Remembering the final request of the dying King Dara, Sekandar sought to fulfill his sacred vow and unite the royal lineages. He summoned his wise mother from Amorium and recounted the solemn covenant forged at Dara's deathbed. Sekandar entreated his mother to travel to Isfahan, present herself before Delaray—Dara's queen—and behold the exquisite Princess Roshanak, offering her his praise, royal devotion, and a matchless betrothal gift. Sekandar's mother set forth in supreme regal splendor, accompanied by an interpreter, ten eloquent philosophers, and three hundred Roman maidens carrying golden goblets. Her caravan bore a hundred camel-loads of precious carpets, another hundred of golden brocade, and thirty thousand dinars in purse-bags for ceremonial scattering.
As the royal retinue approached Isfahan, the Persian nobility rushed forth to welcome her. Queen Delaray herself emerged from the palace with her grandees, scattering silver and jewels so lavishly in the vestibule that conventional treasures seemed insignificant. Once council was held, Delaray prepared a magnificent dowry for her daughter Roshanak—a procession of camels stretching for parasangs, laden with gold, silver, exquisite textiles, Arabian steeds with golden harnesses, Indian blades in gilded scabbards, armor, helmets, and war-gear. Forty golden palanquins were brought forth, and Roshanak, radiant as the full moon, stepped into the imperial canopy. Though hearts still wept for the fallen Dara, the city was decorated in celebratory splendor, showering pure musk and coins upon the passing bride.
When Roshanak entered Sekandar’s grand hall, the conqueror gazed upon her stature and flawless grace, marveling as though Wisdom itself had nurtured her with love. Sekandar's mother enthroned the princess upon a golden seat, and Sekandar offered his heart and soul to her. For a full week they sat together in counsel and joy, and Sekandar found in her only royal dignity, modesty, profound intellect, and noble fittingness. Thus was the realm united: from Iran to Turan and China, blessings rained upon the crown, justice swept across the earth, and desolation transformed into thriving prosperity.
#1
ز عموریه مادرش را بخواند
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چو آمد سخنهای دارا براند
“He summoned his mother from Amorium, and when she arrived, he spoke to her of Dara's last words.”
#2
بدو گفت نزد دلارای شو
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به خوبی به پیوند گفتار نو
“He said to her: 'Go unto Delaray, and graciously open negotiations for this new alliance.'”
#3
به پرده درون روشنک را ببین
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چو دیدی ز ما کن برو آفرین
“'Behold Roshanak within her royal quarters, and when you see her, offer blessings upon her from me.'”
#4
ببر طوق با یاره و گوشوار
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یکی تاج پر گوهر شاهوار
“'Take a necklace, torque, and earrings, along with a crown filled with monarchical gems.'”
#5
صد اشتر ز گستردنیها ببر
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صد اشتر ز هر گونه دیبا به زر
“'Take a hundred camel-loads of carpets and rugs, and a hundred camel-loads of woven golden brocade.'”
#6
هم از گنج دینار چو سی هزار
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به بدره درون کن ز بهر نثار
“'And thirty thousand dinars from the royal treasury, place into bags for ceremonial scattering.'”
#7
ز رومی کنیزک چو سیصد ببر
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دگر هرچ باید همه سر به سر
“'Take three hundred Roman maidens with you, and whatever else is required in full.'”
#8
یکی جام زر هر یکی را به دست
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بر آیین خوبان خسروپرست
“'Each holding a golden goblet in hand, after the noble custom of courtly beauties.'”
#9
ابا خویشتن خادمان بر براه
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ز راه و ز آیین شاهان مکاه
“'Take attendants along on the journey; diminish nothing of the custom and glory of kings.'”
#10
بشد مادر شاه با ترجمان
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ده از فیلسوفان شیرینزبان
“The king's mother set forth with an interpreter and ten sweet-spoken philosophers.”
#11
چو آمد به نزدیکی اصفهان
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پذیره شدندش فراوان مهان
“When she arrived near Isfahan, a multitude of grandees came forth to welcome her.”
