In those days, Prince Esfandiyar, the grand champion of the Kianians, was hunting in the open plains when a voice bore tidings that Jamasp, the King's wise vizier, had been dispatched to find him. Pausing in deep contemplation, Esfandiyar smiled ruefully. Beside him stood his four noble sons, all accomplished spear-bearing warriors: Bahman, Mehrnush, the heart-brightening Tous, and Nush-Azar, whose majestic presence shone like the sacred flame of a fire temple. Bahman inquired why his royal father laughed with such foreboding.
Esfandiyar disclosed his fears, suspecting that King Goshtasp harbored unjust resentment against him. He reflected that despite spreading the Good Religion across the world and cleansing the earth with his triumphant blade, a malevolent spirit had bewitched the King's heart, turning him against his own son. As they spoke, a dark plume of mountain dust heralded the arrival of Jamasp, the guiding light of the realm. Esfandiyar and his brave sons dismounted to greet the elder scholar on foot.
Jamasp delivered the King's letter and discreetly confirmed that false counsel had indeed led the monarch astray. When Esfandiyar sought advice on whether to submit to potential imprisonment or disobey the crown, Jamasp wisely counseled that a father's severity toward his son is far more righteous than a son's rebellion against his sovereign. Accepting this counsel, Esfandiyar hosted Jamasp in honor with rich wine and fragrant incense. The following morning, the prince gathered his captains, entrusted the command of the royal host to his son Bahman, and rode forth to court—girded with his belt of allegiance and ready to face the King.
#1
بدان روزگار اندر اسفندیار
✦
به دشت اندرون بد ز بهر شکار
“In those days, Esfandiyar was present in the open plain for the purpose of hunting.”
#2
ازان دشت آواز کردش کسی
✦
که جاماسپ را کرد خسرو گسی
“From across that plain, a voice called out to him that the King had dispatched Jamasp.”
#3
چو آن بانگ بشنید آمد شگفت
✦
بپیچید و خندیدن اندر گرفت
“When he heard that call, he was filled with wonder; he paused in thought and began to laugh.”
#4
پسر بود او را گزیده چهار
✦
همه رزم‌جوی و همه نیزه‌دار
“He had four chosen sons, all battle-seeking and spear-bearing warriors.”
#5
یکی نام بهمن دوم مهرنوش
✦
سیم نام او بد دلافروز طوش
“The first named Bahman, the second Mehrnush, and the third was named heart-brightening Tous.”
#6
چهارم بدش نام نوشاذرا
✦
نهادی کجا گنبد آذرا
“The fourth was named Nush-Azar, whose disposition was like the sacred fire temple.”
#7
به شاه جهان گفت بهمن پسر
✦
که تا جاودان سبز بادات سر
“Bahman the son said to the prince of the world: 'May your head remain green and thriving forever!'”
#8
یکی ژرف خنده بخندید شاه
✦
نیابم همی اندرین هیچ راه
“The prince burst into a deep laugh: 'I see no clear understanding or path in this matter.'”
#9
بدو گفت پورا بدین روزگار
✦
کس آید مرا از در شهریار
“He said to him: 'O son! In these days someone is coming to me from the monarch's court,'”
#10
که آواز بشنیدم از ناگهان
✦
بترسم که از گفتهٔ بی‌رهان
“'For I suddenly heard a voice, and I fear the council of untruthful slanderers.'”
#11
ز من خسرو آزار دارد همی
✦
دلش از رهی بار دارد همی
“'The King harbors resentment against me, and his heart bears a heavy weight toward his servant.'”
#12
گرانمایه فرزند گفتا چرا
✦
چه کردی تو با خسرو کشورا
“The noble son said: 'Why? What have you done against the ruler of the realm?'”
#13
سر شهریارانش گفت ای پسر
✦
ندانم گناهی به جای پدر
“The leader of princes replied: 'O son, I know of no wrong committed against my father,'”
#14
مگر آنک تا دین بیاموختم
✦
همی در جهان آتش افروختم
“'Except that since I learned the Faith, I have lit sacred fires across the world.'”
