In an era when fortune and splendor smiled upon the realm under King Ardashir, the monarch rode forth at dawn to hunt alongside his wise and valiant son, Prince Shapur. As horsemen scattered across the wild plains, Shapur spurred his steed toward a distant, lush village adorned with elegant halls, gardens, and a cool well.
There beside the well stood a maiden of breathtaking beauty, leaning over a heavy wooden wheel to draw water from the deep earth. As her eyes fell upon Prince Shapur, she offered praises for his sovereign fortune and kindly offered to draw cool water to slake the thirst of his steed. Unwilling to see so delicate a maiden toil, Shapur commanded his servant to haul the bucket instead. Yet the servant strained in vain, overwhelmed by the bucket's immense weight. Stepping forward, Shapur seized the rope himself and felt the surprising heaviness of the vessel. Amazed by her strength and noble bearing, Shapur realized that such beauty and vigor could only belong to a highborn line.
The maiden lauded the prince, comparing his strength to a wild elephant, his generosity to the flooded River Nile, and his stature to a towering cypress. Shapur pressed her to reveal her true lineage, refusing to believe a mere farmer's daughter possessed such royal grace. Seeking Shapur's pledge of safety against the wrath of King Ardashir, she confessed her secret: she was the daughter of Mihrak Nushzad—Ardashir's slain foe whose bloodline the king had sought to extinguish. Saved in childhood by a pious guardian, she had lived hidden as a humble drawer of water. Moved by her noble blood, grace, and honesty, Shapur granted her sanctuary and married her in accordance with ancient Zoroastrian traditions.
#1
کنون بشنو از دخت مهرک سخن
✦
ابا گرد شاپور شمشیرزن
“Now hear the tale of Mihrak's daughter fair, and Shapur the warrior of sword-craft rare.”
#2
چو لختی برآمد برین روزگار
✦
فروزنده شد دولت شهریار
“When a portion of time had passed in peace, the King's fortune shone bright without cease.”
#3
به نخچیر شد شاه روزی پگاه
✦
خردمند شاپور با او به راه
“The King rode out to hunt at early dawn, with wise Shapur riding alongside his throne.”
#4
به هر سو سواران همی تاختند
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ز نخچیر دشتی بپرداختند
“On every side the horsemen spurred away, clearing the broad plain of wild game that day.”
#5
پدید آمد از دور دشتی فراخ
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پر از باغ و میدان و ایوان و کاخ
“From afar a spacious plain came to sight, filled with gardens, halls, and palaces bright.”
#6
همی تاخت شاپور تا پیش ده
✦
فرود آمد از راه در خان مه
“Shapur spurred his steed to the village bound, and dismounted at the chief's abode he found.”
#7
یکی باغ بد کش و خرم سرای
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جوان اندر آمد بدان سبز جای
“A pleasant garden stood with verdant space, as the youth stepped into that radiant place.”
#8
یکی دختری دید بر سان ماه
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فروهشته از چرخ دلوی به چاه
“He beheld a maiden bright as the moon, lowering a bucket into the well at noon.”
#9
چو آن ماه‌رخ روی شاپور دید
✦
بیامد برو آفرین گسترید
“When that moon-faced maid saw Shapur's grace, she approached with blessings for his face.”
#10
که شادان بدی شاه و خندان بدی
✦
همه ساله از بی‌گزندان بدی
“Saying: 'May the prince be joyful and glad, forever immune to all trials sad!”
#11
کنون بی‌گمان تشنه باشد ستور
✦
بدین ده رود اندرون آب شور
“Surely thy steed is thirsty from the ride, yet brackish is the water in this countryside.”
#12
به چاه اندرون آب سردست و خوش
✦
بفرمای تا من بوم آبکش
“Cold and sweet is the water in this well; command me, and I shall draw it well.'”
#13
بدو گفت شاپور کای ماه‌روی
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چرا رنجه گشتی بدین گفت‌وگوی
“Shapur replied to her: 'O moon-faced maid, why distress thy heart in this parade?”
#14
که باشند با من پرستنده مرد
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کزین چاه بی‌بن کشند آب سرد
“Servants are with me who can draw the thread, and haul cool water from this bottomless bed.'”
#15
ز برنا کنیزک بپیچید روی
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بشد دور و بنشست بر پیش جوی
“The young maiden turned her face away, and sat beside the streamlet to stay.”
#16
پرستنده‌ای را بفرمود شاه
✦
که دلو آور و آب برکش ز چاه
“The prince commanded his servant to go, to fetch the bucket and draw water from below.”
#17
پرستنده بشنید و آمد دوان
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رسن برد بر چرخ دلو گران
“The servant obeyed and ran in haste, binding the heavy bucket around his waist.”
#18
چو دلو گران‌سنگ پر آب گشت
✦
پرستنده را روی پرتاب گشت
“When the heavy bucket filled with deep rain, the servant's face flushed hot with pain.”
#19
چو دلو گران برنیامد ز چاه
✦
بیامد ژکان زود شاپور شاه
“When the heavy bucket would not rise high, Shapur the king approached with a sigh.”