#12
بیامد ز ایوان دلارای پیش
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خود و نامداران به آیین خویش
“Delaray herself came forward from the palace, accompanied by her nobles according to royal ceremony.”
#13
به دهلیز کردند چندان نثار
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که بر چشم گنج درم گشت خوار
“In the vestibule they scattered so much wealth that the treasures of silver seemed insignificant to behold.”
#14
به ایوان نشستند با رایزن
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همه نامداران شدند انجمن
“They sat in the palace hall with counselors, as all the nobles gathered in assembly.”
#15
دلارای برداشت چندان جهیز
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که شد در جهان روی بازار تیز
“Delaray prepared so grand a dowry that the market prices of the world rose in response.”
#16
شتر در شتر رفت فرسنگها
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ز زرین و سیمین وز رنگها
“Camels following camels stretched for parasangs, laden with gold, silver, and vibrant hues.”
#17
ز پوشیدنی و ز گستردنی
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ز افگندنی و پراگندنی
“With garments and tapestries, with carpets and precious goods to be strewn.”
#18
ز اسپان تازی به زرین ستام
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ز شمشیر هندی به زرین نیام
“With Arabian steeds adorned with golden bridles, and Indian swords in golden scabbards.”
#19
ز خفتان و از خود و برگستوان
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ز گوپال و ز خنجر هندوان
“With coats of mail, helmets, bards for horses, maces, and Indian daggers.”
#20
چه مایه بریده چه از نابرید
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کسی در جهان بیشتر زان ندید
“Countless rolls of cut and uncut fabrics—none in the world had ever seen more.”
#21
ز ایوان پرستندگان خواستند
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چهل مهد زرین بیاراستند
“From the palace they summoned handmaidens and adorned forty golden litters.”
#22
یکی مهد با چتر و با خادمان
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نشست اندرو روشنک شادمان
“In one litter, adorned with a canopy and attended by servants, joyful Roshanak took her seat.”
#23
ز کاخ دلارای تا نیم راه
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درم بود و دینار و اسپ و سپاه
“From Delaray's palace to halfway down the road, coins of silver and gold, horses, and armies covered the way.”
#24
ببستند آذین به شهر اندرون
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پر از خنده لبها و دل پر ز خون
“They decorated the city in festive joy—their lips filled with laughter, though their hearts bled with grief.”
#25
بران چتر دیبا درم ریختند
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ز بر مشک سارا همی بیختند
“Upon the silken canopy they showered silver coins and sieved pure musk from above.”
#26
چو ماه اندر آمد به مشکوی شاه
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سکندر بدو کرد چندی نگاه
“When that moon-like maiden entered the royal palace, Sekandar gazed long upon her.”
#27
بران برز و بالا و آن خوب چهر
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تو گفتی خرد پروریدش به مهر
“At her stature, tall build, and beautiful face, one would say Wisdom itself had reared her with love.”
#28
چو مادرش بر تخت زرین نشاند
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سکندر بروبر همی جان فشاند
“When his mother seated her upon the golden throne, Sekandar would have poured out his very life for her.”
#29
نشستند یک هفته با او به هم
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همی رای زد شاه بر بیش و کم
“They sat together for a week, as the king took counsel with her on all matters great and small.”
#30
نبد جز بزرگی و آهستگی
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خردمندی و شرم و شایستگی
“In her was nothing but grandeur, gentleness, wisdom, modesty, and noble grace.”
#31
ببردند ز ایران فراوان نثار
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ز دینار وز گوهر شاهوار
“They brought endless tributes from Iran—gold dinars and royal jewels.”
#32
همه شهر ایران و توران و چین
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به شاهی برو خواندند آفرین
“All the cities of Iran, Turan, and China proclaimed blessings upon his kingship.”
#33
همه روی گیتی پر از داد شد
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به هر جای ویرانی آباد شد
“The entire face of the earth became filled with justice, and desolation everywhere turned into prosperity.”