The heavens darkened as a fierce and violent tempest swept across the plains. Thunder crashed and rain poured in torrents, turning the earth into a vast mirror of water and throwing the encampment of General Rashnavad into turmoil. Young Darab, his true royal lineage yet hidden beneath a warrior's simple tunic, sought refuge from the merciless downpour. Across the plain stood the solitary remnant of an ancient ruin—a high, crumbling arch that had once formed the heart of a glorious royal palace. Lacking a tent, companion, or shelter of his own, Darab lay down upon the cold earth beneath the battered arch to rest.
As General Rashnavad rode through the storm to inspect his army's perimeter, a mysterious, unseen voice thundered from within the ruined vault: "O crumbling arch, stay vigilant! Guard and protect this future King of Iran, who came seeking shelter beneath thee without a tent or comrade!" Rashnavad reined in his steed in astonishment, wondering if the voice was the roaring of thunder or a divine call from heaven. A second time the mysterious cry echoed: "O arch, close not the eye of wisdom, for within thee rests the son of King Ardashir!" A third time the sacred roar reverberated through the tempest.
His heart filled with awe and dread, Rashnavad dispatched wise officers to search the ruins. They discovered a youth sleeping upon the mud, possessing the countenance of a legendary champion and the majesty of kings. Hearing of this, Rashnavad commanded that the young man be summoned forth immediately. The moment Darab placed his foot upon his horse's stirrup and stepped out from under the vault, the ancient arch collapsed into a mountain of dust and rubble.
Witnessing this undeniable divine omen and the radiant royal glory resting upon the youth, Rashnavad bowed his head in prayer to the Almighty God. He brought Darab into his grand pavilion, clad him in magnificent robes, and kindled a fire like a mountain while burning precious musk and ambergris. At dawn, the general bestowed upon Darab a fine charger with golden trappings, a lasso, and a sword in a golden scabbard, then asked him to speak truthfully of his origins. Darab opened his heart and recounted the secret story of the floating wooden chest, the glittering ruby, the armlet, and the golden dinars exactly as the washerman's wife had revealed to him. Recognizing the truth of the divine sign, Rashnavad instantly dispatched swift couriers like the wind to bring the washerman, his wife, the jewel, and their witnesses Bahram and Zuhrah to the camp.
#1
چنان بد که روزی یکی تندباد
✦
برآمد غمی گشت زان رشنواد
“It so befell that one day a tempest arose, filling Rashnavad with trouble and care.”
#2
یکی رعد و باران با برق و جوش
✦
زمین پر ز آب آسمان پرخروش
“Thunder rolled and rain poured with lightning and fury; the earth turned to water, and the heavens roared.”
#3
به هر سو ز باران همی تاختند
✦
به دشت اندرون خیمه‌ها ساختند
“Driven by the pouring rain, they fled in all directions and pitched their tents across the plain.”
#4
غمی بود زان کار داراب نیز
✦
ز باران همی جست راه گریز
“Young Darab too was troubled by the tempest, seeking a way to escape the heavy rain.”
#5
نگه کرد ویران یکی جای دید
✦
میانش یکی طاق بر پای دید
“He looked around and saw a ruined place, within which stood an ancient vaulted arch.”
#6
بلند و کهن بود و آزرده بود
✦
یکی خسروی جای پر پرده بود
“High and ancient it was, weathered and worn—once a royal palace adorned with fine drapes.”
#7
نه خرگاه بودش نه پرده‌سرای
✦
نه خیمه نه انباز و نه چارپای
“He possessed no royal tent, no pavilion, no companion, nor any beast of burden.”
#8
بران طاق آزرده بایست خفت
✦
چو تنها تنی بود بی‌یار و جفت
“Beneath that crumbling arch he was forced to sleep, for he was a solitary traveler without friend or mate.”
#9
سپهبد همی گرد لشکر بگشت
✦
بران طاق آزرده اندر گذشت
“The general Rashnavad rode around the army's encampment and passed near that battered arch.”
#10
ز ویران خروشی به گوش آمدش
✦
کزان سهم جای خروش آمدش
“From out of the ruins a voice echoed in his ears, a mysterious shout from that eerie, fearful place.”
#11
که ای طاق آزرده هشیار باش
✦
برین شاه ایران نگهدار باش
“Crying: 'O crumbling arch, stay alert! Protect and safeguard this future King of Iran!'”
#12
نبودش یکی خیمه و یار و جفت
✦
بیامد به زیر تو اندر بخفت
“'He had no tent, no comrade, nor mate; he came and lay down to sleep beneath thee!'”
#13
چنین گفت با خویشتن رشنواد
✦
که این بانگ رعدست گر تندباد
“Rashnavad said within his heart: 'Is this the sound of rolling thunder or the howling tempest?'”
#14
دگر باره آمد ز ایوان خروش
✦
که ای طاق چشم خرد را مپوش
“A second time a shout echoed from the vault: 'O arch, blind not the eye of wisdom!'”
#15
که در تست فرزند شاه اردشیر
✦
ز باران مترس این سخن یادگیر
“'For within thee rests the child of King Ardashir; fear not the rain, and mark these words!'”
