#1
پس آگاهی آمد به بهرام گور
✦
که از چرخ شد تخت را آب شور
“Then news came unto Bahram Gur that fortune's waters had turned brackish for the imperial throne.”
#2
پدرت آن سرافراز شاهان بمرد
✦
به مرد و همه نام شاهی ببرد
“'Your father, that exalted king of kings, has died, and in dying took all royal glory away with him.'”
#3
یکی مرد بر گاه بنشاندند
✦
به شاهی همی خسروش خواندند
“They had seated a man upon the royal seat and hailed him as king under the name of Khosrow.”
#4
بخوردند سوگند یکسر سپاه
✦
کزان تخمه هرگز نخواهیم شاه
“The whole host took a solemn oath: 'We shall never accept a king from that seed again!'”
#5
که بهرام فرزند او همچو اوست
✦
از آب پدر یافت او مغز و پوست
“'For Bahram, his son, is just like his sire; he drew his marrow and skin from his father's water.'”
#6
چو بشنید بهرام رخ را بکند
✦
ز مرگ پدر شد دلش مستمند
“When Bahram heard this, he tore his cheeks, and his heart grew heavy with grief for his father's death.”
#7
برآمد دو هفته ز شهر یمن
✦
خروشیدن کودک و مرد و زن
“For two full weeks, the city of Yemen echoed with the lamentations of children, men, and women.”
#8
چو یک ماه بنشست با سوک شاه
✦
سر ماه نو را بیاراست گاه
“When he had sat a month in mourning for the king, at the turn of the new month he prepared his court.”
#9
برفتند نعمان و منذر بهم
✦
همه تازیان یمن بیش و کم
“Numan and Munthir went together to him, accompanied by all the Arabs of Yemen, great and small.”
#10
همه زار و با شاه گریان شدند
✦
ابی آتش از درد بریان شدند
“They all wept bitterly alongside the prince, roasted with pain without a flame.”
#11
زبان برگشادند زان پس ز بند
✦
که ای پرهنر شهریار بلند
“Then they unloosed their tongues from silence, saying: 'O highly accomplished and exalted prince!'”
#12
همه در جهان خاک را آمدیم
✦
نه جویای تریاک را آمدیم
“'We have all come into this world for dust; we did not come into being seeking eternal elixir.'”
#13
بمیرد کسی کو ز مادر بزاد
✦
زهش چون ستم بینم و مرگ داد
“'Whoever is born of a mother must die; how can I deem life's end an oppression when death is just?'”
#14
به منذر چنین گفت بهرام گور
✦
که اکنون چو شد روز ما تار و تور
“Bahram Gur spoke thus to Munthir: 'Now that our days have turned dim and dark,'”
#15
ازین تخمه گر نام شاهنشهی
✦
گسسته شود بگسلد فرهی
“'If the name of royal sovereignty be severed from this lineage, the Farrah shall break away.'”
#16
ز دشت سواران برآرند خاک
✦
شود جای بر تازیان بر مغاک
“'They will raise dust from the plain of cavaliers, and the realm shall become a grave for the Arabs.'”
#17
پراندیشه باشید و یاری کنید
✦
به مرگ پدر سوگواری کنید
“'Be full of thought and render me your aid; join me in mourning the death of my father.'”
#18
ز بهرام بشنید منذر سخن
✦
به مردی یکی پاسخ افگند بن
“Munthir heard the words of Bahram, and with manly heart he laid the foundation of his reply.”
#19
چنین گفت کاین روزگار منست
✦
برین دشت روز شکار منست
“He spoke thus: 'This is my opportune hour; upon this plain today is my day of battle-hunting!'”
#20
تو بر تخت بنشین و نظاره باش
✦
همه ساله با تاج و با یاره باش
“'Sit thou upon the throne and be a spectator; wear the crown and armlets all the year.'”
#21
همه نامداران برین هم‌سخن
✦
که نعمان و منذر فگندند بن
“All the chieftains agreed upon this counsel, whereof Numan and Munthir had laid the stone.”
#22
ز پیش جهانجوی برخاستند
✦
همه تاختن را بیاراستند
“They arose before the world-seeker and made all preparations for a swift invasion.”
#23
بفرمود منذر به نعمان که رو
✦
یکی لشکری ساز شیران نو
“Munthir commanded Numan: 'Go, muster an army of fresh young lions!'”
#24
ز شیبان و از قیسیان ده هزار
✦
فرازآر گرد از در کارزار
“'Bring ten thousand warriors from Banu Shayban and Qays, raising dust worthy of the battlefield!'”
#25
من ایرانیان را نمایم که شاه
✦
کدامست با تاج و گنج و سپاه
“'I shall show the Iranians which monarch is the true king, endowed with crown, treasure, and host.'”
#26
بیاورد نعمان سپاهی گران
✦
همه تیغ‌داران و نیزه‌وران
“Numan brought forth a mighty army, all skilled sword-wielders and lancers.”
#27
بفرمود تا تاختنها برند
✦
همه روی کشور به پی بسپرند
“He ordered them to launch raids and trample the whole land under their steeds' hooves.”
#28
ره شورستان تا در طیسفون
✦
زمین خیره شد زیر نعل اندرون
“From the salt wastes to the very gates of Ctesiphon, the earth grew stunned beneath horse-shoes.”
#29
زن و کودک و مرد بردند اسیر
✦
کس آن رنجها را نبد دستگیر
“They took women, children, and men as captives; there was none to relieve them in their misery.”
#30
پر از غارت و سوختن شد جهان
✦
چو بیکار شد تخت شاهنشهان
“The world became filled with pillage and burning when the imperial throne fell leaderless.”
#31
پس آگاهی آمد به روم و به چین
✦
به ترک و به هند و به مکران زمین
“Then news reached Rome and China, the Turks, India, and the land of Makran:”
#32
که شد تخت ایران ز خسرو تهی
✦
کسی نیست زیبای شاهنشهی
“That Iran's throne had become empty of its sovereign, and none remained fit for the king of kings.”
#33
همه تاختن را بیاراستند
✦
به بیدادی از جای برخاستند
“They all arrayed their forces for invasion, rising in injustice from every quarter.”
#34
چو از تخم شاهنشهان کس نبود
✦
که یارست تخت کیی را بسود
“Since there was no prince of royal blood present who dared lay hand upon the Kayanid throne,”
#35
به ایران همی هرکسی دست آخت
✦
به شاهنشهی تیز گردن فراخت
“Everyone across the world reached out toward Iran, proudly stretching his neck for sovereign power.”