As the cycle of years turned over the realm of Iran, a holy and miraculous tree took root upon the earth—a tree whose leaves were golden counsel and whose fruit was pure wisdom. In that blessed hour appeared the holy prophet Zardosht, radiant of tread, who shattered the darkness of Ahriman. He presented himself before Goshtasp, the Kianian monarch, declaring: 'I am the prophet of the Creator of the World, sent to guide thy steps through the divine light of wisdom. Behold the vault of the heavens and the firm expanse of the earth, uplifted without pillar, water, or soil. If thou acknowledgest the supreme Architect of this cosmos, embrace His Good Religion, for power and majesty devoid of faith are but hollow dust.'
When King Goshtasp heard these cosmic truths, his heart was illuminated by the heavenly realm, and he gladly accepted the rites of the Good Religion. His lion-hearted brother Zarir, who could bring down raging war-elephants upon the battlefield, likewise bowed before the divine mandate. In those days, the aged King Lohrasp dwelt in Balkh, afflicted by severe sickness and weariness of spirit; all the renowned physicians of the realm had failed to bring him relief. Prophet Zardosht proclaimed that upon embracing the holy faith, Lohrasp would be cleansed of all pain. Thus, the old monarch, along with the grandees, mobads, and champions of the realm, bound the sacred Kusti girdle around their loins and converted to the faith. Instantly, the divine radiance of the Royal Glory (Farrah) shone forth, evil thoughts vanished from the hearts of men, sacred tombs were flooded with celestial light, and all bloodlines were purified from corruption.
Ascending his throne with renewed divine grace, King Goshtasp dispatched mobads across the provinces to raise vaulted domes over the holy fires. He established the sublime fire temple of Azar Mehrebarzin and, before its sacred portals in Kashmar, planted a sapling of the noble Cypress brought directly from Paradise. Upon the trunk of this towering cypress, Goshtasp inscribed the grand covenant: that the King of the Kians had accepted the Good Religion, establishing the paradise tree as a living witness to divine justice.
As years passed, the Cypress of Kashmar grew tremendously vast, its trunk so thick that no lasso could circle its circumference. Over its sweeping canopy, Goshtasp commissioned a magnificent golden palace—forty cubits in height and forty in breadth—constructed without mud or mortar, featuring golden halls, silver floors, and soil perfumed with ambergris. Upon its jewel-encrusted walls were painted the glorious likenesses of King Jamshid worshipping the sun and moon, and King Fereydun bearing his famed ox-headed mace, alongside all the ancient sovereigns. Enclosing this gold and gem-adorned palace within a formidable iron fortress, the King of the Earth took his seat and issued decrees across the continents: commanding all lords and champions to walk on foot to the sacred Cypress of Kashmar, abandon the idols of China, and gird themselves with the sacred Kusti in allegiance to the divine faith.
#1
چو یک چند سالان برآمد برین
✦
درختی پدید آمد اندر زمین
“As several years passed over this realm, a radiant tree sprouted upon the earth.”
#2
در ایوان گشتاسپ بر سوی کاخ
✦
درختی گشن بود بسیار شاخ
“Before the palace of Goshtasp, beside his royal hall, stood a lush tree with spreading branches.”
#3
همه برگ وی پند و بارش خرد
✦
کسی کو خرد پرورد کی مرد
“All its leaves were wisdom’s counsel and its fruit was pure understanding; whosoever nourishes wisdom shall never perish.”
#4
خجسته پی و نام او زردهشت
✦
که آهرمن بدکنش را بکشت
“Auspicious of tread, his name was Zardosht—he who vanquished evil Ahriman.”
#5
به شاه کیان گفت پیغمبرم
✦
سوی تو خرد رهنمون آورم
“He said to the Kianian king: 'I am a prophet, bringing wisdom to guide thy steps.'”
#6
جهان آفرین گفت بپذیر دین
✦
نگه کن برین آسمان و زمین
“He said: 'Accept the religion of the Creator of the World, and behold this sky and this earth,'”
#7
که بی‌خاک و آبش برآورده‌ام
✦
نگه کن بدو تاش چون کرده‌ام
“'Which I have uplifted without earth or water; look upon it and see how I have fashioned it.'”