#20
پرستنده را گفت کای نیم‌زن
✦
نه زن داشت این دلو و چندین رسن
“He chid the servant: 'O half-man in fight, hath a maid such strength and thou no might?”
#21
همی برکشید آب چندین ز چاه
✦
تو گشتی پر از رنج و فریادخواه
“She drew water easily from this deep space, while thou art full of groans and disgrace!'”
#22
بیامد رسن بستد از پیشکار
✦
شد آن کار دشوار بر شاه خوار
“He took the rope from his servant's hand; the heavy task yielded to his command.”
#23
ز دلو گران شاه چون رنج دید
✦
بر آن خوب‌رخ آفرین گسترید
“Yet feeling the bucket's immense, heavy weight, the king praised the maid of lovely state.”
#24
که برتافت دلوی برین سان گران
✦
همانا که هست از نژاد سران
“Thinking: 'She who lifted this burden so grand, must surely descend from the lords of the land.'”
#25
کنیزک چو او دلو را برکشید
✦
بیامد به مهر آفرین گسترید
“As the prince pulled the bucket up to the light, the maiden approached with blessings bright.”
#26
که نوشه بدی تا بود روزگار
✦
همیشه خرد بادت آموزگار
“Saying: 'Mayest thou live long while time shall endure, and wisdom be thy guide forever pure!”
#27
به نیروی شاپور شاه اردشیر
✦
شود بی‌گمان آب در چاه شیر
“By the strength of Shapur, son of Ardashir the King, water in the well turns to milk in the spring!'”
#28
جوان گفت با دختر چرب‌گوی
✦
چه دانی که شاپورم ای ماه‌روی
“The prince asked the sweet-spoken maid in surprise: 'How knowest thou I am Shapur, O bright eyes?'”
#29
چنین داد پاسخ که این داستان
✦
شنیدم بسی از لب راستان
“She answered: 'I have heard this story untold, full often from truthful lips of old:”
#30
که شاپور گردست با زور پیل
✦
به بخشندگی همچو دریای نیل
“That Shapur is a knight with the strength of an elephant grand, in bounty like the Nile across the land.”
#31
به بالای سروست و رویین‌تنست
✦
به هرچیز مانندهٔ بهمنست
“Tall as a cypress, bronze-bodied in fight, in every virtue resembling Bahman's might.'”
#32
بدو گفت شاپور کای ماه‌روی
✦
سخن هرچ پرسم ترا راست‌گوی
“Shapur said to her: 'O maiden of grace, answer truly whatever I ask in this place.”
#33
پدیدار کن تا نژاد تو چیست
✦
برین چهرهٔ تو نشان کییست
“Reveal thy true lineage unto my eyes, for upon thy face a royal sign lies.'”
#34
بدو گفت من دختر مهترم
✦
ازیرا چنین خوب و کنداورم
“She answered: 'I am daughter to the chief of this land, that is why I am so fair and strong of hand.'”
#35
چنین داد پاسخ که هرگز دروغ
✦
بر شهریاران نگیرد فروغ
“He replied: 'A falsehood can never gain light, nor prosper before the kingly sight.”
#36
کشاورز را دختر ماه‌روی
✦
نباشد بدین روی و این رنگ و بوی
“A farmer's daughter hath not such a grace, nor such noble fragrance and royal face.'”
#37
کنیزک بدو گفت کای شهریار
✦
هرانگه که یابم به جان زینهار
“The maiden said: 'O Sovereign King, if I obtain thy pledge for my life's wing,”
#38
بگویم همه پیش تو من نژاد
✦
چو یابم ز خشم شهنشاه داد
“I shall lay bare my true lineage in thy sight, if thou protect me from the Great King's spite.'”
#39
بدو گفت شاپور کز بوستان
✦
نرست از چمن کینهٔ دوستان
“Shapur answered: 'From a garden fair, no malice toward friends groweth anywhere.”
#40
بگوی و ز من بیم در دل مدار
✦
نه از نامور دادگر شهریار
“Speak freely and harbor no fear in thy heart, neither of me nor the Just Sovereign's part.'”
#41
کنیزک بدو گفت کز راه داد
✦
منم دختر مهرک نوش‌زاد
“The maid said: 'By the way of truth and right, I am daughter to Mihrak Nushzad of might.”
#42
مرا پارسایی بیاورد خرد
✦
بدین پرهنر مهتر ده سپرد
“A righteous man saved me when I was small, and entrusted me to this chief's humble hall.”
#43
من از بیم آن نامور شهریار
✦
چنین آبکش گشتم و پیشکار
“For fear of that famous King's wrathful blade, I became a water-carrier and a maid.'”
#44
بیامد بپردخت شاپور جای
✦
همی بود مهتر به پیشش به پای
“Shapur cleared the place for counsel that hour, while the village chief stood waiting in his power.”
#45
به دو گفت کین دختر خوب‌چهر
✦
به من ده بر من گوا کن سپهر
“He said to him: 'Give me this moon-faced bride, and let the heavens witness our side.'”
#46
بدو داد مهتر به فرمان اوی
✦
بر آیین آتش‌پرستان اوی
“The chieftain betrothed her to him by his decree, in accordance with the solemn rites of the Zoroastrians.”