#1
بدانگه که شاه اردوان را بکشت
✦
ز خون وی آورد گیتی به مشت
“When King Ardashir slew Ardavan, by his blood he brought the whole realm under his domain.”
#2
بدان فر و اورند شاه اردشیر
✦
شده شادمان مرد برنا و پیر
“Through the glory and royal majesty of King Ardashir, both young and old found cause for joy.”
#3
که بنوشت بیدادی اردوان
✦
ز داد وی آبادتر شد جهان
“For he abolished the injustice of Ardavan, and the world grew more prosperous through his equity.”
#4
چنو کشته شد دخترش را بخواست
✦
بدان تا بگوید که گنجش کجاست
“When Ardavan was slain, Ardashir wedded his daughter, so she might reveal where his treasures lay hidden.”
#5
دو فرزند او شد به هندوستان
✦
به هر نیک و بد گشته همداستان
“Two of Ardavan's sons fled to Hindustan, united in every good and ill fortune.”
#6
دو ایدر به زندان شاه اندرون
✦
دو دیده پر از آب و دل پر ز خون
“Two remained bound in the King's dungeon, their eyes filled with tears and their hearts bleeding.”
#7
به هندوستان بود مهتر پسر
✦
که بهمن بدی نام آن نامور
“In Hindustan lived the elder brother, a famous prince whose name was Bahman.”
#8
فرستاده‌ای جست با رای و هوش
✦
جوانی که دارد به گفتار گوش
“Bahman sought a discreet and intelligent messenger, a youth attentive to his instructions.”
#9
چو از پادشاهی ندید ایچ بهر
✦
بدو داد ناگه یکی پاره زهر
“Seeing he had no share left in the kingdom, Bahman suddenly entrusted him with a portion of poison.”
#10
بدو گفت رو پیش خواهر بگوی
✦
که از دشمن این مهربانی مجوی
“He bade him: 'Go unto my sister and say: Seek not love from the enemy of our house!'”
#11
برادر دو داری به هندوستان
✦
به رنج و بلا گشته همداستان
“'You have two brothers in Hindustan, bound together in suffering and calamity.'”
#12
دو در بند و زندان شاه اردشیر
✦
پدر کشته و زنده خسته به تیر
“'And two imprisoned by King Ardashir; your father slain, and the survivors pierced with arrows.'”
#13
تو از ما گسسته بدین گونه مهر
✦
پسندد چنین کردگار سپهر؟
“'Have you thus severed your love from us? Can the Creator of the heavens approve of such a deed?'”
#14
چو خواهی که بانوی ایران شوی
✦
به گیتی پسند دلیران شوی
“'If you desire to be Queen of Iran and win the praise of noble brave men in the world,'”
#15
هلاهل چنین زهر هندی بگیر
✦
به کار آر یکبار بر اردشیر
“'Take this lethal Indian venom and put it once to use against Ardashir!'”
#16
فرستاده آمد بهنگام شام
✦
به دخت گرامی بداد آن پیام
“The courier arrived at dusk and delivered the message to the noble daughter.”
#17
ورا جان و دل بر برادر بسوخت
✦
به کردار آتش رخش برفروخت
“Her heart and soul burned for her brothers, and her cheeks flared like bright fire.”
#18
ز اندوه بستد گرانمایه زهر
✦
بدان بد که بردارد از کام بهر
“In her grief she took the potent poison, hoping to fulfill her bitter goal.”
#19
چنان بد که یک روز شاه اردشیر
✦
به نخچیر بر گور بگشاد تیر
“It so befell that one day King Ardashir loosed his arrows at wild asses during the hunt.”
#20
چو بگذشت نیمی ز روز دراز
✦
سپهبد ز نخچیرگه گشت باز
“When half of the long day had waned, the commander returned from the chase.”
#21
سوی دختر اردوان شد ز راه
✦
دوان ماه چهره بشد نزد شاه
“He made his way toward Ardavan's daughter, and the moon-faced lady ran to greet the King.”
#22
بیاورد جامی ز یاقوت زرد
✦
پر از شکر و پست با آب سرد
“She brought a goblet of yellow ruby, filled with sugar, barley meal, and cool water.”
