When King Bahram II realized that the inescapable hand of death was drawing near and no living soul could flee the cosmic decree, he wept tears of blood. He commanded his royal hall to be spread with noble carpets and summoned his son, prince Bahram, to his presence. Looking upon the youth's cypress-like stature while recalling how his own crimson spring had turned to the pale hue of autumn, the dying monarch prepared his heir for the heavy burden of the crown.
The aged sovereign imparted immortal wisdom upon his son, teaching him that the foundation of a lasting realm rests solely upon justice and wisdom. He charged the prince never to stain his tongue with falsehood, never to turn away from the seeker of justice, and never to let base desire rule over his soul. Wisdom was to be the supreme master of his spirit, and shame his closest adviser. He warned him to banish slanderers, fools, and flatterers from his court, to keep wrath in chains, and to cast out greed—the root of fear and ruin. Patience, he taught, is the crown of manhood, yet it must not cross into excess lest the brave mistake it for weakness; in all things, reason must serve as the balance.
Bahram urged his son never to seek true friendship from a former foe, comparing such false alliances to a poisonous tree that yields only bitter fruit. He commanded him to purge his heart of envy, for an envious king burns his own soul and wrongly persecutes the innocent. When these profound teachings were concluded, the royal scribe inscribed the testament and placed it before the grand vizier. The king sighed a cold, final breath; the vibrant ruby of his face faded to pale yellow, and his soul departed. Heartbroken by his father's demise, young Bahram donned the robes of grief and observed forty days of solemn mourning, leaving the throne vacant in honor of the dead—reflecting the eternal nature of the turning heavens, which offer now mercy, and now unbearable pain.
#1
چو دانست کز مرگ نتوان گریخت
✦
بسی آب خونین ز دیده بریخت
“When he knew that none can escape death, he shed full many a bloody tear from his eyes.”
#2
بگسترد فرش اندر ایوان خویش
✦
بفرمود کامدش بهرام پیش
“He spread the carpets inside his royal hall and commanded his son Bahram to come before him.”
#3
بدو گفت کای پاک‌زاده پسر
✦
به مردی و دانش برآورده سر
“He said to him: 'O pure-born son, who has raised your head in manhood and wisdom,'”
#4
به من پادشاهی نهادست روی
✦
که رنگ رخم کرد همرنگ موی
“'The end of kingship has turned its face toward me, making the color of my cheek match the hue of my hair.'”
#5
خم آورد بالای سرو سهی
✦
گل سرخ را داد رنگ بهی
“'It has bent the stature of the tall cypress and given the red rose the yellow color of the quince.'”
#6
چو روز تو آمد جهاندار باش
✦
خردمند باش و بی‌آزار باش
“'When your day arrives, be a ruler of the world; be wise and bring harm to no one.'”
#7
نگر تا نپیچی سر از دادخواه
✦
نبخشی ستمکارگان را گناه
“'Take care never to turn your head from one seeking justice, nor forgive the sins of oppressors.'”
#8
زبان را مگردان به گرد دروغ
✦
چو خواهی که تاج از تو گیرد فروغ
“'Do not let your tongue turn toward lies, if you wish your crown to gain radiance from you.'”
#9
روانت خرد باد و دستور شرم
✦
سخن گفتن خوب و آواز نرم
“'Let wisdom be your soul's ruler and modesty your minister; speak well and in a gentle voice.'”
#10
خداوند پیروز یار تو باد
✦
دل زیردستان شکار تو باد
“'May the Victorious Lord be your ally, and may the hearts of your subjects be your prey.'”
#11
بنه کینه و دور باش از هوا
✦
مبادا هوا بر تو فرمانروا
“'Put away malice and stay far from passion; let not self-indulgence reign over you.'”
#12
سخن چین و بی‌دانش و چاره‌گر
✦
نباید که یابد به پیشت گذر
“'The slanderer, the ignorant, and the trickster must never find passage to your presence.'”
#13
ز نادان نیابی جز از بتری
✦
نگر سوی بی‌دانشان ننگری
“'From the ignorant you will gain nothing but evil; beware that you look not upon the unwise.'”
#14
چنان دان که بی‌شرم و بسیارگوی
✦
نبیند به نزد کسی آب‌روی
“'Know that the shameless and the talkative will find no honor in the eyes of anyone.'”
#15
خرد را مه و خشم را بنده‌دار
✦
مشو تیز با مرد پرهیزگار
“'Keep wisdom as your master and wrath as your servant; do not be quick to anger against the pious man.'”
