When the sun drew back the curtain of dawn and washed sleep from the eyes of the world, the two bitter brothers, Tur and Salm, devoid of shame and consumed by malice, marched toward the royal pavilion. Seeing them approach, the noble Iraj ran out with an open heart and unarmed, welcoming his brothers with loving warmth. Yet hatred had blinded Tur, who bitterly accused Iraj of claiming the crown of supreme kingship over Iran while his elder brothers labored in distant lands.
Iraj, serene and humble, replied that he sought neither the throne of Iran, nor rule over China or Rome, for earthly power whose end is darkness holds no value, and a humble brick is the ultimate pillow for all kings. He willingly offered to surrender both crown and signet ring to end their enmity. But Tur was deaf to righteousness; leaping up in fury, he raised a heavy golden throne and struck Iraj upon the head.
Falling to the ground, Iraj pleaded for his life, begging Tur to fear the God of the world, to spare a brother's blood, and not to break the heart of their aged father, warning that the Almighty would surely avenge his murder. Yet Tur drew a shimmering, poison-tempered dagger of blue steel, slit open Iraj's royal chest, and severed the crowned head from his body. Embalming the head with musk and ambergris, the villainous brothers sent it back to the aged Fereydun with cruel taunts, before departing—Tur to Turan and Salm to Rome.
#1
چو برداشت پرده ز پیش آفتاب
✦
سپیده برآمد بپالود خواب
“When the sun lifted the veil from its face and the dawn emerged, washing sleep away,”
#2
دو بیهوده را دل بدان کار گرم
✦
که دیده بشویند هر دو ز شرم
“The two foolish brothers were intent upon their dark work, having washed their eyes of all shame.”
#3
برفتند هر دو گرازان ز جای
✦
نهادند سر سوی پرده‌سرای
“Both strode forth fiercely from their place and set out toward the royal pavilion.”
#4
چو از خیمه ایرج به ره بنگرید
✦
پر از مهر دل پیش ایشان دوید
“When Iraj looked out along the path from his tent, his heart filled with love, and he ran out to meet them.”
#5
برفتند با او به خیمه درون
✦
سخن بیشتر بر چرا رفت و چون
“They entered the tent with him, and their talk quickly turned to bitter questioning of why and how.”
#6
بدو گفت تور ار تو از ما کهی
✦
چرا برنهادی کلاه مهی؟
“Tur said to him: 'If you are younger than us, why did you place upon your head the crown of supremacy?'”
#7
ترا باید ایران و تخت کیان
✦
مرا بر در ترک بسته میان؟
“'Must Iran and the throne of the Kianids be yours, while I am girt as a servant at the gates of the Turks?'”
#8
برادر که مهتر به خاور به رنج
✦
به سر بر ترا افسر و زیر گنج؟
“'Should your elder brother toil in the West while a crown rests on your head and treasure beneath your feet?'”
#9
چنین بخششی کان جهان‌جوی کرد
✦
همه سوی کهتر پسر روی‌کرد
“'Such a division as our world-conquering father made turned all favor toward his youngest son!'”
#10
نه تاج کیان مانم اکنون نه گاه
✦
نه نام بزرگی نه ایران سپاه
“'I shall leave you neither the Kianid crown nor throne, nor the name of greatness nor the army of Iran!'”
#11
چو از تور بشنید ایرج سخن
✦
یکی پاک‌تر پاسخ افگند بن
“When Iraj heard these words from Tur, he laid the foundation of a pure and gentle reply.”
#12
بدو گفت کای مهتر کام‌جو‌ی
✦
اگر کام دل خواهی، آرام جوی
“He said to him: 'O noble seeker of desires, if you wish for heart's content, seek peace.'”
#13
من ایران نخواهم نه خاور نه چین
✦
نه شاهی نه گسترده روی زمین
“'I want neither Iran nor the West nor China, nor kingship nor the wide expanse of the earth.'”
#14
بزرگی که فرجام او تیرگی‌ست
✦
بر آن مهتری بر بباید گریست
“'Greatness whose ultimate end is darkness—such sovereignty deserves only tears.'”
#15
سپهر بلند ار کشد زین تو
✦
سرانجام، خشت است بالین تو
“'Though the lofty sky pull your saddle-strap, in the end a clay brick shall be your pillow.'”
#16
مرا تخت ایران اگر بود زیر
✦
کنون گشتم از تاج و از تخت سیر
“'Though Iran's throne was beneath me, I have now grown weary of both crown and throne.'”
#17
سپردم شما را کلاه و نگین
✦
بدین روی با من مدارید کین
“'I surrender to you both crown and signet; therefore, harbor no malice against me.'”
#18
مرا با شما نیست ننگ و نبرد
✦
روان را نباید برین رنجه کرد
“'I have no strife or battle with you; one ought not torment one's soul over this world.'”
