When the dawn broke, Bahram ascended the throne and summoned the mobads and noble chieftains of Iran to deliberate upon the destiny of the realm. The wise high priests addressed him: "O Prince, your wisdom surpasses that of the sages. Tell us, when you attain the pinnacle of power, how shall you govern with justice and righteousness so that falsehood and defect may vanish from this land?"
Bahram replied with grand resolve: "I shall multiply generosity and diminish tyranny. To those worthy of leadership, I shall grant the stewardship of the earth. I shall hold the world through counsel and equity. Should any man be impoverished, he shall be enriched from the royal treasury. Transgressors shall first be met with counsel, and only upon repeated wrongdoing shall they feel the weight of chains. I shall ensure the army's provisions are punctually bestowed, and I shall illuminate the hearts of the wise. My heart and tongue shall speak as one, shunning all darkness and deceit. If a wealthy man passes leaving no heir, his riches shall be given to the poor, for I shall not bind my heart to this fleeting realm. I shall do nothing without consulting the learned ministers. If after a full year I deviate from these vows of wisdom, I shall forfeit the crown and heritage of my ancestors."
Hearing these noble words, the Iranian elders were struck with deep regret for their former opposition. They acclaimed him as the most righteous sovereign born of royal blood, endowed with unmatched stature, divine favor, and the formidable alliance of Munzhir and the Arab forces.
Thus, the nobles surrendered to Bahram's sovereignty. Following the ancient tradition of the Persian realm, the Mobad of Mobads took the royal crown. Gustahm the brave brought forth two ferocious, chained lions. The gleaming crown of the Kayanians was set upon an ivory throne directly between the two ravenous beasts, setting the stage for Bahram to prove his royal glory and courage by reclaiming the crown from the lions' deadly grasp.
#1
گذشت آن شب و بامداد پگاه
✦
بیامد نشست از بر گاه شاه
“Night passed, and as the early morning broke, he came and sat upon the royal throne.”
#2
فرستاد و ایرانیان را بخواند
✦
ز روز گذشته فراوان براند
“He sent for the Iranians and summoned them, speaking at length about the events of the previous day.”
#3
به آواز گفتند پس موبدان
✦
که هستی تو داناتر از بخردان
“Then the mobads said aloud: 'You are wiser than all the sages.'”
#4
به شاهنشهی در چه پیش آوری
✦
چو گیری بلندی و کنداوری
“'What shall you bring forth in your kingship when you attain height and heroic prowess?'”
#5
چه پیش آری از داد و از راستی
✦
کزان گم شود کژی و کاستی
“'How will you bring forth justice and truth so that deceit and imperfection may vanish?'”
#6
چنین داد پاسخ به فرزانگان
✦
بدان نامداران و مردانگان
“Thus he answered the wise sages, those illustrious men and heroes:”
#7
که بخشش بیفزایم از گفت‌وگوی
✦
بکاهم ز بیدادی و جست و جوی
“'I shall increase generosity beyond mere words, and I shall lessen tyranny and injustice.'”
#8
کسی را کجا پادشاهی سزاست
✦
زمین را بدیشان ببخشیم راست
“'To those who are worthy of leadership, we shall justly grant the stewardship of the land.'”
#9
جهان را بدارم به رای و به داد
✦
چو ایمن کنم باشم از داد شاد
“'I shall rule the world with wise counsel and justice; when I bring security, I shall rejoice in justice.'”
#10
کسی را که درویش باشد به نیز
✦
ز گنج نهاده ببخشیم چیز
“'Whoever is poor and needy, we shall grant them riches from the stored treasures.'”
#11
گنه کرده را پند پیش آوریم
✦
چو دیگر کند بند پیش آوریم
“'To the transgressor we shall first offer advice; should he repeat the crime, we shall bring forth chains.'”
#12
سپه را به هنگام روزی دهیم
✦
خردمند را دلفروزی دهیم
“'We shall provide the army's provisions on time, and grant joy to the hearts of the wise.'”
