When the nobles and chieftains of Iran grew weary of the chaos and border raids threatening their realm, they assembled to seek a remedy for their distress. They chose Javanoy, a wise, noble, and eloquent scribe of profound vision, to carry their message across the desert to Mondhir, the Arab ruler of the Plain of the Spearmen. Javanoy set forth bearing a letter that reproved Mondhir for the recent plunder of the borderlands, calling upon his past virtue and warning him to dread divine judgment in his old age.
Upon receiving the envoy and hearing the grievance of the Iranian lords, King Mondhir directed Javanoy to present his case directly to the young prince, Bahram Gur. Escorted by an Arab noble, Javanoy entered the presence of Bahram. The moment his eyes fell upon the prince's towering stature, lion-like chest, divine radiance, and majestic aura, the eloquent ambassador was overcome with profound awe; his intellect faltered and his entire message vanished from his mind. Bahram, discerning the envoy's astonishment, treated him with great gentleness, dispelled his confusion, and honorably seated him by his side upon the throne.
Thereafter, Bahram dispatched a wise courtier with Javanoy to Mondhir to craft a gracious response. Having witnessed firsthand the breathtaking majesty and supreme fitness of Bahram Gur for the Iranian throne, Javanoy returned to Mondhir and offered wise counsel. He urged the Arab monarch to abandon all thoughts of war and instead escort Bahram into Iran peacefully—not with a menacing host, but with royal hunting cheetahs and falcons—allowing the young sovereign to win the hearts of the Iranian lords through wisdom, dignity, and conciliation rather than bloodshed.
#1
چو ایرانیان آگهی یافتند
✦
یکایک سوی چاره بشتافتند
“When the Iranians learned of the dire state of affairs, each hastened to seek a remedy.”
#2
چو گشتند زان رنج یکسر ستوه
✦
نشستند یک با دگر همگروه
“Becoming utterly exhausted by this distress, they gathered together in counsel.”
#3
که این کار ز اندازه اندر گذشت
✦
ز روم و ز هند و سواران دشت
“They said, 'This affair has exceeded all bounds, with threats from Rome, India, and the riders of the plain.'”
#4
یکی چاره باید کنون ساختن
✦
دل و جان ازین کار پرداختن
“'A remedy must now be devised to disburden heart and soul from this weight.'”
#5
بجستند موبد فرستاده‌ای
✦
سخن‌گوی و بینادل آزاده‌ای
“They sought a high priest as an envoy—an eloquent, noble-minded, and wise-hearted man.”
#6
کجا نام آن گو جوانوی بود
✦
دبیری بزرگ و سخن‌گوی بود
“Whose name was the hero Javanoy, a great scribe and fluent speaker.”
#7
بدان تا به نزدیک منذر شود
✦
سخن گوید و گفت او بشنود
“So that he might go to Mondhir, deliver his message, and hear his reply.”
#8
به منذر بگوید که ای سرفراز
✦
جهان را به نام تو بادا نیاز
“To tell Mondhir: 'O exalted king, may the world ever be in need of your renowned name!'”
#9
نگهدار ایران و نیران توی
✦
به هر جای پشت دلیران توی
“'You are the protector of Iran and beyond, the refuge for brave heroes in every land.'”
#10
چو این تخت بی‌شاه و بی‌تاج شد
✦
ز خون مرز چون پر دراج شد
“'Since this throne has been left kingless and crownless, the land’s border has become stained with blood like a francolin's feather.'”
#11
تو گفتیم باشی خداوند مرز
✦
که این مرز را از تو دیدیم ارز
“'We said you would be the lord of this realm, for we saw worth and honor in you for this border.'”
#12
کنون غارت از تست و خون ریختن
✦
به هر جای تاراج و آویختن
“'Yet now plunder and bloodshed proceed from you, along with pillage and conflict everywhere.'”
#13
نبودی ازین پیش تو بدکنش
✦
ز نفرین بترسیدی و سرزنش
“'You were not evil-doing before this; you feared curse and reproach.'”
#14
نگه کن بدین تا پسند آیدت
✦
به پیران سر این سودمند آیدت
“'Reflect upon this so that it pleases you, for in your old age this shall prove beneficial.'”
#15
جز از تو زبر داوری دیگرست
✦
کز اندیشهٔ برتران برترست
“'Beyond you stands another Judge, whose decree transcends the thoughts of the highest minds.'”
#16
بگوید فرستاده چیزی که دید
✦
سخن نیز کز کاردانان شنید
“'Let the envoy report what he has witnessed, along with the wisdom he heard from men of experience.'”
#17
جوانوی دانا ز پیش سران
✦
بیامد سوی دشت نیزه‌وران
“Wise Javanoy departed from before the chieftains and came to the Plain of the Spearmen.”
#18
به منذر سخن گفت و نامه بداد
✦
سخنهای ایرانیان کرد یاد
“He spoke to Mondhir, delivered the letter, and recounted the words of the Iranians.”
#19
سخنهایش بشنید شاه عرب
✦
به پاسخ برو هیچ نگشاد لب
“The Arab king listened to his words, but opened not his lips in direct answer.”
#20
چنین گفت کای دانشی چاره‌جوی
✦
سخن زین نشان با شهنشاه گوی
“He said: 'O wise seeker of remedies, speak these words in this manner to King Bahram.'”
#21
بگوی این که گفتی به بهرامشاه
✦
چو پاسخ بجویی نمایدت راه
“'Tell King Bahram what you have spoken, and when you seek an answer, he shall guide your way.'”
#22
فرستاد با او یکی نامدار
✦
جوانوی شد تا در شهریار
“He sent a nobleman with him; Javanoy proceeded to the court of the monarch.”
