When word reached Turan that King Goshtasp had accepted the newly revealed faith of Zoroaster and bound the sacred girdle, King Arjasp of Turan burned with wrath. Gathering his chieftains and sorcerers, he chose two formidable envoys to ride to the Iranian court: Bidarafsh the Elder, a grim warrior versed in dark sorceries, and Namkhwast, a wicked spellcaster whose heart craved only ruin.
Arjasp composed a mighty epistle, opening with the name of the Sovereign Lord of the Universe who beholds all secrets and manifestations. In this royal letter, Arjasp addressed Goshtasp as the noble son of King Lohrasp and the heir to the glory of Jamshid and Kay Khosrow, acknowledging the unmatched splendour Goshtasp had enjoyed under the heavens. Yet, the letter swiftly turned to bitter reproach: Arjasp lamented how an old sorcerer-deceiver had cast a pall over the world, instilling dread of hell and phantom promises of heaven into Goshtasp’s heart, stripping away his ancestral joy.
Arjasp condemned the Iranian monarch for abandoning the ancient Pahlavi rites of his forebears and turning his back on divine gratitude. Appealing to their former alliance, Arjasp offered an ultimatum disguised as counsel: Goshtasp must unbind the new girdle, banish the deceiver from his court, and return to traditional feast and wine. Should Goshtasp comply, Arjasp promised endless tribute—heaps of gold, precious jewels, swift horses adorned with gem-studded harnesses, and moon-faced maidens—granting Iran dominion over the lands of Turan and Khotan.
Yet, should Goshtasp refuse this advice, Arjasp swore a terrifying oath: he would march at the head of an uncountable Turanian horde that would cause the earth to groan under its weight. They would choke the waters of the Oxus, burn the polished palaces of Iran to dust, and tear up every tree by its roots. The old men of Iran would be put to the sword without mercy, and their women and children carried off in chains into perpetual servitude, leaving the realm of Iran a scorched wasteland.
#1
برین ایستادند ترکان چین
✦
دو تن نیز کردند زیشان گزین
“Upon this resolution stood the Turks of China; they selected two men from among their ranks.”
#2
یکی نام او بیدرفش بزرگ
✦
گوی پیر و جادو ستنبه سترگ
“One was named Bidarafsh the Great, an aged champion, formidable and versed in sorcery.”
#3
دگر جادوی نام او نام خواست
✦
که هرگز دلش جز تباهی نخواست
“The other was a sorcerer named Namkhwast, whose heart sought nothing but ruin.”
#4
یکی نامه بنوشت خوب و هژیر
✦
سوی نامور خسرو و دین پذیر
“Arjasp wrote a eloquent and fine letter to the renowned king who had accepted the new faith.”
#5
نوشتش به نام خدای جهان
✦
شناسندهٔ آشکار و نهان
“He inscribed it in the name of the God of the world, the Knower of all that is hidden and manifest.”
#6
نوشتم یکی نامه‌ای شهریار
✦
چنانچون بد اندر خور روزگار
“He wrote: 'I have drafted a royal letter, King, fitting for the present age,'”
#7
سوی گرد گشتاسپ شاه زمین
✦
سزاوار گاه کیان بافرین
“'Unto the hero Goshtasp, king of the earth, worthy of the gloriously blessed Kianian throne,'”
#8
گزین و مهین پور لهراسپ شاه
✦
خداوند جیش و نگهدار گاه
“'The chosen and eldest son of King Lohrasp, lord of host and guardian of the throne,'”
#9
ز ارجاسپ سالار گردان چین
✦
سوار جهان‌دیده گرد زمین
“'From Arjasp, leader of the Turanian heroes, the battle-tested knight of the earth.'”
#10
نوشت اندران نامهٔ خسروی
✦
نکو آفرینی خط یبغوی
“He wrote in that royal letter high praises in the customary script of rulers.”
#11
که ای نامور شهریار جهان
✦
فروزندهٔ تاج شاهنشهان
“'O illustrious ruler of the world, illuminating crown of emperors,'”
#12
سرت سبز باد و تن و جان درست
✦
مبادت کیانی کمرگاه سست
“'May your head remain verdant, body and soul healthy, and your Kianian belt never grow loose!'”
#13
شنیدم که راهی گرفتی تباه
✦
مرا روز روشن بکردی سیاه
“'I heard you have chosen a ruinous path, turning my bright day into black night.'”
#14
بیامد یکی پیر مهتر فریب
✦
ترا دل پر از بیم کرد و نهیب
“'An old, deceiver of nobles arrived and filled your heart with fear and dread.'”
#15
سخن گفتش از دوزخ و از بهشت
✦
به دلت اندرون هیچ شادی نهشت
“'He spoke to you of hell and heaven, leaving no joy remaining within your heart.'”
#16
تو او را پذیرفتی و دینش را
✦
بیاراستی راه و آیینش را
“'You accepted him and his faith, adorning his path and custom.'”
#17
برافگندی آیین شاهان خویش
✦
بزرگان گیتی که بودند پیش
“'You cast aside the tradition of your kings, the ancient sovereigns who came before.'”
#18
رها کردی آن پهلوی کیش را
✦
چرا ننگریدی پس و پیش را
“'You abandoned that ancient Pahlavi faith—why did you not look behind and ahead?'”
