Shapoor

When Shapur, the pure-hearted son of Ardashir, ascended the throne of justice and placed the radiant crown upon his head, the elders, wise scholars, and mobads assembled before him. The young king opened his speech with sublime pearls of counsel, addressing the noble assembly: he declared himself the son of the great Ardashir, a monarch who seeks knowledge and places justice above all. He called upon them to heed his commands and hold fast to their covenants, urging them to critically examine every word he uttered and to rebuke him should he speak without wisdom.

Reflecting upon the state of the world, Shapur delineated two sacred pillars: first, the king who serves as the guardian of the world, protecting the treasury and fortunes of high and low alike. If such a king is just and blessed, Wisdom itself becomes his invincible shield, lifting his head above dark clouds and granting peace to his soul. Second, he who tests his own reason, strives valiantly, and acknowledges the blessings of God through sacred knowledge. Shapur asserted that only the wise are truly fit for kingship, for in the light of wisdom, gold holds no value. He proclaimed contentment to be true wealth, warning that unbounded desire breeds boundless sorrow; thus, men must flee from evil counselors, embrace honor, and refrain from coveting the possessions of others—a crime born only of an uncultured mind.

The sovereign expressed a love for his subjects greater than the stars in the heavens, pledging to faithfully preserve the great traditions of King Ardashir. He lightened the burden of the peasantry, asking no more than one part in thirty from the landholders to maintain the army, declaring that his treasury was already rich and he had no need for the wealth of others—for covetousness turns subjects into foes. Opening his court to all who sought justice, he announced that vigilant intelligence agents would be dispatched across the realm to monitor the state of the world, seeking nothing in return save the blessings of the Creator. Upon hearing these profound and just decrees, the nobles and mobads rose in unison, praising Shapur and scattering emeralds upon his crown. Thus were the sacred customs of Ardashir renewed, bringing boundless joy to young and old across the realm.