For sixty glorious years, King Kay Khosrow ruled supreme over all the realms of the earth—from China and India to Turan and Rome, and from the sunrise in the East to the setting sun in the West. All evil adversaries had been vanquished, and Ahriman’s heart was rent in twain. Having achieved every quest and fulfilled his sacred vengeance for his father Siyavash, the King looked upon his boundless wealth and dominion. Yet, in the zenith of his worldly triumph, a profound spiritual fear seized his noble soul.
He pondered the tragic fates of ancient monarchs—Jamshid, Zahhak, and even his own grandfather Kay Kavus—who had fallen into hubris, ungratefulness, and darkness, thereby forfeiting the sacred Divine Glory (Farr-e Izadi). Realizing that crowns fade and flesh turns to dust, Kay Khosrow resolved not to let pride corrupt his spirit. He swore to turn to the Maker while his name remained pure and his soul unblemished.
Determined to abandon worldly arrogance, Kay Khosrow commanded his court chamberlain to bar the palace gates to all visitors, bidding them to turn people away with gentle words. The King bathed himself, clothed his body in pure white garments, and entered his private chamber of prayer. Guided by the luminous lamp of wisdom, he bowed his head before Yazdan, weeping and entreating Almighty God to shield him from the wiles of the demon of pride, to forgive his past sins, and to lead his immortal spirit to the eternal realm of the righteous.
#1
بر این گونه تا سالیان گشت شصت
✦
جهان شد همه شاه را زیردست
“In this fashion sixty years passed by, and the entire world fell under the King's command.”
#2
پراندیشه شد مایه‌ور جان شاه
✦
از آن رفتن کار و آن دستگاه
“The noble soul of the King became deeply filled with reflection upon the course of his achievements and glorious state.”
#3
همی گفت ویران و آباد بوم
✦
ز چین و ز هند و ز توران و روم
“He meditated upon the lands both ruined and prosperous—from China and India to Turan and Rome,”
#4
هم از خاوران تا در باختر
✦
ز کوه و بیابان وز خشک و تر
“And from the East to the furthest West, across mountains, deserts, dry lands, and seas.”
#5
سراسر ز بدخواه کردم تهی
✦
مرا گشت فرمان و گاه مهی
“He thought: 'I have cleansed the whole realm of foes; my decree and royal throne are established supreme.'”
#6
جهان از بداندیش بی‌بیم شد
✦
دل اهرمن ز این به دو نیم شد
“'The world has become safe from malice, and Ahriman’s heart is rent in twain by this.'”
#7
ز یزدان همه آرزو یافتم
✦
وگر دل همه سوی کین تافتم
“'I have obtained every desire from God, even when my heart turned wholly toward vengeance.'”
#8
روانم نباید که آرد منی
✦
بداندیشی و کیش آهرمنی
“'My soul must not give way to hubris, evil thoughts, or the path of Ahriman.'”
#9
شوم همچو ضحاک تازی و جم
✦
که با سلم و تور اندر آیم به زم
“'Lest I become like Zahhak the Arab and Jamshid, or fall into ruin like Salm and Tur.'”
#10
به یک سو چو کاووس دارم نیا
✦
دگر سو چو توران پر از کیمیا
“'On one side I have Kavus as my grandsire, and on the other, the lineage of Turan full of magic sorcery.'”
#11
چو کاووس و چون جادو افراسیاب
✦
که جز روی کژی ندیدی به خواب
“'Like Kavus, and like the sorcerer Afrasiab, who saw nothing in his dreams except crooked paths.'”
#12
به یزدان شوم یک زمان ناسپاس
✦
به روشن روان اندر آرم هراس
“'If I become ungrateful to God for even a moment, I shall bring dread upon my radiant soul.'”
#13
ز من بگسلد فره ایزدی
✦
گر آیم به کژی و راه بدی
“'The Divine Glory will be severed from me if I incline toward deceit and the path of evil.'”
#14
از آن پس بر آن تیرگی بگذرم
✦
به خاک اندر آید سر و افسرم
“'Thereafter, I shall pass into darkness, and my head and crown will descend into the dust.'”
#15
به گیتی بماند ز من نام بد
✦
همان پیش یزدان سرانجام بد
“'An evil name will remain of me in the world, and an evil fate before God at the end of days.'”
#16
تبه گرددم چهر و رنگ رخان
✦
بریزد به خاک اندرون استخوان
“'My countenance and complexion will be ruined, and my bones will crumble into the earth.'”
#17
هنر کم شود ناسپاسی به جای
✦
روان تیره گردد به دیگر سرای
“'Virtue will diminish, ingratitude will take its place, and the soul will be darkened in the abode beyond.'”
#18
گرفته کسی تاج و تخت مرا
✦
به پای اندر آورده بخت مرا
“'Another will seize my crown and throne, and trample my fortune underfoot.'”
#19
ز من نام ماند بدی یادگار
✦
گل رنجهای کهن گشته خار
“'Only an evil name will remain of me, and the roses of my ancient labors will turn to thistles.'”
