#1
دبیر جهاندیده را پیش خواند
✦
سخن هرچ بایست با او براند
“He summoned an experienced scribe and spoke to him all that was required.”
#2
بفرمود تا نامهٔ خسروی
✦
ز عنبر نوشتند بر پهلوی
“He commanded that a royal letter be written in ambergris in the Pahlavi script.”
#3
سرنامه کرد آفرین خدای
✦
کجا هست و باشد همیشه بجای
“He opened the letter with praises to God, Who is eternal and forever enduring.”
#4
برازندهٔ ماه و کیوان و هور
✦
نگارندهٔ فر و دیهیم و زور
“Adorner of the moon, Saturn, and the sun; Creator of glory, the crown, and divine might.”
#5
سپهر و زمان و زمین آفرید
✦
روان و خرد داد و دین آفرید
“He created the sky, time, and the earth; He granted soul, wisdom, and faith.”
#6
وزو آفرین باد بر شهریار
✦
زمانه مبادا ازو یادگار
“And from Him let blessings rain upon the King; may time never be bereft of his memory.”
#7
رسیدم بفرمان میان دو کوه
✦
سپاه دو کشور شده همگروه
“By thy command, I arrived between two mountains, where the hosts of two realms had assembled.”
#8
همانا که شمشیرزن صد هزار
✦
ز دشمن فزون بود در کارزار
“Truly, more than a hundred thousand enemy swordsmen stood in the fray.”
#9
کشانی و شگنی و چینی و هند
✦
سپاهی ز چین تا بدریای سند
“Forces from Kushan, Shagnan, Chin, and India—an army stretching from China to the River Indus.”
#10
ز کشمیر تا دامن رود شهد
✦
سراپرده و پیل دیدیم و مهد
“From Kashmir to the banks of the river Shahd, we saw royal pavilions, elephants, and litters.”
#11
نترسیدم از دولت شهریار
✦
کزین رزمگاه اندر آید نهار
“Yet by the King's auspicious fortune, I feared not that dawn would break upon this field of war.”
#12
چهل روز با هم همی جنگ بود
✦
تو گفتی بریشان جهان تنگ بود
“For forty days battle raged between us, as though the whole world had grown too narrow for them.”
#13
همه شهریاران کشور بدند
✦
به فرجام با بخت لاغر بدند
“They were all rulers of their realms, yet in the end, their fortune withered and failed.”
#14
میان دو کوه از بر راغ و دشت
✦
ز خون و ز کشته نشاید گذشت
“Between the two mountains, across meadow and plain, none could pass for the blood and the slain.”
#15
همانا که فرسنگ باشد چهل
✦
پراگنده از خون زمین بود گل
“For surely forty leagues around, the earth was turned to crimson mud with scattered blood.”
#16
سرانجام ازین دولت دیریاز
✦
سخن گویم این نامه گردد دراز
“If I recount the full measure of this enduring victory, this letter will grow too long.”
#17
همه شهریاران که دارند بند
✦
ز پیلان گرفتم بخم کمند
“All the captive kings now bound in chains, I dragged down from their elephants with the loop of my lasso.”
#18
سوی جنگ دارم کنون رای و روی
✦
مگر پیش گرز من آید گروی
“Now I turn my face and mind back to the battle, that perchance Ghoroy may face my heavy mace.”
#19
زبانها پر از آفرین تو باد
✦
سر چرخ گردان زمین تو باد
“May all tongues overflow with thy praises, and may the crown of the revolving heavens be thy footstool!”
#20
چو نامه بمهر اندر آمد بداد
✦
بمهتر فریبرز خسرو نژاد
“When the letter was sealed, he gave it to the noble prince Fariburz of royal lineage.”
#21
ابا شاه و پیل و هیونی هزار
✦
ازان رزمگه برنهادند بار
“With the captive king, elephants, and a thousand swift camels, they set forth from that battleground.”
#22
فریبرز کاوس شادان برفت
✦
بنزدیک خسرو بسیچید و تفت
“Fariburz, son of Kavoos, set off joyfully and made haste toward King Khosrow.”
#23
همی رفت با او گو پیلتن
✦
بزرگان و گردان آن انجمن
“The elephant-bodied hero went with him a ways, along with the lords and champions of that assembly.”
#24
به پدرود کردن گرفتش کنار
✦
ببارید آب از غم شهریار
“In parting, he embraced him closely, weeping tears out of sorrow for the King.”
#25
وزان جایگه سوی لشکر کشید
✦
چو جعد دو زلف شب آمد پدید
“From there he led his host back, just as the black curls of night appeared in the sky.”
#26
نشستند با آرامش و رود و می
✦
یکی دست رود و دگر دست نی
“They sat in peace with harps and wine, one hand on the lute, the other holding the reed-flute.”
#27
برفتند هر کس بآرام خویش
✦
گرفته ببر هر کسی کام خویش
“Then each departed to his rest, every man embracing his heart's desire.”
#28
چو خورشید با رنگ دیبای زرد
✦
ستم کرد بر تودهٔ لاژورد
“When the sun, clad in yellow silk, struck down the lapis lazuli mass of night...”
#29
همانگه ز دهلیز پرده‌سرای
✦
برآمد خروشیدن کرنای
“At once from the portal of the royal pavilion rose the blare of war-horns.”
