When Kay Khosrow had finished bestowing honors and lands upon the great heroes of Iran, his mind was eased of its worldly burdens. Among all the chieftains, only Luhrasp remained unaddressed from the royal register. The King bade Bijan bring forth a crown and summon Luhrasp to his presence. As Luhrasp entered, the monarch rose, praised him, and took his hands. Then, stepping down from the renowned ivory throne, Kay Khosrow lifted the radiant Crown of the Kians from his head and placed it upon Luhrasp, transferring the sovereignty of Iran unto his shoulders.
Taking leave of the ivory throne, Khosrow bestowed his blessing upon the new sovereign: 'May this crown prove auspicious unto thee, and may the world bow in tribute before thy throne. Having endured endless strife and toil, I now hand over the kingship, the treasure, and the crown to thee. Let thy tongue speak naught but justice henceforth, and keep the Demon far from thy soul if thou desirest thy fortune to remain young. Be wise, harmless, and ever watchful over thy soul.' Then turning to the assembled nobility of Iran, he bade them rejoice in Luhrasp's reign.
Yet a wave of astonishment and anger swept through the assembly. The Iranian chieftains raged like fierce lions, marveling that Luhrasp should be proclaimed King. Zal, the venerable sage of Seistan, rose to his feet and spoke his mind directly: 'O exalted Sovereign! May dust fill the head of anyone who acknowledges Luhrasp as King! When he first arrived in Iran at the house of Zarasb, I saw him as a destitute traveler with but a single horse! Thou didst send him to the war of the Alans, granting him an army, a banner, and a belt. Among so many lords of royal lineage, did no one occur to the King’s memory that he bestows the crown upon one whose heritage and art are unknown?' A grand clamor arose from the Iranian host, swearing they would no longer gird their loins for battle nor seek renown if Luhrasp were to be their ruler.
Kay Khosrow listened to Zal's outburst and responded with quiet majesty: 'Hasten not, O Zal, nor indulge in wrath! Whoever utters unrighteous words reaps only smoke from fire. God Almighty is witness to my soul that these truths belong to Luhrasp: he possesses modesty, faith, and wisdom, reaping only good from his deeds. He is the noble great-grandson of King Hushang—wise, clear-sighted, and pure-handed! He shall wipe out the trace of sorcerers from the earth and reveal the pure path of Yazdan. The era shall grow young through his counsel, as shall his own immaculate son. Offer your blessings upon his kingship and turn not away from my counsel.'
Upon hearing these sacred assurances, Zal was overwhelmed with regret. Reaching down, he picked up black soil and pressed it to his lips, soiling his mouth in deep contrition. In a loud voice, he proclaimed Luhrasp as King and addressed Khosrow: 'Who but the victorious King could have known that Luhrasp possesses the blood of ancient monarchs? By this black earth with which I have smudged my lips, count not my hasty oath as a sin against me!'
#1
ز کار بزرگان چو پردخته شد
✦
شهنشاه زآن رنجها رخته شد
“When he had concluded his duties regarding the noble lords, the King of Kings was freed from those burdens.”
#2
از آن مهتران نام لهراسب ماند
✦
که از دفتر شاه کس برنخواند
“Among those chieftains, only Luhrasp remained, whose name no one had yet read from the royal register.”
#3
به بیژن بفرمود تا با کلاه
✦
بیاورد لهراسب را نزد شاه
“He commanded Bijan to fetch Luhrasp before the King, bearing a crown.”
#4
چو دیدش جهاندار برپای جست
✦
بر او آفرین کرد و بگشاد دست
“When the Lord of the World saw him, he rose to his feet, praised him, and extended his hands.”
#5
فرود آمد از نامور تخت عاج
✦
ز سر برگرفت آن دل‌افروز تاج
“He stepped down from the renowned ivory throne and removed the heart-delighting crown from his head.”
#6
به لهراسب بسپرد و کرد آفرین
✦
همه پادشاهی ایران زمین
“He entrusted all the realm of Iran to Luhrasp, bestowing blessings upon him.”
#7
همی کرد پدرود آن تخت عاج
✦
بر او آفرین کرد و بر تخت و تاج
“He bade farewell to that ivory throne, offering praise to it and to the crown and throne.”
#8
که این تاج نو بر تو فرخنده باد
✦
جهان سر به سر پیش تو بنده باد
“He said: 'May this new crown be fortunate upon thee, and may the whole world serve before thee.'”
#9
سپردم به تو شاهی و تاج و گنج
✦
از آن پس که دیدم بسی درد و رنج
“'I hand over to thee the sovereignty, crown, and treasure, after enduring much pain and grief.'”
#10
مگردان زبان ز این سپس جز بداد
✦
که از داد باشی تو پیروز و شاد
“'Henceforth turn not thy tongue except toward justice, that through justice thou mayest remain victorious and glad.'”
#11
مکن دیو را آشنا با روان
✦
چو خواهی که بختت بماند جوان
“'Befriend not the Demon with thy soul, if thou desirest thy fortune to remain youthful.'”
#12
خردمند باش و بی‌آزار باش
✦
همیشه روان را نگهدار باش
“'Be wise and harmless; ever guard the sanctity of thy soul.'”
#13
به ایرانیان گفت کز بخت اوی
✦
بباشید شادان دل از تخت اوی
“He said to the Iranians: 'Through his fortune, keep your hearts joyful under his throne.'”
#14
شگفت اندر او مانده ایرانیان
✦
برآشفته هر یک چو شیر ژیان
“The Iranians remained lost in wonder at him, each raging like a fierce lion.”
