Once King Bahram Gur and his victorious host rested in Merv and cast off the weariness of hard battle, the sovereign turned his eyes toward Bukhara. Orders were given to saddle the warhorses, and the Iranian army swept toward the crossing of Amuy. Enjoying falconry and the chase along the journey, Bahram reached the waters of Amuy in the dead of night, treading the heavy sands of Farab. As dawn turned the sky golden and cast away the azure mantle of night, the billowing dust of the marching hosts rose like the feathers of a falcon, casting its shadow across the lands of May and Morgh.
Panic seized the realm of Turan at the approach of the Iranian host. The Turkish army shattered in terror, setting fire to their own fields and encampments out of sheer dread. Elder lords and young warriors alike hastened before Bahram Gur—barefoot, humbled, covered in dust, their hearts bleeding with anguish. Casting themselves down, they pleaded: 'O King of sublime destiny! If the Khaqan sinned and severed his holy oath, he has already fallen into your net of justice. Do not shed the blood of the innocent, for waging war against the helpless brings no honor to great names. If it is tribute you seek, we are your humble servants and yield to your command.'
At their desperate pleas, wisdom stayed the hand of Bahram’s wrath, and compassion filled his royal heart. The God-fearing King commanded his warriors to sheath their blades. Reassured by the monarch's mercy, the chief of the Turkish elders swore solemn allegiance, agreeing to send a heavy annual tribute to the throne of Iran. His heart satisfied, Bahram returned triumphant to Farab, where he rested his forces for a week. There, he summoned the noble elders of Chin and commanded that a monumental pillar of stone and mortar be erected on the banks of the Oxus (Jayhun), declaring that no Turk or Khalaj warrior might cross into Iranian territory without royal permission, establishing the river as the eternal arbiter of the realm.
To ensure lasting peace, Bahram selected from his army a wise, noble-born chieftain named Shamr, renowned for his sound judgment and stature. Bahram crowned Shamr with a golden moon-crested diadem, investing him as King over the realm of Turan, bringing newfound joy and justice across the lands beyond the river.
#1
بیاسود در مرو بهرام‌گور
✦
چو آسوده شد شاه و جنگی ستور
“Bahram Gur rested in Merv; when the Shah and his war-steeds were refreshed,”
#2
ز تیزی روانش مدارا گزید
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دلش رای رزم بخارا گزید
“From fierce vigor his spirit chose restraint, yet his heart resolved upon the battle of Bukhara.”
#3
به یک روز و یک شب به آموی شد
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ز نخچیر و بازی جهانجوی شد
“In a single day and night he reached Amuy; hunting and falconry occupied the world-seeker.”
#4
بیامد ز آموی یک پاس شب
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گذر کرد بر آب و ریگ فرب
“He came from Amuy at the first watch of the night, crossing the waters and the deep sands of Farab.”
#5
چو خورشید روی هوا کرد زرد
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بینداخت پیراهن لاژورد
“When the sun turned the face of the sky to gold, casting off its azure shirt,”
#6
زمانه شد از گرد چون پر چرغ
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جهانجوی بگذشت بر مای و مرغ
“The world grew mottled like a falcon's feathers from the dust, as the world-seeker passed through May and Morgh.”
#7
همه لشکر ترک بر هم زدند
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به بوم و به دشت آتش اندر زدند
“The whole army of the Turks fell into panic; they set fire to the lands and the plains.”
#8
ستاره همی دامن ماه جست
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پدر بر پسر بر همی راه جست
“The stars sought the skirt of the moon; father scrambled over son to find an escape.”
#9
ز ترکان هرانکس که بد پیش رو
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ز پیران و خنجرگزاران نو
“Whoever among the Turks was a leader—among the elders or the young dagger-wielders—”
#10
همه پیش بهرام رفتند خوار
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پیاده پر از خون دل خاکسار
“They all came before Bahram humbled, on foot, sorrowful of heart and covered in dust,”
#11
که شاها ردا و بلند اخترا
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بر آزادگان جهان مهترا
“Saying: 'O King of high mantle and lofty star, master over the free-born of the world!”
#12
گر ایدونک خاقان گنهکار گشت
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ز عهد جهاندار بیزار گشت
“If indeed the Khaqan became a sinner and broke away from the covenant of the world's master,”
#13
به دستت گرفتار شد بی‌گمان
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چو بشکست پیمان شاه جهان
“He has surely been captured in your hands, since he broke the oath of the world's Shah.”
#14
تو خون سر بیگناهان مریز
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نه خوب آید از نامداران ستیز
“Shed not the blood of the innocent; fighting against the helpless does not become famous men.”
#15
گر از ما همی باژ خواهی رواست
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سر بیگناهان بریدن چراست
“If you demand tribute from us, it is fitting; why then cut off the heads of the guiltless?”
#16
همه مرد و زن بندگان توایم
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به رزم اندر افگندگان توایم
“We, men and women alike, are your servants, cast down before you in battle.'”
#17
دل شاه بهرام زیشان بسوخت
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به دست خرد چشم خشمش بدوخت
“King Bahram's heart burned with pity for them; with the hand of wisdom he bound up the eyes of his wrath.”
#18
ز خون ریختن دست گردان ببست
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پراندیشه شد شاه یزدان‌پرست
“He stayed the hands of his champions from bloodshed; the God-worshipping King became filled with thought.”
#19
چو مهر جهاندار پیوسته شد
✦
دل مرد آشفته آهسته شد
“As the kindness of the world-master joined with them, the troubled hearts of the people became tranquil.”
#20
بر شاه شد مهتر مهتران
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بپذرفت هر سال باژ گران
“The chief of their elders went before the Shah and accepted a heavy annual tribute.”
#21
ازین کار چون کام او شد روا
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ابا باژ بستد ز ترکان نوا
“When his desire was accomplished in this matter, he exacted hostaging gifts along with tribute from the Turks.”
#22
چو برگشت و آمد به شهر فرب
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پر از رنگ رخسار و پرخنده لب
“When he returned and arrived at the city of Farab, his cheeks were full of color and his lips filled with laughter.”
#23
برآسود یک هفته لشکر نراند
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ز چین مهتران را همه پیش خواند
“He rested for a week and did not march the army, summoning all the elders of Chin before him.”
#24
برآورد میلی ز سنگ و ز گج
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که کس را به ایران ز ترک و خلج
“He raised a milestone of stone and mortar, so that no one among the Turks or Khalaj could enter Iran,”
#25
نباشد گذر جز به فرمان شاه
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همان نیز جیحون میانجی به راه
“Save by the command of the King; with the Jayhun standing as the boundary mediator on the way.”
#26
به لشکر یکی مرد بد شمر نام
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خردمند و با گوهر و رای و کام
“In the army was a man named Shamr, wise, of noble lineage, judgment, and resolve.”
#27
مر او را به توران زمین شاه کرد
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سر تخت او افسر ماه کرد
“Bahram made him king over the land of Turan, topping the crown of his throne with a moon-crest.”
#28
همان تاج زرینش بر سر نهاد
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همه شهر توران بدو گشت شاد
“He placed a golden crown upon his head, and all the realm of Turan rejoiced in him.”