Upon the arrival of the victorious envoys bearing the vast spoils of war, Shah Kay Khosrow retired to his royal palace to compose an eloquent reply, as though planting a magnificent tree in a grand garden. He opened his epistle with profound praise to the Almighty God—Lord of Venus and the revolving firmament, from Whom proceed all battle and peace, hatred and love. It is He Who established the sublime heavens, adorned the world with day and night, created one man dark-fated and another worthy of the throne, for all sorrow and joy flow solely from His divine decree.
Continuing his royal missive, Kay Khosrow wrote: 'All that you dispatched—the captives, war elephants, royal thrones, crowns, laden dromedaries, and rich garments—has safely arrived at court. These are the finest accoutrements of feast and luxury, sent straight from the thick of battle! Only he whose hour has not yet arrived could show such fearless disdain for his own life. Day and night I received news of your toil against the hosts of Turan, and with a torn and grieving heart I wept in prayer before Pure God for your triumph. Verily, a monarch blessed with a champion like Rostam deserves to remain eternally young! The heavens possess no servant like you; may fate never sever its love from your side.'
When the scribe completed the record of praises, Kay Khosrow pressed his signet ring upon the parchment. He then ordered an imperial robe of honor to be prepared: one hundred curly-haired youths adorned with golden waist-belts, one hundred prized chargers with golden saddles, one hundred camels laden with fine Chinese silk, another hundred bearing precious carpets, two rings of radiant rubies, a crown studded with lustrous pearls, and golden royal vestments with matching armlets, collars, and waist-belts. Treasures were lavished upon all the chieftains of the realm.
Finally, the Shah invested Prince Fariburz with a crown, mace, banner, and a golden throne, commanding him to return swiftly to Rostam on the frontline. The King’s decree was unyielding: 'In this conflict against Afrasiab, let there be no rest, no food, and no sleep, until the head of that malevolent sorcerer-king is bound tight within the loops of your lasso!' Carrying the royal letter and treasures, Fariburz departed the court, setting his course toward the Iranian host to fulfill the Shah's grand design.
#1
بایوان شد و نامه پاسخ نوشت
✦
بباغ بزرگی درختی بکشت
“He went to his palace and wrote a reply letter; in a grand garden he planted a flourishing tree.”
#2
نخست آفرین کرد بر کردگار
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کزو بود روشن دل و بختیار
“First, he praised the Creator, by Whose grace his heart was enlightened and fortunate.”
#3
خداوند ناهید و گردان سپهر
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کزویست پرخاش و آرام و مهر
“Lord of Venus and the turning sky, from Whom comes war, peace, and love.”
#4
سپهری برین گونه بر پای کرد
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شب و روز را گیتی آرای کرد
“Who established the sublime heavens thus, and adorned the world with night and day.”
#5
یکی را چنین تیره‌بخت آفرید
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یکی را سزاوار تخت آفرید
“He created one with a dark fate, and ordained another worthy of the throne.”
#6
غم و شادمانی ز یزدان شناس
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کزویست هر گونه بر ما سپاس
“Know both sorrow and joy to come from God, for all gratitude due to Him is our obligation.”
#7
رسید آنچ دادی بدین بارگاه
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اسیران و پیلان و تخت و کلاه
“All that you sent has arrived at this court: the captives, the elephants, the throne, and the crown.”
#8
هیونان بسیار و افگندنی
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ز پوشیدنی هم ز گستردنی
“Countless swift dromedaries and rich gifts—garments to wear and carpets to spread.”
#9
همه آلت ناز و سورست و بزم
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بپیش تو زین سان که آید برزم
“All instruments of luxury, joy, and banquet, sent by you in such manner as if won from battle.”
#10
مگر آنکسی کش سرآید بپیش
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بدین گونه سیر آید از جان خویش
“Save for the one whose end has arrived, who thus grows weary of his own life.”
#11
وزان رنج بردن ز توران سپاه
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شب و روز بودن به آوردگاه
“And concerning that toil endured against the army of Turan, staying day and night upon the battlefield...”
#12
ز کارت خبر بد مرا روز و شب
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گشاده نکردم به بیگانه لب
“News of your deeds reached me day and night, yet I opened not my lips to any stranger.”
#13
شب و روز بر پیش یزدان پاک
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نوان بودم و دل شده چاک چاک
“Night and day before Pure God, I wept and prayed with a torn and grieving heart.”
#14
کسی را که رستم بود پهلوان
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سزد گر بماند همیشه جوان
“One who has Rostam as his champion deserves to remain forever young!”
#15
پرستنده چون تو ندارد سپهر
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ز تو بخت هرگز مبراد مهر
“The heavens possess no servant like you; may fate never sever its love from you.”
#16
نویسنده پردخته شد ز آفرین
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نهاد از بر نامه خسرو نگین
“When the scribe finished writing the praises, Khosrow pressed his signet seal upon the letter.”
#17
بفرمود تا خلعت آراستند
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ستام و کمرها بپیراستند
“He commanded royal robes of honor to be prepared, and harnesses and belts to be embellished.”
#18
صد از جعد مویان زرین کمر
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صد اسپ گرانمایه با زین زر
“One hundred curly-haired youths with golden belts, and one hundred prized horses with golden saddles.”
#19
صد اشتر همه بار دیبای چین
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صد اشتر ز افگندنی هم چنین
“One hundred camels laden with Chinese silks, and another hundred with rich carpets and tapestries.”
#20
ز یاقوت رخشان دو انگشتری
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ز خوشاب و در افسری بر سری
“Two signet rings of radiant rubies, and a crown set with pure lustrous pearls.”
#21
ز پوشیدن شاه دستی بزر
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همان یاره و طوق و زرین کمر
“A royal suit of woven gold robes, alongside armlets, a collar, and a golden waist-belt.”
#22
سران را همه هدیه‌ها ساختند
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یکی گنج زین سان بپرداختند
“Gifts were prepared for all the noble chieftains, thus pouring forth a whole realm's treasure.”
#23
فریبرز با تاج و گرز و درفش
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یکی تخت زرین و زرینه کفش
“Fariburz, endowed with crown, mace, and banner, along with a golden throne and golden boots...”
#24
فرستاد و فرمود تا بازگشت
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از ایران بسوی سپهبد گذشت
“He dispatched, commanding him to return from Iran back to the presence of the Commander-in-Chief.”
#25
چنین گفت کز جنگ افراسیاب
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نه آرام باید نه خورد و نه خواب
“He decreed: 'In this war against Afrasiab, let there be no rest, no food, and no sleep!'”
#26
مگر کان سر شهریار گزند
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بخم کمند تو آید ببند
“'Until the head of that malevolent king is captured within the loops of your lasso!'”
#27
فریبرز برگشت زان بارگاه
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بکام دل شاه ایران سپاه
“Fariburz departed from that royal court, setting forth toward the Iranian host to fulfill the King’s desire.”