#15
جهان ویژه کردم به برنده تیغ
✦
چرا دارد از من دل شاه میغ
“'I cleansed the world with my sharp blade; why then is the King's heart cloudy toward me like a storm?'”
#16
همانا دلش دیو بفریفتست
✦
که بر کشتن من بیاشیفتست
“'Surely a demon has deceived his heart, driving him to seek my destruction.'”
#17
همی تا بدین اندرون بود شاه
✦
پدید آمد از دور گرد سیاه
“While the prince was engaged in these words, a dark cloud of dust appeared from afar.”
#18
چراغ جهان بود دستور شاه
✦
فرستادهٔ شاه زی پور شاه
“It was the light of the world, the King's wise minister, sent by the monarch to the prince.”
#19
چو از دور دیدش ز کهسار گرد
✦
بدانست کامد فرستاده مرد
“When he saw the dust from the mountain from afar, he knew that the envoy had arrived.”
#20
پذیره شدش گرد فرزند شاه
✦
همی بود تا او بیامد ز راه
“The prince's son went forth to meet him, waiting until he arrived from the road.”
#21
ز بارهٔ چمنده فرود آمدند
✦
گو پیر هر دو پیاده شدند
“They dismounted from their swift steeds; both the old sage and the young warriors walked on foot.”
#22
بپرسید ازو فرخ اسفندیار
✦
که چونست شاه آن گو نامدار
“The glorious Esfandiyar inquired of him: 'How fares the King, that renowned warrior?'”
#23
خردمند گفتا درستست و شاد
✦
برش را ببوسید و نامه بداد
“The wise man said: 'He is healthy and glad.' He kissed his chest and handed over the letter.”
#24
درست از همه کارش آگاه کرد
✦
که مر شاه را دیو بی‌راه کرد
“Truly he informed him of the whole matter, revealing that a demon had led the King astray.”
#25
خردمند را گفتش اسفندیار
✦
چه بینی مرا اندرین روی کار
“Esfandiyar said to the wise elder: 'What do you advise me to do in this situation?'”
#26
گر ایدونک با تو بیایم به در
✦
نه نیکو کند کار با من پدر
“'If I come with you to the royal court, my father will not deal with me kindly.'”
#27
ور ایدونک نایم به فرمانبری
✦
برون کرده باشم سر از کهتری
“'And if I do not come in obedience, I will have withdrawn my neck from servitude.'”
#28
یکی چاره‌ساز ای خردمند پیر
✦
نیابد چنین ماند بر خیره خیر
“'Devise a remedy, O wise elder! Such a plight cannot be left to chance.'”
#29
خردمند گفت ای شه پهلوان
✦
به دانندگی پیر و بختت جوان
“The wise man said: 'O champion prince! Wise as an elder and young in fortune!'”
#30
تو دانی که خشم پدر بر پسر
✦
به از جور مهتر پسر بر پدر
“'You know that a father's wrath upon his son is better than a son's rebellion against his father.'”
#31
ببایدت رفتن چنینست روی
✦
که هرچ او کند پادشاهست اوی
“'You must go, this is the only path; for whatever he does, he is the sovereign.'”
#32
برین بر نهادند و گشتند باز
✦
فرستاده و پور خسرو نیاز
“On this they agreed and turned back, both the envoy and the royal prince.”
#33
یکی جای خوبش فرود آورید
✦
به کف بر گرفتند هر دو نبید
“He brought him to a splendid abode, and both took wine goblets in hand.”
#34
به پیشش همی عود می‌سوختند
✦
تو گفتی همی آتش افروختند
“Before him they burned fragrant aloeswood; you would say they lit a radiant fire.”
#35
دگر روز بنشست بر تخت خویش
✦
ز لشکر بیامد فراوان به پیش
“The next day, he sat upon his throne, and many warriors from the army came before him.”
#36
همه لشکرش را به بهمن سپرد
✦
وزانجا خرامید با چند گرد
“He entrusted his entire army to Bahman, and set off from there with a few warriors.”
#37
بیامد به درگاه آزاد شاه
✦
کمر بسته و بر نهاده کلاه
“He arrived at the court of the noble king, with his belt girded tight and helmet upon his head.”