#1
بیامد سوم روز شبگیر شاه
✦
سوی دشت نخچیرگه با سپاه
“At dawn on the third day, the king rode out toward the hunting grounds accompanied by his army.”
#2
به دست چپش هرمز کدخدای
✦
سوی راستش موبد پاک‌رای
“On his left rode Hormoz the steward, and on his right stood the pure-minded Mobad.”
#3
برو داستانها همی خواندند
✦
ز جم و فریدون سخن راندند
“They recited ancient tales to him, speaking of Jamshid and King Fereydun.”
#4
سگ و یوز در پیش و شاهین و باز
✦
همی تا به سر برد روز دراز
“Hounds and cheetahs bounded before them, with falcons and hawks aloft, as they spent the long day in pursuit.”
#5
چو خورشید تابان به گنبد رسید
✦
به جایی پی گور و آهو ندید
“When the radiant sun reached its zenith in the dome of heaven, nowhere did he spot the tracks of wild ass or gazelle.”
#6
چو خورشید تابان درم ساز گشت
✦
ز نخچیرگه تنگدل بازگشت
“As the bright sun turned setting-gold, he returned from the hunt sullen and heavy-hearted.”
#7
به پیش اندر آمد یکی سبز جای
✦
بسی اندرو مردم و چارپای
“Before him appeared a lush, green place, brimming with dwellings, people, and cattle.”
#8
ازان ده فراوان به راه آمدند
✦
نظاره به پیش سپاه آمدند
“Many people of that village came out to the road to spectate before the royal army.”
#9
جهاندار پرخشم و پرتاب بود
✦
همی خواست کاید بدان ده فرود
“The world-ruler was filled with wrath and agitation; he had wished to dismount in that village.”
#10
نکردند زیشان کسی آفرین
✦
تو گفتی ببست آن خران را زمین
“Not one among them voiced a word of praise; as though their tongues were bound to silence.”
#11
ازان مردمان تنگدل گشت شاه
✦
به خوبی نکرد اندر ایشان نگاه
“The king grew aggrieved with those villagers and refused to bestow a favorable glance upon them.”
#12
به موبد چنین گفت کاین سبز جای
✦
پر از خانه و مردم و چارپای
“He spoke thus to the Mobad: 'May this verdant place, teeming with houses, people, and stock...'”
#13
کنام دد و دام و نخچیر باد
✦
به جوی اندرون آب چون قیر باد
“'...become a haunt for wild beasts and game, and may the water in its streams turn black as pitch!'”
#14
بدانست موبد که فرمان شاه
✦
چه بود اندران سوی ده شد ز راه
“The Mobad understood what the monarch intended; he turned off the road toward that village.”
#15
بدیشان چنین گفت کاین سبزجای
✦
پر از خانه و مردم و چارپای
“He addressed the villagers, saying: 'O people of this green site, full of homes and folk and cattle...'”
#16
خوش آمد شهنشاه بهرام را
✦
یکی تازه کرد اندرین کام را
“'The King of Kings, Bahram, was well pleased with you, and has granted a new fulfillment of your desires.'”
#17
دگر گفت موبد بدان مردمان
✦
که جاوید دارید دل شادمان
“The Mobad further said to those people: 'Keep your hearts joyful forevermore!'”
#18
شما را همه یکسره کرد مه
✦
بدان تا کند شهره این خوب ده
“'He has made every single one of you a master, so that he may bring fame to this fine village.'”
#19
بدین ده زن و کودکان مهترند
✦
کسی را نباید که فرمان برند
“'In this village, even women and children are leaders; no person ought to obey another's command.'”
#20
بدین ده چه مزدور و چه کدخدای
✦
به یک راه باید که دارند جای
“'In this village, laborer and householder alike must stand upon equal ground.'”
#21
زن و کودک و مرد جمله مهید
✦
یکایک همه کدخدای دهید
“'Women, children, and men are all chiefs; one and all are now headmen of the land!'”
#22
خروشی برآمد ز پرمایه ده
✦
ز شادی که گشتند همواره مه
“A shout of joy arose from that prosperous village, celebrating their eternal elevation to mastery.”
#23
زن و مرد ازان پس یکی شد به رای
✦
پرستار و مزدور با کدخدای
“Thereafter, women and men became equal in council; servant and laborer matched the householder.”
