Following the resounding triumph over the Roman host, Commander Rashnavad returned with the brilliant youth Darab to the ruined archway—the very sanctuary where he had first beheld the sleeping hero and heard the mysterious voice foretelling his imperial destiny. The humble washerman and his wife stood waiting in deep anxiety, clutching the radiant ruby, terrified of royal wrath yet seeking refuge in the Almighty.
Rashnavad questioned them gently, prompting the couple to recount the miraculous tale from its inception: the floating chest abandoned upon the turbulent currents of the Euphrates, the long years of loving hardship spent nurturing the foundling, and the precious jewel sealed within his swaddling bands. Hearing this profound truth, Rashnavad realized the hand of Divine Providence at work. Without delay, he drafted an urgent communique to Queen Homay, detailing his dream under the archway, the miraculous collapse of the stone ruins the moment Darab stepped forth, the youth's unmatched bravery on the battlefield, and the washerman’s fateful revelation.
Entrusting the letter and the glowing crimson jewel to a swift courier instructed to outrun the wind, the message was delivered directly to the throne. As Queen Homay unsealed the scroll and beheld the ruby she had tied to her baby's arm so many years ago, tears of bitter remorse and overwhelming joy streamed down her face. She instantly remembered the tall, radiant youth who had stood out amidst her marching host, realizing he was none other than her own flesh and blood—the child she had cast upon the waters out of fear and folly.
Weeping with profound repentance, Queen Homay bowed before the Lord of the Cosmos, giving thanks that Despite her ungratefulness, the Divine had preserved her son and restored him to her through Rashnavad's auspicious path. She ordered the royal treasuries thrown wide open: mountains of gold, musk, and precious gems were distributed to the needy, generously bestowed upon fire temples and priests, and scattered across every province of the realm in honor of sacred traditions such as the Sadeh Festival. On the tenth morning, Rashnavad and Prince Darab rode toward the royal court, poised to usher in a glorious new era for Iran.
#1
وزان جایگه بازگشتند شاد
✦
پسندیده داراب با رشنواد
“Gladly they returned from that place, Darab pleasing in the eyes of Rashnavad.”
#2
به منزل بران طاق ویران رسید
✦
که داراب را اندرو خفته دید
“They reached the station at that ruined arch, where he had once seen Darab sleeping.”
#3
زن گازر و شوی و گوهر بهم
✦
شده هر دو از بیم خواری دژم
“The washerman's wife, her husband, and the jewel were all present, both sore afflicted with fear of humiliation.”
#4
از آنکس کشان خواند از جای خویش
✦
به یزدان پناهید و رفتند پیش
“Fearing the commander who had summoned them from their home, they sought refuge in God and stepped forward.”
#5
چو دید آن زن و شوی را رشنواد
✦
ز هر گونه پرسید و کردند یاد
“When Rashnavad saw the husband and wife, he questioned them thoroughly, and they recounted the past.”
#6
بگفتند با او سخن هرچ بود
✦
ز صندوق وز گوهر نابسود
“They told him everything that had occurred—of the chest and of the unblemished jewel.”
#7
ز رنج و ز پروردن شیرخوار
✦
ز تیمار وز گردش روزگار
“Of their hardship and rearing the suckling child, of their anxieties and the turns of fortune.”
#8
چنین گفت با شوی و زن رشنواد
✦
که پیروز باشید همواره شاد
“Thus spoke Rashnavad to the man and woman: 'May you ever be victorious and glad!'”
#9
که کس در جهان این شگفتی ندید
✦
نه از موبد پیر هرگز شنید
“'For none in the world has ever seen such a wonder, nor heard it from an ancient sage.'”
#10
هم‌اندر زمان مرد پاکیزه‌رای
✦
یکی نامه بنوشت نزد همای
“Straightway that pure-minded man wrote a letter to Homay,”
#11
ز داراب وز خواب و آرامگاه
✦
هم از جنگ او اندران رزمگاه
“Telling of Darab, of his sleep and resting place, and of his valiant fighting on the battlefield,”
#12
وزان کو به اسپ اندر آورد پای
✦
هم‌انگاه طاق اندر آمد ز جای
“And how, as soon as he set foot to stirrup, the vault immediately tumbled down,”
#13
از آواز که آمد مر او را به گوش
✦
ز تنگی که شد رشنواد از خروش
“Of the mysterious voice that struck his ears, and how Rashnavad cried out in anguish,”
#14
ز گازر سخن هرچ بشنید نیز
✦
ز صندوق وز کودک خرد و چیز
“And whatever he had heard from the washerman—of the chest, the little child, and the treasure.”
