When Prince Bahram and Khosrow arrived upon the open plain, they beheld two fierce lions bound near the heart of the field, with the radiant crown of Iran set between them. Khosrow, observing the ravenous beasts and weighing his own advanced years against Bahram's youth and strength, addressed the high priests: 'The royal crown belongs to him who dares to seek it through valor. I am old and frail against the talons of these fierce lions, whereas Bahram is young, robust, and worthy to step forward first.'
Bahram accepted the challenge, raising his legendary bull-headed mace. The High Mobad warned him against risking his precious life merely for earthly sovereignty, but Bahram declared that he alone was the fit antagonist for such beasts. Seeing his unshakeable resolve, the Mobad instructed him to wash all sin from his heart and seek refuge in Almighty Yazdan. Bahram offered sincere repentance, purified his soul, and advanced with his mighty mace.
As he approached, one of the furious lions snapped its chains and charged. Bahram swung his ox-headed mace with immense force, crushing its skull and extinguishing the light from its eyes. The second lion bounded forward, only to meet the same violent end as Bahram brought down his weapon, spilling its blood upon the earth. Victory won, the Prince seated himself upon the ivory throne and placed the heart-delighting crown upon his head.
Khosrow stepped forward, bowed in homage, and acclaimed Bahram as the rightful King of Iran, offering the loyalty of himself and all the Iranian nobles. The magnates showered jewels upon the sovereign, praising the crown on the auspicious Day of Surosh in the month of Azar. The poet Ferdowsi then transitions into a vivid reflection on the harsh winter snows enveloping the land, seeking the favor of his patron Hossein Qoteyb before embarking upon the next marvelous cycle of Bahram's reign.
#1
چو بهرام و خسرو به هامون شدند
✦
بر شیر با دل پر از خون شدند
“When Bahram and Khosrow went out into the open plain, their hearts bled as they approached the fierce lions.”
#2
چو خسرو بدید آن دو شیر ژیان
✦
نهاده یکی افسر اندر میان
“When Khosrow beheld those two ferocious lions, with the royal crown placed between them,”
#3
بدان موبدان گفت تاج از نخست
✦
مر آن را سزاتر که شاهی بجست
“He spoke to the mobads: 'The crown rightfully belongs to him who sought the kingdom in the first place.”
#4
و دیگر که من پیرم و او جوان
✦
به چنگال شیر ژیان ناتوان
“And furthermore, I am old while he is young; I am powerless against the talons of a fierce lion.'”
#5
بران بد که او پیش‌دستی کند
✦
به برنایی و تن‌درستی کند
“'It is proper for him to take the lead, benefiting from his youth and healthy vigor.'”
#6
بدو گفت بهرام کاری رواست
✦
نهانی نداریم گفتار راست
“Bahram said to him: 'This is a fit proposal; we have no secret speech, only truth.'”
#7
یکی گُرزه گاوسر برگرفت
✦
جهانی بدو مانده اندر شگفت
“He lifted up a bull-headed mace, while the entire world looked on in wonder.”
#8
بدو گفت موبد که ای پادشا
✦
خردمند و بادانش و پارسا
“The Mobad said to him: 'O righteous, wise, and learned Prince,'”
#9
همی جنگ شیران که فرمایدت
✦
جز از تاج شاهی چه افزایدت
“'Who bids thee fight lions? What does it add to thee beyond the royal crown?'”
#10
تو جان از پی پادشاهی مده
✦
خورش بی‌بهانه به ماهی مده
“'Do not surrender thy life for royalty, nor feed thyself unneeded to the leviathan of death.'”
#11
همه بی‌گناهیم و این کار تست
✦
جهان را همه دل به بازار تست
“'We are all guiltless, yet this task is thine; the entire world has set its heart upon thy cause.'”
#12
بدو گفت بهرام کای دین‌پژوه
✦
تو زین بی‌گناهی و دیگر گروه
“Bahram answered him: 'O seeker of the faith, thou and this rest of the clergy are blameless.'”
