As darkness swallowed the wilderness, King Bahram Gur found himself separated from his royal hunting party. Needing shelter for the night, he rode toward the dwelling of a notoriously miserly man named Baraham. The king knocked upon the gate, explaining that he was a rider lost in the dark who sought nothing more than a modest place to rest until dawn, promising to cause no harm or inconvenience.
When Baraham's servant conveyed the message, the miser responded with cold disdain, bidding the stranger to be turned away. Bahram sent word back, pleading for mere shelter and swearing that he would ask for nothing. Baraham then confronted the rider directly, portraying himself as a destitute man sleeping on the bare ground, and declared harsh conditions: if the stranger wished to enter, he must swear not to demand a single morsel of food, to compensate for any structural damage his mount might cause, and, most strictly, to personally sweep up and carry away any dung dropped by his horse come morning.
Bahram Gur, displaying magnificent forbearance and royal humility, accepted every condition and pledged his word. He dismounted, secured his horse, drew his sword, and laid his saddle-felt upon the dirt floor, using his hard saddle as a pillow. Meanwhile, Baraham locked the heavy door from within, brought out a lavish meal and goblet of wine, and proceeded to dine comfortably. As he drank, the miser taunted the hungry king outside, boasting that wealth brings light and protection like armor, whereas the poor are left parched and starving at midnight. Bahram answered with gentle, gracious wisdom, refusing to let the host's arrogance diminish his own inner nobility.
When dawn painted the mountain crests with golden sunlight, Bahram saddled his horse to depart. Baraham blocked his path, demanding that the rider honor his oath to clear the horse dung. Bahram offered gold so that a laborer might be hired to sweep the area, but Baraham refused, accusing him of deceit if he did not do the task himself. Bound by his supreme royal commitment to truth and honor, Bahram reached into his riding boot and withdrew a luxurious scarf of finest silk, heavily perfumed with musk and ambergris. With this precious royal cloth, he wiped the ground completely clean of dung and threw it into the pit. Fulfilling his pledge without a murmur of discontent, Bahram looked upon Baraham and remarked that should the King hear of such noble righteousness, he would surely grant the host untold riches.
#1
ز پیش سواران چو ره برگرفت
✦
سوی خان بی‌بر به راهام تفت
“When he strayed away from his riders, he hastened toward the house of the barren miser, Baraham.”
#2
بزد در بگفتا که بی‌شهریار
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بماندم چو او بازماند از شکار
“He knocked upon the door and said: 'I am left behind from the King, separated during the hunt.'”
#3
شب آمد ندانم همی راه را
✦
نیابم همی لشکر و شاه را
“'Night has fallen and I know not the way; I cannot find the army nor the King.'”
#4
گر امشب بدین خانه یابم سپنج
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نباشد کسی را ز من هیچ رنج
“'If I find shelter in this house tonight, no one shall suffer any trouble from me.'”
#5
به پیش به راهام شد پیشکار
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بگفت آنچ بشنید ازان نامدار
“The servant went before Baraham and reported what he had heard from that renowned rider.”
#6
به راهام گفت ایچ ازین در مرنج
✦
بگویش که ایدر نیابی سپنج
“Baraham said to him: 'Do not trouble yourself with this door; tell him he shall find no shelter here!'”
#7
بیامد فرستاده با او بگفت
✦
که ایدر ترا نیست جای نهفت
“The messenger returned and said to him: 'There is no place of refuge for you here.'”
#8
بدو گفت بهرام با او بگوی
✦
کز ایدر گذشتن مرا نیست روی
“Bahram said to him: 'Tell him that I have no way to pass beyond this place.'”
#9
همی از تو من خانه خواهم سپنج
✦
نیارم به چیزت ازان پس به رنج
“'I only ask of you temporary shelter; I will bring no harm or loss to anything of yours.'”
#10
چو بشنید پویان بشد پیشکار
✦
به نزد به راهام گفت این سوار
“Hearing this, the servant hastened back to Baraham and said: 'This rider...'”
