#1
ز شاهیش بگذشت پنجاه سال
✦
که اندر زمانه نبودش همال
“Fifty years passed of his glorious reign, during which no rival could match his sovereign power in the world.”
#2
بیامد یکی مرد گویا ز چین
✦
که چون او مصور نبیند زمین
“Then came an eloquent man from China, a painter such as the earth had never beheld before.”
#3
بدان چربه دستی رسیده به کام
✦
یکی برمنش مرد مانی به نام
“Through his consummate skill he had achieved high renown—an ambitious man named Mani.”
#4
به صورتگری گفت پیغمبرم
✦
ز دین‌آوران جهان برترم
“By virtue of his mastery in painting he declared himself a prophet, claiming superiority over all the world's lawgivers.”
#5
ز چین نزد شاپور شد بار خواست
✦
به پیغمبری شاه را یار خواست
“Coming from China, he sought audience with Shapur, desiring to enlist the king as an ally to his prophethood.”
#6
سخن گفت مرد گشاده‌زبان
✦
جهاندار شد زان سخن بدگمان
“The fluent visitor spoke his piece, but the ruler of the world grew suspicious of his words.”
#7
سرش تیز شد موبدان را بخواند
✦
زمانی فراوان سخنها براند
“His temper flared; he summoned the Mobads and spoke at length with them.”
#8
کزین مرد چینی و چیره‌زبان
✦
فتادستم از دین او در گمان
“He said: 'Regarding this eloquent man from China, I have fallen into deep doubt concerning his faith.'”
#9
بگویید و هم زو سخن بشنوید
✦
مگر خود به گفتار او بگروید
“'Engage him in speech and listen to what he says, lest you yourselves be won over by his doctrine.'”
#10
بگفتند کین مرد صورت پرست
✦
نه بر مایهٔ موبدان موبدست
“They replied: 'This worshipful painter of images possesses not the true wisdom of the High Priests.'”
#11
زمانی سخن بشنو او را بخوان
✦
چو بیند ورا کی گشاید زبان
“'Summon him and hear his discourse for a while; when he faces the Mobad, how shall he dare open his mouth?'”
#12
بفرمود تا موبد آمدش پیش
✦
سخن گفت با او ز اندازه بیش
“The king commanded the Mobad to step forward, who debated Mani beyond all measure.”
#13
فرو ماند مانی میان سخن
✦
به گفتار موبد ز دین کهن
“Mani fell speechless in the midst of debate, silenced by the Mobad's mastery of the ancient faith.”
#14
بدو گفت کای مرد صورت پرست
✦
به یزدان چرا آختی خیره‌دست
“The Mobad said to him: 'O painter of images, why have you rashly stretched your audacity against God?'”
#15
کسی کو بلند آسمان آفرید
✦
بدو در مکان و زمان آفرید
“'He who created the lofty heavens created within them both space and time.'”
#16
کجا نور و ظلمت بدو اندرست
✦
ز هر گوهری گوهرش برترست
“'Light and darkness exist through Him, and His essence transcends every jewel and substance.'”
#17
شب و روز و گردان سپهر بلند
✦
کزویت پناهست و زویت گزند
“'Night and day, and the revolving high sphere—from which come both your refuge and your harm,'”
#18
همه کردهٔ کردگارست و بس
✦
جزو کرد نتواند این کرده کس
“'Are all the creation of the Almighty Creator alone; none other could bring forth such a work.'”
#19
به برهان صورت چرا بگروی
✦
همی پند دین‌آوران نشنوی
“'Why do you rely on the proof of painted pictures, refusing the counsel of true bringers of faith?'”
#20
همه جفت و همتا و یزدان یکیست
✦
جز از بندگی کردنت رای نیست
“'All created things are paired and equal, but God is One; your only true path is servitude unto Him.'”
#21
گرین صورت کرده جنبان کنی
✦
سزد گر ز جنبده برهان کنی
“'If you can bring your painted images to life, then indeed you may use living things as your proof.'”
#22
ندانی که برهان نیاید به کار
✦
ندارد کسی این سخن استوار
“'Do you not know that such superficial proofs fail, and no rational mind holds your doctrine to be sound?'”
#23
اگر اهرمن جفت یزدان بدی
✦
شب تیره چون روز خندان بدی
“'If Ahriman were an equal partner to God, the dark night would be as bright as the laughing day!'”
#24
همه ساله بودی شب و روز راست
✦
به گردش فزونی نبودی نه کاست
“'Day and night would remain forever equal throughout the year, without increase or decrease in their cycles.'”
#25
نگنجد جهان‌آفرین در گمان
✦
که او برترست از زمان و مکان
“'The Creator of the world cannot be encompassed by human imagination, for He transcends both space and time.'”
#26
سخنهای دیوانگانست و بس
✦
بدین‌بر نباشد ترا یار کس
“'Your claims are nothing but the babblings of madmen; no sensible soul will stand by you in this!'”
#27
سخنها جزین نیز بسیار گفت
✦
که با دانش و مردمی بود جفت
“The Mobad spoke many other profound truths, matched with deep wisdom and humanity.”
#28
فرو ماند مانی ز گفتار اوی
✦
بپژمرد شاداب بازار اوی
“Mani was utterly confounded by his words, and his once-thriving prestige withered away.”
#29
ز مانی برآشفت پس شهریار
✦
برو تنگ شد گردش روزگار
“Then King Shapur was overcome with wrath against Mani, and fortune turned bleak for the painter.”
#30
بفرمود پس تاش برداشتند
✦
به خواری ز درگاه بگذاشتند
“The king ordered him seized and cast out from the royal court in utter disgrace.”
#31
چنین گفت کاین مرد صورت‌پرست
✦
نگنجد همی در سرای نشست
“Shapur declared: 'This idol-worshipping painter of images has no place in the hall of assembly!'”
#32
چو آشوب و آرام گیتی به دوست
✦
بباید کشیدن سراپاش پوست
“'Since the turmoil and peace of the realm are bound to his mischief, his skin must be peeled off from head to toe!'”
#33
همان خامش آگنده باید به کاه
✦
بدان تا نجوید کس این پایگاه
“'His empty skin must be stuffed with straw, so that none may ever aspire to such heresy again!'”
#34
بیاویختند از در شارستان
✦
دگر پیش دیوار بیمارستان
“They hung his stuffed hide at the city gate, and another portion before the wall of the hospital.”
#35
جهانی برو آفرین خواندند
✦
همی خاک بر کشته افشاندند
“The world praised the king's righteous decree, while throwing dust upon the slain heretic's memory.”