As time passed under the auspicious star of King Goshtasp, the venerable Zarathustra bestowed holy counsel upon the Kianian court. He urged the king of Iran that, under the sacred faith, it was unfitting for the Iranian monarch to pay tribute and toll to the lord of Turan and Chin, for none of the ancient kings of yore had ever humbled themselves to pay tribute to the Turks. Goshtasp accepted the prophet's divine wisdom and vowed never again to send tribute to the realm of Turan.
Soon, a malignant demon learned of this defiance and flew upon the wind to the court of Arjasp, King of Chin and Turan. The demon addressed the Turanian ruler, proclaiming that while the entire world obeyed Arjasp's command, Goshtasp, son of Lohrasp, had cast off his allegiance and raised an army against Turan. Hearing this, Arjasp descended from his throne in anguish, stricken with grief and fury. He summoned the mighty commanders of his host and revealed that glory and wisdom had departed from Iran, for a sorcerer claiming prophethood had emerged, alleging he had descended from the heavens bearing the scriptures of Zand and Avesta from God.
Arjasp recounted how Goshtasp and his valiant brother Zarir, along with the nobles of Iran, had bound the sacred girdle about their waists and embraced the new creed. Resolving to crush this apostasy, Arjasp decided to dispatch a letter filled with stern warnings alongside lavish treasures, demanding that Goshtasp abandon this path, banish the holy prophet, and return to their ancestral rites. Should Goshtasp refuse, Arjasp vowed to assemble a vast, scattered army, march into Iran, humiliate the Kianian king, and hang him alive upon a gallows.
#1
چو چندی برآمد برین روزگار
✦
خجسته ببود اختر شهریار
“When some time had passed in this era, the king's star shone blessed and bright.”
#2
به شاه کیان گفت زردشت پیر
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که در دین ما این نباشد هژیر
“Old Zarathustra said to the Kianian king: 'In our faith, this is not proper or noble,'”
#3
که تو باژ بدهی به سالار چین
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نه اندر خور دین ما باشد این
“'That you should pay tribute to the lord of Chin; this is not worthy of our religion.'”
#4
نباشم برین نیز همداستان
✦
که شاهان ما درگه باستان
“'Nor do I consent to this, for our ancient kings of long ago,'”
#5
به ترکان نداد ایچ کس باژ و ساو
✦
برین روزگار گذشته بتاو
“'Never gave tribute or toll to the Turks in all the times that have passed.'”
#6
پذیرفت گشتاسپ گفتا که نیز
✦
نفرمایمش دادن این باژ چیز
“Goshtasp accepted his word and said: 'I shall no longer order this tribute to be given.'”
#7
پس آگاه شد نره دیوی ازین
✦
هم‌اندرز زمان شد سوی شاه چین
“Then a fierce demon learned of this, and straightway departed toward the King of Chin.”
#8
بدو گفت کای شهریار جهان
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جهان یکسره پیش تو چون کهان
“He said to him: 'O sovereign of the world, before whom all the world stands like vassals,'”
#9
به جای آوریدند فرمان تو
✦
نتابد کسی سر ز پیمان تو
“'Everyone carries out your command, and none turns their head from your covenant,'”
#10
مگر پورلهراسپ گشتاسپ شاه
✦
که آرد همی سوی ترکان سپاه
“'Except King Goshtasp, son of Lohrasp, who is bringing an army against the Turks.'”
#11
برد آشکارا همه دشمنی
✦
ابا تو چنو کرد یارد منی
“'He displays open enmity; who else would dare such arrogance against you?'”
#12
چو ارجاسپ بشنید گفتار دیو
✦
فرود آمد از گاه گیهان خدیو
“When Arjasp heard the words of the demon, the lord of the world stepped down from his throne.”
#13
از اندوه او سست و بیمار شد
✦
دل و جان او پر ز تیمار شد
“From his sorrow he became weak and ill; his heart and soul were filled with grief.”
#14
تگینان لشکرش را پیش خواند
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شنیده سخن پیش ایشان براند
“He summoned the commanders of his army and recounted what he had heard before them.”
#15
بدانید گفتا کز ایران زمین
✦
بشد فره و دانش و پاک دین
“He said: 'Know ye that from the land of Iran, glory, wisdom, and pure faith have departed.'”
#16
یکی جادو آمد به دین آوری
✦
به ایران به دعوی پیغمبری
“'A sorcerer has appeared bringing a new faith, claiming prophethood in Iran.'”
#17
همی گوید از آسمان آمدم
✦
ز نزد خدای جهان آمدم
“'He keeps saying: "I have come from heaven, from the presence of the God of the world."'”
#18
خداوند را دیدم اندر بهشت
✦
من این زند و استا همه زو نوشت
“'"I saw the Lord in Paradise; he wrote all this Zand and Avesta for me."'”
#19
بدوزخ درون دیدم آهرمنا
✦
نیارستمش گشت پیرامنا
“'"Inside Hell I saw Ahriman, yet I dared not approach him."'”
#20
گروگر فرستادم از بهر دین
✦
بیارای گفتا به دانش زمین
“'"He sent me forth for the sake of the faith, saying: Adorn the earth with wisdom."'”
#21
سرنامداران ایران سپاه
✦
گرانمایه فرزند لهراسپ شاه
“'The leader of the noble ones of Iran's army, the glorious son of King Lohrasp,'”
#22
که گشتاسپ خوانندش ایرانیان
✦
ببست او یکی کشتی بر میان
“'Whom the Iranians call Goshtasp, has bound a sacred girdle about his waist.'”
#23
برادرش نیز آن سوار دلیر
✦
سپهدار ایران که نامش زریر
“'His brother too, that valiant knight, the commander of Iran named Zarir,'”
#24
همه پیش آن دین پژوه آمدند
✦
ازان پیر جادو ستوه آمدند
“'They all came before that seeker of faith, captivated by that old sorcerer.'”
#25
گرفتند ازو سربسر دین اوی
✦
جهان شد پر از راه و آیین اوی
“'They entirely accepted his faith from him; the world became filled with his path and custom.'”
#26
نشست او به ایران به پیغمبری
✦
به کاری چنان یافه و سرسری
“'He sat in Iran claiming prophethood, engaged in such a foolish and casual affair.'”
#27
یکی نامه باید نوشتن کنون
✦
سوی آن زده سر ز فرمان برون
“'A letter must now be written to him who has turned his head from our command.'”
#28
ببایدش دادن بسی خواسته
✦
که نیکو بود داده ناخواسته
“'We should send him much wealth, for gifts given unasked are pleasant.'”
#29
مر او را بگویی کزین راه زشت
✦
بگرد و بترس از خدای بهشت
“'You must tell him to turn away from this foul path and fear the God of Paradise.'”
#30
مر آن پیر ناپاک را دور کن
✦
بر آیین ما بر یکی سور کن
“'Drive away that impure old man, and hold a celebration according to our custom.'”
#31
گر ایدونک نپذیرد از ما سخن
✦
کند روی تازه بما بر کهن
“'If he does not accept our words, turning his fresh face old against us,'”
#32
سپاه پراگنده باز آوریم
✦
یکی خوب لشکر فراز آوریم
“'We shall gather our scattered forces and bring together a fine army.'”
#33
به ایران شویم از پس کار اوی
✦
نترسیم از آزار و پیکار اوی
“'We shall march to Iran after him, unafraid of his anger and combat.'”
#34
برانیمش از پیش و خوارش کنیم
✦
ببندیم و زنده به دارش کنیم
“'We shall drive him out, humiliate him, bind him, and hang him alive upon the gallows!'”