#11
همی ز ایدر امشب نخواهد گذشت
✦
سخن گفتن و رای بسیار گشت
“'...will not move on from here tonight; many words and thoughts have been exchanged.'”
#12
به راهام گفتش که رو بی‌درنگ
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بگویش که این جایگاهیست تنگ
“Baraham said to him: 'Go without delay and tell him that this is a tight, cramped place.'”
#13
جهودیست درویش و شب گرسنه
✦
بخسپد همی بر زمین برهنه
“'I am a poor Jew who goes to sleep hungry at night, lying upon the bare earth.'”
#14
بگفتند و بهرام گفت ار سپنج
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نیابم بدین خانه آیدت رنج
“They conveyed this, and Bahram said: 'If I find no shelter, trouble will fall upon your house.'”
#15
بدین در بخسپم نجویم سرای
✦
نخواهم به چیزی دگر کرد رای
“'I shall sleep at this very doorstep and seek no house, nor will I alter my purpose.'”
#16
به راهام گفت ای نبرده سوار
✦
همی رنجه داری مرا خوارخوار
“Baraham said: 'O valiant rider, you keep troubling me with contempt!'”
#17
بخسپی و چیزت بدزدد کسی
✦
ازان رنجه داری مرا تو بسی
“'If you sleep outside and someone steals your goods, you will cause me endless trouble for it!'”
#18
به خانه درآی ار جهان تنگ شد
✦
همه کار بی‌برگ و بی‌رنگ شد
“'Come inside the house if the world has grown narrow for you and everything is bare and dark.'”
#19
به پیمان که چیزی نخواهی ز من
✦
ندارم به مرگ آبچین و کفن
“'On the oath that you shall demand nothing of me! Even in death I possess neither shroud nor washing water!'”
#20
هم امشب ترا و نشست ترا
✦
خورش باید و نیست چیزی مرا
“'Tonight, for yourself and your stay, food will be needed, but I have nothing.'”
#21
گر این اسپ سرگین و آب افگند
✦
وگر خشت این خانه را بشکند
“'If this horse drops dung and water, or breaks a mud brick of this home...'”
#22
به شبگیر سرگینش بیرون کنی
✦
بروبی و خاکش به هامون کنی
“'At dawn you must sweep away its dung, clean the space, and carry the dirt out to the plain.'”
#23
همان خشت را نیز تاوان دهی
✦
چو بیدار گردی ز خواب آن دهی
“'And for that brick you must also pay compensation as soon as you awaken from sleep.'”
#24
بدو گفت بهرام پیمان کنم
✦
برین رنجها سر گروگان کنم
“Bahram said to him: 'I make this oath, and pledge my life upon these burdens.'”
#25
فرود آمد و اسپ را با لگام
✦
ببست و برآهخت تیغ از نیام
“He dismounted, tied his horse by its bridle, and drew his sword from its sheath.”
#26
نمدزین بگسترد و بالینش زین
✦
بخفت و دو پایش کشان بر زمین
“He spread his saddle-felt and made a pillow of his saddle; he lay down with his feet stretched on the earth.”
#27
جهود آن در خانه از پس ببست
✦
بیاورد خوان و به خوردن نشست
“The Jew locked the house door behind him, brought out a meal-table, and sat down to eat.”
#28
ازان پس به بهرام گفت ای سوار
✦
چو این داستان بشنوی یاد دار
“Thereafter he said to Bahram: 'O rider, when you hear this story, bear it in mind:'”
#29
به گیتی هرانکس که دارد خورد
✦
سوی مردم بی‌نوا ننگرد
“'In this world, whoever possesses wealth eats, and never looks upon the needy.'”
#30
بدو گفت بهرام کاین داستان
✦
شنیدستم از گفتهٔ باستان
“Bahram said to him: 'This story I have heard from the sayings of ancients.'”