#24
چو ناباک شد مرد برنا به ده
✦
بریدند ناگه سر مرد مه
“When the young men grew headstrong in the village, they suddenly severed the heads of the elders.”
#25
همه یک به دیگر برآمیختند
✦
به هرجای بی‌راه خون ریختند
“All turned against one another; in every corner, blood was spilled unjustly.”
#26
چو برخاست زان روستا رستخیز
✦
گرفتند ناگاه ازان ده گریز
“When such turmoil erupted in that settlement, the folk suddenly fled from the village.”
#27
بماندند پیران ابی پای و پر
✦
بشد آلت ورزش و ساز و بر
“Only helpless old elders remained behind, while all tools of husbandry and labor vanished.”
#28
همه ده به ویرانی آورد روی
✦
درختان شده خشک و بی‌آب جوی
“The entire village sank into desolation; trees withered and streams dried up.”
#29
شده دشت ویران و ویران سرای
✦
رمیده ازو مردم و چارپای
“The fields became a desert and the homes ruins; people and beasts all strayed away.”
#30
چو یک سال بگذشت و آمد بهار
✦
بران ره به نخچیر شد شهریار
“When a year passed and spring arrived again, the king rode along that path once more to hunt.”
#31
بران جای آباد خرم رسید
✦
نگه کرد و بر جای بر ده ندید
“He reached that once-flourishing place, looked about, but saw no village remaining.”
#32
درختان همه خشک و ویران‌سرای
✦
همه مرز بی‌مردم و چارپای
“The trees were all dry, the houses ruined, and the entire land stripped of people and livestock.”
#33
دل شاه بهرام ناشاد گشت
✦
ز یزدان بترسید و پر داد گشت
“King Bahram's heart grew sorrowful; he felt fear of God and was filled with a desire for justice.”
#34
به موبد چنین گفت کای روزبه
✦
دریغست ویران چنین خوب ده
“He said to the Mobad: 'O Roozbeh, it is a pity that such a fine village should lie in ruins!'”
#35
برو تیز و آباد گردان به گنج
✦
چنان کن کزین پس نبینند رنج
“'Go swiftly and restore it with treasury funds; act so that they shall know hardship no more.'”
#36
ز پیش شهنشاه موبد برفت
✦
از آنجا به ویران خرامید تفت
“The Mobad departed from before the King of Kings and hastened to the ruined settlement.”
#37
ز برزن همی سوی برزن شتافت
✦
به فرجام بیکار پیری بیافت
“He hurried from quarter to quarter, until at last he found a lone, idle old man.”
#38
فرود آمد از باره بنواختش
✦
بر خویش نزدیک بنشاختش
“He dismounted from his steed, comforted him, and sat him close to his side.”
#39
بدو گفت کای خواجهٔ سالخَورد
✦
چنین جای آباد ویران که کرد
“He asked him: 'O aged master, who laid waste to such a prosperous realm?'”
#40
چنین داد پاسخ که یک روزگار
✦
گذر کرد بر بوم ما شهریار
“The elder answered: 'Once, the King of the realm passed by our land...'”
#41
بیامد یکی بی‌خرد موبدی
✦
ازان نامداران بی‌بر بدی
“'...and a foolish Mobad came—one of those worthless nobles!'”
#42
به ما گفت یکسر همه مهترید
✦
نگر تا کسی را به کس نشمرید
“'He told us all that we were masters, saying: Take care that no one obeys another!'”
#43
بگفت این و این ده پرآشوب گشت
✦
پر از غارت و کشتن و چوب گشت
“'He said this, and this village erupted in turmoil, filled with plundering, slaughter, and violence!'”
#44
که یزدان ورا یار به اندازه باد
✦
غم و مرگ و سختی برو تازه باد
“'May God grant him help only in small measure, and renew grief, death, and hardship upon him!'”
#45
همه کار اینجا پر از تیرگیست
✦
چنان شد که بر ما بباید گریست
“'All affairs here became enveloped in darkness; matters reached a state where one must weep for us.'”
#46
ازین گفته پردرد شد روزبه
✦
بپرسید و گفت از شما کیست مه
“At these words, Ruzbeh was filled with sorrow; he inquired, saying, 'Who among you is the chief?'”
#47
چنین داد پاسخ که مهتر بود
✦
به جایی که تخم گیا بر بود
“He replied, 'Whoever stands where the grain sprouts considers himself the master.'”