#13
همان راست داریم دل با زبان
✦
ز کژی و تاری بپیچم روان
“'We shall keep heart and tongue aligned in truth, turning our soul away from crookedness and darkness.'”
#14
کسی کو بمیرد نباشدش خویش
✦
وزو چیز ماند ز اندازه بیش
“'If anyone dies leaving no relatives, yet possessing vast wealth beyond measure,'”
#15
به درویش بخشم نیارم به گنج
✦
نبندم دل اندر سرای سپنج
“'I shall bestow it upon the poor and not store it in treasury; I shall not bind my heart to this transient abode.'”
#16
همه رای با کاردانان زنیم
✦
به تدبیر پشت هوا بشکنیم
“'We shall deliberate in all matters with experts, breaking the back of selfish desire through wise counsel.'”
#17
ز دستور پرسیم یکسر سخن
✦
چو کاری نو افگند خواهم ز بن
“'We shall consult our chief minister entirely whenever I intend to initiate a new enterprise.'”
#18
کسی کو همی داد خواهد ز من
✦
نجویم پراگندن انجمن
“'If anyone seeks justice from me, I shall not dismiss or disperse the assembly.'”
#19
دهم داد آنکس که او داد خواست
✦
به چیزی نرانم سخن جز به راست
“'I shall grant justice to whoever asks for it, and I shall speak of nothing except the truth.'”
#20
مکافات سازم بدان را به بد
✦
چنان کز ره شهریاران سزد
“'I shall requite evil-doers with evil punishment, in such manner as befits the path of kings.'”
#21
برین پاک یزدان گوای منست
✦
خرد بر زبان رهنمای منست
“'Pure God is my witness in this, and Wisdom is the guide upon my tongue.'”
#22
همان موبد و موبد موبدان
✦
پسندیده و کاردیده ردان
“'As well as the priest, the High Mobad, and the approved, experienced nobles.'”
#23
برین کار یک سال گر بگذرد
✦
نپیچم ز گفتار جان و خرد
“'If one year passes upon this pledge, I shall not turn my soul and wisdom away from these words.'”
#24
ز میراث بیزارم و تاج و تخت
✦
ازان پس نشینم بر شوربخت
“'Otherwise, I shall disown the throne, crown, and heritage, sitting henceforth in ill fortune.'”
#25
چو پاسخ شنیدند آن بخردان
✦
بزرگان و بیداردل موبدان
“When those sages, nobles, and alert-hearted mobads heard his answer,”
#26
ز گفت گذشته پشیمان شدند
✦
گنه کارگان سوی درمان شدند
“They repented of their past words, and the offenders sought remedy for their fault.”
#27
به آواز گفتند یک با دگر
✦
که شاهی بود زین سزاوارتر
“They said to one another with one voice: 'Can anyone be more deserving of kingship than he?'”
#28
به مردی و گفتار و رای و نژاد
✦
ازین پاک‌تر در جهان کس نزاد
“'In manhood, speech, wisdom, and lineage, no one purer than him was ever born into the world.'”
#29
ز داد آفریدست ایزد ورا
✦
مبادا که کاری رسد بد ورا
“'God created him out of sheer justice; may no harm ever touch him!'”
#30
به گفتار اگر هیچ تاب آوریم
✦
خرد را همی سر به خواب آوریم
“'If we turn away or hesitate before his words, we would be putting wisdom itself to sleep.'”
#31
همه نیکویها بیابیم ازوی
✦
به خورد و به داد اندر آریم روی
“'We shall find all goodness through him, turning our faces toward abundance and justice.'”
#32
بدین برز بالا و این شاخ و یال
✦
به گیتی کسی نیست او را همال
“'With such magnificent height, stature, and strength, there is no peer to him in the world.'”
#33
پس پشت او لشکر تازیان
✦
چو منذرش یاور به سود و زیان
“'Behind him stands the army of the Arabs, with Munzhir supporting him in profit and loss.'”
#34
اگر خود بگیرد سر گاه خویش
✦
به گیتی که باشد ز بهرام بیش
“'If he takes the throne by force, who in the world would be greater than Bahram?'”
