#1
بیامد جهاندار با تیغ تیز
✦
سری پر ز کینه دلی پر ستیز
“The world-conqueror came with a sharp sword, his head filled with vengeance and his heart with strife.”
#2
چنین گفت بی‌دولت افراسیاب
✦
که این روز را دیده بودم به خواب
“Thus spoke the wretched Afrasiab: 'I had seen this dire day in a dream!'”
#3
سپهر بلند ار فراوان کشید
✦
همان پردهٔ رازها بردرید
“Though the lofty heavens drew out the days for long, at last they tore away the veil of secrets.”
#4
به آواز گفت ای بد کینه جوی
✦
چرا کشت خواهی نیا را بگوی
“He called out: 'O evil vengeance-seeker, tell me why you wish to slay your own grandfather?'”
#5
چنین داد پاسخ که ای بدکنش
✦
سزاوار پیغاره و سرزنش
“Kay Khosrow answered: 'O evil-doer, deserving of all reproach and rebuke!'”
#6
ز جان برادرت گویم نخست
✦
که هرگز بلای مهان را نجست
“'First I speak of your brother's life [Aghriras], who never sought harm against the great.'”
#7
دگر نوذر آن نامور شهریار
✦
که از تخم ایرج بد او یادگار
“'Next of Nowzar, that renowned king who was a memorial from the seed of Iraj.'”
#8
زدی گردنش را به شمشیر تیز
✦
برانگیختی از جهان رستخیز
“'You struck off his head with a sharp sword and raised a resurrection of sorrow in the world.'”
#9
سه دیگر سیاوش که چون او سوار
✦
نبیند کسی از مهان یادگار
“'Thirdly of Siyavash, such a noble knight as no ruler shall ever see again.'”
#10
بریدی سرش چون سر گوسفند
✦
همی برگذشتی ز چرخ بلند
“'You cut off his head like the head of a sheep, while boasting loftily to the high heavens.'”
#11
به کردار بد تیز بشتافتی
✦
مکافات آن بد کنون یافتی
“'You hastened towards evil deeds, and now you receive the true punishment for that evil.'”
#12
بدو گفت شاها ببود آنچه بود
✦
کنون داستانم بباید شنود
“Afrasiab said to him: 'O King, what happened has passed; now hear my story.'”
#13
بمان تا مگر مادرت را به جان
✦
ببینم پس این داستانها بخوان
“'Grant me leave that I may see your mother alive, and then recite these tales to me.'”
#14
بدو گفت گر خواستی مادرم
✦
چرا آتش افروختی بر سرم
“Khosrow replied: 'If you truly cared for my mother, why did you ignite fire upon my head?'”
#15
پدر بیگنه بود و من در نهان
✦
چه رفت از گزند تو اندر جهان
“'My father was guiltless, and I was hidden in secret; what harm had we ever brought upon the world?'”
#16
سر شهریاری ربودی که تاج
✦
بدو زار گریان شد و تخت عاج
“'You stole the head of a king for whom the crown and ivory throne wept bitterly.'”
#17
کنون روز بادافره ایزدیست
✦
مکافات بد را ز یزدان بدیست
“'Now is the day of divine retribution, for bad deeds draw evil punishment from God.'”
#18
به شمشیر هندی بزد گردنش
✦
به خاک اندر افگند نازک تنش
“With an Indian sword he struck off his head, casting his tender body upon the dust.”
#19
ز خون لعل شد ریش و موی سپید
✦
برادرش گشت از جهان ناامید
“His white beard and hair turned ruby-red with blood, and his brother lost all hope in life.”
#20
تهی ماند ز او گاه شاهنشهی
✦
سرآمد بر او روزگار مهی
“The throne of imperial sovereignty was left empty of him, and his day of greatness reached its end.”
#21
ز کردار بد بر تنش بد رسید
✦
مجو ای پسر بند بد را کلید
“From evil deeds, evil befell his body; seek not, O son, the key to the bond of evil!”
#22
چو جویی بدانی که از کار بد
✦
به فرجام بر بدکنش بد رسد
“When you search, you will learn that in the end, harm reaches the evil-doer from his own bad work.”
#23
سپهبد که با فر یزدان بود
✦
همه خشم او بند و زندان بود
“The commander who possesses divine glory keeps all his anger under the restraint of prison and bounds.”
#24
چو خونریز گردد بماند نژند
✦
مکافات یابد ز چرخ بلند
“When a ruler turns bloodthirsty, he remains wretched and suffers punishment from the high heaven.”
#25
چنین گفت موبد به بهرام تیز
✦
که خون سر بیگناهان مریز
“Thus spoke the Mobad to swift Bahram: 'Do not shed the blood of the innocent.'”
#26
چو خواهی که تاج تو ماند به جای
✦
مبادی جز آهسته و پاک‌رای
“'If you wish your crown to endure, let nothing guide you save calm wisdom and pure judgment.'”
#27
نگه کن که خود تاج با سر چه گفت
✦
که با مغزت ای سر خرد باد جفت
“'Look at what the crown itself said to the head: Let wisdom be paired with the brains inside thee!'”
#28
به گرسیوز آمد ز کار نیا
✦
دو رخ زرد و یک دل پر از کیمیا
“Then came Garsivaz's turn after his brother's fate, with two yellow cheeks and a heart full of alchemy.”
#29
کشیدندش از پیش دژخیم زار
✦
به بند گران و به بد روزگار
“They dragged him pitifully before the executioner in heavy bonds and dire plight.”
#30
ابا روزبانان مردم‌کشان
✦
چنانچون بود مردم بدنشان
“Accompanied by bloodthirsty guards, as befitted a man of evil destiny.”
