبری
✦
همان تازی اسب گزیده مری
“Docile milch-cows obedient to his call, and fine Arabian steeds of noble breed.”
#6
بز و میش بد شیرور همچنین
✦
به دوشیزگان داده بد پاکدین
“Likewise abundant goats and ewes yielding milk, which the pure-hearted king entrusted to milkmaid damsels.”
#7
به شیر آن کسی را که بودی نیاز
✦
بدان خواسته دست بردی فراز
“Whoever stood in need of milk could freely stretch out his hand to that bounty.”
#8
پسر بد مر این پاکدل را یکی
✦
کش از مهر بهره نبود اندکی
“Yet this pure-hearted lord had a single son, who possessed not even a trace of affection or love.”
#9
جهانجوی را نام ضحّاک بود
✦
دلیر و سبکسار و ناپاک بود
“That ambitious youth was named Zahhak—fearless, rash, and impure of heart.”
#10
کجا بیور اسپش همی خواندند
✦
چنین نام بر پهلوی راندند
“Whom they also called Bivarasp; such was his title spoken in the Pahlavi tongue.”
#11
کجا بیور از پهلوانی شمار
✦
بود بر زبان دری ده هزار
“For 'Bivar' in the Pahlavi tongue signifies the number ten thousand in Dari speech.”
#12
ز اسپان تازی به زرین ستام
✦
ورا بود بیور که بردند نام
“Ten thousand Arabian horses adorned with golden bridles were his, whence he derived his title.”
#13
شب و روز بودی دو بهره به زین
✦
ز روی بزرگی نه از روی کین
“Night and day he spent two-thirds of his time in the saddle, driven by pride rather than malice.”
#14
چنان بد که ابلیس روزی پگاه
✦
بیامد به سان یکی نیک‌خواه
“Thus it came to pass that one early dawn, Iblis appeared in the guise of a well-wisher.”
#15
دل مهتر از راه نیکی ببرد
✦
جوان گوش گفتار او را سپرد
“He beguiled the young prince's heart away from goodness, and the youth lent his ear to Satan's words.”
#16
بدو گفت پیمانت خواهم نخست
✦
پس آنگه سخن برگشایم درست
“Iblis said to him: 'First I require your solemn oath, and only then shall I speak my mind fully.'”
#17
جوان نیک‌دل گشت فرمانش کرد
✦
چنان چون بفرمود سوگند خورد
“The naive youth assented to his command and swore the oath exactly as instructed.”
#18
که راز تو با کس نگویم ز بن
✦
ز تو بشنوم هر چه گویی سخن
“Swearing: 'I shall never reveal your secret to anyone, and I shall obey whatever counsel you give.'”
#19
بدو گفت جز تو کسی کدخدای
✦
چه باید همی با تو اندر سرای
“Said Iblis to him: 'Except for you, why should anyone else be master in this royal court?'”
#20
چه باید پدر کش پسر چون تو بود
✦
یکی پندت از من بباید شنود
“'Why should a father linger when he has a son like you? Listen to this single piece of advice from me.'”
#21
زمانه برین خواجهٔ سالخورد
✦
همی دیر ماند تو اندر نورد
“'Time lingers too long over this aged master, while you remain locked in his shadow.'”
#22
بگیر این سر مایه‌ور جاه او
✦
تو را زیبد اندر جهان گاه او
“'Seize his magnificent throne and stature, for his high station in this world truly befits you.'”
#23
بر این گفتهٔ من چو داری وفا
✦
جهاندار باشی یکی پادشا
“'If you remain faithful to my words, you shall become the sovereign ruler of the world.'”
#24
چو ضحاک بشنید اندیشه کرد
✦
ز خون پدر شد دلش پر ز درد
“When Zahhak heard this, he fell into deep thought, his heart overflowing with anguish at the thought of his father's blood.”
#25
به ابلیس گفت این سزاوار نیست
✦
دگر گوی کاین از در کار نیست
“He said to Iblis: 'This is improper! Speak of something else, for this is unworthy of being done.'”
