Late at night, when the valiant Prince Esfandiyar returned to his chambers heavy with wine and dark in spirit from the royal banquet, his mother Katayoun, the daughter of Caesar, embraced him tenderly. As the shadows of night receded and the prince awoke, he called for a goblet of wine and laid bare the bitterness in his heart. He recounted how King Goshtasp had reneged on his royal pledge—a promise that once Esfandiyar avenged King Lohrasp upon Arjasp, rescued his sisters from captivity, and cleansed the realm of evil, the Kianian crown and throne would be surrendered to him. Esfandiyar swore by the Almighty that when dawn broke, he would demand the fulfillment of this vow, threatening to seize the crown by force of his own mighty arm should his father hesitate.
Katayoun, struck with sorrow and foreboding, cautioned her son against excessive ambition. She reminded him that he already held command of the armies, the royal treasuries, and the glory of the realm, urging him that a son's duty was to stand obedient before his father. Yet Esfandiyar dismissed her maternal counsel with harsh words. He then spent two days in feast and revelry. On the third day, King Goshtasp, sensing his son's burning desire for the throne, felt deep anxiety stirring within his heart. He summoned the wise astrologer Jamasp and the learned mobeds to consult the ancient celestial charts and discern Esfandiyar's destiny—whether he would enjoy a long life and ascend the throne, or if fate held a darker doom.
Upon examining the archaic charts, Jamasp's brow furrowed with grief and tears welled in his eyes. He lamented his own birth, weeping that he had lived to see such alignment of the stars. The charts revealed a tragic omen: despite all his mighty deeds—cleansing the world of evil and slaying the ferocious dragon—the invincible Esfandiyar was not destined to rule long upon the Kianian throne, for a terrible fate awaited him in distant lands.
#1
ز بلبل شنیدم یکی داستان
✦
که برخواند از گفتهٔ باستان
“I heard a tale from the nightingale, who recited it from the lore of antiquity.”
#2
که چون مست باز آمد اسفندیار
✦
دژم گشته از خانهٔ شهریار
“How Esfandiyar returned intoxicated, dark-hearted and aggrieved from the King's palace.”
#3
کتایون قیصر که بد مادرش
✦
گرفته شب و روز اندر برش
“Katayoun, daughter of Caesar, who was his mother, held him in her arms night and day.”
#4
چو از خواب بیدار شد تیره شب
✦
یکی جام می خواست و بگشاد لب
“When the dark night awoke from sleep, he called for a goblet of wine and began to speak.”
#5
چنین گفت با مادر اسفندیار
✦
که با من همی بد کند شهریار
“Thus spoke Esfandiyar to his mother: 'The King deals unfairly and harshly with me.'”
#6
مرا گفت چون کین لهراسپ شاه
✦
بخواهی به مردی ز ارجاسپ شاه
“ He promised me: When you exact vengeance for King Lohrasp through manhood from King Arjasp,”
#7
همان خواهران را بیاری ز بند
✦
کنی نام ما را به گیتی بلند
“ And bring your sisters back from captivity, exalting our name throughout the world,”
#8
جهان از بدان پاک بی‌خو کنی
✦
بکوشی و آرایشی نو کنی
“ Cleanse the world of evil ones without cruelty, striving to bring forth a new splendour,”
#9
همه پادشاهی و لشکر تراست
✦
همان گنج با تخت و افسر تراست
“ Then the entire kingdom and army shall be yours, along with the treasure, crown, and throne.”
#10
کنون چون برآرد سپهر آفتاب
✦
سر شاه بیدار گردد ز خواب
“Now, as the heavens raise the sun on high and the vigilant King awakens from sleep,”
#11
بگویم پدر را سخنها که گفت
✦
ندارد ز من راستیها نهفت
“I shall remind my father of the words he uttered, for he must not withhold the truth from me.”
#12
وگر هیچ تاب اندر آرد به چهر
✦
به یزدان که بر پای دارد سپهر
“And if he turns his face away in anger, I swear by God who upholds the revolving heavens,”
#13
که بی‌کام او تاج بر سر نهم
✦
همه کشور ایرانیان را دهم
“That without his consent I shall place the crown upon my head and claim all the realm of Iran.”
