When Arjasp finished penning his arrogant ultimatum, he sealed the letter and committed it to his two fierce champions, the vengeful Bidarafsh and the headstrong Namkhwast. He instructed them to travel to the Iranian court with dignity, bow low before the resplendent crown of Goshtasp, deliver the sovereign words, await his answer, and then kiss the threshold before taking their leave.
Bearing the royal standard, Bidarafsh and Namkhwast made their way toward the luminous city of Balkh. Upon arriving at the Iranian capital, they dismounted at the palace gates and walked humbly toward the throne room. There sat King Goshtasp upon his golden dais, his majesty shining like the Sun and Mercury arrayed beside the Moon. The envoys offered homage like loyal servants and handed over the scroll, written in the Yabghu script.
As the King of the World opened the letter and read its hostile demands, his heart flared with fury. He immediately summoned old Jamasp, the wise counselor and guide of the realm. He gathered the Iranian commanders, the high priests, and the mobads, ordering the sacred Avesta to be brought forth alongside the Prophet Zarathustra. At the right hand of the throne sat Prince Zarir, the Commander-in-Chief of Iran.
In those days, Zarir was the ultimate shield of the empire and the realm's premier world-champion, for young Prince Esfandiyar was still but a child. With his mighty spear, Zarir had cleansed the land of evil. Goshtasp turned to Zarir, the prudent Jamasp, and the assembled heroes, presenting the ugly terms of the Turanian king. 'Behold the vile words Arjasp has sent us,' Goshtasp declared. 'How do you counsel we act? Friendship with the foolish yields only bitter fruit. I spring from the pure lineage of Iraj, while he is of the sorcerous seed of Tur—how can there ever be true peace between our houses?'
#1
بپیچید و نامه بکردش نشان
✦
بدادش بدان هر دو گردنکشان
“He rolled up the letter, sealed it, and handed it to those two proud champions.”
#2
بفرمودشان گفت بخرد بوید
✦
به ایوان او با هم اندر شوید
“He instructed them: 'Be wise and enter his royal palace together.'”
#3
چو او را ببینید بر تخت و گاه
✦
کنید آن زمان خویشتن را دو تاه
“'When you behold him upon the throne and high seat, bow your bodies low before him.'”
#4
بر آیین شاهان نمازش برید
✦
بر تاج و بر تخت او مگذرید
“'Pay homage according to the custom of kings, and do not show disrespect to his crown and throne.'”
#5
چو هر دو نشینید در پیش اوی
✦
سوی تاج تابنده‌ش آرید روی
“'When you both sit before him, turn your faces toward his resplendent crown.'”
#6
گزارید پیغام فرخش را
✦
ازو گوش دارید پاسخش را
“'Deliver the auspicious message to him, and listen carefully to his response.'”
#7
چو پاسخ ازو سر بسر بشنوید
✦
زمین را ببوسید و بیرون شوید
“'Once you have heard his answer in full, kiss the ground and depart.'”
#8
چو از پیش او کینه‌ور بیدرفش
✦
سوی بلخ بامی کشیدش درفش
“Then the vengeful Bidarafsh advanced his banner toward the radiant city of Balkh.”
#9
ابا یار خود خیره سر نام خواست
✦
که او بفگند آن نکو راه راست
“Accompanied by his companion Namkhwast, who in his headstrong folly turned away from the righteous path.”
#10
چو از شهر توران به بلخ آمدند
✦
به درگاه او بر پیاده شدند
“When they arrived in Balkh from the land of Turan, they dismounted at the palace gates.”
#11
پیاده برفتند تا پیش اوی
✦
براین آستانه نهادند روی
“They walked on foot until they reached his presence, placing their faces upon the threshold.”
#12
چو رویش بدیدند بر گاه بر
✦
چو خورشید و تیر از بر ماه بر
“When they saw his face upon the throne, radiant as the Sun and Mercury above the Moon,”
#13
نیایش نمودند چون بندگان
✦
به پیش گزین شاه فرخندگان
“They offered homage like servants before the chosen king of the blessed.”
#14
بدادندش آن نامهٔ خسروی
✦
نوشته درو بر خط یبغوی
“They delivered to him that royal letter, written in the Yabghu script.”
#15
چو شاه جهان نامه را باز کرد
✦
برآشفت و پیچیدن آغاز کرد
“When the Sovereign of the World opened the letter, he flared with rage and began to writhe in anger.”
#16
بخواند آن زمان پیر جاماسپ را
✦
کجا راهبر بود گشتاسپ را
“He summoned old Jamasp, who was the wise guide to King Goshtasp.”
#17
گزینان ایران و اسپهبدان
✦
گوان جهان دیده و موبدان
“He called the elites of Iran, the military commanders, the battle-tested nobles, and the Mobads.”
#18
بخواند آن همه آذران پیش خویش
✦
بیاورد استا و بنهاد پیش
“He called all the fire-priests before him, brought forth the Avesta and set it down.”
#19
پیمبرش را خواند و موبدش را
✦
زریر گزیده سپهبدش را
“He called his prophet, his high priest, and Zarir, his elite army commander.”
#20
زریر سپهبد برادرش بود
✦
که سالار گردان لشکرش بود
“General Zarir was his brother, the commander of his brave warriors.”
#21
جهان پهلوان بود آن روزگار
✦
که کودک بد اسفندیار سوار
“He was the supreme world-champion in those days, while warrior Esfandiyar was still but a child.”
#22
پناه سپه بود و پشت سپاه
✦
سپهدار لشکر نگهدار گاه
“He was the refuge of the host, the pillar of the army, the commander of forces, and guardian of the throne.”
#23
جهان از بدی ویژه او داشتی
✦
به رزم اندرون نیژه او داشتی
“He kept the world clear of evil, and held high his spear in battle.”
#24
جهانجوی گفتا به فرخ زریر
✦
به فرخنده جاماسپ و پور دلیر
“The seeker of the world spoke to blessed Zarir, to auspicious Jamasp, and to his valiant prince:”
#25
که ارجاسپ سالار ترکان چین
✦
یکی نامه کردست زی من چنین
“'Arjasp, ruler of the Turks of China, has written such a letter unto me.'”
#26
بدیشان نمود آن سخنهای زشت
✦
که نزدیک او شاه ترکان نوشت
“He revealed to them those ugly words that the King of the Turks had written to him.”
#27
چه بینید گفتا بدین اندرون
✦
چه گویید کاین را سرانجام چون
“'What do you see in this matter?' he asked. 'What do you say, and what will be the end of this?'”
#28
که ناخوش بود دوستی با کسی
✦
که مایه ندارد ز دانش بسی
“'For it is unpleasant to have friendship with one who lacks substantial wisdom.'”
#29
من از تخمهٔ ایرج پاک زاد
✦
وی از تخمهٔ تور جادو نژاد
“'I am of the seed of pure-born Iraj, while he is of the line of sorcerous Tur.'”
#30
چگونه بود در میان آشتی
✦
ولیکن مرا بود پنداشتی
“'How can there be peace between us? Yet I had imagined otherwise.'”
#31
کسی کَش بود نام و ماند بسی
✦
سخن گفت بایدش با هرکسی
“'He who possesses a great name and lasting legacy must speak thoughtfully with everyone.'”