When the dark body of Yazdegerd the Sinner was committed to the silent tomb, the grandees and warlords of Iran wept not out of sorrow, but in deep relief that the tyrant's reign of terror had ended. From every corner of the empire, the high nobles assembled near Pars—among them Kanarang, the enlightened Mobad, the formidable Gostahm who could slay an elephant from horseback, Qaren son of Goshasp, Milad, the Marzban of Pars, and Piroz the mace-wielder. All had suffered under Yazdegerd’s cruel scorn.
Before the solemn assembly, Goshasp the Scribe stood forth and delivered a fiery address. He proclaimed that since the dawn of creation, no monarch had ever ruled with such malice, enriching his treasury by wringing the blood of the poor and slaughtering the noble. He declared that Prince Bahram, raised under the tutelage of Munzhir the Arab, shared the very spirit and mind of his tyrannical sire. Moved by his words, the Iranian nobles swore mighty oaths that no scion of Yazdegerd’s bloodline would ever sit upon the Sun Throne of Iran.
Yet as word of Yazdegerd's demise reverberated across the realms, chaos erupted. Regional lords—such as the Alan Shah, the noble commanders of Pars, Bivard, and the golden-crested chieftains of Shegnan—raised their banners, each claiming the crown from the earth to the stars. The empire fractured into turmoil, like a lush meadow left unguarded without a shepherd.
Seeing the realm in grave peril, the Mobads and warlords convened once more in Pars to search for a righteous ruler who could quench the flames of rebellion. Their eyes turned to Khosrow the Elder, a man of venerable age, noble lineage, untainted generosity, and profound wisdom. The heroes of Iran entrusted him with the royal crown and throne, and armies gathered under his benevolent banner to restore peace to the realm.
#1
چو در دخمه شد شهریار جهان
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ز ایران برفتند گریان مهان
“When the king of the world was placed within the tomb, the Iranian nobles departed, weeping in grief.”
#2
کنارنگ با موبد و پهلوان
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هشیوار دستور روشن‌روان
“Kanarang came alongside the Mobad, the champion, and the wise minister of enlightened soul.”
#3
همه پاک در پارس گرد آمدند
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بر دخمه یزدگرد آمدند
“All gathered pure and unified in the realm of Pars, standing at the tomb of Yazdegerd.”
#4
چو گستهم کو پیل کُشتی بر اسپ
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دگر قارن گرد پور گشسپ
“Heroes such as Gostahm, who could slay an elephant from horseback, and Qaren the brave son of Goshasp,”
#5
چو میلاد و چون پارس مرزبان
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چو پیروز اسپ‌افگن از گرزبان
“And Milad, alongside the Marzban of Pars, and Piroz the steed-feller armed with his mace,”
#6
دگر هرک بودند ز ایران مهان
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بزرگان و کنداوران جهان
“And all others who were grandees of Iran, the mighty and brave warriors of the world,”
#7
کجا خوارشان داشتی یزدگرد
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همه آمدند اندران شهرگرد
“Whom Yazdegerd had once held in utter contempt—all assembled in that city.”
#8
چنین گفت گویا گشسپ دبیر
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که ای نامداران برنا و پیر
“Then spoke Goshasp the eloquent scribe: 'O illustrious leaders, both young and old,”
#9
جهاندارمان تا جهان آفرید
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کسی زین نشان شهریاری ندید
“'Since the Creator of the world fashioned the universe, none has seen a king of such nature,”
#10
که جز کشتن و خواری و درد و رنج
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بیاگندن از چیز درویش گنج
“'Whose rule brought naught but killing, humilation, pain, and anguish, amassing treasure from the needy.'”
#11
ازین شاه ناپاک‌تر کس ندید
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نه از نامداران پیشین شنید
“'None has ever seen a king more unholy than he, nor heard of his like among ancient rulers.'”
#12
نخواهیم بر تخت زین تخمه‌کس
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ز خاکش به یزدان پناهیم و بس
“'We desire no one of his seed upon the throne; from his dust we seek refuge in God alone.'”
#13
سرافراز بهرام فرزند اوست
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ز مغز و دل و رای پیوند اوست
“'Exalted Bahram is his son, bound to him in spirit, heart, and mind.'”
#14
ز منذر گشاید سخن سربسر
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نخواهیم بر تخت بیدادگر
“'He takes his counsel entirely from Munzhir; we do not want an unjust king upon the throne.'”
#15
بخوردند سوگندهای گران
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هرانکس که بودند ایرانیان
“Thereupon, all the Iranians who were present swore solemn and binding oaths,”
#16
کزین تخمه کس را به شاهنشهی
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نخواهیم با تاج و تخت مهی
“'That we shall grant the royal crown and throne of greatness to no descendant of his line.'”
#17
برین برنهادند و برخاستند
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همی شهریاری دگر خواستند
“Upon this covenant they agreed and departed, seeking another sovereign to rule.”
#18
چو آگاهی مرگ شاه جهان
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پراگنده شد در میان مهان
“When news of the king's death spread among the world's grandees,”
#19
الان شاه و چون پارس پهلوسپاه
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چو بیورد و شگنان زرین کلاه
“The Alan Shah, the Pahlu army of Pars, Bivard, and the golden-crested lords of Shegnan,”
#20
همی هریکی گفت شاهی مراست
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هم از خاک تا برج ماهی مراست
“Each began to claim: 'The kingship belongs to me; from the earth to the Fish in the heavens, it is mine!'”
#21
جهانی پرآشوب شد سر به سر
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چو از تخت گم شد سر تاجور
“The world became filled with turmoil from end to end, once the crowned head vanished from the throne.”
#22
به ایران رد و موبد و پهلوان
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هرانکس که بودند روشن‌روان
“Then the nobles, Mobads, and champions of Iran, all who were enlightened of spirit,”
#23
بدین کار در پارس گرد آمدند
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بسی زین نشان داستانها زدند
“Gathered in Pars regarding this plight, discussing many counsels and tales,”
#24
که این تاج شاهی سزاوار کیست
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ببینید تا از در کار کیست
“Saying: 'Look to see who is worthy of this royal crown, and who fits the majesty of this task.'”
#25
بجویید بخشنده‌ای دادگر
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که بندد برین تخت زرین کمر
“'Seek out a generous and just man who may gird his loins upon this golden throne,'”
#26
که آشوب بنشاند از روزگار
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جهان مرغزاریست بی‌شهریار
“'So that he may quell the turmoil of the age; for the world without a king is a wild meadow.'”
#27
یکی مرد بد پیر خسرو به نام
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جوانمرد و روشن‌دل و شادکام
“There was an old man named Khosrow, chivalrous, bright-hearted, and joyful,”
#28
هم از تخمه سرفرازان بد اوی
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به مرز اندر از بی‌نیازان بد اوی
“He was of exalted lineage, and renowned in the land for his independence and wealth.”
#29
سپردند گردان بدو تاج و گاه
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برو انجمن شد ز هر سو سپاه
“The warriors entrusted him with the crown and throne, and from all sides armies gathered around him.”