Dark tidings reached the distant sands of Yemen: Yazdegerd the Sinner had perished, and the throne of Iran had turned bitter. Driven by hatred for the late king's tyranny, the Iranian nobles and grandees swore a solemn oath never to permit any of Yazdegerd's lineage to wear the Kayanid crown. Deeming Bahram to be carved from the same stone as his sire, they bypassed the young prince and crowned an elder of the royal blood named Khosrow.
When news of this rebellion reached Bahram, grief tore through his heart. For two weeks, the city of Yemen echoed with the wailing of men, women, and children. But as the month of mourning closed, the warrior-king Munthir and his son Numan, accompanied by the chieftains of the Arabs, entered Bahram’s presence to offer counsel and solace, reminding him that mortal flesh must ultimately return to dust.
Yet Bahram knew his birthright. Turning to Munthir, he warned that if the royal glory were severed from the rightful line, the empire would fall to ruin and the sands of the desert would swallow the prosperity of the realm. Hearing the fire in the young prince's words, Munthir rose with martial pride, declaring that the time for action had arrived. He ordered Numan to muster ten thousand ferocious horsemen from the tribes of Shayban and Qays—a vanguard of lions ready for war.
With drums sounding and lances raised, the Arabian host surged forth toward the heart of Iran. From the salt deserts to the grand gates of Ctesiphon, the earth shook beneath their thunderous charge. As borderlands fell to chaos and pillage, word spread across the known world—to Rome, China, the Turks, India, and Makran—that the imperial throne stood vulnerable. Seeing Iran leaderless, envious rulers across every horizon prepared their armies to tear the realm asunder.
#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
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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
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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
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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
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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.”