#19
زمانه نخواهم به آزار‌تان
✦
اگر دور مانم ز دیدار‌تان
“'I wish not to live in a world where you are aggrieved, even if I must remain far from your sight.'”
#20
جز از کهتری نیست آیین من
✦
مباد آز و گردن‌کشی دین من
“'My way is nothing but humility; may greed and arrogance never become my creed.'”
#21
چو بشنید تور از برادر چنین
✦
به ابرو ز خشم اندر آورد چین
“When Tur heard his brother speak thus, he knit his brows in fury.”
#22
نیامدش گفتار ایرج پسند
✦
نبد راستی نزد او ارجمند
“Iraj's words pleased him not, for truth held no value in his sight.”
#23
به کرسی به خشم اندر آورد پای
✦
همی‌گفت و برجست هزمان ز جای
“He struck his foot against his throne in anger, shouting and leaping up repeatedly.”
#24
یکایک برآمد ز جای نشست
✦
گرفت آن گران کرسی زر به‌دست
“Suddenly he rose from his seat and grabbed that heavy golden chair.”
#25
بزد بر سر خسرو تاجدار
✦
از او خواست ایرج به جان زینهار
“He struck it upon the head of the crowned king, while Iraj begged him for his life.”
#26
نیایدت گفت ایچ بیم از خدای؟
✦
نه شرم از پدر خود همین است رای
“Iraj said: 'Have you no fear of God? Nor shame before our father? Is this your resolve?'”
#27
مکش مر مرا که‌ت سرانجام کار
✦
بپیچاند از خون من کردگار
“'Do not slay me, for in the end the Creator shall exact vengeance for my blood!'”
#28
مکن خویشتن را ز مردم‌کشان
✦
کزین پس نیابی ز من خود نشان
“'Do not rank yourself among the killers of men, for henceforth you will see no trace of me.'”
#29
بسنده کنم زین جهان گوشه‌ای
✦
به کوشش فراز آورم توشه‌ای
“'I shall be content with a quiet corner of the world, earning a meger sustenance through effort.'”
#30
به خون برادر چه بندی کمر؟
✦
چه سوزی دل پیر گشته پدر؟
“'Why gird your loins to shed a brother's blood? Why burn the heart of our aged father?'”
#31
جهان خواستی یافتی خون مریز
✦
مکن با جهاندار یزدان ستیز
“'You sought the world—you have found it! Shed no blood, and do not strive against Almighty God!'”
#32
سخن را چو بشنید پاسخ نداد
✦
همان گفتن آمد همان سرد باد
“When Tur heard these words he gave no reply; Iraj's words were like breath blown into cold wind.”
#33
یکی خنجر آبگون برکشید
✦
سراپای او چادر خون کشید
“He drew a steel dagger of shimmering blue, and covered him from head to foot in a mantle of blood.”
#34
بدان تیز زهر‌آبگون خنجر‌ش
✦
همی‌کرد چاک آن کیانی برش
“With that sharp poison-tempered blade, he tore open Iraj's royal chest.”
#35
فرود آمد از پای سرو سهی
✦
گسست آن کمرگاه شاهنشهی
“The erect cypress fell down; that belt of supreme kingship was broken asunder.”
#36
روان خون از آن چهرهٔ ارغوان
✦
شد آن نامور شهریار جوان
“Blood streamed from that crimson face, and thus perished that renowned young monarch.”
#37
جهانا بپروردیش در کنار
✦
وز آن پس ندادی به جان زینهار
“O World! You nurtured him in your lap, yet thereafter granted no quarter to his life!”
#38
نهانی ندانم ترا دوست کیست
✦
بدین آشکارت بباید گریست
“'I know not who your hidden friend is; over your open cruelty one must weep!'”
#39
سر تاجور ز آن تن پیلوار
✦
به خنجر جدا کرد و برگشت کار
“He severed the crowned head from that elephant-like body with his dagger, and fate was overturned.”
#40
بیاگند مغز‌ش به مشک و عبیر
✦
فرستاد نزد جهان‌بخش پیر
“He filled the brain-cavity with musk and ambergris, and sent it to the aged world-bestower, Fereydun.”
#41
چنین گفت کاینت سر آن نیاز
✦
که تاج نیاگان بدو گشت باز
“Sending the message: 'Here is the head of that beloved one to whom the ancestral crown had returned!'”
#42
کنون خواه تاجش ده و خواه تخت
✦
شد آن سایه‌گستر نیازی درخت
“'Now give him a crown or give him a throne if you wish—that shade-casting, beloved tree has fallen.'”
#43
برفتند باز آن دو بیداد شوم
✦
یکی سوی ترک و یکی سوی روم
“The two dark, unjust brothers turned back—one toward Turan and the other toward Rome.”