#23
بیامیخت با شکر و پست زهر
✦
که بهمن مگر یابد از کام بهر
“She mingled poison with the sugar and meal, so that Bahman might achieve his heart's desire.”
#24
چو بگرفت شاه اردشیر آن به دست
✦
ز دستش بیفتاد و بشکست پست
“As King Ardashir took the cup in hand, it slipped from his grip and fell, shattering instantly.”
#25
شد آن پادشا بچه لرزان ز بیم
✦
هم‌اندر زمان شد دلش به دو نیم
“The royal maiden trembled with terror, her heart tearing in two that very moment.”
#26
جهاندار زان لرزه شد بدگمان
✦
پراندیشه از گردش آسمان
“Seeing her tremble, the ruler grew suspicious, troubled by the perilous turns of fate.”
#27
بفرمود تا خانگی مرغ چار
✦
پرستنده آرد بر شهریار
“He commanded a servant to bring four domestic fowls before the King.”
#28
چو آن مرغ بر پست بگذاشتند
✦
گمانی همی خیره پنداشتند
“When they set the birds upon the barley mix, onlookers still deemed the suspicion groundless.”
#29
هم‌انگاه مرغ آن بخورد و بمرد
✦
گمان بردن از راه نیکی ببرد
“Instantly the bird pecked at it and dropped dead; all hope of innocence was dispelled.”
#30
بفرمود تا موبد و کدخدای
✦
بیامد بر خسرو پاک‌رای
“He bade the High Priest and the minister to come before the noble King.”
#31
ز دستور ایران بپرسید شاه
✦
که بدخواه را برنشانی به گاه
“The King asked the counselor of Iran: 'If one exalts an enemy to honor and high degree,'”
#32
شود در نوازش بران‌گونه مست
✦
که بیهوده یازد به جان تو دست
“'And that enemy becomes so intoxicated by favor as to foolishly seek your life,'”
#33
چه بادافره‌ست این برآورده را
✦
چه سازیم درمان خودکرده را
“'What is the penalty for such a treacherous protégé? How shall we remedy a plight of our own making?'”
#34
چنین داد پاسخ که مهترپرست
✦
چو یازد بجان جهاندار دست
“The counselor answered: 'When a favored vassal reaches out against the sovereign's life,'”
#35
سرش بر گنه بر بباید برید
✦
کسی پند گوید نباید شنید
“'Their head must be severed for the crime, and no counsel in their favor should be heard.'”
#36
بفرمود کز دختر اردوان
✦
چنان کن که هرگز نبیند روان
“He commanded regarding Ardavan's daughter: 'Deal with her so that she may never again behold a living soul.'”
#37
بشد موبد وپیش او دخت شاه
✦
همی رفت لرزان و دل پرگناه
“The Mobad departed, and before him walked the king's daughter, trembling in fear with a heart burdened by guilt.”
#38
به موبد چنین گفت کای پرخرد
✦
مرا و ترا روز هم بگذرد
“She spoke to the Mobad, saying: 'O man of wisdom, the allotted days of both thee and me shall likewise pass away.'”
#39
اگر کشت خواهی مرا ناگزیر
✦
یکی کودکی دارم از اردشیر
“'If thou must inevitably slay me, know that I bear a child conceived by Ardashir.'”
#40
اگر من سزایم به خون ریختن
✦
ز دار بلند اندر آویختن
“'Even if I be worthy of having my blood shed, or being hanged upon a lofty gallows,'”
#41
چو این گردد از پاک مادر جدا
✦
بکن هرچ فرمان دهد پادشا
“'Once this babe is separated from its mother, then execute whatever command the king ordains.'”
#42
ز ره باز شد موبد تیزویر
✦
بگفت آنچ بشنید با اردشیر
“The sharp-witted Mobad turned back from his path, and recounted all he had heard unto Ardashir.”
#43
بدو گفت زو نیز مشنو سخن
✦
کمند آر و بادافره او بکن
“Ardashir said to him: 'Listen to her words no longer; bring forth a rope and exact her punishment!'”