When Ardashir drew near the court of King Ardavan, the royal chamberlains announced his arrival. Ardavan received the noble youth with warmth, speaking at length of Babak's renown, and granted him an honored place near the throne alongside a fitting residence in the city. Fine garments, rich carpets, and sumptuously prepared feasts were provided for him, and Ardashir presented the magnificent tribute brought from Babak. Ardavan cherished Ardashir like his own son, keeping him by his side continuously at banquets and in the hunting field.
On a certain day in a vast hunting ground, the royal troops and Ardavan's four princely sons scattered across the plain. Ardashir rode directly beside the king. Suddenly, a herd of wild asses appeared in the distance, and a clamor erupted among the hunters. Ardashir spurred his fleet charger ahead of all the rest. Drawing close to a mighty male onager, he notched an arrow and shot with such force that the shaft pierced straight through the beast from flank to flank. Ardavan rode up, marveled at the astounding marksmanship, and cried out praise for the master hand that struck the beast down. Ardashir boldly declared, "It was my arrow that felled this beast!" But Ardavan's son immediately claimed that he himself had slain it.
Ardashir replied, "The plain is vast, and there is no shortage of game or arrows. Shoot another in the exact same fashion, for falsehood is a grave sin among noble men!" Hearing this sharp rebuke to his prince, King Ardavan burned with fury. He shouted at Ardashir, "It is my own fault for elevating thee so high that thou wouldst outshine my son and boast of thy prowess! Go now to our stables, serve as master of the Arabian steeds, and assist the grooms!"
Weeping with indignation, Ardashir had no choice but to go to the royal stables. He wrote a bitter letter to his grandfather Babak, recounting Ardavan's injustice and cursing the Parthian monarch. When Babak received the message, he kept the matter secret, but immediately dispatched a swift dromedary rider with ten thousand gold dinars and a letter of stern counsel. Babak admonished him: "O foolish youth, why didst thou race ahead of the king's son? In his eyes thou art a servant, not a royal kinsman. Seek now his goodwill and obey his commands without question." Comforted by the gold and his grandfather's wisdom, Ardashir made suitable lodgings near the horses, surrounding himself with musicians and wine, patiently biding his time as destiny unfolded.
#1
چو آمد به نزدیکی بارگاه
✦
بگفتند با شاه زان بارخواه
“When he drew near to the royal court, the chamberlain informed the King of his arrival.”
#2
جوان را به مهر اردوان پیش خواند
✦
ز بابک سخنها فراوان براند
“Ardavan welcomed the youth with affection and spoke at length of Babak.”
#3
به نزدیکی تخت بنشاختش
✦
به برزن یکی جایگه ساختش
“He seated him near his own throne and appointed for him a worthy dwelling in the city.”
#4
فرستاد هرگونه‌ای خوردنی
✦
ز پوشیدنی هم ز گستردنی
“He sent him every kind of food, along with fine robes and rich carpets.”
#5
ابا نامداران بیامد جوان
✦
به جایی که فرموده بود اردوان
“Accompanied by the nobles, the youth proceeded to the abode ordained by Ardavan.”
#6
چو کرسی نهاد از بر چرخ شید
✦
جهان گشت چون روی رومی سپید
“When the radiant sun set its throne in the skies, the world grew bright like a Roman face.”
#7
پرستنده‌ای پیش خواند اردشیر
✦
همان هدیه‌هایی که بد ناگزیر
“Ardashir summoned an attendant to bring the customary presents he had brought.”
#8
فرستاد نزدیک شاه اردوان
✦
فرستادهٔ بابک پهلوان
“The envoy sent by Babak the paladin offered these tribute gifts to King Ardavan.”
#9
بدید اردوان و پسند آمدش
✦
جوانمرد را سودمند آمدش
“Ardavan looked upon them with pleasure, holding the noble youth in high esteem.”
#10
پسروار خسرو همی داشتش
✦
زمانی به تیمار نگذاشتش
“The monarch treated him as a son, never letting him suffer a moment of grief.”
#11
به می خوردن و خوان و نخچیرگاه
✦
به پیش خودش داشتی سال و ماه
“At banquets, feasts, and in the hunting fields, he kept Ardashir by his side continually.”
#12
همی داشتش همچو فرزند خویش
✦
جدایی ندادش ز پیوند خویش
“He cherished him like his own child, never separating him from his royal kin.”
#13
چنان بد که روزی به نخچیرگاه
✦
پراگنده شد لشکر و پور شاه
“It so befell that one day in the hunting field, the royal army and the King's sons scattered.”
#14
همی راند با اردوان اردشیر
✦
جوانمرد را شاه بد دلپذیر
“Ardashir rode beside Ardavan, for the young warrior was very pleasing to the King.”
#15
پسر بود شاه اردوان را چهار
✦
ازان هر یکی چون یکی شهریار
“King Ardavan had four sons, each of whom was like a prince of royal dignity.”
#16
به هامون پدید آمد از دور گور
✦
ازان لشکر گشن برخاست شور
“Far off upon the plain, wild asses appeared, and a great clamor rose from the vast host.”
#17
همه بادپایان برانگیختند
✦
همی گرد با خوی برآمیختند
“They all spurred their fleet horses, mixing the rising dust with sweat.”
#18
همی تاخت پیش اندرون اردشیر
✦
چو نزدیک شد در کمان راند تیر
“Ardashir galloped ahead of all; when he drew near, he fitted an arrow to his bow.”
#19
بزد بر سرون یکی گور نر
✦
گذر کرد بر گور پیکان و پر
“He struck a male wild ass upon the rump; the arrow and its feathers pierced clear through.”
#20
بیامد هم اندر زمان اردوان
✦
بدید آن گشاد و بر آن جوان
“Ardavan rode up at that very moment and witnessed that mighty shot and the prowess of the youth.”