#48
بدو روزبه گفت مهتر تو باش
✦
بدین جای ویران به سر بر تو باش
“Ruzbeh said to him, 'Be thou the master then, and take command of this ruined place.'”
#49
ز گنج جهاندار دینار خواه
✦
هم از تخم و گاو و خر و بار خواه
“'Request dinars from the King’s treasury, and ask for seed, oxen, donkeys, and beasts of burden.'”
#50
بکش هرک بیکار بینی به ده
✦
همه کهترانند یکسر تو مه
“'Compel into service whomsoever thou seest idle in the village; they are all thy subjects, and thou art their sole chief.'”
#51
بدان موبد پیش نفرین مکن
✦
نه بر آرزو راند او این سُخُن
“'Curse not that mobad of former times, for he spoke those words not out of mere whim.'”
#52
اگر یار خواهی ز درگاه شاه
✦
فرستمت چندانک خواهی بخواه
“'If thou seekest aid from the King’s court, I shall send thee as much as thou desirest; ask freely.'”
#53
چو بشنید پیر این سخن شاد شد
✦
از اندوه دیرینه آزاد شد
“When the old man heard these words, his heart grew joyful, and he was liberated from ancient grief.”
#54
هم‌انگه سوی خانه شد مرد پیر
✦
بیاورد مردم سوی آبگیر
“Straightway the old man turned toward his home, and gathered the folk near the reservoir.”
#55
زمین را به آباد کردن گرفت
✦
همه مرزها را سپردن گرفت
“He set about revitalizing the land, and began surveying and cultivating all the borders.”
#56
ز همسایگان گاو و خر خواستند
✦
همه دشت یکسر بیاراستند
“They borrowed oxen and donkeys from neighbours, and together adorned the entire plain with crops.”
#57
خود و مرزداران بکوشید سخت
✦
بکِشتند هرجای چندی درخت
“He and the local landholders strove diligently, planting trees in every corner.”
#58
چو یک برزن نیک آباد شد
✦
دل هرک دید اندران شاد شد
“When a single quarter became richly prosperous, the heart of all who beheld it overflowed with joy.”
#59
ازان جای هرکس که بگریختی
✦
به مژگان همی خون فرو ریختی
“All those who had fled that village were wont to weep tears of blood in their exile.”
#60
چو آگاهی آمد ز آباد جای
✦
هم از رنج این پیر سر کدخدای
“When news arrived of the land’s prosperity and the toil of this venerable headman,”
#61
یکایک سوی ده نهادند روی
✦
به هر برزن آباد کردند جوی
“One by one they turned their steps back to the village, digging channels in every flourishing lane.”
#62
همان مرغ و گاو و خر و گوسفند
✦
یکایک برافزود بر کشتمند
“Likewise, fowl, cattle, donkeys, and sheep multiplied steadily across the fertile fields.”
#63
درختی به هر جای هرکس بکشت
✦
شد آن جای ویران چو خرم بهشت
“Everyone planted trees everywhere, until that ruined place became like a lush paradise.”
#64
به سالی سه دیگر بیاراست ده
✦
برآمد ز ورزش همه کام مه
“In three years' time the village was fully restored, and through agriculture, all the headman's desires were fulfilled.”
#65
چو آمد به هنگام خرم بهار
✦
سوی دشت نخچیر شد شهریار
“When the verdant season of spring arrived, the King rode forth into the plains to hunt.”
#66
ابا موبدش نام او روزبه
✦
چو هر دو رسیدند نزدیک ده
“Accompanied by his mobad named Ruzbeh, both of them arrived near that village.”
#67
نگه کرد فرخنده بهرام گور
✦
جهان دید پر کشتمند و ستور
“The blessed Bahram Gur looked around and saw the world filled with tilled fields and livestock.”
#68
برآورده زو کاخهای بلند
✦
همه راغ و هامون پر از گوسفند
“Tall palaces had been erected, and all the meadows and plains were filled with sheep.”
#69
همه راغ آب و همه دشت جوی
✦
همه ده پر از مردم خوب‌روی
“Every meadow was watered and every plain crisscrossed with streams; the whole village teemed with fair people.”
#70
پراگنده بر کوه و دشتش بره
✦
بهشتی شده بوم او یکسره
“Lambs were scattered across mountain and plain, and the entire land had been transformed into paradise.”
