#1
دگر روز چون تاج بفروخت هور
✦
جهاندار شد سوی نخچیر گور
“On the next day, as the sun unfurled its golden crown, the ruler of the world rode forth to hunt the wild ass.”
#2
کمان را به زه بر نهاده سپاه
✦
پس لشکر اندر همی رفت شاه
“The army advanced with strung bows at the ready, while the King rode majestically behind his host.”
#3
چنین گفت هرکو کمان را به دست
✦
بمالد گشاید به اندازه شست
“Thus spoke the King: 'Whosoever holds a bow in hand must draw and loose it strictly to the measure of his thumb-ring.'”
#4
نباید زدن تیر جز بر سرون
✦
که از سینه پیکانش آید برون
“'No arrow should be shot except at the horn, so that its iron point emerges from the beast's chest.'”
#5
یکی پهلوان گفت کای شهریار
✦
نگه کن بدین لشکر نامدار
“A champion spoke: 'O Sovereign! Behold this renowned host assembled before thee.'”
#6
که با کیست زین‌گونه تیر و کمان
✦
بداندیش گر مرد نیکی گمان
“'Who else possesses such archer's prowess, whether he be an ill-wisher or a loyal friend?'”
#7
مگر باشد این را گشاد برت
✦
که جاوید بادا سر و افسرت
“'Perchance only thy hand can accomplish such a shot; may thy head and crown endure forever!'”
#8
چو تو تیر گیری و شمشیر و گرز
✦
ازان خسروی فر و بالای برز
“'When thou takest up arrow, sword, and mace, thine imperial Glory and towering stature shine supreme.'”
#9
همه لشکر از شاه دارند شرم
✦
ز تیر و کمانشان شود دست نرم
“'The entire army stands in awe of the King; before thy mastery, their hands grow hesitant upon the bow.'”
#10
چنین داد پاسخ که این ایزدیست
✦
کزو بگذری زور بهرام چیست
“Bahram answered: 'This skill is a divine bestowal; without God's grace, what power hath Bahram?'”
#11
برانگیخت شبدیز بهرام را
✦
همی تیز کرد او دلارام را
“Bahram spurred his swift steed forward, quickening the stride of his beloved mount.”
#12
چو آمدش هنگام بگشاد شست
✦
بر گور را با سرونش ببست
“When the moment arrived he released his thumb-ring, pinning the wild ass's horn straight to its flank.”
#13
هم‌انگاه گور اندر آمد به سر
✦
برفتند گردان زرین کمر
“Instantly the wild ass fell headlong; the golden-belted warriors galloped forward in amaze.”
#14
شگفت اندران زخم او ماندند
✦
یکایک برو آفرین خواندند
“They stood awestruck at his miraculous wound, praising him one after another.”
#15
که کس پر و پیکان تیرش ندید
✦
به بالای آن گور شد ناپدید
“For none could even see the feathers or point of his arrow; it had vanished deep inside the beast's body.”
#16
سواران جنگی و مردان کین
✦
سراسر برو خواندند آفرین
“The battle-seasoned horsemen and fierce warriors all sang his praises in unison.”
#17
بدو پهلوان گفت کای شهریار
✦
مبیناد چشمت بد روزگار
“A hero said to him: 'O King! May thy eyes never behold the evil of treacherous Fate!'”
#18
سواری تو و ما همه بر خریم
✦
هم از خروران در هنر کمتریم
“'Thou art a true knight while we are as donkey-riders; indeed, we fall short even of donkey-drivers in skill!'”
#19
بدو گفت شاه این نه تیر منست
✦
که پیروزگر دستگیر منست
“The King replied: 'This is not by my arrow; the Victorious Almighty is my guide and protector.'”
#20
کرا پشت و یاور جهاندار نیست
✦
ازو خوارتر در جهان خوار نیست
“'He who has not the Lord of the World as his helper is the most wretched of all in the world.'”
#21
برانگیخت آن بارکش را ز جای
✦
تو گفتی شد آن باره پران همای
“He spurred his steed from its stance; thou wouldst say the mount became a soaring Homa bird.”
#22
یکی گور پیش آمدش ماده بود
✦
بچه پیش ازو رفته او مانده بود
“A female wild ass appeared before him, left behind as her fawn ran ahead.”
#23
یکی تیغ زد بر میانش سوار
✦
بدونیم شد گور ناپایدار
“The royal knight struck her middle with his sword, cleaving the wild ass instantly into two halves.”