#21
بدید آن یکی گور افگنده گفت
✦
که با دست آنکس هنر باد جفت
“Seeing the fallen wild ass, he exclaimed, "May skill ever be joined with the hand of him who shot this!"”
#22
چنین داد پاسخ به شاه اردشیر
✦
که این گور را من فگندم به تیر
“Ardashir replied to the King, "It was I who felled this wild ass with my arrow."”
#23
پسر گفت کین را من افگنده‌ام
✦
همان جفت را نیز جوینده‌ام
“The King's son retorted, "Nay, I felled it myself, and now I hunt its mate!"”
#24
چنین داد پاسخ بدو اردشیر
✦
که دشتی فراخست و هم گور و تیر
“Ardashir answered him, "The plain is vast, and there is no lack of wild asses or arrows!"”
#25
یکی دیگر افگن برین هم نشان
✦
دروغ از گناهست بر سرکشان
“"Shoot another in the same fashion; for falsehood is a sin among noble chiefs!"”
#26
پر از خشم شد زان جوان اردوان
✦
یکی بانگ برزد به مرد جوان
“Ardavan burned with anger at the youth and shouted fiercely at Ardashir.”
#27
بدو گفت شاه این گناه منست
✦
که پروردن آیین و راه منست
“The King said to him, "This is my fault, for my custom is to nurture and exalt!"”
#28
ترا خود به بزم و به نخچیرگاه
✦
چرا برد باید همی با سپاه
“"Why should I ever have brought thee along with my host to banquets and hunts?"”
#29
بدان تا ز فرزند من بگذری
✦
بلندی گزینی و کنداوری
“"So that thou mightest surpass my son, seeking loftiness and bragging of thy prowess?"”
#30
برو تازی اسپان ما را ببین
✦
هم آن جایگه بر سرایی گزین
“"Go now and tend our Arabian steeds, and choose a dwelling place in that very stable!"”
#31
بران آخر اسپ سالار باش
✦
به هر کار با هر کسی یار باش
“"Be the master of the horse in those stables, and assist everyone in their labors!"”
#32
بیامد پر از آب چشم اردشیر
✦
بر آخر اسپ شد ناگزیر
“Ardashir departed with eyes full of tears and perforce went to the stables.”
#33
یکی نامه بنوشت پیش نیا
✦
پر از غم دل و سر پر از کیمیا
“He wrote a letter to his grandfather Babak, his heart full of sorrow and his head full of schemes.”
#34
که ما را چه پیش آمد از اردوان
✦
که درد تنش باد و رنج روان
“Recounting, "See what has befallen me from Ardavan—may he suffer pain of body and affliction of soul!"”
#35
همه یاد کرد آن کجا رفته بود
✦
کجا اردوان از چه آشفته بود
“He recalled all that had transpired and why Ardavan had grown so enraged.”
#36
چو آن نامه نزدیک بابک رسید
✦
نکرد آن سخن نیز بر کس پدید
“When that letter reached Babak, he revealed its contents to no one.”
#37
دلش گشت زان کار پر درد و رنج
✦
بیاورد دینار چندی ز گنج
“His heart grew full of grief over the matter, and he brought out much gold coin from his treasury.”
#38
فرستاد نزدیک او ده هزار
✦
هیونی برافگند گرد و سوار
“He sent ten thousand coins to Ardashir, dispatching a swift courier on a dromedary.”
#39
بفرمود تا پیش او شد دبیر
✦
یکی نامه فرمود زی اردشیر
“He summoned a scribe to his presence and dictated a letter to Ardashir.”
#40
که این کم خرد نورسیده جوان
✦
چو رفتی به نخچیر با اردوان
“Writing: "O foolish, youthful lad, when thou wentest hunting with Ardavan,"”
#41
چرا تاختی پیش فرزند اوی
✦
پرستنده‌ای تو نه پیوند اوی
“"Why didst thou ride ahead of his son? Thou art a servant in his eyes, not of his blood!"”
#42
نکردی به تو دشمنی ار بدی
✦
که خود کرده‌ای تو به نابخردی
“"He would not have been thy foe had he been evil; thou hast brought this upon thyself through foolishness!"”
#43
کنون کام و خشنودی او بجوی
✦
مگردان ز فرمان او هیچ روی
“"Now seek his desire and pleasure, and turn not thy face away from his command!"”
#44
ز دینار لختی فرستادمت
✦
به نامه درون پندها دادمت
“"I have sent thee a portion of gold dinars, and bestowed advice upon thee in this letter."”
#45
هرانگه که این مایه بردی بکار
✦
دگر خواه تا بگذرد روزگار
“"Whenever thou hast spent this wealth, ask for more, that time may pass smoothly for thee."”
#46
تگاور هیون جهاندیده پیر
✦
بیامد دوان تا بر اردشیر
“A swift-stepping camel, bearing a wise and seasoned messenger, came running straight to Ardashir.”
#47
چو آن نامه برخواند خرسند گشت
✦
دلش سوی نیرنگ و اروند گشت
“When Ardashir read that letter, his heart was pleased, and his mind turned toward cunning, strategy, and power.”
#48
بگسترد هرگونه گستردنی
✦
ز پوشیدنیها و از خوردنی
“He spread out every manner of fine provision—garments of all kinds and abundant food.”
#49
به نزدیک اسپان سرایی گزید
✦
نه اندر خور کار جایی گزید
“He took up residence near the royal stables—a humble spot in no way worthy of his noble worth.”
#50
شب و روز خوردن بدی کار اوی
✦
می و جام و رامشگران یار اوی
“Night and day, feasting became his routine, with wine, goblets, and minstrels as his sole companions.”