#14
ترا بانوی شهر ایران کنم
✦
به زور و به دل جنگ شیران کنم
“I shall make you the sovereign lady of Iran, fighting like ferocious lions with strength and heart.”
#15
غمی شد ز گفتار او مادرش
✦
همه پرنیان خار شد بر برش
“His mother grew grieved at his words; all her fine silk felt like thorns against her chest.”
#16
بدانست کان تاج و تخت و کلاه
✦
نبخشد ورا نامبردار شاه
“She knew that the renowned King would not easily bestow that crown, throne, and helmet.”
#17
بدو گفت کای رنج دیده پسر
✦
ز گیتی چه جوید دل تاجور
“She said to him: 'O hard-tried son, what more does a crowned heart seek from the world?”
#18
مگر گنج و فرمان و رای و سپاه
✦
تو داری برین بر فزونی مخواه
“Treasures, command, wisdom, and armies are already yours—do not seek beyond this.”
#19
یکی تاج دارد پدر بر پسر
✦
تو داری دگر لشکر و بوم و بر
“The father holds one crown above the son, while you hold the entire army, land, and realm.”
#20
چو او بگذرد تاج و تختش تراست
✦
بزرگی و شاهی و بختش تراست
“When he passes away, his throne and crown shall be yours, as well as greatness, sovereignty, and fortune.”
#21
چه نیکوتر از نره شیر ژیان
✦
به پیش پدر بر کمر بر میان
“What is finer than a fierce male lion standing girded in service before his father?'”
#22
چنین گفت با مادر اسفندیار
✦
که نیکو زد این داستان هوشیار
“Esfandiyar replied to his mother: 'Well did the wise man speak this proverb,”
#23
که پیش زنان راز هرگز مگوی
✦
چو گویی سخن بازیابی به کوی
“Never share a secret with women, for if you speak, your words will soon echo in the streets.”
#24
مکن هیچ کاری به فرمان زن
✦
که هرگز نبینی زنی رای زن
“Do nothing by a woman's counsel, for you shall never see a woman of sound judgment.'”
#25
پر از شرم و تشویر شد مادرش
✦
ز گفته پشیمانی آمد برش
“His mother grew full of shame and distress, filled with regret over what she had spoken.”
#26
بشد پیش گشتاسپ اسفندیار
✦
همی بود با رامش و میگسار
“Esfandiyar went before Goshtasp, engaging in pleasure and wine-drinking.”
#27
دو روز و دو شب بادهٔ خام خورد
✦
بر ماهرویش دل آرام کرد
“For two days and two nights he drank pure wine, soothing his heart in the presence of his fair-faced companion.”
#28
سیم روز گشتاسپ آگاه شد
✦
که فرزند جویندهٔ گاه شد
“On the third day Goshtasp became aware that his son was seeking the throne.”
#29
همی در دل اندیشه بفزایدش
✦
همی تاج و تخت آرزو آیدش
“Worries multiplied in his heart, seeing his son's longing for the throne and crown.”
#30
بخواند آن زمان شاه جاماسپ را
✦
همان فال گویان لهراسپ را
“Thereupon the King summoned Jamasp, along with the astrologers of Lohrasp's realm.”
#31
برفتند با زیجها برکنار
✦
بپرسید شاه از گو اسفندیار
“They came with their astrological tables, and the King inquired about the hero Esfandiyar:”
#32
که او را بود زندگانی دراز؟
✦
نشیند به شادی و آرام و ناز؟
“'Shall he enjoy a long life? Shall he sit in joy, peace, and delight?”
#33
به سر بر نهد تاج شاهنشهی؟
✦
برو پای دارد بهیّ و مهی؟
“Shall he place the royal crown upon his head? Shall goodness and greatness endure for him?'”
#34
چو بشنید دانای ایران سخن
✦
نگه کرد آن زیجهای کهن
“When the wise man of Iran heard these words, he examined those ancient celestial charts.”
#35
ز دانش بروها پر از تاب کرد
✦
ز تیمار مژگان پر از آب کرد
“From knowledge, his brow furrowed with grief, and from sorrow, tears filled his eyes.”
#36
همی گفت بد روز و بد اخترم
✦
ببارید آتش همی بر سرم
“He kept saying: 'Woe to my bad day and ill star! Fire has poured down upon my head!”
