When word reached Lohrasp of King Kay Khusrow's mystical ascension and the departure of the royal host, he mounted the Kianian throne and donned the golden crown. The golden-girdled paladins of Iran gathered before him. Lohrasp addressed the council of nobles, saying: 'O leaders of the realm who heard the final words of King Khusrow, whosoever is not well-pleased with my throne holds no memory of royal wisdom. I shall execute every command he gave me, striving for righteousness. Keep no secrets from me, for to forsake the counsel of kings is a transgression before Yazdan.'
Zal the White-Haired, the ancient sage of Sistan, stepped forward and replied: 'Khusrow himself designated you as our sovereign. I have accepted his testament, and my feet shall never stray beyond his borders. You are king, and we are your humble servants. Neither I, nor Rostam, nor any warrior of Zabulistan shall ever sever our pledge to your throne.' Lohrasp praised Zal's devotion, acknowledging that Khusrow had formally granted Nimruz to Zal's line, declaring that his royal treasure and the crown itself belonged equally to the defenders of Iran.
Turning to Gudarz, Lohrasp bade the old paladin speak his heart. Gudarz, grieving the disappearance of his kin—Giev, Rohham, and Bizhan—replied: 'I stand alone today, yet my word is one with Dastan's. The sacred covenant we swore to Khusrow remains unbroken; you are our king, and we shall not fail your command.' At these words, all the grandees bowed low and offered prayers of allegiance.
His heart refreshed, Lohrasp selected an auspicious day—the sacred festival of Mehregan—to crown himself in the majestic tradition of Fereydun of old. He restored the royal palace of Kay Khusrow, renewed the state archives, and established his reign under the righteous turning of the heavens.
#1
چو لهراسب آگه شد از کار شاه
✦
ز لشکر که بودند با او به راه
“When Lohrasp learned of the King's departure, and of the army traveling in his train,”
#2
نشست از بر تخت با تاج زر
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برفتند گردان زرین کمر
“He sat upon the royal throne with a golden crown, as the golden-girdled paladins assembled.”
#3
به آواز گفت ای سران سپاه
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شنیده همه پند و اندرز شاه
“He raised his voice and said: 'O chieftains of the host, who have heard the King's counsel and testament,'”
#4
هرآنکس که از تخت من نیست شاد
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ندارد همی پند شاهان به یاد
“'Whoever is not well-pleased with my throne holds no memory of royal wisdom.'”
#5
مرا هرچه فرمود و گفت آن کنم
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بکوشم به نیکی و فرمان کنم
“'Whatever he commanded and spoke, I shall perform; I will strive for virtue and execute his mandates.'”
#6
شما نیز از اندرز او دست باز
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مدارید وز من مدارید راز
“'Do not abandon his advice either, and keep no secret hidden from me.'”
#7
گنهکار باشد به یزدان کسی
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که اندرز شاهان ندارد بسی
“'Whoever fails to cherish the wisdom of kings commits a grave sin before God.'”
#8
بد و نیک از این هرچه دارید یاد
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سراسر به من بر بباید گشاد
“'Whatever good or ill you recall of his guidance, disclose it all fully to me.'”
#9
چنین داد پاسخ ورا پور سام
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که خسرو ترا شاه بُردَست نام
“The son of Sam answered him: 'It was Khusrow himself who proclaimed you King.'”
#10
پذیرفته‌ام پند و اندرز او
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نیابد گذر پای از مرز او
“'I have embraced his wisdom and counsel; my foot shall never step beyond his designated boundary.'”
#11
تو شاهی و ما یکسره کهتریم
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ز رای و ز فرمان او نگذریم
“'You are the sovereign and we are all your subjects; we shall not stray from his judgment and your command.'”
#12
من و رستم و زابلی هرکه هست
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ز مهتر تو برنگسلانیم دست
“'Neither I, nor Rostam, nor any warrior of Zabulistan shall ever sever our loyalty from you, our lord.'”
#13
هرآنکس که او نه بر این ره بود
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ز نیکی ورا دست کوته بود
“'Whosoever strays from this noble path shall find his hand severed from all goodness.'”