#16
نگر تا نگردد به گرد تو آز
✦
که آز آورد خشم و بیم و نیاز
“'Take care that greed does not wander around you, for greed brings anger, fear, and desire.'”
#17
همه بردباری کن و راستی
✦
جدا کن ز دل کژی و کاستی
“'Practice all forbearance and truthfulness; sever falsehood and shortcoming from your heart.'”
#18
بپرهیز تا بد نگرددت نام
✦
که بدنام گیتی نبیند به کام
“'Refrain lest your name become ill-reputed, for the ill-famed of the world sees no joy.'”
#19
ز راه خرد ایچ گونه متاب
✦
پشیمانی آرد دلت را شتاب
“'In no way turn aside from the path of wisdom, for haste brings regret to your heart.'”
#20
درنگ آورد راستیها پدید
✦
ز راه خرد سر نباید کشید
“'Delay brings truths to light; one must not pull one's head from the path of reason.'”
#21
سر بردباران نیاید به خشم
✦
ز نابودنیها بخوابند چشم
“'The head of the patient man does not yield to rage; they close their eyes to impossible things.'”
#22
وگر بردباری ز حد بگذرد
✦
دلاور گمانی به سستی برد
“'Yet if forbearance exceeds its measure, the brave will deem it to be weakness.'”
#23
هرانکس که باشد خداوند گاه
✦
میانجی خرد را کند بر دو راه
“'Whoever holds the royal throne must make wisdom the mediator between two paths.'”
#24
نه سستی نه تیزی به کاراندرون
✦
خرد باد جان ترا رهنمون
“'Neither weakness nor rashness in affairs; let wisdom be the guide of your soul.'”
#25
نگه دار تا مردم عیب‌جوی
✦
نجوید به نزدیک تو آب‌روی
“'Watch carefully so that fault-seeking men find no honor near you.'”
#26
ز دشمن مکن دوستی خواستار
✦
وگر چند خواند ترا شهریار
“'Do not seek friendship from an enemy, even if he calls you his sovereign king.'”
#27
درختی بود سبز و بارش کبست
✦
وگر پای گیری سر آید به دست
“'He is like a green tree whose fruit is poisonous; if you take hold of its base, the top comes away in your hand.'”
#28
اگر در فرازی و گر در نشیب
✦
نباید نهادن سر اندر فریب
“'Whether you are in exaltation or adversity, you must not surrender your mind to deceit.'”
#29
به دل نیز اندیشهٔ بد مدار
✦
بداندیش را بد بود روزگار
“'Keep no evil thoughts in your heart, for evil-minded men shall suffer evil fortune.'”
#30
سپهبد کجا گشت پیمان‌شکن
✦
بخندد بدو نامدار انجمن
“'When a commander becomes a covenant-breaker, noble assemblies will laugh at him in scorn.'”
#31
خردگیر کآرایش جان تست
✦
نگهدار گفتار و پیمان تست
“'Hold fast to wisdom, for it is the adornment of your soul; guard your speech and your pledge.'”
#32
هم آرایش تاج و گنج و سپاه
✦
نمایندهٔ گردش هور و ماه
“'It is the adornment of crown, treasure, and army, revealing the movements of the sun and moon.'”
#33
نگر تا نسازی ز بازوی گنج
✦
که بر تو سرآید سرای سپنج
“'Take care not to make a treasure out of your arm's strength, for this transient abode will come to an end.'”
#34
مزن رای جز با خردمند مرد
✦
از آیین شاهان پیشی مگرد
“'Seek counsel with none but wise men, and depart not from the customs of former kings.'”
#35
به لشکر بترسان بداندیش را
✦
به ژرفی نگه کن پس و پیش را
“'Terrify the evil-wisher with your army, and gaze deeply into both the past and the future.'”
#36
ستاینده‌ای کو ز بهر هوا
✦
ستاید کسی را همی ناسزا
“'The flatterer who, out of desire, praises someone unworthily,'”
#37
شکست تو جوید همی زان سخن
✦
ممان تا به پیش تو گردد کهن
“'Seeks your defeat through those words; let him not grow old in your presence.'”
#38
کسی کش ستایش بیاید به کار
✦
تو او را ز گیتی به مردم مدار
“'He who hungers for flattery—do not count him among men in the world.'”
#39
که یزدان ستایش نخواهد همی
✦
نکوهیده را دل بکاهد همی
“'For God desires no flattery, and the heart of the blamed man languishes in distress.'”