#31
چو در پیش کیخسرو آمد به درد
✦
ببارید خون بر رخ لاژورد
“When he came weeping before Kay Khosrow, he shed blood upon his azure cheeks.”
#32
شهنشاه ایران زبان برگشاد
✦
و زآن تشت و خنجر بسی کرد یاد
“The Emperor of Iran spoke out, recalling much of that basin and the cruel dagger.”
#33
ز تور و فریدون و سلم سترگ
✦
ز ایرج که بد پادشاه بزرگ
“He spoke of Tur, mighty Fereydun, Salm, and Iraj who was a great king.”
#34
به دژخیم فرمود تا تیغ تیز
✦
کشید و بیامد دلی پر ستیز
“He commanded the executioner to draw his sharp sword, and he stepped forward with a stern heart.”
#35
میان سپهبد به دو نیم کرد
✦
سپه را همه دل پر از بیم کرد
“He severed the chieftain in two at the waist, filling the hearts of all the host with awe and dread.”
#36
به هم برفگندندشان همچو کوه
✦
ز هر سو به دور ایستاده گروه
“They piled their corpses together like a mountain, while the troops stood afar in awe.”
#37
ز یزدان چو شاه آرزوها بیافت
✦
ز دریا سوی خان آذر شتافت
“When the king fulfilled his longings through God, he hastened from the sea toward the House of Fire [Adur Gushnasp].”
#38
بسی زر بر آتش برافشاندند
✦
به زمزم همی آفرین خواندند
“They scattered much gold upon the fire and chanted praises and prayers with Zemzem hymns.”
#39
ببودند یک روز و یک شب به پای
✦
به پیش جهانداور رهنمای
“They stood on foot for a day and a night before the World-Creator and Guide.”
#40
چو گنجور کیخسرو آمد زرسب
✦
ببخشید گنجی بر آذرگشسب
“When Zarasb, treasurer to Kay Khosrow, arrived, he bestowed vast wealth upon Adur Gushnasp.”
#41
بر آن موبدان خلعت افگند نیز
✦
درم داد و دینار و بسیار چیز
“He bestowed robes of honor upon the Mobads, giving silver, gold, and abundant riches.”
#42
به شهر اندرون هر که درویش بود
✦
وگر خوردش از کوشش خویش بود
“Whosoever in the city was needy, or lived only by the sweat of his own labor,”
#43
بر آن نیز گنجی پراگنده کرد
✦
جهانی به داد و دهش بنده کرد
“Upon them also he showered treasures, rendering the whole world devoted to him through justice and generosity.”
#44
از آن پس به تخت کیان برنشست
✦
در بار بگشاد و لب را ببست
“Thereafter he ascended the Kianian throne, opened wide his court doors, and kept his lips silent in gravity.”
#45
نبشتند نامه به هر کشوری
✦
به هر نامداری و هر مهتری
“They wrote letters to every country, to every renowned chieftain and noble lord.”
#46
ز خاور بشد نامه تا باختر
✦
به جایی که بد مهتری با گهر
“Letters were dispatched from the East unto the West, reaching every realm where a noble chieftain dwelled.”
#47
که روی زمین از بد اژدها
✦
به شمشیر کیخسرو آمد رها
“Proclaiming that the face of the earth was delivered at last from the evil dragon by the sword of Kay Khosrow.”
#48
به نیروی یزدان پیروزگر
✦
نیاسود و نگشاد هرگز کمر
“By the strength of God the Victorious, he never rested nor unbuckled his belt from strife.”
#49
روان سیاووش را زنده کرد
✦
جهان را به داد و دهش بنده کرد
“He brought back the spirit of Siyavash to life, and made the world devoted to his justice and bounty.”
#50
همی چیز بخشید درویش را
✦
پرستنده و مردم خویش را
“He bestowed riches upon the destitute, upon devout worshippers, and upon his own kin.”
#51
از آن پس چنین گفت شاه جهان
✦
که ای نامداران فرخ مهان
“Thereafter, the Lord of the World spoke thus: 'O illustrious and auspicious chieftains!”
#52
زن و کودک خرد بیرون برید
✦
خورشها و رامش به هامون برید
“Bring out the women and young children, and take provisions and music out into the open plains!'”
#53
بپردخت زان پس به رامش نهاد
✦
برفتند گردان خسرو نژاد
“He then turned his heart to feasting, and the valiant warriors of royal lineage gathered around.”
#54
هر آن کس که بود از نژاد زرسب
✦
بیامد به ایوان آذرگشسب
“Whoever was of the lineage of Zarasp came unto the grand palace of Azar Goshasp.”
#55
چهل روز با شاه کاووس کی
✦
همی بود با رامش و رود و می
“For forty days he remained with King Kay Kavus, amidst feast, lute, and wine.”
#56
چو رخشنده شد بر فلک ماه نو
✦
ز زر افسری بر سر شاه نو
“When the new moon gleamed in the heavens, a golden crown graced the head of the new king.”
#57
بزرگان سوی پارس کردند روی
✦
برآسوده از رزم وز گفتگوی
“The nobles turned their faces toward Pars, rested at last from battle and from strife.”
#58
به هر شهر کاندر شدندی ز راه
✦
شدی انجمن مرد بر پیشگاه
“Into every city they entered along the way, crowds of people assembled in their presence.”
#59
گشادی سر بدره‌ها شهریار
✦
توانگر شدی مرد پرهیزگار
“The monarch opened the seals of his bags of gold, and every righteous man became prosperous.”