In ancient times, by the shimmering shores of the Persian Sea in the city of Kajaran, life moved to the relentless rhythm of toil. It was a narrow, teeming town where every soul earned their daily bread through hard labor. Every morning, groups of maidens departed through the city gates, carrying weighed bags of raw cotton and distaff boxes carved of hard populus wood. They walked gracefully to the foot of the nearby mountain, sharing their modest provisions without complaint, competing only in the speed and quality of their spinning. Among the city's humble dwellers lived a man of modest means named Haftvad—so called because he was blessed with seven sons. Yet held dearest to his heart was his single, fair-faced daughter.
On one auspicious afternoon, as the maidens sat working beneath the mountain's shade, a sudden gust of wind dislodged a ripe apple from a branch, sending it tumbling to the path. Haftvad's fortunate daughter retrieved the fruit, but as her teeth bit into its flesh, she discovered a small worm nestling within its core. Gently lifting the creature with her finger, she placed it softly inside her spindle-box. Turning to her companions, she swore by the star of this apple worm that she would astonish them all with her productivity. Invoking the name of the peerless Lord, she began to spin; by sunset, her thread was double its usual count. Returning home like swift smoke, she presented the mountain of fine yarn to her mother, who showered her with loving blessings.
Every morning thereafter, the maiden fed a slice of fresh apple to the worm. In turn, her spinning prowess multiplied miraculously, filling her home with wealthy yarn and joy like a radiant paradise. Astonished by her supernatural output, her parents inquired if she had forged a pact with a Peri. The maiden revealed the secret of the apple worm and showed them the creature. Haftvad seized upon this as a sacred sign of destiny, devoting himself entirely to the creature's care. As time passed, the worm grew vast and formidable; its body widened, its skin transformed into a sleek, musk-black mantle adorned with intricate saffron patterns across its back. When it outgrew the wooden spindle-box, Haftvad fashioned a noble black chest to serve as its sanctuary.
Through the mysterious blessing of the worm, poverty vanished from Haftvad's house, replaced by immense prosperity and influence. His seven sons flourished into mighty figures. However, the proud local ruler—the Mir of Kajaran—beheld Haftvad's rising wealth with envy and sought pretexts to extort gold from him. Enraged by this tyranny, Haftvad withdrew from the city alongside his seven bold sons, his eyes burning with defiance. Raising a loud battle cry, he distributed vast gold among the regional warriors, assembling a powerful host of renowned swordsmen ready to challenge the governor's rule.
#1
ببین این شگفتی که دهقان چه گفت
✦
بدانگه که بگشاد راز از نهفت
“Behold this wonder which the Dehqan told, when he unsealed the secrets of old.”
#2
به شهر کجاران به دریای پارس
✦
چه گوید ز بالا و پهنای پارس
“Concerning the city of Kajaran by the Persian Sea, and what he tells of the vast length and breadth of Pars.”
#3
یکی شهر بد تنگ و مردم بسی
✦
ز کوشش بدی خوردن هر کسی
“It was a narrow city teeming with populace, where every person earned their bread only through relentless toil.”
#4
بدان شهر دختر فراوان بدی
✦
که بی‌کام جویندهٔ نان بدی
“In that city dwelt many young maidens, seeking their daily bread with hardship and little joy.”
#5
به یک روی نزدیک او بود کوه
✦
شدندی همه دختران همگروه
“On one side lay a mountain near the town, where all the maidens gathered together in groups.”
#6
ازان هر یکی پنبه بردی به سنگ
✦
یکی دوکدانی ز چوب خدنگ
“Each carried a weighed portion of raw cotton, alongside a distaff box carved of hard populus wood.”
#7
به دروازه دختر شدی همگروه
✦
خرامان ازین شهر تا پیش کوه
“Gathering as a sisterhood at the city gate, they walked gracefully from the town up to the mountain's foot.”
#8
برآمیختندی خورشها بهم
✦
نبودی به خورد اندرون بیش و کم
“They shared their provisions together equally, offering no grievance over much or little food.”
#9
نرفتی سخن گفتن از خواب و خورد
✦
ازان پنبه‌شان بود ننگ و نبرد
“No words were spent on slumber or feast; their pride and gentle rivalry lay only in spinning their cotton.”
