When night cast its dark mantle over the royal palace, King Bahram Gur retired to his chambers, consumed by deep reflection. He smiled in solitude at the absurd stinginess of Braham the Jew, keeping the secret close to his heart until dawn. With the first light of morning, donning his glorious crown, he held a grand court for his commanders and nobles. First, he commanded Lanbak the Water-Carrier to step forward, who stood before the throne with folded arms in deep reverence. Then, Braham the ill-intentioned miser was brought into the royal presence.
The Shah summoned an upright and incorruptible magistrate, charging him to take swift mounts and proceed directly to Braham's dwelling, inspecting every corner and seizing all hoarded treasures. When the righteous official arrived at the miser's compound, he was stunned by what he beheld: a vast mansion and caravanserai filled with precious brocades, gold dinars, rubies, and pearls so immense that no wise priest could reckon their worth in years. A message was dispatched to the plains of Jahrom, bringing a thousand camels to haul the unimaginable abundance.
As the echoing chimes of camel bells announced the caravan's return to the palace court, the inspector reported to the King that the jewels found in the miser's storehouses exceeded the royal treasury itself, alongside two hundred camel-loads of luxury goods. Bahram Gur marveled at this hidden hoard, contemplating the tragedy of a man who slaved his entire life to stack wealth he was destined never to enjoy.
Without hesitation, the King of the World bestowed the entire vast treasure—a hundred camel-loads of gold, silver, and woven robes—upon Lanbak the Water-Carrier, elevating the humble, generous man into immense fortune. Then Bahram turned to the disgraced Braham, rebuking him bitterly for choosing dirt and misery over joy and generosity. The King tossed him a mere four dirhams, declaring it the fitting capital for a wretched soul who refused to spend or share. As the miser departed wailing in sorrow, the Shah distributed the remaining spoils among the worthy and the needy.
#1
برفت و بیامد به ایوان خویش
✦
همه شب همی ساخت درمان خویش
“He returned to his palace and spent the entire night devising a remedy.”
#2
پراندیشه آن شب به ایوان بخفت
✦
بخندید و آن راز با کس نگفت
“Full of deep thoughts he slept in his palace, laughed to himself, and shared the secret with no one.”
#3
به شبگیر چون تاج بر سر نهاد
✦
سپه را سراسر همه بار داد
“At dawn, when he placed the crown upon his head, he granted audience to his entire army and court.”
#4
بفرمود تا لنبک آبکش
✦
بشد پیش او دست کرده به کش
“He commanded Lanbak the Water-Carrier to step forward, standing respectfully with folded arms.”
#5
ببردند ز ایوان به راهام را
✦
جهود بداندیش و بدکام را
“They brought Braham, the malevolent and ill-intentioned Jew, into the royal court.”
#6
چو در بارگه رفت بنشاندند
✦
یکی پاک‌دل مرد را خواندند
“When he entered the court they seated him, and summoned a pure-hearted, honest man.”
#7
بدو گفت رو بارگیها ببر
✦
نگر تا نباشی به جز دادگر
“The King told him: 'Take swift horses and beware that you act with utter justice.'”
#8
به خان به راهام شو بر گذار
✦
نگر تا چه بینی نهاده بیار
“'Go to the Jew's dwelling, inspect whatever is stored there, and bring it all back.'”
#9
بشد پاک‌دل تا به خان جهود
✦
همه خانه دیبا و دینار بود
“The pure-hearted man went to the Jew's house; it was filled with rich brocade and gold dinars.”
#10
ز پوشیدنی هم ز گستردنی
✦
ز افگندنی و پراگندنی
“Garments to wear, rugs to spread, bedding to lay out, and precious items strewn about.”
#11
یکی کاروان‌خانه بود و سرای
✦
کزان خانه بیرون نبودیش جای
“There was a vast mansion and caravanserai, outside of which he had no other storage.”
#12
ز در و ز یاقوت و هر گوهری
✦
ز هر بدره‌ای بر سرش افسری
“Filled with pearls, rubies, and every precious gem, each purse crowned with priceless jewels.”
#13
که داننده موبد مر آن را شمار
✦
ندانست کردن بسی روزگار
“Such wealth that a knowledgeable priest could not reckon its count over many days.”
#14
فرستاد موبد بدانجا سوار
✦
شتر خواست از دشت جهرم هزار
“The official sent a rider to the plains of Jahrom, requesting a thousand camels.”
#15
همه بار کردند و دیگر نماند
✦
همی شاددل کاروان را براند
“They loaded everything until nothing remained, and joyfully drove the grand caravan.”
#16
چو بانگ درای آمد از بارگاه
✦
بشد مرد بینا بگفت آن به شاه
“When the sound of camel bells echoed from the palace gate, the clear-sighted official told the King:”
#17
که گوهر فزون زین به گنج تو نیست
✦
همان مانده خروار باشد دویست
“'The jewels found here exceed your own treasury, alongside two hundred camel-loads of other goods!'”
#18
بماند اندران شاه ایران شگفت
✦
ز راز دل اندیشه‌ها برگرفت
“The Shah of Iran was filled with wonder, meditating deeply upon the mysteries of the heart.”
#19
که چندین بورزید مرد جهود
✦
چو روزی نبودش ز ورزش چه سود
“'Why did this Jew labor so much to accumulate, when he was not destined to enjoy it? What use was his toil?'”
#20
ازان صد شتروار زر و درم
✦
ز گستردنیها و از بیش و کم
“From those hundred camel-loads of gold, silver dirhams, carpets, and goods great and small...”
#21
جهاندار شاه آبکش را سپرد
✦
بشد لنبک از راه گنجی ببرد
“The King of the World handed it all over to the Water-Carrier, and Lanbak carried off a realm's treasure.”
#22
ازان پس براهام را خواند و گفت
✦
که ای در کمی گشته با خاک جفت
“Thereafter he called Braham and said: 'O you who have united yourself with dirt through wretched miserliness!'”
#23
چه گویی که پیغمبرت چند زیست
✦
چه بایست چندی به زشتی گریست
“'What say you? How long did your Prophet live? Why weep in ugliness for so long?'”
#24
سوار آمد و گفت با من سخن
✦
ازان داستانهای گشته کهن
“'A horseman came and spoke to me of old legends...'”
#25
که هرکس که دارد فزونی خورد
✦
کسی کو ندارد همی پژمرد
“'...that whoever possesses wealth should enjoy it, while he who refrains slowly withers away.'”
#26
کنون دست یازان ز خوردن بکش
✦
ببین زین سپس خوردن آبکش
“'Now pull back your hand from eating and enjoying! Watch from now on how the Water-Carrier enjoys it!'”
#27
ز سرگین و زربفت و دستار و خشت
✦
بسی گفت با سفله مرد کنشت
“The Shah spoke much to the vile miser of dung, golden silk, turbans, and dried bricks.”
#28
درم داد ناپاک دل را چهار
✦
بدو گفت کاین را تو سرمایه‌دار
“He gave four dirhams to the impure-hearted Jew and said: 'Make this your initial capital!'”
#29
سزا نیست زین بیشتر مر ترا
✦
درم مرد درویش را سر ترا
“'You deserve no more than this; dirhams are better shaved thin for a wretched miser like you.'”
#30
به ارزانیان داد چیزی که بود
✦
خروشان همی رفت مرد جهود
“The King gave the remaining goods to the worthy, while the Jew departed wailing bitterly.”