#8
نگر تا تواند چنین کرد کس
✦
مگر من که هستم جهاندار و بس
“'Behold if anyone else could accomplish such a work, save Me, who am the Lord of the Universe and none other.'”
#9
گر ایدونک دانی که من کردم این
✦
مرا خواند باید جهان‌آفرین
“'If thou knowest that I alone created this, then thou must call Me the Creator of All.'”
#10
ز گوینده بپذیر به دین اوی
✦
بیاموز ازو راه و آیین اوی
“Accept the Good Religion from its messenger, and learn from him his path and holy rites.”
#11
نگر تا چه گوید بران کار کن
✦
خرد برگزین این جهان خوار کن
“Mark well what he commands and act upon it; choose wisdom and count worldly vanity as nothing.”
#12
بیاموز آیین و دین بهی
✦
که بی‌دین ناخوب باشد مهی
“Learn the rites of the Good Religion, for greatness without faith is unworthy and hollow.”
#13
چو بشنید ازو شاه به دین به
✦
پذیرفت ازو راه و آیین به
“When the king heard the message of the Good Religion from him, he accepted its noble path and holy rites.”
#14
نبرده برادرش فرخ زریر
✦
کجا ژنده پیل آوریدی به زیر
“Likewise his warlike brother, the glorious Zarir, who could bring down fierce elephants in battle.”
#15
ز شاهان شه پیر گشته به بلخ
✦
جهان بر دل ریش او گشته تلخ
“And the old king of kings, retired in Balkh, whose wounded heart felt the bitterness of the world.”
#16
شده زار و بیمار و بی‌هوش و توش
✦
به نزدیک او زهر مانند نوش
“He had grown frail, sick, and bereft of strength, to whom even sweet nectar tasted like poison.”
#17
سران و بزرگان و هر مهتران
✦
پزشکان دانا و ناموران
“Chieftains, nobles, and all great men, together with wise and renowned physicians,”
#18
بر آن جادوی چارها ساختند
✦
نه سود آمد از هرچ انداختند
“Tried every cure and remedy upon that affliction, yet nothing brought relief.”
#19
پس این زردهشت پیمبرش گفت
✦
کزو دین ایزد نشاید نهفت
“Then Zardosht the prophet said to him, revealing that God’s true religion must not be concealed:”
#20
که چون دین پذیرد ز روز نخست
✦
شود رسته از درد و گردد درست
“'When he accepts the faith from the very first day, he shall be delivered from pain and restored to health.'”
#21
شهنشاه و زین پس زریر سوار
✦
همه دین پذیرنده از شهریار
“The King of Kings and then the cavalier Zarir, and all who followed the monarch accepted the faith.”
#22
همه سوی شاه زمین آمدند
✦
ببستند کشتی به دین آمدند
“They all flocked to the King of the Earth, girded themselves with the sacred Kusti, and embraced the religion.”
#23
پدید آمد آن فره ایزدی
✦
برفت از دل بد سگالان بدی
“The radiant Divine Glory shone forth, and malice departed from the hearts of evil-thinkers.”
#24
پر از نور مینو ببد دخمه‌ها
✦
وز آلودگی پاک شد تخمه‌ها
“The sacred tombs were filled with heavenly light, and all lineages were cleansed of impurity.”
#25
پس آزاده گشتاسپ برشد به گاه
✦
فرستاد هرسو به کشور سپاه
“Then noble Goshtasp ascended the throne and sent armies to every corner of the realm.”
#26
پراگنده اندر جهان موبدان
✦
نهاد از بر آذران گنبدان
“He dispersed mobads throughout the world and built vaulted domes over the holy fires.”
#27
نخست آذر مهربرزین نهاد
✦
به کشمر نگر تا چه آیین نهاد
“First he established the fire temple of Azar Mehrebarzin, and behold what holy rites he ordained in Kashmar!”
#28
یکی سرو آزاده بود از بهشت
✦
به پیش در آذر آن را بکشت
“There was a noble cypress brought from Paradise, which he planted before the portal of the fire temple.”
#29
نبشتی بر زاد سرو سهی
✦
که پذرفت گشتاسپ دین بهی
“Upon the trunk of that tall, straight cypress he wrote that Goshtasp had accepted the Good Religion.”
#30
گوا کرد مر سرو آزاد را
✦
چنین گستراند خرد داد را
“He made that noble cypress a witness, spreading wisdom and justice in such a manner.”