#10
شدندی شبانگه سوی خانه باز
✦
شده پنبه‌شان ریسمان طراز
“At nightfall they returned to their homes, their raw cotton transformed into fine, woven yarn.”
#11
بدان شهر بی‌چیز و خرم نهاد
✦
یکی مرد بد نام او هفتواد
“In that city lived a poor yet cheerful man named Haftvad.”
#12
برین‌گونه بر نام او از چه رفت
✦
ازیراک او را پسر بود هفت
“Why was he known by such a title? Because seven sons had been born unto him.”
#13
گرامی یکی دخترش بود و بس
✦
که نشمردی او دختران را به کس
“He had but one cherished daughter, a maiden he held dearer than any other girl in the land.”
#14
چنان بد که روزی همه همگروه
✦
نشستند با دوک در پیش کوه
“It so happened that one day the maidens sat together with their distaffs beneath the mountain shade.”
#15
برآمیختند آن کجا داشتند
✦
به گاه خورش دوک بگذاشتند
“They shared what food they brought, putting aside their spindles when it was time to eat.”
#16
چنان بد که این دختر نیک‌بخت
✦
یکی سیب افگنده باد از درخت
“By chance, a wind-blown apple fell near this fortunate daughter from a tree.”
#17
به ره بر بدید و سبک برگرفت
✦
ز من بشنو این داستان شگفت
“She saw it on the path and swiftly picked it up—now hear from me this wondrous tale!”
#18
چو آن خوب رخ میوه اندرگزید
✦
یکی در میان کرم آگنده دید
“As the fair-faced girl bit into the fruit, she found a worm nestling in its core.”
#19
به انگشت زان سیب برداشتش
✦
بدان دوکدان نرم بگذاشتش
“Gently with her finger she plucked the worm from the apple, placing it softly inside her spindle-box.”
#20
چو برداشت زان دوکدان پنبه گفت
✦
به نام خداوند بی‌یار و جفت
“Taking out cotton from her box, she spoke: "In the name of the Lord who has no peer nor match,"”
#21
من امروز بر اختر کرم سیب
✦
به رشتن نمایم شما را نهیب
“"Today, by the star of this apple worm, I shall astound you all with the speed of my spinning!"”
#22
همه دختران شاد و خندان شدند
✦
گشاده‌رخ و سیم دندان شدند
“All the maidens laughed and grew joyful, their faces beaming and silver teeth shining.”
#23
دو چندان که رشتی به روزی برشت
✦
شمارش همی بر زمین برنوشت
“Twice as much as she ever spun in a day she accomplished now, counting the strands upon the ground.”
#24
وزانجا بیامد به کردار دود
✦
به مادر نمود آن کجا رشته بود
“Swift as smoke she hastened home, showing her mother the vast yarn she had spun.”
#25
برو آفرین کرد مادر به مهر
✦
که برخوردی از مادر ای خوب‌چهر
“Her mother blessed her with deep affection, saying: "May you reap joy from your mother, fair child!"”
#26
به شبگیر چون ریسمان برشمرد
✦
دو چندانک هر بار بردی ببرد
“When dawn broke and the yarn was counted, it was double what she usually produced.”
#27
چو آمد بدان چاره‌جوی انجمن
✦
به رشتن نهاده دل و گوش و تن
“When she rejoined the industrious maiden circle, she devoted her heart, ear, and body to her spinning.”
#28
چنین گفت با نامور دختران
✦
که ای ماه‌رویان و نیک‌اختران
“She spoke thus to the renowned maidens: "O moon-faced, blessed companions!"”
#29
من از اختر کرم چندان طراز
✦
بریسم که نیزم نیاید نیاز
“"By the auspicious fortune of this worm, I shall spin so much fine yarn that we shall never know want again."”
#30
به رشت آنکجا برده بد پیش ازین
✦
به کار آمدی گر بدی بیش ازین
“She spun all the raw cotton she had brought before, and had there been more, she would have spun it all.”
#31
سوی خانه برد آن طرازی که رشت
✦
دل مام او شد چو خرم بهشت
“She carried the exquisite thread home, filling her mother's heart with the joy of paradise.”
#32
همی لختکی سیب هر بامداد
✦
پری‌روی دختر بران کرم داد
“Every morning, the fairy-faced girl gave a small morsel of apple to the worm.”