#24
رسیدند نزدیک او مهتران
✦
سرافراز و شمشیر زن کهتران
“The great nobles and elite swordsmen galloped close to behold his feat.”
#25
چو آن زخم دیدند بر ماده گور
✦
خردمند گفت اینت شمشیر و زور
“Seeing that wound upon the female wild ass, the wise exclaimed: 'What a sword! What strength!'”
#26
مبیناد چشم بد این شاه را
✦
نماند به جز بر فلک ماه را
“'May the evil eye never touch this King, who leaves no rival under heaven save the moon!'”
#27
سر مهتران جهان زیر اوست
✦
فلک زیر پیکان و شمشیر اوست
“'The heads of world rulers are beneath his feet; the heavens themselves lie beneath his arrows and sword.'”
#28
سپاه از پس‌اندر همی تاختند
✦
بیابان ز گوران بپرداختند
“The troops galloped behind him, sweeping the vast desert clean of wild asses.”
#29
یکی مرد بر گرد لشکر بگشت
✦
که یک تن مباد اندرین پهن دشت
“A herald rode through the army shouting: 'Let no man in this wide plain sell any game to merchants,'”
#30
که گوری فروشد به بازارگان
✦
بدیشان دهند این همه رایگان
“'Let all these hunted wild asses be bestowed upon them freely as a gift!'”
#31
ز بر کوی با نامداران جز
✦
ببردند بسیار دیبا و خز
“From every quarter, chieftains brought noble gifts of brocade and silk to distribute.”
#32
بپذرفت و فرمود تا باژ و ساو
✦
نخواهند اگر چندشان بود تاو
“The King accepted and decreed that taxes and tribute be waived, even from those who could afford it.”
#33
ازان شهرها هرک درویش بود
✦
وگر نانش از کوشش خویش بود
“Whosoever in those cities was poor, even if he earned his bread by his own hard labor,”
#34
ز بخشیدن او توانگر شدند
✦
بسی نیز با تخت و افسر شدند
“Became wealthy through his gifts, and many were elevated to high status with thrones and crowns.”
#35
به شهر اندر آمد ز نخچیرگاه
✦
بکی هفته بد شادمان با سپاه
“Returning to the city from the hunt, he celebrated joyfully with his army for a full week.”
#36
برفتی خوش‌آواز گوینده‌ای
✦
خردمند و درویش جوینده‌ای
“A sweet-voiced, wise herald was sent forth to search out the poor and needy.”
#37
بگفتی که ای دادخواهندگان
✦
به یزدان پناهید از بندگان
“He proclaimed: 'O seekers of justice! Seek refuge in God from the oppression of men!'”
#38
کسی کو بخفته‌ست با رنج ما
✦
وگر نیستش بهره از گنج ما
“'If anyone sleeps in sorrow under our rule, or lacks a share from the royal treasuries,'”
#39
به میدان خرامید تا شهریار
✦
مگر بر شما نوکند روزگار
“'Let him step into the royal square, so the King may renew his fortune and lighten his days!'”
#40
دگر هرک پیرست و بیکار و سست
✦
همان کو جوانست و ناتن درست
“'Likewise, whoever is old, helpless, or feeble—or young yet lacking health of body—'”
#41
وگر وام دارد کسی زین گروه
✦
شده‌ست از بد وام خواهان ستوه
“'Or if anyone among this group is burdened by debt and weary of harsh creditors,'”
#42
وگر بی‌پدر کودکانند نیز
✦
ازان کس که دارد بخواهند چیز
“'Or if there be fatherless children in distress, let them ask whatever they need from the King.'”
#43
بود مام کودک نهفته نیاز
✦
بدوبر گشایم در گنج باز
“'If a mother conceals her poverty, I shall throw open the doors of my treasury for her.'”
#44
وگر مایه‌داری توانگر بمرد
✦
بدین مرز ازو کودکان ماند خرد
“'And if a wealthy man passes away, leaving small children helpless in this land,'”
#45
گنه کار دارد بدان چیز رای
✦
ندارد به دل شرم و بیم خدای
“'And a sinner covets their wealth, possessing no shame or fear of God in his heart...'”
#46
سخن زین نشان کس مدارید باز
✦
که از رازداران منم بی‌نیاز
“Withhold no speech of this kind from me, for I have no need of secret-keepers.”
#47
توانگر کنم مرد درویش را
✦
به دین آورم جان بدکیش را
“I shall make the poor man rich, and turn the soul of the evil-minded toward true faith.”
