#1
ز شاپور زان‌گونه شد روزگار
✦
که در باغ با گل ندیدند خار
“Through Shapur’s rule, the world became so serene that in no garden was a thorn ever seen beside the rose.”
#2
ز داد و ز رای و ز آهنگ اوی
✦
ز بس کوشش و جنگ و نیرنگ اوی
“By virtue of his justice, wisdom, and resolve, as well as his relentless striving, warfare, and stratagems,”
#3
مر او را به هر بوم دشمن نماند
✦
بدی را به گیتی نشیمن نماند
“No adversary was left to him in any realm, and evil found no place of refuge remaining in the world.”
#4
چو نومید شد او ز چرخ بلند
✦
بشد سالیانش به هفتاد و اند
“When he grew hopeless of the high heavens, his life having passed seventy years and more,”
#5
بفرمود تا پیش او شد دبیر
✦
ابا موبد موبدان اردشیر
“He commanded the scribe to enter his presence, along with Ardashir, the chief of the High Priests.”
#6
جوانی که کهتر برادرش بود
✦
به داد و خرد بر سر افسرش بود
“A youth who was his younger brother, wearing justice and wisdom as the crown upon his head.”
#7
ورا نام بود اردشیر جوان
✦
توانا و دانا به سود و زیان
“His name was Ardashir the Young, mighty and wise in discerning profit from loss.”
#8
پسر بد یکی خرد شاپور نام
✦
هنوز از جهان نارسیده به کام
“The king had a young son named Shapur, who had not yet attained his worldly desires.”
#9
چنین گفت پس شاه با اردشیر
✦
که ای گرد و چابک سوار دلیر
“Then the king addressed Ardashir, saying: 'O noble knight and valiant champion,”
#10
اگر با من از داد پیمان کنی
✦
زبان را به پیمان گروگان کنی
“If you make a covenant of justice with me and pledge your tongue to this solemn vow,”
#11
که فرزند من چون به مردی رسد
✦
به گاه دلیری و گردی رسد
“That when my child reaches the age of manhood and comes to the time of valor and heroism,”
#12
سپاری بدو تخت و گنج و سپاه
✦
تو دستور باشی ورا نیک‌خواه
“You will surrender to him the throne, the treasure, and the army, remaining his loyal minister and well-wisher,”
#13
من این تاج شاهی سپارم به تو
✦
همان گنج و لشکر گذارم به تو
“I shall entrust this royal crown to you and bequeath to you the kingdom’s treasure and host.'”
#14
بپذرفت زو این سخن اردشیر
✦
به پیش بزرگان و پیش دبیر
“Ardashir accepted this condition before the nobles and the royal scribe,”
#15
که چون کودک او به مردی رسد
✦
که دیهیم و تاج کیی را سزد
“Promising: 'When his child matures to manhood and becomes worthy of the royal crown and diadem,”
#16
سپارم همه پادشاهی ورا
✦
نسازم جز از نیک‌خواهی ورا
“I shall hand over the entire realm to him and display nothing toward him but goodwill.'”
#17
چو بشنید شاپور پیش مهان
✦
بدو داد دیهیم و مهر شهان
“When Shapur heard this before the grandees, he bestowed upon him the crown and the royal seal.”
#18
چنین گفت پس شاه با اردشیر
✦
که کار جهان بر دل آسان مگیر
“Then the king spoke to Ardashir, saying: 'Take not the affairs of this world lightly in your heart.”
#19
بدان ای برادر که بیداد شاه
✦
پی پادشاهی ندارد نگاه
“Know, O brother, that an unjust monarch cannot preserve the foundation of his kingdom.”
#20
به آگندن گنج شادان بود
✦
به زفتی سر سرفرازان بود
“He rejoices in amassing wealth, while through his stinginess, the heads of the noble are brought low.”
#21
خنک شاه باداد و یزدان پرست
✦
کزو شاد باشد دل زیردست
“Blessed is the king who is just and God-fearing, by whom the hearts of his subjects are made glad.”
#22
به داد و به بخشش فزونی کند
✦
جهان را بدین رهنمونی کند
“He excels in justice and generosity, guiding the world along this righteous path.”
#23
نگه دارد از دشمنان کشورش
✦
به ابر اندر آرد سر و افسرش
“He guards his country against enemies and raises his head and crown to the clouds.”
#24
به داد و به آرام گنج آگند
✦
به بخشش ز دل رنج بپراگند
“Through justice and tranquility he amasses wealth, and through generosity he dispels sorrow from hearts.”
#25
گناه از گنهکار بگذاشتن
✦
پی مردمی را نگه داشتن
“To forgive the errors of offenders and to preserve the way of humanity and honor—”
#26
هرانکس که او این هنرها بجست
✦
خرد باید و حزم و رای درست
“Whoever seeks to master these virtues must possess wisdom, prudence, and sound judgement.”
#27
بباید خرد شاه را ناگزیر
✦
هم آموزش مرد برنا و پیر
“Wisdom is indispensable to a king, as is learning from both young and old.”
#28
دل پادشا چون گراید به مهر
✦
برو کامها تازه دارد سپهر
“When a monarch’s heart inclines toward loving-kindness, the heavens keep his desires ever fresh and fulfilled.”
#29
گنهکار باشد تن زیردست
✦
مگر مردم پاک و یزدان پرست
“The body of a subject is prone to error, save for those who are pure and worship God.”
#30
دل و مغز مردم دو شاه تنند
✦
دگر آلت تن سپاه تنند
“A human’s heart and brain are the twin sovereigns of the body, while the rest of the limbs are their army.”