#13
هم‌آورد این نره شیران منم
✦
خریدار جنگ دلیران منم
“'I alone am the match for these male lions; I am the seeker of valiant combat.'”
#14
بدو گفت موبد به یزدان پناه
✦
چو رفتی دلت را بشوی از گناه
“The Mobad said to him: 'Take refuge in God! As thou goest, wash thy heart clean of sin.'”
#15
چنان کرد کو گفت بهرامشاه
✦
دلش پاک شد توبه کرد از گناه
“King Bahram did as he was advised; his heart became pure and he repented of his sins.”
#16
همی رفت با گُرزهٔ گاوروی
✦
چو دیدند شیران پرخاشجوی
“He advanced bearing the bull-headed mace; when the fierce lions caught sight of him,”
#17
یکی زود زنجیر بگسست و بند
✦
بیامد بر شهریار بلند
“One of them swiftly snapped its bonds and chains and charged toward the noble monarch.”
#18
بزد بر سرش گُرز بهرام گُرد
✦
ز چشمش همی روشنایی ببرد
“Bahram the hero struck its head with his heavy mace, snatching the sight right out of its eyes.”
#19
بر دیگر آمد بزد بر سرش
✦
فرو ریخت از دیده خون از برش
“He turned to the other lion and smote its head, causing blood to pour from its eyes down its chest.”
#20
جهاندار بنشست بر تخت عاج
✦
به سر بر نهاد آن دلفروز تاج
“The sovereign sat upon the ivory throne and placed that heart-delighting crown upon his head.”
#21
به یزدان پناهید کو بد پناه
✦
نمایندهٔ راه گم کرده راه
“He sought refuge in God, who is the true protector and the shower of the path to those who have lost their way.”
#22
بشد خسرو و برد پیشش نماز
✦
چنین گفت کای شاه گردن‌فراز
“Khosrow came forward, bowed in reverence, and said: 'O exalted King,'”
#23
نشست تو بر گاه فرخنده باد
✦
یلان جهان پیش تو بنده باد
“'May thy sitting upon this throne be blessed, and may all the world's champions be thy servants!'”
#24
تو شاهی و ما بندگان توایم
✦
به خوبی فزایندگان توایم
“'Thou art the King and we are thy subjects, ever striving to increase thy good fortune.'”
#25
بزرگان برو گوهر افشاندند
✦
بران تاج نو آفرین خواندند
“The nobles scattered jewels upon him and uttered blessings upon that new crown.”
#26
ز گیتی برآمد سراسر خروش
✦
در آذر بد این جشن روز سروش
“A roar of joy arose from the world; this celebration took place on the Day of Surosh in the month of Azar.”
#27
برآمد یکی ابر و شد تیره‌ماه
✦
همی تیر بارید ز ابر سیاه
“A dark cloud gathered and obscured the moon, pouring down arrows of rain and snow from its dark depths.”
#28
نه دریا پدید و نه دشت و نه راغ
✦
نبینم همی در هوا پر زاغ
“Neither sea nor plain nor meadow could be seen, nor could I spot even a crow's wing in the air.”
#29
حواصل فشاند هوا هر زمان
✦
چه سازد همی زین بلند آسمان
“The air continually sheds heavy flakes like pelican feathers; what is this high sky planning?”
#30
نماندم نمکسود و هیزم نه جو
✦
نه چیزی پدیدست تا جودرو
“I have no cured meat left, nor firewood, nor barley; nothing is visible anywhere to harvest.”
#31
بدین تیرگی روز و بیم خراج
✦
زمین گشته از برف چون کوه عاج
“In these dark days and with the dread of taxes, the earth has turned as white as an ivory mountain with snow.”
#32
همه کارها را سراندر نشیب
✦
مگر دست گیرد حسین قتیب
“All matters are going downhill, unless Hossein Qoteyb lends a helping hand.”
#33
کنون داستانی بگویم شگفت
✦
کزان برتر اندازه نتوان گرفت
“Now I shall tell a wondrous tale, unparalleled in its glory and magnitude.”