#20
من اکنون چو کین پدر خواستم
✦
جهانی به خوبی بیاراستم
“'Now that I have exacted vengeance for my father and adorned the world with goodness,'”
#21
بکشتم کسی را که بایست کشت
✦
که بد کژ و با راه یزدان درشت
“'I have slain those who deserved death—those who were crooked and harsh against God's path.'”
#22
به آباد و ویران درختی نماند
✦
که منشور تخت مرا برنخواند
“'No tree remains in city or waste that has not read the charter of my sovereign throne.'”
#23
بزرگان گیتی مرا کهترند
✦
وگر چند با گنج و با افسرند
“'The magnates of the world are my subjects, though they possess vast treasures and crowns.'”
#24
سپاسم ز یزدان که او داد فر
✦
همان گردش اختر و پای و پر
“'My praise is to God, who bestowed the Glory upon me, as well as the turning of stars, strength, and wings.'”
#25
کنون آن به آید که من راه‌جوی
✦
شوم پیش یزدان پر از آب روی
“'Now it is best that I seek the righteous path and come before God with a bright, honorable face,'”
#26
مگر هم بدین خوبی اندر نهان
✦
پرستندهٔ کردگار جهان
“'So that in secret, amidst this very goodness, I remain a worshipper of the Creator of the world,'”
#27
روانم بدان جای نیکان برد
✦
که این تاج و تخت مهی بگذرد
“'And that my soul may be led to the dwelling of the righteous, when this crown and imperial throne pass away.'”
#28
نیابد کسی ز این فزون کام و نام
✦
بزرگی و خوبی و آرام و جام
“'No one can gain more than this in desire, fame, greatness, goodness, tranquility, and pleasure.'”
#29
رسیدیم و دیدیم راز جهان
✦
بد و نیک هم آشکار و نهان
“'We have arrived and seen the secret of the universe—both evil and good, manifest and hidden.'”
#30
کشاورز دیدیم گر تاجور
✦
سرانجام بر مرگ باشد گذر
“'We have seen that whether one be a humble farmer or a crowned king, the ultimate passage is unto death.'”
#31
به سالار نوبت بفرمود شاه
✦
که هر کس که آید بدین بارگاه
“The King commanded the master of ceremonies: 'Whosoever comes unto this royal court,'”
#32
ورا بازگردان به نیکو سخن
✦
همه مردمی جوی و تندی مکن
“'Turn him away with gentle words; seek only kindness and do not act with harshness.'”
#33
ببست آن در بارگاه کیان
✦
خروشان بیامد گشاده‌میان
“He closed the door of the royal court of kings, and stepped forth lamenting, his belt unbound.”
#34
ز بهر پرستش سر و تن بشست
✦
به شمع خرد راه یزدان بجست
“For the sake of worship he cleansed his head and body, and sought the path of God by the candle of wisdom.”
#35
بپوشید پس جامهٔ نو سپید
✦
نیایش کنان رفت دل پر امید
“He then donned a brand-new white garment, and went to pray with a heart full of hope.”
#36
بیامد خرامان به جای نماز
✦
همی گفت با داور پاک راز
“He walked gracefully to the place of prayer, whispering secrets to the Pure Judge:”
#37
همی گفت کای برتر از جان پاک
✦
برآرندهٔ آتش از تیره خاک
“'O You who are higher than the pure soul, Creator of fire from the dark dust!'”
#38
مرا بین و چندی خرد ده مرا
✦
هم اندیشهٔ نیک و بد ده مرا
“'Behold me and grant me wisdom for a while, as well as the discernment of good and evil.'”
#39
ترا تا بباشم نیایش کنم
✦
بدین نیکویها فزایش کنم
“'So long as I live, I shall offer praise to You, and increase in these good deeds.'”
#40
بیامرز رفته گناه مرا
✦
ز کژی بکش دستگاه مرا
“'Forgive my past sins, and pull my royal power away from error and deceit.'”
#41
بگردان ز جانم بد روزگار
✦
همان چارهٔ دیو آموزگار
“'Turn away evil fortune from my soul, as well as the craft of the demon teacher,'”
#42
بدان تا چو کاووس و ضحاک و جم
✦
نگیرد هوا بر روانم ستم
“'So that desire and vanity may not tyrannize my soul, as they did to Kavus, Zahhak, and Jamshid.'”
#43
چو بر من بپوشد در راستی
✦
به نیرو شود کژی و کاستی
“'Lest the door of righteousness be closed to me, and crookedness and flaw gain strength.'”
#44
بگردان ز من دیو را دستگاه
✦
بدان تا ندارد روانم تباه
“'Turn the power of the demon away from me, so that he may not destroy my soul.'”
#45
نگه‌دار بر من همین راه و سان
✦
روانم بدان جای نیکان رسان
“'Preserve this path and custom for me, and bring my soul unto the abode of the righteous.'”