#33
ازان پنبه هرچند کردی فزون
✦
برشتی همی دختر پرفسون
“No matter how much cotton was brought to her, that wondrous girl spun it effortlessly.”
#34
چنان بد که یک روز مام و پدر
✦
بگفتند با دختر پرهنر
“It happened one day that her mother and father spoke to their talented child:”
#35
که چندین بریسی مگر با پری
✦
گرفتستی ای پاک تن خواهری
“"How is it that you spin so vastly? Have you befriended a Peri, O pure-hearted girl?"”
#36
سبک سیم تن پیش مادر بگفت
✦
ازان سیب و آن کرمک اندر نهفت
“The silver-limbed maiden at once revealed to her mother the secret of the apple and the little worm.”
#37
همان کرم فرخ بدیشان نمود
✦
زن و شوی را روشنایی فزود
“She showed them the blessed worm; seeing it brought immense joy and brightness to the couple.”
#38
به فالی گرفت آن سخن هفتواد
✦
ز کاری نکردی به دل نیز یاد
“Haftvad took this omen of fortune to heart, dismissing all other anxieties from his mind.”
#39
چنین تا برآمد برین روزگار
✦
فروزنده‌تر گشت هر روز کار
“As time passed, their fortunes grew brighter and more radiant day by day.”
#40
مگر ز اختر کرم گفتی سخن
✦
برو نو شدی روزگار کهن
“It seemed as if by the star of the worm, their old, worn-out life was made entirely new.”
#41
مر این کرم را خوار نگذاشتند
✦
بخوردنش نیکو همی داشتند
“They did not neglect the worm, but fed and tended to it with utmost care.”
#42
تن‌آور شد آن کرم و نیرو گرفت
✦
سر و پشت او رنگ نیکو گرفت
“The worm grew massive and strong, its head and back assuming a splendid hue.”
#43
همی تنگ شد دوکدان بر تنش
✦
چو مشک سیه گشت پیراهنش
“The spindle-box became too narrow for its body, and its skin turned black as black musk.”
#44
به مشک اندرون پیکر زعفران
✦
برو پشت او از کران تا کران
“Amidst that musk-black hide, saffron patterns spanned across its back from end to end.”
#45
یکی پاک صندوق کردش سیاه
✦
بدو اندرون ساخته جایگاه
“They crafted a fine, dark chest for it, making therein a commodious dwelling.”
#46
چنان شد که در شهر بی‌هفتواد
✦
نگفتی سخن کس به بیداد و داد
“So great did his sway become that in that city, none would speak of justice or injustice without invoking Haftvad's name.”
#47
فراز آمدش ارج و آزرم و چیز
✦
توانگر شد آن هفت فرزند نیز
“His dignity, honor, and wealth grew immensely, and his seven sons likewise became prosperous.”
#48
یکی میر بد اندر آن شهراوی
✦
سرافراز با لشکر و رنگ و بوی
“Now, there was a lord in that province, proud and exalted, boasting an army, splendor, and renown.”
#49
بهانه همی ساخت بر هفتواد
✦
که دینار بستاند از بدنژاد
“He constantly sought pretexts against Haftvad, seeking to extort gold coins from the man he deemed low-born.”
#50
ازان آگهی مرد شد در نهیب
✦
بیامد ازان شهر دل با شکیب
“When Haftvad learned of this, he was filled with resolute anger; with a patient yet firm heart, he marched out from that city.”
#51
همان هفت فرزند پیش اندرون
✦
پر از درد دل دیدگان پر ز خون
“His seven sons marched ahead of him, their hearts aching with grief and their eyes weeping blood with rage.”
#52
ز هر سو برانگیخت بانگ و نفیر
✦
برو انجمن گشت برنا و پیر
“From every side he raised a cry and call to arms, and young and old gathered around him in response.”
#53
هرانجا که بایست دینار داد
✦
به کنداوران چیز بسیار داد
“Wherever gold was needed, he spent it freely, bestowing abundant riches upon the brave warriors.”
#54
یکی لشکری شد بر او انجمن
✦
همه نامداران شمشیرزن
“Thus a great host assembled under his banner, all renowned and formidable swordsmen.”
#55
همه یکسره پیش فرزند اوی
✦
برفتند و گشتند پیکارجوی
“One and all, they marched before his sons, eager for battle and resolved upon combat.”