#37
مرا کاشکی پیش فرخ زریر
✦
زمانه فگندی به چنگال شیر
“Would that fate had thrown me into the claws of a lion before the glorious Zarir fell,”
#38
وگر خود نکشتی پدر مر مرا
✦
نگشتی به جاماسپ بداخترا
“Or if my father had not fathered me, so that I, ill-starred Jamasp, would not exist,”
#39
ورا هم ندیدی به خاک اندرون
✦
بران سان فگنده پیش پر ز خون
“Nor would I have seen him fallen upon the dust, steeped in blood in such a manner!”
#40
چو اسفندیاری که از چنگ اوی
✦
بدرد دل شیر ز آهنگ اوی
“Now for an Esfandiyar, from whose mighty assault the heart of a lion tears open,”
#41
ز دشمن جهان سربسر پاک کرد
✦
به رزم اندرون نیستش هم نبرد
“Who cleansed the entire world of enemies, and in battle has no equal rival,”
#42
جهان از بداندیش بی‌بیم کرد
✦
تن اژدها را به دو نیم کرد
“Who freed the world from fear of malevolent foes, and sliced the dragon's body in two,”
#43
ازاین پس غم او بباید کشید
✦
بسی شور و تلخی بباید چشید
“From now on we must mourn for him, and taste much bitterness and grief.'”
#44
بدو گفت شاه ای پسندیده مرد
✦
سخن گوی وز راه دانش مگرد
“The King said to him: 'O praised man, speak out and do not stray from the path of wisdom!”
#45
هلا زود بشتاب و با من بگوی
✦
کزین پرسشم تلخی آمد به روی
“Hasten and tell me quickly, for this question has brought bitterness to my face.'”
#46
گر او چون زریر سپهبد بود
✦
مرا زیستن زین سپس بد بود
“If he should perish as Commander Zarir did, living henceforth would be pure misery for me.”
#47
ورا در جهان هوش بر دست کیست
✦
کزان درد ما را بباید گریست
“By whose hand in this world is his doom destined, for whose pain we must weep such bitter tears?”
#48
بدو گفت جاماسپ کای شهریار
✦
تواین روز را خوار مایه مدار
“Jamasp replied to him, 'O Sovereign King, do not hold this fateful day lightly in your eyes.'”
#49
ورا هوش در زاولستان بود
✦
به دست تهم پور دستان بود
“His doom lies in Zavolestan, slain by the hand of brave Rostam, the valiant son of Dastan.”
#50
به جاماسپ گفت آنگهی شهریار
✦
به من بر بگردد بد روزگار؟
“The monarch then said to Jamasp, 'Can this evil turn of fate be averted from me?'”
#51
که گر من سر تاج شاهنشهی
✦
سپارم بدو تاج و تخت مهی
“If I surrender to him the crown of supreme kingship, and grant him the throne of sovereignty,”
#52
نبیند بر و بوم زاولستان
✦
نداند کس او را به کاولستان
“And he never beholds the realm of Zavolestan, nor travels to the lands of Kavolestan,”
#53
شود ایمن از گردش روزگار؟
✦
بود اختر نیکش آموزگار؟
“Will he then be safe from fate's turning wheel? Shall a fortunate star become his guide?”
#54
چنین داد پاسخ ستاره شمر
✦
که بر چرخ گردان نیابد گذر
“The astrologer answered him thus: 'No man can alter or escape the turning heavens.'”
#55
ازین بر شده تیز چنگ اژدها
✦
به مردی و دانش که آمد رها
“From this sharp-clawed dragon of sky and time, who has ever escaped through courage or wisdom?”
#56
بباشد همه بودنی بی‌گمان
✦
نجستست ازو مرد دانا زمان
“Whatever is ordained shall surely come to pass; no wise man has ever escaped destiny.”
#57
دل شاه زان در پراندیشه شد
✦
سرش را غم و درد هم پیشه شد
“The king's heart grew heavy with deep turmoil, and grief and anguish became his constant companions.”
#58
بد اندیشه و گردش روزگار
✦
همی بر بدی بودش آموزگار
“His own malevolent nature and the turns of time guided him continuously toward evil ends.”