#15
به نامه درون سربسر یاد کرد
✦
برون کرد آنگه هیونی چو گرد
“He set down every detail within the letter, then dispatched a swift courier like the swirling dust.”
#16
همان سرخ گوهر بدو داد و گفت
✦
که با باد باید که گردی تو جفت
“He gave him that bright red ruby and said: 'You must become one with the wind!'”
#17
فرستاده تازان بیامد ز جای
✦
بیاورد یاقوت نزد همای
“The messenger rode swiftly from the spot and brought the ruby before Homay.”
#18
به شاه جهاندار نامه بداد
✦
شنیده بگفت از لب رشنواد
“He delivered the letter to the sovereign queen and reported all he had heard from Rashnavad's lips.”
#19
چو آن نامه برخواند و یاقوت دید
✦
سرشکش ز مژگان به رخ بر چکید
“When she read the letter and saw the ruby, tears trickled down her cheeks from her lashes.”
#20
بدانست کان روز کامد به دشت
✦
بفرمود تا پیش لشکر گذشت
“She realized he was the youth who had come to the plain, whom she had ordered to march past the army.”
#21
بدید آن جوانی که بد فرمند
✦
به رخ چون بهار و به بالا بلند
“She remembered seeing that glorious youth, with a face like spring and tall of stature,”
#22
نبودست جز پاک فرزند اوی
✦
گرانمایه شاخ برومند اوی
“And that he was none other than her pure son, her precious and fruitful branch.”
#23
فرستاده را گفت گریان همای
✦
که آمد جهان را یکی کدخدای
“Weeping, Homay said to the messenger: 'A lord of the world has come into his own!'”
#24
نبود ایچ ز ا ندیشه مغزم تهی
✦
پر از درد بودم ز شاهنشهی
“'My mind was never free of anguish; I was full of pain on account of this kingship.'”
#25
ز دادار گیهان دلم پرهراس
✦
کجا گشته بودم ازو ناسپاس
“'My heart was filled with dread before the Creator of the world, for I had proven ungrateful to Him.'”
#26
وزان نیز کان بیگنه را که یافت
✦
کسی یافت گر سوی دریا شتافت
“'And also for that innocent one—whom could anyone find if they searched toward the river?'”
#27
که یزدان پسر داد و نشناختم
✦
به آب فرات اندر انداختم
“'For God gave me a son, yet I recognized him not, and cast him into the waters of the Euphrates.'”
#28
به بازوش بر بستم این یک گهر
✦
پسر خوار شد چون بمیرد پدر
“'I bound this single jewel upon his arm; a son becomes helpless when his father dies.'”
#29
کنون ایزد او را بمن بازداد
✦
به پیروز نام و پی رشنواد
“'Now God has restored him to me, through the victory and auspicious steps of Rashnavad.'”
#30
ز دینار گنجی فرو ریختند
✦
می و مشک و گوهر برآمیختند
“They poured out a treasury of gold coins, mingling wine, musk, and precious jewels.”
#31
ببخشید بر هرک بودش نیاز
✦
دگر هفته گنج درم کرد باز
“She distributed wealth to whoever was in need, and the following week opened up the treasury of silver.”
#32
به جایی که دانست کاتشکده‌ست
✦
وگر زند و استا و جشن سده‌ست
“Wherever she knew a fire temple stood, or for the Zand and Avesta reciters, and for the Sadeh Festival,”
#33
ببخشید گنجی برین گونه نیز
✦
به هر کشوری بر پراگنده چیز
“She bestowed a treasury in like manner, scattering riches across every land.”
#34
به روز دهم بامداد پگاه
✦
سپهبد بیامد به نزدیک شاه
“On the tenth day at early morning, the commander came before the Queen,”
#35
بزرگان و داراب با او بهم
✦
کسی را نگفتند از بیش و کم
“With the nobles and Darab accompanying him; nor did they speak a word of more or less to anyone.”