#15
همی هر کسی در شگفتی بماند
✦
که لهراسب را شاه بایست خواند
“Everyone was filled with astonishment that Luhrasp should be proclaimed the King.”
#16
از آن انجمن زال بر پای خاست
✦
بگفت آنچه بودش به دل رای راست
“From that assembly Zal stood up, and expressed the righteous counsel of his heart.”
#17
چنین گفت کای شهریار بلند
✦
سزد گر کنی خاک را ارجمند
“Thus he spoke: 'O lofty Monarch! It were fitting if thou didst grant honor even to the dust.'”
#18
سر بخت آن کس پر از خاک باد
✦
روان ورا خاک تریاک باد
“'May the head of fortune of him who calls Luhrasp a king in justice be filled with dust, and may dust be his soul's antidote!'”
#19
که لهراسب را شاه خواند به داد
✦
ز بیداد هرگز نگیریم یاد
“'We shall never recall injustice; yet when he came to Iran unto Zarasb,'”
#20
به ایران چو آمد به نزد زرسب
✦
فرومایه‌ای دیدمش با یک اسب
“'I saw him as a wretched man possessing but a single steed!'”
#21
به جنگ الانان فرستادیش
✦
سپاه و درفش و کمر دادیش
“'Thou didst send him to the war of the Alans, giving him an army, a banner, and a girded belt.'”
#22
ز چندین بزرگان خسرو نژاد
✦
نیامد کسی بر دل شاه یاد
“'Among so many grandees of royal Khosrowid lineage, did no one occur to the King's memory?'”
#23
نژادش ندانم ندیدم هنر
✦
از این گونه نشنیده‌ام تاجور
“'I know not his lineage, nor have I seen any art in him; never have I heard of such a crown-wearer!'”
#24
خروشی برآمد ز ایرانیان
✦
کز این پس نبندیم شاها میان
“A clamor arose from the Iranians: 'O King, we shall no longer gird our loins from this day forward!'”
#25
نجوییم کس نام در کارزار
✦
چو لهراسب را کی کند شهریار
“'We shall seek no fame in battle, if Luhrasp is to be made our Monarch!'”
#26
چو بشنید خسرو ز دستان سخن
✦
بدو گفت مشتاب و تندی مکن
“When Khosrow heard Dastan's words, he said to him: 'Hasten not, nor act in fierce rage;'”
#27
که هر کس که بیداد گوید همی
✦
به جز دود ز آتش نجوید همی
“'For whoever speaks unrighteousness seeks nothing from fire save smoke.'”
#28
که نپسندد از ما بدی دادگر
✦
نه هر کاو بدی کرد بیند گهر
“'The Just Ruler accepts no evil from us; nor does anyone who does evil behold a noble outcome.'”
#29
که یزدان کسی را کند نیک بخت
✦
سزاوار شاهی و زیبای تخت
“'Whomever Yazdan renders prosperous is worthy of kingship and beautifies the throne.'”
#30
جهان‌آفرین بر روانم گواست
✦
که گشت این سخنها به لهراسب راست
“'The World-Creator is witness to my soul that these truths apply to Luhrasp:'”
#31
که دارد همی شرم و دین و خرد
✦
ز کردار نیکی همی برخورد
“'He possesses modesty, religion, and wisdom, and reaps the fruit of good deeds.'”
#32
نبیرهٔ جهاندار هوشنگ هست
✦
خردمند و بینادل و پاک‌دست
“'He is the descendant of the World-Ruler Hushang—wise, clear-sighted, and clean-handed.'”
#33
پی جادوان بگسلاند ز خاک
✦
پدید آورد راه یزدان پاک
“'He shall sever the track of sorcerers from the earth and make plain the path of holy Yazdan.'”
#34
زمانه جوان گردد از پند اوی
✦
بدین هم بود پاک فرزند اوی
“'The times shall grow young through his counsel, and such too shall be his immaculate son.'”
#35
به شاهی بر او آفرین گسترید
✦
وز این پند و اندرز من مگذرید
“'Bestow blessings upon his kingship, and transgress not my counsel and advice.'”
#36
هر آن کس کز اندرز من درگذشت
✦
همه رنج او پیش من باد گشت
“'Whoever transgresses my advice, all his labor before me shall turn to wind.'”
#37
چنین هم ز یزدان بود ناسپاس
✦
به دلش اندر آید ز هر سو هراس
“'Likewise shall he be ungrateful to Yazdan, and fear shall enter his heart from every side.'”
#38
چو بشنید زال این سخنهای پاک
✦
بیازید انگشت و بر زد به خاک
“When Zal heard these holy words, he stretched out his fingers and struck the soil.”
#39
بیالود لب را به خاک سیاه
✦
به آواز لهراسب را خواند شاه
“He soiled his lips with black earth, and aloud he hailed Luhrasp as King.”
#40
به شاه جهان گفت خرم بدی
✦
همیشه ز تو دور دست بدی
“He said to the Lord of the World: 'Mayest thou be happy, and may the hand of evil ever be far from thee!'”
#41
که دانست جز شاه پیروز و راد
✦
که لهراسب دارد ز شاهان نژاد
“'Who knew except the victorious and generous King that Luhrasp possesses royal lineage?'”
#42
چو سوگند خوردم به خاک سیاه
✦
لب آلوده شد مشمر آن از گناه
“'Since I swore an oath by the black soil and soiled my lips, count not my mistake as a sin.'”