#35
ازان پس ز ایرانیانش چه باک
✦
چه ما پیش او در چه یک مشت خاک
“'What fear would he have of the Iranians then? For before him, what are we but a handful of dust?'”
#36
به بهرام گفتند کای فرمند
✦
به شاهی توی جان ما را پسند
“They said to Bahram: 'O glorious one, for kingship, you are approved by our very soul!'”
#37
ندانست کس در هنرهای تو
✦
به پاکی تن و دانش و رای تو
“'No one knew the depth of your talents, the purity of your body, your knowledge, and your wisdom.'”
#38
چو خسرو که بود از نژاد پشین
✦
به شاهی برو خواندند آفرین
“Like Khosrow who was of ancient lineage, they chanted praise upon him for kingship.”
#39
همه زیر سوگند و بند وییم
✦
که گوید که اندر گزند وییم
“'We are all under his oath and bond; who can say that we are in danger from him?'”
#40
گرو زین سپس شاه ایران بود
✦
همه مرز در چنگ شیران بود
“'Henceforth, the pledge belongs to the King of Iran, and all the realm shall be in the grip of lions.'”
#41
گروهی به بهرام باشند شاد
✦
ز خسرو دگر پاره گیرند یاد
“Some were joyful for Bahram, while others remembered Khosrow.”
#42
ز داد آن چنان به که پیمان تست
✦
ازان پس جهان زیر فرمان تست
“'Justice is best served according to your covenant, and henceforth the world shall be beneath your command.'”
#43
بهانه همان شیر جنگیست و بس
✦
ازین پس بزرگی نجویند کس
“'The only pretext remaining is the trial of the fierce lions, and after this none shall dispute your greatness.'”
#44
بدان گشت بهرام همداستان
✦
که آورد او پیش ازین داستان
“Bahram agreed to that tradition, as brought forth in the ancient tales.”
#45
چنین بود آیین شاهان داد
✦
که چون نو بدی شاه فرخ‌نژاد
“Such was the custom of righteous kings that whenever a new, auspicious sovereign arose,”
#46
بر او شدی موبد موبدان
✦
ببردی سه بینادل از بخردان
“The High Priest of Priests stepped forward, taking with him three wise and discerning counselors.”
#47
همو شاه بر گاه بنشاندی
✦
بدان تاج بر آفرین خواندی
“He would seat the king upon the royal throne and recite blessings upon that glorious crown.”
#48
نهادی به نام کیان بر سرش
✦
بسودی به شادی دو رخ بر برش
“In the noble name of the Kayanids he placed it on his head, joyfully pressing his face against his chest.”
#49
ازان پس هرانکس که بردی نثار
✦
به خواهنده دادی همی شهریار
“Thereafter, whatever gifts were presented to the King, he bestowed in full upon the needy.”
#50
به موبد سپردند پس تاج و تخت
✦
به هامون شد از شهر بیداربخت
“They then entrusted the crown and throne to the High Priest, and the vigilant prince headed out into the desert plain.”
#51
دو شیر ژیان داشت گستهم گرد
✦
به زنجیر بسته به موبد سپرد
“The brave Gostahm possessed two fierce lions; bound in heavy chains, he handed them over to the High Priest.”
#52
ببردند شیران جنگی کشان
✦
کشنده شد از بیم چون بیهشان
“They dragged the warlike lions forward, while the keeper swooned and grew faint with dread.”
#53
ببستند بر پایهٔ تخت عاج
✦
نهادند بر گوشهٔ عاج تاج
“They bound the beasts to the feet of the ivory throne, and placed the crown upon the edge of that ivory seat.”
#54
جهانی نظاره بران تاج و تخت
✦
که تا چون بود کار آن نیک‌بخت
“All the world watched upon that crown and throne, waiting to see how the fortunate prince's trial would turn.”
#55
که گر شاه پیروز گردد برین
✦
برو شهریاران کنند آفرین
“For if the prince emerged victorious from this ordeal, all the monarchs of the earth would sound his praise.”