At dawn, the King's wise minister brought young Shapur along with several boys of identical age, height, and attire to the polo field. So alike were their garments and features that no casual eye could distinguish the royal prince from the rest. The field glittered like a grand festival, with young Shapur moving boldly at its center.
As the play began and the ball spun across the grass, the boys gave chase with boundless zeal. Soon, King Ardashir himself arrived at the field, accompanied by his trusted inner circle. Looking upon the playing children, a cold sigh escaped his chest, and he pointed toward the field, remarking to his vizier that another Ardashir seemed to have stepped into the light. The wise guide replied, "O King, your very heart bears witness to your own blood!"
Ardashir commanded a servant to take a polo mallet, mingle cheerfully with the boys, and hit the ball directly toward the royal retinue. He wished to see which child would possess the lion-like courage to ride straight through the mounted nobles, heedless of the monarch's terrifying majesty, and claim the ball. "The one who fearlessly snatches the ball before my eyes," declared the King, "is beyond doubt my trueborn son."
The servant obeyed, striking the ball toward the King's horsemen. The children gave chase like arrows, but upon nearing Ardashir, they halted in awe and intimidation. Only Shapur the brave surged forward without hesitation, snatched the ball right from beneath his father's presence, and struck it far into the distance. Ardashir's heart swelled with such profound joy that youth seemed to return to his aging frame. The horsemen lifted the young prince upon their shoulders with thunderous cheers. The Shahanshah embraced his son, kissing his head and eyes, and offered glorious praises to the Almighty Creator.
Ardashir ordered the royal treasuries opened. Gold dinars, precious rubies, and sparkling gems were showered upon Shapur alongside fragrant musk and ambergris, until the prince was virtually hidden beneath the glittering riches. He then seated his righteous vizier upon a golden throne, rained gems upon him, and bestowed immense wealth to adorn his halls. Furthermore, he fully pardoned the daughter of Ardavan, cleansing all past grievance from her heart, and restored her to the royal palace in triumph.
The King summoned the finest scholars and sages to instruct Shapur in Pahlavi script, royal court etiquette, horsemanship, archery, battlefield tactics, and the art of governance. Following this, Ardashir ordered new coinage minted—dirhams and dinars bearing the name of King Ardashir on one side and the name of his noble, experienced vizier on the other. Finally, surveying a scrubland of thorns, he transformed it into a magnificent, flourishing city, endowing it with the proud name of Gondishapur.
#1
بیامد به شبگیر دستور شاه
✦
همی کرد کودک به میدان سپاه
“At dawn, the king's minister arrived, bringing the child to the troops gathered on the polo field.”
#2
یکی جامه و چهر و بالا یکی
✦
که پیدا نبد این ازان اندکی
“They were all identical in clothes, face, and stature, so that no one could distinguish one from another.”
#3
به میدان تو گفتی یکی سور بود
✦
میان اندرون شاه شاپور بود
“You would say the field was filled with a feast, and in the middle of it stood Prince Shapur.”
#4
چو کودک به زخم اندر آورد گوی
✦
فزونی همی جست هر یک بدوی
“When a child struck the ball into play, each tried to outrun the other towards it.”
#5
بیامد به میدان پگاه اردشیر
✦
تنی چند از ویژگان ناگزیر
“Early in the morning, Ardashir came to the field, accompanied by a few of his indispensable companions.”
#6
نگه کرد و چون کودکان را بدید
✦
یکی باد سرد از جگر برکشید
“He looked and when he saw the children, he drew a cold sigh from his heart.”
#7
به انگشت بنمود با کدخدای
✦
که آمد یکی اردشیری به جای
“He pointed with his finger to the minister, saying, 'It seems another Ardashir has taken my place!'”
#8
بدو راهبر گفت کای پادشاه
✦
دلت شد به فرزند خود بر گواه
“The wise guide said to him, 'O King, your heart itself bears witness to your child.'”
#9
یکی بنده را گفت شاه اردشیر
✦
که رو گوی ایشان به چوگان بگیر
“King Ardashir said to a servant, 'Go and catch their ball with a polo stick.'”
#10
همی باش با کودکان تازه‌روی
✦
به چوگان به پیش من انداز گوی
“'Be cheerful among the children, and hit the ball right towards me with your mallet.'”
#11
ازان کودکان تا که آید دلیر
✦
میان سواران به کردار شیر
“'So that we may see which child will come forward boldly like a lion among the horsemen,'”
#12
ز دیدار من گوی بیرون برد
✦
ازین انجمن کس به کس نشمرد
“'And carry the ball away despite my presence, taking heed of no one in this assembly.'”
#13
بود بی‌گمان پاک فرزند من
✦
ز تخم و بر و پاک پیوند من
“'He will undoubtedly be my pure son, of my seed, my fruit, and my noble lineage.'”
#14
به فرمان بشد بندهٔ شهریار
✦
بزد گوی و افگند پیش سوار
“At the monarch's command, the servant went, struck the ball, and sent it before the riders.”