#26
بدو گفت گر بگذری زین سخن
✦
بتابی ز سوگند و پیمان من
“Iblis replied: 'If you turn away from my counsel and break the oath and covenant you made with me,'”
#27
بماند به گردنت سوگند و بند
✦
شوی خوار و ماند پدرت ارجمند
“'The burden of your broken oath shall bind your neck; you shall be disgraced while your father remains revered.'”
#28
سر مرد تازی به دام آورید
✦
چنان شد که فرمان او برگزید
“Thus he entrapped the mind of the Arab youth, until Zahhak resolved to follow Satan's command.”
#29
بپرسید کاین چاره با من بگوی
✦
نتابم ز رای تو من هیچ روی
“Zahhak asked: 'Tell me the remedy, for I shall no longer turn away from your counsel.'”
#30
بدو گفت من چاره سازم ترا
✦
به خورشید سر برفرازم ترا
“Iblis said: 'I shall devise the scheme for you, and raise your head unto the sun.'”
#31
مر آن پادشا را در اندر سرای
✦
یکی بوستان بود بس دلگشای
“Now that noble king had a delightful, sprawling garden within his royal domain.”
#32
گرانمایه شبگیر برخاستی
✦
ز بهر پرستش بیاراستی
“The revered king was wont to rise before dawn to prepare himself for divine worship.”
#33
سر و تن بشستی نهفته به باغ
✦
پرستنده با او ببردی چراغ
“He would wash his head and body in the secluded garden, while a servant carried a lamp before him.”
#34
بیاورد وارونه ابلیس بند
✦
یکی ژرف چاهی به ره بر بکند
“Wicked Iblis brought forth an inverted trap, digging a deep pit right upon the king's path.”
#35
پس ابلیس وارونه آن ژرف چاه
✦
به خاشاک پوشید و بسترد راه
“Then the perverse demon covered that deep pit with dry twigs and leaves, concealing all trace of the trap.”
#36
سر تازیان مهتر نامجوی
✦
شب آمد سوی باغ بنهاد روی
“As darkness lingered, the renowned leader of the Arabs directed his steps toward the garden.”
#37
به چاه اندر افتاد و بشکست پست
✦
شد آن نیک‌دل مرد یزدان‌پرست
“He plunged headlong into the pit, his bones crushed, and that righteous, God-fearing lord perished.”
#38
به هر نیک و بد شاه آزاد مرد
✦
به فرزند بر نازده باد سرد
“In every fortune, good or ill, that noble king had never let a harsh breeze blow upon his son.”
#39
همی پروریدش به ناز و به رنج
✦
بدو بود شاد و بدو داد گنج
“He had raised him with tender devotion and toil, rejoicing in him and bestowing his treasures upon him.”
#40
چنان بدگهر شوخ فرزند او
✦
بگشت از ره داد و پیوند او
“Yet his vile-natured, audacious son abandoned the path of justice and family devotion.”
#41
به خون پدر گشت همداستان
✦
ز دانا شنیدم من این داستان
“He consented to the shedding of his own father's blood; as I heard this tale told by wise men of old.”
#42
که فرزند بد گر شود نرّه شیر
✦
به خون پدر هم نباشد دلیر
“That even if an evil son were to become a fierce male lion, he would still not dare shed his father's blood.”
#43
مگر در نهانش سخن دیگرست
✦
پژوهنده را راز با مادرست
“Unless some hidden secret lies in his lineage—a secret known only to the searching mind and the mother.”
#44
فرومایه ضحاک بیدادگر
✦
بدین چاره بگرفت جای پدر
“Thus base, tyrannical Zahhak seized his father's domain through this evil ruse.”
#45
به سر بر نهاد افسر تازیان
✦
بر ایشان ببخشید سود و زیان
“He placed upon his head the crown of the Arabs, and assumed command over all their gains and losses.”