#16
سیم بار آوازش آمد به گوش
✦
شگفتی دلش تنگ شد زان خروش
“A third time the mysterious voice rang out, and in wonder and dread Rashnavad's heart grew constricted.”
#17
به فرزانه گفت این چه شاید بدن
✦
یکی را سوی طاق باید شدن
“He said to a wise counselor: 'What can this mystery mean? Someone must go at once to the arch!'”
#18
ببینید تا اندرو خفته کیست
✦
چنین بر تن خود برآشفته کیست
“'Go and see who lies sleeping within, and who is this soul sleeping so distressfully!'”
#19
برفتند و دیدند مردی جوان
✦
خردمند و با چهرهٔ پهلوان
“They went and beheld a young man, wise in demeanor and bearing the face of a true hero.”
#20
همه جامه و باره تر و تباه
✦
ز خاک سیه ساخته جایگاه
“His garments and steed were soaked and ruined, and he had made his resting place upon the black earth.”
#21
به پیش سپهبد بگفت آنچ دید
✦
دل پهلوان زان سخن بردمید
“They returned and reported all they had seen to the general, and Rashnavad's heart throbbed with wonder.”
#22
بفرمود کو را بخوانید زود
✦
خروشی برین سان که یارد شنود
“He ordered: 'Call him forth at once! Who could ignore a divine voice echoing like this?'”
#23
برفتند و گفتند کای خفته مرد
✦
ازین خواب برخیز و بیدار گرد
“They went and called out: 'O sleeping warrior, arise from this slumber and wake!'”
#24
چو دارا به اسپ اندر آورد پای
✦
شکسته رواق اندر آمد ز جای
“As soon as Darab placed his foot upon his horse's stirrup, the fractured vault collapsed to the earth!”
#25
چو سالار شاه آن شگفتی بدید
✦
سرو پای داراب را بنگرید
“When the king's commander beheld this marvel, he gazed in awe upon Darab from head to foot.”
#26
چنین گفت کاینت شگفتی شگفت
✦
کزین برتر اندیشه نتوان گرفت
“He exclaimed: 'This is marvel upon marvel! No mind could conceive a wondrous event beyond this!'”
#27
بشد تیز با او به پرده‌سرای
✦
همی گفت کای دادگر یک خدای
“He hastily led Darab to his royal tent, praying: 'O just and single God!'”
#28
کسی در جهان این شگفتی ندید
✦
نه از کار دیده بزرگان شنید
“'No man in all the world hath witnessed such a wonder, nor heard the like from wise elders of old!'”
#29
بفرمود تا جامه‌ها خواستند
✦
به خرگاه جایی بیاراستند
“He ordered fine robes to be brought and prepared a fitting place within the pavilion.”
#30
به کردار کوه آتشی برفروخت
✦
بسی عود و با مشک و عنبر بسوخت
“He kindled a fire like a mountain to warm him, burning abundant aloeswood, musk, and ambergris.”
#31
چو خورشید سر برزد از کوهسار
✦
سپهبد برفتن بر آراست کار
“When the sun reared its head above the mountain crests, the general prepared the army to march.”
#32
بفرمود تا موبدی رهنمای
✦
یکی دست جامه ز سر تا به پای
“He commanded a guiding priest to bring a full set of noble garments from head to toe.”
#33
یکی اسپ با زین و زرین ستام
✦
کمندی و تیغی به زرین نیام
“Along with a steed bearing a golden bridle and saddle, a lasso, and a sword in a golden scabbard.”
#34
به داراب دادند و پرسید زوی
✦
که ای شیردل مهتر نامجوی
“These were given to Darab, and Rashnavad asked him: 'O lion-hearted, noble seeker of renown,'”
#35
چو مردی تو و زادبومت کجاست
✦
سزد گر بگویی همه راه راست
“'What manner of man art thou, and where is thy homeland? Speak the truth unto me in all things!'”
#36
چو بشنید داراب یکسر بگفت
✦
گذشته همی برگشاد از نهفت
“When Darab heard this, he related everything in full, revealing all his past secrets.”
#37
بران سان که آن زن برو کرد یاد
✦
سخنها همی گفت با رشنواد
“Exactly as the washerman's wife had recounted to him, he spoke the tale to Rashnavad—”
#38
ز صندوق و یاقوت و بازوی خویش
✦
ز دینار و دیبا به پهلوی خویش
“Telling of the wooden chest, the ruby jewel, the armlet bound upon his arm, the dinars, and the royal brocade laid by his side.”
#39
یکایک به سالار لشکر بگفت
✦
ز خواب و ز آرام و خورد و نهفت
“One by one he recounted all to the commander of the host—his life, upbringing, and hidden origins.”
#40
هم‌انگه فرستاد کس رشنواد
✦
فرستاده را گفت بر سان باد
“Immediately Rashnavad dispatched a swift courier, saying to the messenger, 'Fly like the wind!'”
#41
زن گازر و گازر و مهره را
✦
بیارید بهرام و هم زهره را
“'Bring back the washerman, his wife, and the ruby gem, along with Bahram and Zuhrah!'”