Upon the passing of King Shapur, his wise and noble son, Bahram Shah, spent a period in deep mourning for his father. Having observed the rites of grief, he ascended the imperial throne and donned the Kayanid crown. In his inaugural address to the grandees of the realm, Bahram proclaimed that a treasury amassed through justice would never be scattered to the winds. He called upon all to seek the pleasure of the pure God and to cast smoke into the hearts of the malicious, reminding his court that human beings are merely mortal servants who wane and wax, while absolute knowledge and supreme authority belong solely to the Lord of the World. He urged kings never to seal their treasuries tightly against the needy, stressing that scattering the wealth of speech and wisdom brings no exhaustion to knowledge. Bahram warned that hoarding riches through tyranny is futile, for all toil remains behind in this fleeting world and scattered treasures ultimately fall to enemies. Yet, the wheel of fate granted no long reprieve to the young monarch. When fourteen years had passed, that towering cypress fell ill upon the couch of infirmity. Having no sons but five daughters, Bahram, in his final hours, surrendered the royal signet, the treasury, the army, and the crown to his younger brother before departing from the mortal realm. Following the recount of the young king's passing, the venerable poet reflects upon his own sixty-third year, admonishing himself to turn away from vanity, choose the path of repentance and wisdom, and implore the Almighty for grace to bring his monumental saga to completion in honor of the ruler of his age.
#1
خردمند و شایسته بهرامشاه
✦
همی داشت سوک پدر چندگاه
“The wise and worthy King Bahram mourned his father for a period of time.”
#2
چو بنشست بر جایگاه مهی
✦
چنین گفت بر تخت شاهنشهی
“When he sat upon the seat of greatness, he spoke thus from the imperial throne:”
#3
که هر شاه کز داد گنج آگند
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بدانید کان گنج نپراگند
“"Know that whichever king amasses treasure through justice, that treasure will never be scattered.”
#4
ز ما ایزد پاک خشنود باد
✦
بداندیش را دل پر از دود باد
“May the pure God be pleased with us, and may the heart of the ill-wisher be filled with smoke.”
#5
همه دانش اوراست ما بنده‌ایم
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که کاهنده و هم فزاینده‌ایم
“All knowledge belongs to Him and we are but servants; we are subject to decrease and increase.”
#6
جهاندار یزدان بود داد و راست
✦
که نفزود در پادشاهی نه کاست
“The Ruler of the World, God, is just and true; He neither increases nor diminishes in His kingship.”
#7
کسی کو به بخشش توانا بود
✦
خردمند و بیدار و دانا بود
“Whoever is capable of generosity is wise, vigilant, and knowledgeable.”
#8
نباید که بندد در گنج سخت
✦
به ویژه خداوند دیهیم و تخت
“One should not tightly seal the door of the treasury, especially the possessor of the crown and throne.”
#9
وگر چند بخشی ز گنج سخن
✦
برافشان که دانش نیاید به بن
“And though you bestow much from the treasure of speech, scatter it, for knowledge has no end.”
#10
ز نیک و بدیها به یزدان گرای
✦
چو خواهی که نیکیت ماند به جای
“Turn to God in all matters of good and evil, if you wish your goodness to endure.”
#11
اگر زو شناسی همه خوب و زشت
✦
بیابی به پاداش خرم بهشت
“If you recognize both good and evil as coming from Him, you will receive blissful paradise as your reward.”
#12
وگر برگزینی ز گیتی هوا
✦
بمانی به چنگ هوا بی‌نوا
“And if you choose earthly desire, you will remain helpless in the clutches of passion.”
#13
چو داردت یزدان بدو دست یاز
✦
بدان تا نمانی به گرم و گداز
“Since God holds your hand, reach out to Him, so that you do not remain in agony and distress.”
#14
چنین است امیدم به یزدان پاک
✦
که چون سر بیارم بدین تیره‌خاک
“Such is my hope in the pure God, that when I bring my head to this dark dust...”
#15
جهاندار پیروز دارد مرا
✦
همان گیتی افروز دارد مرا
“The Ruler of the World will keep me victorious, and the Illuminator of the Earth will sustain me.”
#16
گر اندر جهان داد بپراگنم
✦
ازان به که بیداد گنج آگنم
“If I spread justice throughout the world, it is better than hoarding treasure through tyranny.”
#17
که ایدر بماند همه رنج ما
✦
به دشمن رسد بی‌گمان گنج ما
“For all our toil will remain here, and our treasure will surely fall to the enemy.”
#18
که تخت بزرگی نماند به کس
✦
جهاندار باشد ترا یار بس
“For the throne of greatness remains to no one; the Ruler of the World is friend enough for you.”
#19
بد و نیک ماند ز ما یادگار
✦
تو تخم بدی تا توانی مکار
“Good and evil will remain as our memory; so long as you are able, do not sow the seed of evil."”
#20
چو شد سال آن پادشا بر دو هفت
✦
به پالیز آن سرو یازان بخفت
“When the years of that king reached fourteen, that towering cypress slept in the garden.”
#21
به یک چندگه دیر بیمار بود
✦
دل کهتران پر ز تیمار بود
“For a long while he was sick, and the hearts of his subjects were filled with grief.”
#22
نبودش پسر پنج دخترش بود
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یکی کهتر از وی برادرش بود
“He had no son, but five daughters; and he had a younger brother.”
#23
بدو داد ناگاه گنج و سپاه
✦
همان مهر شاهی و تخت و کلاه
“To him he suddenly surrendered the treasury, army, royal signet, throne, and crown.”
#24
جهاندار برنا ز گیتی برفت
✦
برو سالیان برگذشته دو هفت
“The young ruler departed from the world, fourteen years having passed over his reign.”
#25
ایا شست و سه ساله مرد کهن
✦
تو از باد تا چند رانی سخن
“O sixty-three-year-old man! How long will you speak of wind and vanity?”
#26
همان روز تو ناگهان بگذرد
✦
در توبه بگزین و راه خرد
“Your day too will pass suddenly; choose the door of repentance and the path of wisdom.”
#27
جهاندار زین پیر خشنود باد
✦
خرد مایه باد و سخن سود باد
“May the Ruler of the World be pleased with this old man; may wisdom be his capital and speech his profit!”
#28
اگر در سخن موی کافد همی
✦
به تاریکی اندر ببافد همی
“Even if he splits hairs in speech, weaving it together in the dark...”
#29
گر او این سخن‌ها که اندرگرفت
✦
به پیری سرآرد نباشد شگفت
“If he brings to completion these tales he has undertaken in his old age, it will be no wonder.”
#30
به نام شهنشاه شمشیرزن
✦
به بالا سرش برتر از انجمن
“In the name of the sword-wielding Shahanshah, whose stature rises above the assembly...”
#31
زمانه به کام شهنشاه باد
✦
سر تخت او افسر ماه باد
“May time be according to the Shahanshah's desire; may the crown of his throne reach the moon!”
#32
کزویست کام و بدویست نام
✦
ورا باد تاج کیی شادکام
“For from him comes desire and through him fame; may he joyfully hold the Kayanid crown!”
#33
بزرگی و دانش ورا راه باد
✦
وزو دست بدخواه کوتاه باد
“May greatness and knowledge be his path, and may the hand of his adversary be cut short!”