#19
تو فرزند آنی که فرخنده شاه
✦
بدو داد تاج از میان سپاه
“'You are the son of that blessed king to whom the crown was given amidst the host.'”
#20
ورا برگزید از گزینان خویش
✦
ز جمشیدیان مر ترا داشت پیش
“'He chose him from among his elite, prioritizing your lineage over the Jamshidians.'”
#21
بران سان که کیخسرو کینه‌جوی
✦
ترا بیش بود از کیان آبروی
“'Just as vengeance-seeking Kay Khosrow held your honor higher than all other Kians.'”
#22
بزرگی و شاهی و فرخندگی
✦
توانایی و فر و زیبندگی
“'Greatness, sovereignty, auspiciousness, power, Divine Glory, and elegance were yours.'”
#23
درفشان و پیلان آراسته
✦
بسی لشکر و گنج و بس خواسته
“'Resplendent banners, adorned war-elephants, abundant armies, treasures, and vast wealth.'”
#24
همی بودت ای مهتر شهریار
✦
همه مهتران مر ترا دوستدار
“'All grandees loved you, O noble sovereign ruler.'”
#25
همی تافتی بر جهان یکسره
✦
چو اردیبهشت آفتاب از بره
“'You shone over the entire world like the sun of Ordibehesht rising over Aries.'”
#26
زگیتی ترا برگزیده خدای
✦
مهانت همه پیش بوده به پای
“'God had chosen you above all the world, and all nobles stood ready before you.'”
#27
نکردی خدای جهان را سپاس
✦
نبودی بدین ره ورا حق شناس
“'Yet you gave no thanks to the Lord of the world, nor showed gratitude for this path.'”
#28
ازان پس که ایزد ترا شاه کرد
✦
یکی پیر جادوت بی راه کرد
“'After God made you king, an old sorcerer led you astray from the righteous path.'”
#29
چو آگاهی تو سوی من رسید
✦
به روز سپیدم ستاره بدید
“'When news of your deed reached me, stars became visible to me in bright daylight.'”
#30
نوشتم یکی نامهٔ دوست وار
✦
که هم دوست بودیم و هم نیک یار
“'I have written a friendly letter, for we were once companions and good allies.'”
#31
چو نامه بخوانی سر و تن بشوی
✦
فریبنده را نیز منمای روی
“'When you read this letter, wash head and body, and never show your face to that deceiver again.'”
#32
مران بند را از میان باز کن
✦
به شادی می روشن آغاز کن
“'Unbind that sacred girdle from your waist, and begin joyously with clear wine.'”
#33
گرایدونک بپذیری از من تو پند
✦
ز ترکان ترا نیز ناید گزند
“'If you accept my counsel, no harm shall come to you from the Turks.'”
#34
زمین کشانی و ترکان چین
✦
ترا باشد این همچو ایران زمین
“'The realm of the Kashanis and the Turks of China shall belong to you just like Iran.'”
#35
به تو بخشم این بی‌کران گنجها
✦
که آورده‌ام گرد با رنجها
“'I shall bestow upon you these boundless treasures that I have amassed through toil.'”
#36
نکورنگ اسپان با سیم و زر
✦
به استامها در نشانده گهر
“'Beautiful horses adorned with gold and silver, their harnesses embedded with jewels.'”
#37
غلامان فرستمت با خواسته
✦
نگاران با جعد آراسته
“'I shall send you slaves laden with wealth, and fair maidens with braided tresses.'”
#38
و ایدونک نپذیری این پند من
✦
ببینی گران آهنین بند من
“'But if you do not accept my advice, you shall behold my heavy iron bonds.'”
#39
بیایم پس نامه تا چندگاه
✦
کنم کشورت را سراسر تباه
“'I shall march shortly after this letter and lay waste to your whole country.'”
#40
سپاهی بیارم ز ترکان چین
✦
که بنگاهشان بر نتابد زمین
“'I will bring a host of Turks from China such that the earth will not bear their encampment.'”
#41
بینبارم این رود جیحون به مشک
✦
به مشک آب دریا کنم پاک خشک
“'I will fill the River Jayhun with musk, and dry up the sea’s waters completely.'”
#42
بسوزم نگاریده کاخ ترا
✦
ز بن برکنم بیخ و شاخ ترا
“'I shall burn your ornate palace to the ground and uproot your line entirely.'”
#43
زمین را سراسر بسوزم همه
✦
کتفتان به ناوک بدوزم همه
“'I will scorch the entire land and stitch your shoulders together with arrows.'”
#44
ز ایرانیان هرچ مردست پیر
✦
کشان بنده کردن نباشد هژیر
“'As for the aged men of Iran, it is not fitting to make slaves of them.'”
#45
ازیشان نیابی فزونی بها
✦
کنمشان همه سر ز گردن جدا
“'No ransom can be gained for them; I shall sever all their heads from their necks.'”
#46
زن و کودکانشان بیارم ز پیش
✦
کنمشان همه بندهٔ شهر خویش
“'Their women and children I shall drag away and make them all slaves in my city.'”
#47
زمینشان همه پاک ویران کنم
✦
درختانش از بیخ و بن برکنم
“'I shall utterly desolate their land and uproot all their trees from the base.'”
#48
بگفتم همه گفتنی سر بسر
✦
تو ژرف اندرین پند نامه نگر
“'I have stated all that needed to be said; ponder deeply upon this letter of warning!'”