#1
غمی شد دل ایرانیان را ز شاه
✦
همه خیره گشتند و گم کرده راه
“The hearts of the Iranians grew heavy with sorrow over the king; all stood bewildered, having lost their way.”
#2
چو بشنید زال این سخن بردمید
✦
یکی باد سرد از جگر برکشید
“When Zal heard of this matter, he flared up in alarm and drew a cold sigh from his deep breast.”
#3
به ایرانیان گفت کاین رای نیست
✦
خرد را به مغز اندرش جای نیست
“He said to the Iranians: 'This is no wise counsel; wisdom has found no place within his mind!”
#4
که تا من ببستم کمر بر میان
✦
پرستنده‌ام پیش تخت کیان
“Ever since I girt my loins in service, standing as a worshiper before the Kianian throne,”
#5
ز شاهان ندیدم کسی کاین بگفت
✦
چو او گفت ما را نباید نهفت
“I have never heard any king speak such words; since he has spoken thus, we must not conceal the truth.”
#6
نباید بدین بود همداستان
✦
که او هیچ راند چنین داستان
“We must not consent to such a path, nor allow him to pursue such a tale.”
#7
مگر دیو با او هم‌آواز گشت
✦
که از راه یزدان سرش بازگشت
“Perchance a demon has become his companion, turning his head away from the path of God.”
#8
فریدون و هوشنگ یزدان پرست
✦
نبردند هرگز بدین کار دست
“Fereydun and Hushang, who worshipped the Almighty, never laid their hands upon such a deed.”
#9
بگویم بدو من همه راستی
✦
گر آید به جان اندرون کاستی
“I shall speak the complete truth to him, even if it brings harm upon my very soul.'”
#10
چنین یافت پاسخ ز ایرانیان
✦
کز این سان سخن کس نگفت از میان
“Such was the answer he received from the Iranians: 'No one among us has ever spoken with such wisdom.”
#11
همه با توایم آنچه گویی به شاه
✦
مبادا که او گم کند رسم و راه
“We are all with you in whatever you say to the king; heaven forbid that he lose the righteous path and tradition!'”
#12
شنید این سخن زال برپای خاست
✦
چنین گفت کای خسرو داد و راست
“Hearing this, Zal stood upon his feet and said: 'O just and righteous Khosrow!”
#13
ز پیر جهاندیده بشنو سخن
✦
چو کژ آورد رای پاسخ مکن
“Hear the advice of an old man who has seen the world; when your mind inclines toward crookedness, do not reject the response.”
#14
که گفتار تلخست با راستی
✦
ببندد به تلخی در کاستی
“For truthful speech is bitter to the taste, yet through its bitterness it closes the door to ruin.”
#15
نشاید که آزار گیری ز من
✦
بر این راستی پیش این انجمن
“It is not fitting that you take offense at me for speaking this truth before this assembly.”
#16
به توران زمین زادی از مادرت
✦
همانجا بد آرام و آبشخورت
“You were born of your mother in the land of Touran; there was your resting place and your nourishment.”
#17
ز یک سو نبیرهٔ رد افراسیاب
✦
که جز جادوی را ندیدی به خواب
“On one side, you are the grandson of the grand Afrasiab, who saw nothing in his dreams but sorcery.”
#18
چو کاووس دژخیم دیگر نیا
✦
پر از رنگ رخ دل پر از کیمیا
“And on the other, you descend from the ruthless Kavus, whose face was full of deceit and whose heart was filled with alchemy.”
#19
ز خاور ورا بود تا باختر
✦
بزرگی و شاهی و تاج و کمر
“From East to West was under his sway; he possessed greatness, royalty, crown, and waist-girdle.”
#20
همی خواست کز آسمان بگذرد
✦
همه گردش اختران بشمرد
“Yet he desired to ascend beyond the sky, to count the motion of all the stars!”
#21
بدان بر بسی پندها دادمش
✦
همین تلخ گفتار بگشادمش
“I gave him much counsel regarding that folly, laying open before him these same bitter words.”
#22
بسی پند بشنید و سودی نکرد
✦
از او بازگشتم پر از داغ و درد
“He heard many precepts but derived no profit; I turned back from him full of sorrow and anguish.”
#23
چو بر شد نگون اندر آمد به خاک
✦
ببخشود بر جانش یزدان پاک
“When he was cast down headlong to the dust, the Holy God showed mercy upon his soul.”