#30
تهمتن میان تاختن را ببست
✦
بران بارهٔ تیزتگ برنشست
“Tahamtan girded his loins for the charge and mounted his fleet-footed steed.”
#31
بفرمود تا توشه برداشتند
✦
همی راه دشوار بگذاشتند
“He commanded provisions to be taken, and they traversed the rugged path.”
#32
بیابان گرفتند و راه دراز
✦
بیامد چنان لشکری رزمساز
“They took to the desert and the long road—such a battle-ready host advanced.”
#33
چنین گفت با طوس و گودرز و گیو
✦
که ای نامداران و گردان نیو
“Thus he spoke to Tus, Goudarz, and Gev: "O renowned and valiant heroes!”
#34
من این بار چنگ اندر آرم بچنگ
✦
بداندیشگان را شود کار تنگ
“This time I shall seize victory in my grasp, and affairs will grow dire for our foes.”
#35
که دانست کین چاره‌گر مرد سند
✦
سپاه آرد از چین و سقلاب و هند
“Who knew that this resourceful Sindian man would bring armies from China, Saqlab, and India?”
#36
من او را چنان مست و بیهش کنم
✦
تنش خاک گور سیاوش کنم
“I shall render him so stunned and senseless that his flesh becomes the dust of Siyavash's grave!”
#37
که از هند و سقلاب و توران و چین
✦
نخوانند ازین پس برو آفرین
“So that from India, Saqlab, Touran, and China, none shall ever chant his praises again!"”
#38
بزد کوس وز دشت برخاست گرد
✦
هوا پر ز گرد و زمین پر ز مرد
“He struck the war-drum and dust rose from the plain; the air grew thick with dust and the earth filled with men.”
#39
ازان نامداران پرخاشجوی
✦
بابر اندر آمد یکی گفت و گوی
“From those belligerent warriors, a roar of voices rose up into the clouds.”
#40
دو منزل برفتند زان جایگاه
✦
که از کشته بد روی گیتی سیاه
“They marched two stages away from that place where the face of the earth had turned black with the dead.”
#41
یکی بیشه دیدند و آمد فرود
✦
سیه شد ز لشکر همه دشت و رود
“They came upon a forest and dismounted; the whole plain and river turned dark with the troops.”
#42
همی بود با رامش و می بدست
✦
یکی شاد و خرم یکی خفته مست
“They rested there with ease, wine-cup in hand—one joyful and glad, another sleeping in drunkenness.”
#43
فرستاده آمد ز هر کشوری
✦
ز هر نامداری و هر مهتری
“Envoys arrived from every realm, sent by every renowned chieftain and lord.”
#44
بسی هدیه و ساز و چندی نثار
✦
ببردند نزدیک آن نامدار
“Bringing many gifts, war-gear, and offerings to present before that famed hero.”
#45
چو بگذشت ازین داستان روز چند
✦
ز گردش بیاسود چرخ بلند
“When several days had passed after these events, and the high heavens rested from their turnings...”
#46
کس آمد بر شاه ایران سپاه
✦
که آمد فریبرز کاوس شاه
“A courier arrived before the King of Iran's host, announcing that Fariburz, son of King Kay Kavus, had returned.”
#47
پذیره شدش شاه کنداوران
✦
ابا بوق و کوس و سپاهی گران
“The king of valiant warriors went forth to welcome him, accompanied by trumpets, battle drums, and a mighty host.”
#48
فریبرز نزدیک خسرو رسید
✦
زمین را ببوسید کو را بدید
“As Fariburz drew near to Khosrow, he fell to the earth and kissed the ground upon beholding him.”
#49
نگه کرد خسرو بران بستگان
✦
هیونان و پیلان و آن خستگان
“Khosrow gazed upon the captives bound, the swift dromedaries, the elephants, and those who were wounded.”
#50
عنان را بپیچید و آمد براه
✦
ز سر برگرفت آن کیانی کلاه
“He turned his reins and set off along the path, removing the royal Kayanid crown from his head.”
#51
فرود آمد و پیش یزدان بخاک
✦
بغلتید و گفت ای جهاندار پاک
“He dismounted and groveled in the dust before the Almighty, crying: "O Pure Ruler of the World!"”
#52
ستمکاره‌ای کرد بر من ستم
✦
مرا بی‌پدر کرد با درد و غم
“"A cruel tyrant did me bitter wrong; he rendered me fatherless and steeped me in grief and pain."”
#53
تو از درد و سختی رهانیدیم
✦
همی تاج را پرورانیدیم
“"Yet You delivered me from pain and hardship, and nurtured me until I attained this royal crown."”
#54
زمین و زمان پیش من بنده شد
✦
جهانی ز گنج من آگنده شد
“"Earth and time have become my obedient servants, and the whole world is filled with my treasure."”
#55
سپاس از تو دارم نه از انجمن
✦
یکی جان رستم تو مستان ز من
“"My gratitude belongs to You alone, not to any mortal host; I pray, take not the life of Rustam from me!"”
#56
بزد اسپ و زان جایگه بازگشت
✦
بران پیل وان بستگان برگذشت
“He spurred his steed and turned back from that place, passing by the elephants and the bound captives.”
#57
بسی آفرین کرد بر پهلوان
✦
که او باد شادان و روشن‌روان
“He showered countless blessings upon the paladin, praying that he might ever be joyful and bright of soul.”