When the imperial crown was laid over the cradle of the infant Shapur, the grandees of Persia showered jewels and invoked blessings upon his fledgling reign. To preserve the realm, a wise and auspicious Mobad named Shahru took his seat upon the golden chair of regency, girding his loins in selfless devotion. For five years, Shahru governed the empire with supreme justice and sagacity—distributing wealth to the host, restoring the royal palaces, and guarding the borders against all evil.
As Shapur reached his fifth year, his royal stature began to bloom. One evening in the ancient hall of Ctesiphon, as the golden sun set and the azure veil of twilight enfolded the sky, a thunderous clamor echoed from the direction of the Arvand-rud. Shapur inquired of the wise Mobad the nature of this uproar. Shahru explained that merchants and common folk were hastening from their shops toward their homes, but because the bridge spanning the Tigris was narrow, the crushing throng created bottlenecked terror, sounding like the clash of war-drums.
Upon hearing this, the five-year-old monarch manifested the radiance of Divine Glory. He declared to his counselors that a second bridge must immediately be constructed across the Tigris—one dedicated for going and the other for returning—so that neither merchant nor soldier would suffer distress, funded entirely by the royal treasury. The mobads marveled at the boy-king's precocious benevolence, rejoicing that the tender sapling of royalty had borne such noble fruit.
Seeing her son's brilliant mind, Shapur's mother brought forth the finest tutors in the realm. The young prince mastered all branches of knowledge with astonishing speed. By age seven, he commanded the riding grounds and excelled at polo; by age eight, he bound his waist with war-girdles like the god of war, taking his rightful place upon the exalted throne of his ancestors in the ancient capital of Istakhr.
#1
به شاهی برو آفرین خواندند
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همه مهتران گوهر افشاندند
“They offered blessings upon his kingship, and all the nobles scattered priceless jewels.”
#2
یکی موبدی بود شهرو به نام
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خردمند و شایسته و شادکام
“There was a Mobad named Shahru—wise, worthy, and joyful of spirit.”
#3
بیامد به کرسی زرین نشست
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میان پیش او بندگی را ببست
“He sat upon the golden chair and girded his waist in service before the young king.”
#4
جهان را همی داشت با داد و رای
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سپه را به هر نیک و بد رهنمای
“He governed the world with justice and counsel, guiding the army through good and ill.”
#5
پراگنده گنج و سپاه ورا
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بیاراست ایوان و گاه ورا
“He distributed treasure, sustained the army, and adorned the royal palace and throne.”
#6
چنین تا برآمد برین پنج سال
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برافراخت آن کودک خرد یال
“Five years passed in this manner, and the young child grew in stature and neck.”
#7
نشسته شبی شاه در طیسفون
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خردمند موبد به پیش اندرون
“One night, the king sat in Ctesiphon, with the wise Mobad standing before him.”
#8
بدانگه که خورشید برگشت زرد
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پدید آمد آن چادر لاژورد
“At that hour when the sun turned pale and the lapis veil of night appeared,”
#9
خروش آمد از راه اروندرود
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به موبد چنین گفت هست این درود
“A sudden clamor rose from the Arvand-rud; the child-king asked the Mobad, 'What is this commotion?'”
#10
چنین گفت موبد بران شاه خرد
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که ای پاک‌دل نیک پی شاه گرد
“The Mobad replied to the young king: 'O pure-hearted, auspicious, and royal monarch!'”
#11
کنون مرد بازاری و چاره جوی
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ز کلبه سوی خانه بنهاد روی
“'Now the merchant and the worker turn their faces from their shops toward home.'”
#12
چو بر دجله بر یکدگر بگذرند
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چنین تنگ پل را به پی بسپرند
“'As they cross over the Tigris together, they tread upon such a narrow bridge.'”
#13
بترسد چنین هرکس از بیم کوس
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چنین برخروشند چون زخم کوس
“'Everyone trembles for fear of the crush; they roar as if struck by war-drums.'”
#14
چنین گفت شاپور با موبدان
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که ای پرهنر نامور بخردان
“Then Shapur said to the Mobads: 'O virtuous, famed, and wise counselors!'”
#15
پلی دیگر اکنون بباید زدن
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شدن را یکی راه باز آمدن
“'Another bridge must now be built—one pathway for going, and one for returning.'”
#16
بدان تا چنین زیردستان ما
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گر از لشکری در پرستان ما
“'So that our subjects and those serving in our army may not suffer such hardship.'”
#17
به رفتن نباشند زین سان به رنج
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درم داد باید فراوان ز گنج
“'Abundant coin must be dispensed for this from the royal treasury.'”
#18
همه موبدان شاد گشتند سخت
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که سبز آمد آن نارسیده درخت
“All the Mobads rejoiced greatly that this young sapling had turned green with wisdom.”
#19
یکی پل بفرمود موبد دگر
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به فرمان آن کودک تاجور
“By the command of that crowned child, the Mobad ordered another bridge to be built.”
#20
ازو شادمان شد دل مادرش
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بیاورد فرهنگ جویان برش
“His mother's heart rejoiced at him; she brought learned tutors to his side.”
#21
به زودی به فرهنگ جایی رسید
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کز آموزگاران سراندر کشید
“He quickly attained such high learning that he surpassed all his teachers.”
#22
چو بر هفت شد رسم میدان نهاد
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هم‌آورد و هم رسم چوگان نهاد
“When he reached seven, he established the custom of the riding field, battle-rivalry, and polo.”
#23
بهشتم شد آیین تخت و کلاه
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تو گفتی کمر بست بهرامشاه
“At eight, he assumed the custom of throne and crown; you would say King Bahram had girded his waist.”
#24
تن خویش را از در فخر کرد
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نشستنگه خود به اصطخر کرد
“He made his person worthy of glory and established his royal seat at Istakhr.”
#25
بر آیین فرخ نیاکان خویش
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گزیده سرافراز و پاکان خویش
“Following the auspicious traditions of his ancestors, chosen, exalted, and pure.”