#31
چو مغز و دل مردم آلوده گشت
✦
به نومیدی از رای پالوده گشت
“When a person’s heart and brain become polluted, wise judgment vanishes into hopelessness.”
#32
بدان تن سراسیمه گردد روان
✦
سپه چون زید شاه بی‌پهلوان
“In such a body the soul grows bewildered; just as an army cannot endure without a champion king.”
#33
چو روشن نباشد بپراگند
✦
تن بی‌روان را به خاک افگند
“When light fades, scattering follows, and the lifeless body is cast into the dust.”
#34
چنین همچو شد شاه بیدادگر
✦
جهان زو شود زود زیر و زبر
“So too, when a ruler turns tyrannical, the world quickly falls into ruin under his sway.”
#35
بدوبر پس از مرگ نفرین بود
✦
همان نام او شاه بی دین بود
“Curse shall follow him after death, and his memory shall be branded as an ungodly king.”
#36
بدین دار چشم و بدان دار گوش
✦
که اویست دارنده جان و هوش
“Keep your eyes fixed on Him and your ears attentive to Him, for He alone is the Sovereign Lord of life and intellect.”
#37
هران پادشا کو جزین راه جست
✦
ز نیکیش باید دل و دست شست
“Whatever king chooses a path other than this, one must wash their hands and heart of any hope of his goodness.”
#38
ز کشورش بپراگند زیردست
✦
همان از درش مرد خسروپرست
“His subjects will scatter from his realm, and loyal, king-loving men will flee his court.”
#39
نبینی که دانا چه گوید همی
✦
دلت را ز کژی بشوید همی
“Do you not see what the sage declares, to wash your heart clean of all crookedness?”
#40
که هر شاه کو را ستایش بود
✦
همه کارش اندر فزایش بود
“That every king who earns praise and virtue will find all his endeavors blessed with growth.”
#41
نکوهیده باشد جفا پیشه مرد
✦
به گرد در آزداران مگرد
“Despicable is the man given to cruelty; walk not near the threshold of the covetous.”
#42
بدان ای برادر که از شهریار
✦
بجوید خردمند هرگونه کار
“Know, O brother, that the wise expect every fitting virtue and nobility from a monarch.”
#43
یکی آنک پیروزگر باشد اوی
✦
ز دشمن نتابد گه جنگ روی
“First, that he be victorious in battle, never turning his face from the foe in the hour of strife.”
#44
دگر آنک لشکر بدارد به داد
✦
بداند فزونی مرد نژاد
“Second, that he govern his army with justice, and honor the merit of noble-born men.”
#45
کسی کز در پادشاهی بود
✦
نخواهد که مهتر سپاهی بود
“He who is worthy of the throne will not permit a military commander to lord over his people.”
#46
چهارم که با زیردستان خویش
✦
همان باگهر در پرستان خویش
“Fourth, that toward his subjects, as well as toward his noble courtiers and devoted servants...”
#47
ندارد در گنج را بسته سخت
✦
همی بارد از شاخ بار درخت
“He keep not the doors of his treasury tightly barred, but let bounty rain like fruit from a heavy bough.”
#48
بباید در پادشاهی سپاه
✦
سپاهی در گنج دارد نگاه
“A realm requires a strong army to endure, and a well-kept treasury is what sustains that army.”
#49
اگر گنجت آباد داری به داد
✦
تو از گنج شاد و سپاه از تو شاد
“If you keep your treasury prosperous through justice, you shall rejoice in wealth and your troops shall rejoice in you.”
#50
سلیحت در آرایش خویش دار
✦
سزد کت شب تیره آید به کار
“Keep your arms and armor ready for yourself, for it is fitting that they serve you in the dark night of danger.”
#51
بس ایمن مشو بر نگهدار خویش
✦
چو ایمن شدی راست کن کار خویش
“Be not overly secure relying on your guardians; yet when safety comes, set all your affairs in order.”
#52
سرانجام مرگ آیدت بی‌گمان
✦
اگر تیره‌ای گر چراغ جهان
“In the end, death will surely overtake you, whether you be an obscure mortal or the shining lamp of the world.”
#53
برادر چو بشنید چندی گریست
✦
چو اندرز بنوشت سالی بزیست
“When his brother heard these words, he wept for a while; after committing the counsel to writing, he lived for a year.”
#54
برفت و بماند این سخن یادگار
✦
تو اندر جهان تخم زفتی مکار
“He departed, leaving this wisdom as a memory; plant not the seed of avarice and miserliness in this world.”
#55
که هم یک زمان روز تو بگذرد
✦
چنین برده رنج تو دشمن خورد
“For in time your day too shall pass away, and the fruits of your hard labor will be devoured by your enemies.”
#56
چو آدینه هر مزد بهمن بود
✦
برین کار فرخ نشیمن بود
“When the day of Hormozd in the month of Bahman fell upon a Friday, it became a auspicious moment to finish this work.”
#57
می لعل پیش آور ای هاشمی
✦
ز خمی که هرگز نگیرد کمی
“Bring forth the ruby-red wine, O Hashemi cupbearer, from the cask that never runs dry!”
#58
چو شست و سه شد سال شد گوش کر
✦
ز بیشی چرا جویم آیین و فر
“Now that my age has reached sixty-three and my hearing grows dim, why should I seek excess in glory and power?”
#59
کنون داستانهای شاه اردشیر
✦
بگویم ز گفتار من یادگیر
“Now I shall relate the chronicles of King Ardashir; listen carefully and learn from my verse.”