#31
چو چندی برآمد برین سالیان
✦
مران سرو استبر گشتش میان
“When a few years had passed over it, that cypress grew thick and mighty at its trunk.”
#32
چنان گشت آزاد سرو بلند
✦
که برگرد او برنگشتی کمند
“So lofty and vast became that noble cypress that no lasso could circle its circumference.”
#33
چو بسیار برگشت و بسیار شاخ
✦
بکرد از بر او یکی خوب کاخ
“As its leaves multiplied and its branches spread wide, he constructed a magnificent palace over it.”
#34
چهل رش به بالا و پهنا چهل
✦
نکرد از بنه اندرو آب و گل
“Forty cubits high and forty cubits wide, built without water or clay at its base.”
#35
دو ایوان برآورد از زر پاک
✦
زمینش ز سیم و ز عنبرش خاک
“He raised two grand halls of pure gold, with floors of silver and dust of ambergris.”
#36
برو بر نگارید جمشید را
✦
پرستنده مر ماه و خورشید را
“Upon its walls he caused Jamshid to be painted, worshipping the moon and the sun.”
#37
فریدونش را نیز با گاوسار
✦
بفرمود کردن برانجا نگار
“He likewise commanded Fereydun to be depicted there, bearing his ox-headed mace.”
#38
همه مهتران را بر آن‌جا نگاشت
✦
نگر تا چنان کامگاری که داشت
“He depicted all the great lords of old upon those walls; behold what glory and power he possessed!”
#39
چو نیکو شد آن نامور کاخ زر
✦
به دیوارها بر نشانده گهر
“When that glorious golden palace was completed, studded with jewels upon every wall,”
#40
به گردش یکی باره کرد آهنین
✦
نشست اندرو کرد شاه زمین
“He built an iron wall around it, and there the King of the Earth took up his royal seat.”
#41
فرستاد هرسو به کشور پیام
✦
که چون سرو کشمر به گیتی کدام
“He dispatched messages to every corner of the realm, proclaiming: 'What tree in all the world can compare to the Cypress of Kashmar?'”
#42
ز مینو فرستاد زی من خدای
✦
مرا گفت زینجا به مینو گرای
“'God sent it to me from Paradise, and commanded me: From this place, turn thy heart toward Heaven.'”
#43
کنون هرک این پند من بشنوید
✦
پیاده سوی سرو کشمر روید
“'Now, whoever among you hearth my counsel, walk on foot toward the Cypress of Kashmar!'”
#44
بگیرید پند ار دهد زردهشت
✦
به سوی بت چین بدارید پشت
“'Receive the counsel that Zardosht giveth, and turn your backs upon the idols of China!'”
#45
به برز و فر شاه ایرانیان
✦
ببندید کشتی همه بر میان
“'By the stature and Divine Glory of the King of the Iranians, gird your loins with the sacred Kusti!'”
#46
در آیین پیشینیان منگرید
✦
برین سایهٔ سروبن بگذرید
“Look no longer upon the customs of the ancients; come instead beneath the shade of this sacred cypress tree.”
#47
سوی گنبد آذر آرید روی
✦
به فرمان پیغمبر راست‌گوی
“Turn your faces toward the dome of the Sacred Fire, by the command of the truthful prophet.”
#48
پراگنده فرمانش اندر جهان
✦
سوی نامداران و سوی مهان
“His decree was proclaimed across the realm, reaching every noble ruler and chieftain.”
#49
همه نامداران به فرمان اوی
✦
سوی سرو کشمر نهادند روی
“All the renowned nobles, obeying his command, turned their steps toward the Cypress of Kashmar.”
#50
پرستشکده گشت زان سان که پشت
✦
ببست اندرو دیو را زردهشت
“It became a holy temple of such power that within its walls Zoroaster bound the demon of dark night.”
#51
بهشتیش خوان ار ندانی همی
✦
چرا سرو کشمرش خوانی همی
“Call it a heavenly entity if you lack full knowledge; for why else would you speak of the Cypress of Kashmar?”
#52
چراکش نخوانی نهال بهشت
✦
که شاه کیانش به کشمر بکشت
“Why would you not call it a sapling of Paradise, which the Kayanid king himself planted in Kashmar?”