#40
هرانکس که او از گنهکار چشم
✦
بخوابید و آسان فرو برد خشم
“'Whoever closes his eyes to a sinner's fault and easily swallows his wrath,'”
#41
فزونیش هر روز افزون شود
✦
شتاب آورد دل پر از خون شود
“'His excellence increases day by day, while the hasty man's heart becomes filled with blood.'”
#42
هرانکس که با آب دریا نبرد
✦
بجوید نباشد خردمند مرد
“'Whoever seeks battle with the ocean's waves is by no means a wise man.'”
#43
کمان دار دل را زبانت چو تیر
✦
تو این گفته‌های من آسان مگیر
“'Keep your heart like a bow and your tongue like an arrow; do not take these words of mine lightly.'”
#44
گشاد پرت باشد و دست راست
✦
نشانه بنه زان نشان کت هواست
“'Let the span of your wings be wide and your right hand steady; place your target where your heart desires.'”
#45
زبان و خرد با دلت راست کن
✦
همی ران ازان سان که خواهی سخن
“'Make your tongue and wisdom agree with your heart; speak in whatever manner you wish.'”
#46
هرانکس که اندر سرش مغز بود
✦
همه رای و گفتار او نغز بود
“Whoever possessed wisdom within his mind, all his counsel and speech were splendid and refined.”
#47
هرانگه که باشی تو با رای‌زن
✦
سخنها بیارای بی‌انجمن
“Whenever you consult with an advisor, frame your discourse in private, away from the assembly.”
#48
گرت رای با آزمایش بود
✦
همه روزت اندر فزایش بود
“If your judgment is grounded in experience, your every day shall bring growth and increase.”
#49
شود جانت از دشمن آژیرتر
✦
دل و مغز و رایت جهانگیرتر
“Your soul shall grow more alert to enemies, and your heart, mind, and counsel more world-conquering.”
#50
کسی را کجا پیش رو شد هوا
✦
چنان دان که رایش نگیرد نوا
“Know that he whose guide is passion and desire shall find no success or harmony in his counsel.”
#51
اگر دوست یابد ترا تازه‌روی
✦
بیفزاید این نام را رنگ و بوی
“If a friend finds you cheerful of countenance, it will add fragrance and luster to your renown.”
#52
تو با دشمنت رو پر آژنگ دار
✦
بداندیش را چهره بی‌رنگ دار
“Keep your face stern and furrowed toward your foe, and leave your ill-wisher pale and disheartened.”
#53
به ارزانیان بخش هرچت هواست
✦
که گنج تو ارزانیان را سزاست
“Bestow whatever you desire upon the worthy, for your treasury is rightfully meant for deserving souls.”
#54
بکش جان و دل تا توانی ز رشک
✦
که رشک آورد گرم و خونین سرشک
“Strive with all your soul to extinguish envy within yourself, for envy brings forth warm and bloody tears.”
#55
هرانگه که رشک آورد پادشا
✦
نکوهش کند مردم پارسا
“Whenever a king yields to jealousy, even righteous people will begin to reproach him.”
#56
چو اندرز بنوشت فرخ دبیر
✦
بیاورد و بنهاد پیش وزیر
“When the blessed scribe finished recording the advice, he brought it forth and placed it before the minister.”
#57
جهاندار برزد یکی باد سرد
✦
پس آن لعل رخسارگان کرد زرد
“The ruler heaved a cold sigh, and forthwith those ruby-red cheeks turned pale and yellow.”
#58
چو رنگین رخ تاجور تیره شد
✦
ازان درد بهرام دل خیره شد
“As the crowned king's radiant face darkened, Bahram's heart was stunned and stricken with grief.”
#59
چهل روز بد سوکوار و نژند
✦
پر از گرد و بیکار تخت بلند
“For forty days he remained sorrowful and in mourning; dust covered the vacant high throne.”
#60
چنین بود تا بود گردان سپهر
✦
گهی پر ز درد و گهی پر ز مهر
“Such has been the turning sky since time began: at times filled with pain, at times overflowing with love.”
#61
تو گر باهشی مشمر او را به دوست
✦
کجا دست یابد بدردت پوست
“If you are wise, do not count this world as a friend, for whenever it finds power, it will tear off your skin.”
#62
شب اورمزد آمد و ماه دی
✦
ز گفتن بیاسای و بردار می
“The night of Ormazd has arrived in the month of Dey; rest now from storytelling and lift up the cup of wine.”
#63
کنون کار دیهیم بهرام ساز
✦
که در پادشاهی نماند دراز
“Now prepare the story of Bahram's crown, for his reign shall not endure for long.”