#1
به جهرم یکی مرد بد بدنژاد
✦
کجا نام او مهرک نوش‌زاد
“In Jahrom there lived an ignoble man of evil birth, whose name was Mehrak-e Nushzad.”
#2
چو آگه شد از رفتن اردشیر
✦
وزان ماندن او بران آبگیر
“When he learned of Ardashir's departure and how he remained stranded near that pool,”
#3
ز تنگی که بد اندر آن رزمگاه
✦
ز بهر خورشها برو بسته راه
“And of the dire distress at that battlefield, where all supply routes had been cut off from him,”
#4
ز جهرم بیامد به ایوان شاه
✦
ز هر سو بیاورد بی‌مر سپاه
“He marched from Jahrom unto the king's palace, bringing with him a countless host.”
#5
همه گنج او را به تاراج داد
✦
به لشکر بسی بدره و تاج داد
“He gave all the king's treasures to plunder, bestowing many purses of coin and crowns upon his army.”
#6
چو آگاهی آمد به شاه اردشیر
✦
پراندیشه شد بر لب آبگیر
“When news of this reached King Ardashir, he became filled with anxiety beside the water pool.”
#7
همی گفت ناساخته خانه را
✦
چرا ساختم رزم بیگانه را
“He mused: 'Leaving my own home unsecured, why did I wage war against foreign foes?'”
#8
بزرگان لشکرش را پیش خواند
✦
ز مهرک فراوان سخنها براند
“He summoned the commanders of his army and spoke at length regarding Mehrak.”
#9
چه بینید گفت ای سران سپاه
✦
که ما را چنین تنگ شد دستگاه
“He asked: 'What counsel do you see, O chiefs of the host, now that our affairs have grown so straitened?'”
#10
چشیدم بسی تلخی روزگار
✦
نبد رنج مهرک مرا در شمار
“'I have tasted much bitterness of the times, yet Mehrak's trouble was not in my reckoning.'”
#11
به آواز گفتند کای شهریار
✦
مبیناد چشمت بد روزگار
“They answered with one voice: 'O Sovereign! May thy eyes never behold the evil of the times!'”
#12
چو مهرک بود دشمن اندر نهان
✦
چرا جست باید به سختی جهان
“'While Mehrak remains a secret enemy, why should one seek conquest across the hard world?'”
#13
تو داری بزرگی و گیهان تراست
✦
همه بندگانیم و فرمان تراست
“'Thine is greatness, and the world is thine; we are all thy servants, and thy command is supreme.'”
#14
بفرمود تا خوان بیاراستند
✦
می و جام و رامشگران خواستند
“He ordered the banquet table to be laid, calling for wine, goblets, and musicians.”
#15
به خوان بر نهادند چندی بره
✦
به خوردن نهادند سر یکسره
“They placed several roasted lambs upon the table, and all sat down to eat.”
#16
چو نان را به خوردن گرفت اردشیر
✦
همانگه بیامد یکی تیز تیر
“Just as Ardashir reached out to break bread, a sharp arrow came flying.”
#17
نشست اندران پاک فربه بره
✦
که تیر اندرو غرقه شد یکسره
“It plunged into that pure, fat lamb, so deep that the entire arrow was submerged within it.”
#18
بزرگان فرزانهٔ رزمساز
✦
ز نان داشتند آن زمان دست باز
“The wise and battle-seasoned nobles at once held back their hands from the bread.”
#19
بدیدند نقشی بران تیز تیر
✦
بخواند آنک بد زان بزرگان دبیر
“They saw writing upon that sharp shaft, and the royal scribe among the nobles was summoned to read it.”
#20
ز غم هرکسی از جگر خون کشید
✦
یکی از بره تیر بیرون کشید
“Everyone grieved deeply in their hearts, as one of them pulled the arrow out from the lamb.”
#21
نوشته بران تیر بر پهلوی
✦
که ای شاه داننده گر بشنوی
“Written upon the arrow in Middle Persian script was: 'O wise King, if thou wilt listen,'”
#22
چنین تیز تیر آمد از بام دژ
✦
که از بخت کرمست آرام دژ
“'Such a swift arrow came from the fortress roof, for the fortress rests in the fortune of the Worm.'”
#23
گر انداختیمی بر اردشیر
✦
بروبر گذر یافتی پر تیر
“'Had we aimed it at Ardashir himself, the feathered arrow would have passed straight through him.'”
#24
نباید که چون او یکی شهریار
✦
کند پست کرم اندرین روزگار
“'It is not fitting that a monarch like him should bring low the Worm in this era.'”
#25
بران موبدان نامدار اردشیر
✦
نوشته همی خواند آن چوب تیر
“Unto the renowned mobads and Ardashir, the inscription on that wooden shaft was read aloud.”
#26
ز دژ تا بر او دو فرسنگ بود
✦
دل مهتران زان سخن تنگ بود
“From the fortress to where he sat was two full leagues; the hearts of the nobles grew heavy at those words.”
#27
همی هر کسی خواندند آفرین
✦
ز دادار بر فر شاه زمین
“Every man sang praises unto the Creator for the divine glory of the King of the Earth.”