#1
بدو گفت موبد که ای شهریار
✦
بگشتی تو از راه پروردگار
“The priest said to him: 'O King, you have departed from the path of the Creator.'”
#2
تو گفتی که بگریزم از چنگ مرگ
✦
چو باد خزان آمد از شاخ برگ
“'You claimed you could flee the clutch of death, as autumn winds blow leaves from the branch.'”
#3
ترا چاره اینست کز راه شهد
✦
سوی چشمهٔ سو گرایی به مهد
“'Your only remedy is to travel in a litter along the Shahd road toward the Spring of Su.'”
#4
نیایش کنی پیش یزدان پاک
✦
بگردی به زاری بران گرم خاک
“'Offer prayers before pure Yazdan, and roll in supplication upon that warm earth.'”
#5
بگویی که من بندهٔ ناتوان
✦
زده دام سوگند پیش روان
“'Say: I am a helpless servant, laying my soul's oath before You.'”
#6
کنون آمدم تا زمانم کجاست
✦
به پیش تو این داور داد و راست
“'Now I have come to learn my appointed hour, before You, the Judge of truth and justice.'”
#7
چو بشنید شاه آن پسند آمدش
✦
همان درد را سودمند آمدش
“When the King heard this, it pleased him, and he deemed that counsel beneficial for his pain.”
#8
بیاورد سیصد عماری و مهد
✦
گذر کرد بر سوی دریای شهد
“He summoned three hundred litters and sedans, setting out toward the Sea of Shahd.”
#9
شب و روز بودی به مهد اندرون
✦
ز بینیش گه‌گه همی رفت خون
“Night and day he remained inside the litter, while blood constantly poured from his nose.”
#10
چو نزدیکی چشمهٔ سو رسید
✦
برون آمد از مهد و دریا بدید
“When he drew near the Spring of Su, he stepped out of the litter and beheld the waters.”
#11
ازان آب لختی به سر بر نهاد
✦
ز یزدان نیکی دهش کرد یاد
“He poured a handful of that water upon his head, remembering Yazdan, the Bestower of Good.”
#12
زمانی نیامد ز بینیش خون
✦
بخورد و بیاسود با رهنمون
“In a moment, the blood ceased flowing from his nose; he drank, rested, and found guidance.”
#13
منی کرد و گفت اینت آیین و رای
✦
نشستن چه بایست چندین به جای
“Yet pride seized him, and he scoffed: 'What custom was this, to sit humbled in such a place?'”
#14
چو گردنکشی کرد شاه رمه
✦
که از خویشتن دید نیکی همه
“As the King of the realm turned arrogant, attributing all good health solely to himself,”
#15
ز دریا برآمد یکی اسپ خنگ
✦
سرین گرد چون گور و کوتاه لنگ
“There emerged from the sea a white steed, rounded of haunch like a wild ass, short of leg,”
#16
دوان و چو شیر ژیان پر ز خشم
✦
بلند و سیه‌خایه و زاغ چشم
“Bounding full of rage like a fierce lion, tall, black-testicled, with brilliant blue-grey eyes,”
#17
کشان دم در پای با یال و بش
✦
سیه سم و کفک‌افگن و شیرکش
“Dragging its tail behind its feet, mane flowing, black-hooved, foam-spewing, a slayer of lions.”
#18
چنین گفت با مهتران یزدگرد
✦
که این را سپاه اندر آرید گرد
“Yazdegerd said to his nobles: 'Encircle this horse with the army and capture it!'”
#19
بشد گرد چوپان و ده کره‌تاز
✦
یکی زین و پیچان کمند دراز
“The shepherds and horse-trainers gathered around, carrying a saddle and a coiled long lasso.”
#20
چه دانست راز جهاندار شاه
✦
که آوردی این اژدها را به راه
“How could the King know the secret of the world-lord, who had brought forth this dragon-beast?”
#21
فروماند چوپان و لشکر همه
✦
برآشفت ازان شهریار رمه
“The shepherd and all the army stood paralyzed in awe, while the King grew wroth at them.”
#22
هم‌انگاه برداشت زین و لگام
✦
به نزدیک آن اسپ شد شادکام
“At once he took up the saddle and bridle, approaching the horse with joy and confidence.”
#23
چنان رام شد خنگ بر جای خویش
✦
که ننهاد دست از پس و پای پیش
“The white steed became so docile where it stood that it moved neither foot forward nor back.”
#24
ز شاه جهاندار بستد لگام
✦
به زین بر نهادن همان گشت رام
“It accepted the bridle from the ruler of the world, remaining calm as he placed the saddle.”
#25
چو زین بر نهادش برآهخت تنگ
✦
نجنبید بر جای تازان نهنگ
“When he placed the saddle and pulled the girth tight, that swift sea-monster did not stir.”
#26
پس پای او شد که بنددش دم
✦
خروشان شد آن بارهٔ سنگ سم
“He stepped behind its legs to tie its tail, but that stone-hooved charger bellowed with rage;”
#27
بغرید و یک جفته زد بر برش
✦
به خاک اندر آمد سر و افسرش
“It roared and struck a double-kick upon his chest, casting his head and crown into the dirt.”
#28
ز خاک آمد و خاک شد یزدگرد
✦
چه جویی تو زین بر شده هفت‌گرد
“From dust came Yazdegerd, and unto dust he returned; what do you seek from this revolving sphere?”
#29
چو از گردش او نیابی رها
✦
پرستیدن او نیارد بها
“Since you cannot escape its turnings, worshipping it is of no worth.”
#30
به یزدان گرای و بدو کن پناه
✦
خداوند گردنده خورشید ماه
“Turn to Yazdan and seek refuge in Him, the Lord of the revolving sun and moon.”
#31
چو او کشته شد اسپ آبی چوگرد
✦
بیامد بران چشمهٔ لاژورد
“When the King was slain, the Water Horse sped like dust back toward the azure spring.”
#32
به آب اندرون شد تنش ناپدید
✦
کس اندر جهان این شگفتی ندید
“Its body vanished into the water; no one in all the world had witnessed such a wonder.”
#33
ز لشکر خروشی برآمد چو کوس
✦
که شاها زمان آوریدت به طوس
“A wail arose from the army like the roar of war-drums: 'O King, your appointed hour has come at Tus!'”
#34
همه جامه‌ها را بکردند چاک
✦
همی ریختند از بر و یال خاک
“They tore all their garments to shreds and poured dust upon their chests and manes.”
#35
ازان پس بکافید موبد برش
✦
میان تهیگاه و مغز سرش
“Thereafter, the Mobad split his chest, his flanks, and the marrow of his skull,”
#36
بیاگند یکسر به کافور و مشک
✦
به دیبا تنش را بکردند خشک
“Filled them completely with camphor and musk, and dried his body with silk.”
#37
به تابوت زرین و در مهد ساج
✦
سوی پارس شد آن خداوند تاج
“In a golden coffin upon a litter of teak wood, the lord of the crown was borne toward Pars.”
#38
چنین است رسم سرای بلند
✦
چو آرام یابی بترس از گزند
“Such is the way of this lofty abode: when you find peace, beware of calamity.”
#39
تو رامی و با تو جهان رام نیست
✦
چو نام خورده آید به از جام نیست
“You may be tranquil, but the world is not at peace with you; when the drink is consumed, nothing is better than the goblet.”
#40
پرستیدن دین بهست از گناه
✦
چو باشد کسی را بدین پایگاه
“Worshipping the faith is far better than sinning, when one holds such a lofty station.”