#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.”