#24
بیامد به یزدان شده ناسپاس
✦
سری پر ز گرد و دلی پرهراس
“He returned ungrateful to the Almighty, his head covered in dust and his heart filled with terror.”
#25
تو رفتی و شمشیرزن صد هزار
✦
زره‌دار با گُرزهٔ گاوسار
“Thou didst march forth with a hundred thousand swordsmen, mail-clad warriors wielding bull-headed maces.”
#26
چو شیر ژیان ساختی رزم را
✦
بیاراستی دشت خوارزم را
“Like a furious lion thou didst array the battle, adorning the plain of Kharazm with warfare.”
#27
ز پیش سپه تیز رفتی به جنگ
✦
پیاده شدی پس به جنگ پشنگ
“Thou didst charge swiftly ahead of the army to fight, dismounting on foot in the war against Pashang's lineage.”
#28
گر او را بدی بر تو بر دست‌یاب
✦
به ایران کشیدی رد افراسیاب
“Had he gained the upper hand over thee, Afrasiab would have dragged all Iran into destruction.”
#29
زن و کودک خرد ایرانیان
✦
ببردی به کین کس نبستی میان
“He would have carried off the women and young children of Iran in vengeance, and none could have stood against him.”
#30
ترا ایزد از دست او رسته کرد
✦
ببخشود و رای تو پیوسته کرد
“Yet God delivered thee from his grasp; He forgave thee and guided thy judgment aright.”
#31
بکشتی کسی را که ز او بد هراس
✦
به دادار دارنده بد ناسپاس
“Thou didst slay the one who was a source of terror, yet now thou showest ingratitude toward the Creator of the world.”
#32
چو گفتم که هنگام آرام بود
✦
گه بخشش و پوشش و جام بود
“When I said that it was the time for rest—a time for bestowing gifts, garments, and wine cups—”
#33
به ایران کنون کار دشوارتر
✦
فزونتر بدی دل پرآزارتر
“The affairs of Iran have now become more difficult, and hearts are filled with greater distress.”
#34
که تو برنوشتی ره ایزدی
✦
به کژی گذشتی و راه بدی
“For thou hast turned away from the divine path, strayed into error, and walked the way of evil.”
#35
از این بد نباشد تنت سودمند
✦
نیاید جهان‌آفرین را پسند
“Thy body shall derive no benefit from this evil, nor will it find favor in the eyes of the World-Creator.”
#36
گر این باشد ای شاه سامان تو
✦
نگردد کسی گرد پیمان تو
“If this be thy manner, O King, no one will remain faithful to thy covenant.”
#37
پشیمانی آید ترا ز این سخن
✦
براندیش و فرمان دیوان مکن
“Regret shall come upon thee for these words; reflect wisely and do not obey the command of the demons!”
#38
وگر نیز جویی چنین کار دیو
✦
ببرد ز تو فر کیهان خدیو
“If thou seekest further such deeds of the Div, the Lord of the world shall strip the Royal Glory from thee.”
#39
بمانی پر از درد و دل پر گناه
✦
نخوانند از این پس ترا نیز شاه
“Thou shalt remain in suffering, thy heart weighed down by sin, and henceforth none shall call thee King.”
#40
به یزدان پناه و به یزدان گرای
✦
که اویست بر نیک و بد رهنمای
“Take refuge in God and turn thy mind to God, for He alone is the guide to both good and evil.”
#41
گر این پند من یک به یک نشنوی
✦
به آهرمن بدکنش بگروی
“If thou dost not listen to my counsel word by word, thou shalt fall into the grip of evil-doing Ahriman.”
#42
بماندت درد و نماندت بخت
✦
نه اورنگ شاهی نه تاج و نه تخت
“Sorrow shall remain with thee and thy fortune will vanish—neither royal throne, nor crown, nor empire shall stay.”
#43
خرد باد جان ترا رهنمای
✦
به پاکی بماناد مغزت به جای
“May wisdom be the guide unto thy soul, and may thy mind remain untainted in purity!'”
#44
سخنهای دستان چو آمد به بن
✦
یلان برگشادند یکسر سخن
“When Dastan's discourse reached its end, all the heroes raised their voices together,”
#45
که ما هم برآنیم کاین پیر گفت
✦
نباید در راستی را نهفت
“Saying: 'We too stand upon what this elder hath said; the door of truth must never be concealed!'”