#14
چو لهراسب گفتار دستان شنید
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بدو آفرین کرد و دم درکشید
“When Lohrasp heard the speech of Dastan, he blessed him and fell silent.”
#15
چنین گفت کز داور راستی
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شما را مبادا کم و کاستی
“He said: 'May the Righteous Judge grant that you suffer no loss or diminishment!'”
#16
که یزدان شما را بدان آفرید
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که روی بدیها شود ناپدید
“'For God created you so that the face of evil might vanish from the earth.'”
#17
جهاندار نیک‌اختر و شادروز
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شما را سپرد آن زمان نیمروز
“'The auspicious and joyful King entrusted Nimruz to your house in that golden hour.'”
#18
کنون پادشاهی جز آن هرچه هست
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بگیرید چندان که باید به دست
“'Now hold fast to whatever else of the realm you require as your rightful domain.'”
#19
مرا با شما گنج بخشیده نیست
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تن و دوده و پادشاهی یکیست
“'My treasury is not kept separate from yours; our lives, lineage, and kingship are one.'”
#20
به گودرز گفت آنچه داری نهان
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بگوی از دل ای پهلوان جهان
“Then he said to Gudarz: 'Speak from your heart, O champion of the world, whatever you hold hidden.'”
#21
بدو گفت گودرز من یک تنم
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چو بی‌گیو و رهام و بی بیژنم
“Gudarz replied to him: 'I am but a single man now, bereft of Giev, Rohham, and Bizhan...'”
#22
بر آنم سراسر که دستان بگفت
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جز این من ندارم سخن در نهفت
“'Yet I stand entirely by what Dastan has declared; I hold no other words in reserve.'”
#23
چنانم که با شاه گفتم نخست
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بدین مایه نشکست عهد درست
“'I remain steadfast as I first pledged to the King; that righteous covenant has not been broken.'”
#24
تو شاهی و ما سر به سر کهتریم
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ز پیمان و فرمان تو نگذریم
“'You are the King and we are all your servants; we shall not breach your covenant and command.'”
#25
همه مهتران خواندند آفرین
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به فرمان نهادند سر برزمین
“All the chieftains raised their voices in praise and bowed their heads to the ground in obedience.”
#26
ز گفتار ایشان دلش تازه گشت
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ببالید و بر دیگر اندازه گشت
“At their loyal speech his heart was refreshed; he swelled with pride and ascended to a new majesty.”
#27
بر آن نامداران گرفت آفرین
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که آباد بادا به گردان زمین
“He bestowed blessings upon those noble heroes, saying: 'May the world flourish through such champions!'”
#28
گزیدش یکی روز فرخنده‌تر
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که تا برنهد تاج شاهی به سر
“He chose an auspicious and blessed day to set the crown of kingship upon his head.”
#29
چنانچون فریدون فرخ‌نژاد
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بر این مهرگان تاج بر سر نهاد
“Just as the glorious Fereydun placed the crown upon his head during the autumn festival of Mehregan,”
#30
بدان مهرگان گزین او ز مهر
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کز آن راستی رفت مهر سپهر
“Upon that choice Mehregan out of love, through which the righteousness of heaven prevailed...”
#31
بیاراست ایوان کیخسروی
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بپیراست دیوان او از نوی
“He decorated the royal palace of Kay Khusrow and renovated his court anew.”
#32
چنینست گیتی فراز و نشیب
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یکی آورد دیگری را نهیب
“Such is the way of the world, with its ups and downs; one power passes and another takes the throne.”
#33
از این کار خسرو به بیرون شدیم
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سوی کار لهراسب بازآمدیم
“Now we turn away from the story of Khusrow and return to the reign and deeds of Lohrasp.”
#34
به پیروزی شهریار بلند
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کز اویست امید نیک و گزند
“By the victory of the exalted monarch, in whom rests hope of both good and fortune,”
#35
به نیکی رساند دل دوستان
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گزند آید از وی به ناراستان
“He brings goodness to the hearts of allies, while harm comes through him to the unrighteous.”