#31
شنیدم به گفتار و دیدم کنون
✦
که برخواندی از گفتهٔ رهنمون
“'I heard it in words and now I witness it in deed, just as you recited from the words of the guide.'”
#32
می آورد چون خورده شد نان جهود
✦
ازان می ورا شادمانی فزود
“When the Jew had eaten his bread, he brought wine, and his joy increased from that wine.”
#33
خروشید کای رنج‌دیده سوار
✦
برین داستان کهن گوش‌دار
“He shouted: 'O long-suffering rider, listen closely to this ancient tale:'”
#34
که هرکس که دارد دلش روشنست
✦
درم پیش او چون یکی جوشنست
“'He who has wealth has a bright heart; dirhams before him are like protective armor.'”
#35
کسی کو ندارد بود خشک لب
✦
چنانچون توی گرسنه نیم‌شب
“'He who has nothing remains parched-lipped, just as you are hungry at midnight!'”
#36
بدو گفت بهرام کاین بس شگفت
✦
به گیتی مرین یاد باید گرفت
“Bahram said to him: 'This is most wondrous; one must take heed of this in the world.'”
#37
که از جام یابی سرانجام نیک
✦
خنک میگسار و می و جام نیک
“'May you find a good end from the cup! Blessed be the cupbearer, the wine, and the fine goblet!'”
#38
چو از کوه خنجر برآورد هور
✦
گریزان شد از خانه بهرام گور
“When the sun drew its blade over the mountain, Bahram Gur made haste to leave the house.”
#39
بران چرمهٔ ناچران زین نهاد
✦
چه زین از برش خشک بالین نهاد
“He placed the saddle upon that unpastured steed, putting over it the saddle that had served as his dry pillow.”
#40
بیامد به راهام گفت ای سوار
✦
به گفتار خود بر کنون پای‌دار
“Baraham came and said: 'O rider, now stand by your own spoken word!'”
#41
تو گفتی که سرگین این بارگی
✦
به جاروب روبم به یکبارگی
“'You said that you would sweep the dung of this horse with a broom all at once.'”
#42
کنون آنچ گفتی بروب و ببر
✦
به رنجم ز مهمان بیدادگر
“'Now sweep and carry away what you promised; I am troubled by an unjust guest!'”
#43
بدو گفت بهرام شو پایکار
✦
بیاور که سرگین کشد بر کنار
“Bahram said to him: 'Go and bring a servant who can shovel the dung aside.'”
#44
دهم زر که تا خاک بیرون برد
✦
وزین خانهٔ تو به هامون برد
“'I will give gold so he may carry the dirt out, taking it from your house to the plain.'”
#45
بدو گفت من کس ندارم که خاک
✦
بروبد برد ریزد اندر مغاک
“Baraham replied to him: 'I have no one to sweep the dirt and throw it into the pit!'”
#46
تو پیمان که کردی به کژی مبر
✦
نباید که خوانمت بیدادگر
“'Do not break the covenant you made through deceit, lest I call you unjust!'”
#47
چو بشنید بهرام ازو این سخن
✦
یکی تازه اندیشه افگند بن
“When Bahram heard these words from him, a new thought took root in his mind.”
#48
یکی خوب دستار بودش حریر
✦
به موزه درون پر ز مشک و عبیر
“He had a fine silk scarf inside his boot, filled with musk and ambergris perfume.”
#49
برون کرد و سرگین بدو کرد پاک
✦
بینداخت با خاک اندر مغاک
“He drew it out, wiped the dung clean with it, and cast it with the dirt into the pit.”
#50
به راهام را گفت کای پارسا
✦
گر آزادیم بشنود پادشا
“He said to Baraham: 'O righteous man, if the King should hear of my noble conduct...'”
#51
ترا از جهان بی‌نیازی دهد
✦
بر مهتران سرفرازی دهد
“'...he will make you independent of the world, and grant you elevation over all grandees!'”