#48
بتوزیم فام کسی کش درم
✦
نباشد دل خویش دارد به غم
“I will discharge the debt of anyone who lacks coin and carries sorrow in his heart.”
#49
دگر هرک دارد نهفته نیاز
✦
همی دارد از تنگی خویش راز
“Moreover, whoever harbors a hidden need and keeps his poverty a secret out of pride...”
#50
مر او را ازان کار بی‌غم کنم
✦
فزون شادی و اندهش کم کنم
“I shall free him from all grief over that plight, increasing his joy and lessening his pain.”
#51
گر از کارداران بود رنج نیز
✦
که او از پدرمرده‌ای خواست چیز
“And if any trouble comes from tax-collectors who extort goods from an orphan whose father has died...”
#52
کنم زنده بر دار بیداد را
✦
که آزرد او مرد آزاد را
“I shall hang alive upon the gallows that tyrant who injured an honorable, free man.”
#53
گشادند زان پس در گنج باز
✦
توانگر شد آنکس که بودش نیاز
“Thereafter they threw open the doors of the treasuries, and whoever was needy became rich.”
#54
ز نخچیرگه سوی بغداد رفت
✦
خرد یافته با دلی شاد رفت
“From the hunting ground he departed toward Baghdad; possessing wisdom, he went with a joyful heart.”
#55
برفتند گردنکشان پیش اوی
✦
ز بیگانه و آنک بد خویش اوی
“The chieftains and nobles came out before him—both strangers and his own kin.”
#56
بفرمود تا بازگردد سپاه
✦
بیامد به کاخ دلارای شاه
“He ordered the army to turn back, and entered his heart-delighting royal palace.”
#57
شبستان زرین بیاراستند
✦
پرستندگان رود و می خواستند
“They adorned the golden harem; the attendants called for lutes and wine.”
#58
بتان چامه و چنگ برساختند
✦
ز بیگانه ایوان بپرداختند
“Fair maidens tuned their songs and harps, and cleared the palace hall of all strangers.”
#59
ز رود و می و بانگ چنگ و سرود
✦
هوا را همی داد گفتی درود
“From the sounds of lutes, wine, harp music, and songs, you would say the very air was offering greetings.”
#60
به هر شب ز هر حجره یک دست‌بند
✦
ببردند تا دل ندارد نژند
“Each night, a gift of a bracelet was brought from every chamber, so that no heart would remain sorrowful.”
#61
دو هفته همی بود دل شادمان
✦
در گنج بگشاد روز و شبان
“For two weeks his heart remained joyful, as he opened the doors of the treasury day and night.”
#62
درم داد و آمد به شهر صطخر
✦
به سر بر نهاد آن کیان تاج فخر
“He bestowed money and arrived at the city of Istakhr, placing upon his head the proud crown of the Kayanids.”
#63
شبستاان خود را چو در باز کرد
✦
بتان را ز گنج درم ساز کرد
“When he opened the doors to his royal harem, he endowed the fair maidens with treasures of silver.”
#64
به مشکوی زرین هرانکس که تاج
✦
نبودش بزیر اندرون تخت عاج
“In that golden pavilion, whichever maiden did not possess a crown nor an ivory throne beneath her...”
#65
ازان شاه ایران فراوان ژکید
✦
برآشفت وز روزبه لب گزید
“The King of Iran grumbled greatly at that; he flared in anger and bit his lip at Roozbeh.”
#66
بدو گفت من باژ روم و خزر
✦
بدیشان دهم چون بیاری بدر
“He said to him: 'I shall bestow the tribute of Rome and Khazar upon them once you bring it forth!”
#67
هم‌اکنون به خروار دینار خواه
✦
ز گنج ری و اصفهان باژ خواه
“Right now, demand loads of dinars, and collect tribute from the treasuries of Ray and Isfahan!'”
#68
شبستان برین‌گونه ویران بود
✦
نه از اختر شاه ایران بود
“For the royal harem to be neglected in this manner was unworthy of the star of the King of Iran.”
#69
ز هر کشوری باژ نو خواستند
✦
زمین را به دیبا بیاراستند
“They demanded fresh tribute from every country, and adorned the earth with silk brocades.”
#70
برین‌گونه یک چند گیتی بخورد
✦
به بزم و به رزم و به ننگ و نبرد
“In this manner he enjoyed the world for a time—in feasting and battle, in honor and combat.”