#71
به موبد چنین گفت کای روزبه
✦
چه کردی که ویران بد این خوب ده
“He spoke to the mobad, saying: 'O Ruzbeh, what didst thou do? This fine village was once in ruins!'”
#72
پراگنده زو مردم و چارپای
✦
چه دادی که آباد کردند جای
“'Its people and cattle were dispersed; what didst thou bestow that they rebuilt this land?'”
#73
بدو گفت موبد که از یک سخن
✦
به پای آمد این شارستان کهن
“The mobad replied to him: 'Through a single word, this ancient settlement was restored to life.'”
#74
همان از یک اندیشه آباد شد
✦
دل شاه ایران ازین شاد شد
“'With but a single wise thought it flourished, and thereby the heart of the King of Iran was made glad.'”
#75
مرا شاه فرمود کاین سبز جای
✦
به دینار گنج اندر آور به پای
“'The King had commanded me to restore this green place using gold from the royal treasury.'”
#76
بترسیدم از کردگار جهان
✦
نکوهیدن از کهتران و مهان
“'Yet I feared the Creator of the world, as well as blame from both low and high...'”
#77
بدیدم چو یک دل دو اندیشه کرد
✦
ز هر دو برآورد ناگاه گرد
“'I perceived that when a single heart holds two opposing intentions, it brings swift ruin upon both.'”
#78
همان چون به یک شهر دو کدخدای
✦
بود بوم ایشان نماند به جای
“'Likewise, when a single town has two headmen, their land cannot endure.'”
#79
برفتم بگفتم به پیران ده
✦
که ای مهتران بر شما نیست مه
“'I went and declared to the elders of the village: O self-proclaimed leaders, no one truly leads over you!'”
#80
زنان کدخدایند و کودک همان
✦
پرستار و مزدورتان این زمان
“'Women act as headmen, as do children; even your servants and day-laborers claim command today.'”
#81
چو مهتر شدند آنک بودند که
✦
به خاک اندر آمد سر مرد مه
“When those of low stature rose to power, the head of the noble man was cast down into the dust.”
#82
به گفتار ویران شد این پاک جای
✦
نکوهش ز من دور و ترس از خدای
“Through idle talk and misrule this pure abode was ruined; may blame remain far from me, and fear of God dwell in my heart.”
#83
ازان پس بریشان ببخشود شاه
✦
برفتم نمودم دگرگونه راه
“Thereafter the King pardoned them, and I stepped forward to show them a different path.”
#84
یکی با خرد پیر کردم به پای
✦
سخن‌گوی و بادانش و رهنمای
“I appointed a wise elder over them—an eloquent, knowledgeable man, and a true guide.”
#85
بکوشید و ویرانی آباد کرد
✦
دل زیردستان بدان شاد کرد
“He strived diligently and restored the ruined land to prosperity, bringing joy to the hearts of the subjects.”
#86
چو مهتر یکی گشت شد رای راست
✦
بیفزود خوبی و کژی بکاست
“When authority was unified under a single leader, sound judgment prevailed; goodness flourished, and evil diminished.”
#87
نهانی بدیشان نمودم بدی
✦
وزان پس گشادم در ایزدی
“At first I secretly made them taste the harsh consequence of evil, and thereafter I opened to them the door of divine grace.”
#88
سخن بهتر از گوهر نامدار
✦
چو بر جایگه بر برندش به کار
“Right speech is far more precious than famed jewels, provided it is brought into play at the proper place.”
#89
خرد شاه باید زبان پهلوان
✦
چو خواهی که بی‌رنج ماند روان
“A king requires wisdom, and his counselor an eloquent tongue, if one wishes the spirit to remain free from grief.”
#90
دل شاه تا جاودان شاد باد
✦
ز کژی و ویرانی آباد باد
“May the King's heart be ever joyful, and may his realm flourish, untainted by deceit or ruin.”
#91
چو بشنید شاه این سخن گفت زه
✦
سزاوار تاجی تو ای روزبه
“When the King heard these words, he cried 'Bravo!', saying: 'O Rozbeh, truly you are worthy of the crown!'”
#92
ببخشید یک بدره دینار زرد
✦
بران پرهنر مرد بیننده مرد
“He granted a pouch of golden dinars to that accomplished and clear-sighted man.”
#93
ورا خلعت خسروی ساختند
✦
سرش را به ابر اندر افراختند
“They bestowed upon him a royal robe of honor, raising his status unto the high clouds.”