#23
چو بهرام را دید داننده مرد
✦
برو آفریننده را یاد کرد
“When the wise man beheld Bahram, he praised the Creator of the world.”
#24
ازان برز و بالا و آن یال و کفت
✦
فروماند بینادل اندر شگفت
“At that towering stature, those powerful shoulders, and that broad chest, the wise-hearted man was left spellbound in wonder.”
#25
همی می چکد گویی از روی اوی
✦
همی بوی مشک آید از موی اوی
“As though wine dripped from his radiant face, and the fragrance of musk drifted from his hair.”
#26
سخن‌گوی بی‌فر و بی‌هوش گشت
✦
پیامش سراسر فراموش گشت
“The eloquent envoy lost his composure and sense; he forgot his message entirely.”
#27
بدانست بهرام کو خیره شد
✦
ز دیدار چشم و دلش تیره شد
“Bahram perceived that he was bewildered, and that his eyes and heart were clouded with awe.”
#28
بپرسید بسیار و بنواختش
✦
به خوبی بر تخت بنشاختش
“He questioned him kindly, comforted him greatly, and seated him honorably upon the throne.”
#29
چو گستاخ شد زو بپرسید شاه
✦
کز ایران چرا رنجه گشتی به راه
“When the envoy felt reassured, the king asked him: 'Why did you take the hardship of travelling from Iran?'”
#30
فرستاد با او یکی پرخرد
✦
که او را به نزدیک منذر برد
“He dispatched a wise representative with him to guide him back to Mondhir.”
#31
بگوید که آن نامه پاسخ نویس
✦
به پاسخ سخنهای فرخ نویس
“Saying, 'Write a response to that letter, writing words that are auspicious and noble.'”
#32
وزان پس نگر تا چه دارد پیام
✦
ازو بشنود پاسخ او تمام
“'And thereafter, see what message he carries, and hear his answer completely.'”
#33
بیامد جوانو سخنها بگفت
✦
رخ منذر از رای او برشکفت
“Javanoy returned and spoke the words; Mondhir's face brightened at his wisdom.”
#34
چو بشنید زان مرد بینا سخن
✦
مر آن نامه را پاسخ افگند بن
“When he heard the words of that perceptive man, he laid the foundation for replying to that letter.”
#35
جوانوی را گفت کای پرخرد
✦
هرانکس که بد کرد کیفر برد
“He said to Javanoy: 'O wise man! Whoever does evil shall reap retribution.'”
#36
شنیدم همه هرچ دادی پیام
✦
وزان نامداران که کردی سلام
“'I have heard all that you conveyed, and the greetings from those noble lords.'”
#37
چنین گوی کاین بد که کرد از نخست
✦
که بیهوده پیکار بایست جست
“'Say to them: Who committed evil first, so that a futile strife became necessary?'”
#38
شهنشاه بهرام گور ایدرست
✦
که با فر و برزست و با لشکرست
“'Sovereign Bahram Gur is here, endowed with divine glory, majesty, and a great host.'”
#39
ز سوراخ چون مار بیرون کشید
✦
همی دامن خویش در خون کشید
“'He dragged them out like snakes from their holes, dragging his skirts in blood.'”
#40
گر ایدونک من بودمی رای زن
✦
به ایرانیان بر نبودی شکن
“'Had I been the sole counselor, no harm would have befallen the Iranians.'”
#41
جوانوی روی شهنشاه دید
✦
وزو نیز چندی سخنها شنید
“Javanoy had seen the face of the king of kings and heard many words from him.”
#42
بپرسید تا شاید او تخت را
✦
بزرگی و پیروزی و بخت را
“He assessed whether Bahram was worthy of the throne, of greatness, victory, and fortune.”
#43
ز منذر چو بشنید زان‌سان سخن
✦
یکی روشن اندیشه افگند بن
“When he heard such speech from Mondhir, he laid the foundation for a brilliant thought.”
#44
چنین داد پاسخ که ای سرفراز
✦
به دانایی از هرکسی بی‌نیاز
“He answered: 'O exalted ruler, needless of anyone in your wisdom!'”
#45
از ایرانیان گر خرد گشته شد
✦
فراوان از آزادگان کشته شد
“'If wisdom has turned away from the Iranians, and many nobles have been slain...'”
#46
کنون من یکی نامجویم کهن
✦
اگر بشنوی تا بگویم سخن
“Now I am an experienced seeker of renown; if thou wilt listen, let me speak my counsel.”
#47
ترا با شهنشاه بهرام گور
✦
خرامید باید ابی جنگ و شور
“Thou must journey alongside King Bahram Gur in peace, free from strife and turmoil.”
#48
به ایران زمین در ابا یوز و باز
✦
چنانچون بود شاه گردن‌فراز
“Set forth unto the land of Iran with cheetahs and falcons, even as befitteth an exalted king.”
#49
شنیدن سخنهای ایرانیان
✦
همانا ز جنبش نباید زیان
“Listen to the words of the Iranians; surely no harm shall come from such a course.”
#50
بگویی تو نیز آنچ اندرخورد
✦
خردمندی و دوری از بی‌خرد
“Do thou likewise speak whatever is worthy, showing wisdom and distance from the foolish.”
#51
ز رای بدان دور داری منش
✦
بپیچی ز بیغاره و سرزنش
“Keep thy mind far from the counsel of the evil, and turn away from blame and reproach.”
#52
چو بشنید منذر ورا هدیه داد
✦
کسی کردش از شهر آباد شاد
“When Mondhir heard his words, he bestowed gifts upon him, making him joyful with the bounty of a prosperous city.”