#15
دوان کودکان از پی او چو تیر
✦
چو گشتند نزدیک با اردشیر
“The children ran after it like arrows, but when they came close to Ardashir,”
#16
بماندند ناکام بر جای خویش
✦
چو شاپور گرد اندر آمد به پیش
“They stopped unwillingly in awe, while Shapur the brave stepped forward alone.”
#17
ز پیش پدر گوی بربود و برد
✦
چو شد دور مر کودکان را سپرد
“He snatched the ball from before his father and hit it far, then passed it back to the children.”
#18
ز شادی چنان شد دل اردشیر
✦
که گردد جوان مردم گشته پیر
“Ardashir's heart grew so filled with joy that an old man would feel young again.”
#19
سوارانش از خاک برداشتند
✦
همی دست بر دست بگذاشتند
“His riders lifted the boy from the ground, passing him joyfully from hand to hand.”
#20
شهنشاه زان پس گرفتش به بر
✦
همی آفرین خواند بر دادگر
“The Shahanshah then took him into his embrace and sang praise to the Just Creator.”
#21
سر و چشم و رویش ببوسید و گفت
✦
که چونین شگفتی نشاید نهفت
“He kissed his head, eyes, and face, saying, 'Such a marvel must not be kept hidden.'”
#22
به دل هرگز این یاد نگذاشتم
✦
که شاپور را کشته پنداشتم
“'I never expected this in my heart, for I believed Shapur was slain.'”
#23
چو یزدان مرا شهریاری فزود
✦
ز من در جهان یادگاری فزود
“'As God increased my kingship, He also gave me an enduring memory in this world.'”
#24
به فرمان او بر نیابی گذر
✦
وگر برتر آری ز خورشید سر
“'No one can bypass His divine decree, even if one raises his head above the sun.'”
#25
گهر خواست از گنج و دینار خواست
✦
گرانمایه یاقوت بسیار خواست
“He asked for gems and gold dinars from the treasury, and requested much precious ruby.”
#26
برو زر و گوهر بسی ریختند
✦
زبر مشک و عنبر بسی بیختند
“They showered gold and jewels upon him, and sprinkled much musk and ambergris from above.”
#27
ز دینار شد تارکش ناپدید
✦
ز گوهر کسی چهرهٔ او ندید
“His crown was hidden beneath dinars, and no one could see his face through the jewels.”
#28
به دستور بر نیز گوهر فشاند
✦
به کرسی زر پیکرش برنشاند
“He also showered gems upon his minister and seated him upon a golden throne.”
#29
ببخشید چندان ورا خواسته
✦
که شد کاخ و ایوانش آراسته
“He bestowed so much wealth upon him that his palace and halls were grandly decorated.”
#30
بفرمود تا دختر اردوان
✦
به ایوان شود شاد و روشن‌روان
“He commanded that the daughter of Ardavan come to the palace joyful and cheerful.”
#31
ببخشید کرده گناه ورا
✦
ز زنگار بزدود ماه ورا
“He forgave her past offense and wiped away the rust from her radiant moon-face.”
#32
بیاورد فرهنگیان را به شهر
✦
کسی کو ز فرزانگی داشت بهر
“He brought learned scholars to the city—anyone who had a share of wisdom.”
#33
نوشتن بیاموختش پهلوی
✦
نشست سرافرازی و خسروی
“They taught Shapur Pahlavi writing, royal manners, and majestic etiquette.”
#34
همان جنگ را گرد کرده عنان
✦
ز بالا به دشمن نمودن سنان
“As well as tactical riding in battle and aiming spears at the enemy from atop horse.”
#35
ز می خوردن و بخشش و کار بزم
✦
سپه جستن و کوشش روز رزم
“From wine-drinking, generosity, and feast etiquette to army movement and battle-striving.”
#36
وزان پس دگر کرد میخ درم
✦
همان میخ دینار و هر بیش و کم
“After that, he minted new silver coins (dirhams) and gold dinars of all denominations.”
#37
به یک روی بد نام شاه اردشیر
✦
به روی دگر نام فرخ وزیر
“On one side was the name of King Ardashir, and on the other, the name of the blessed minister.”
#38
گران خوار بد نام دستور شاه
✦
جهاندیده مردی نماینده راه
“The king's minister was honored as Gerankhvar—an experienced, world-seasoned guide.”
#39
نوشتند بر نامه‌ها هم‌چنین
✦
بدو داد فرمان و مهر و نگین
“They wrote his name on royal decrees, and the king gave him authority, seal, and signet.”
#40
ببخشید گنجی به درویش مرد
✦
که خوردش نبودی به جز کارکرد
“He granted treasury wealth to the poor who had no sustenance except through hard labor.”
#41
نگه کرد جایی که بد خارستان
✦
ازو کرد خرم یکی شارستان
“He surveyed a land filled with thorns and made a prosperous, flourishing city out of it.”
#42
کجا گندشاپور خواندی ورا
✦
جزین نام نامی نراندی ورا
“Which he named Gondishapur, and gave it no other noble title besides.”