#1
چو از کار رومی بپردخت شاه
✦
دلش گشت پیچان ز کار سپاه
“When the King was finished with the Roman affairs, his heart turned toward the management of his host.”
#2
بفرمود تا موبد رای‌زن
✦
بشد با یکی نامدار انجمن
“He bade the wise counsellor Mobad to convene an assembly with the renowned nobles.”
#3
ببخشید روی زمین سربسر
✦
ابر پهلوانان پرخاشخر
“He distributed the lands across the earth among his fierce, battle-seeking champions.”
#4
درم داد و اسپ و نگین و کلاه
✦
گرانمایه را کشور و تاج و گاه
“He bestowed coin, horses, signet rings, and crowns—granting to the noble-born realms, thrones, and high station.”
#5
پر از راستی کرد یکسر جهان
✦
وزو شادمانه کهان و مهان
“He filled the entire world with truth and righteousness, delighting both the humble and the great.”
#6
هرانکس که بیداد بد دور کرد
✦
به نادادن چیز و گفتار سرد
“Whosoever had practiced oppression, he banished from favor through withholding wealth and addressing them with stern words.”
#7
وزان پس چنین گفت با موبدان
✦
که ای پرهنر پاک‌دل بخردان
“Thereafter, he addressed the Mobads, saying: 'O virtuous, pure-hearted, and wise counsel!'”
#8
جهان را ز هرگونه دارید یاد
✦
ز کردار شاهان بیداد و داد
“'Remember the world in all its states, reflecting upon the deeds of kings, both tyrannical and just.'”
#9
بسی دست شاهان ز بیداد و آز
✦
تهی ماند و هم تن ز آرام و ناز
“'Many a king's hand was emptied through oppression and greed, and many a body was robbed of ease and delight.'”
#10
جهان از بداندیش در بیم بود
✦
دل نیک‌مردان به دو نیم بود
“'The world lived in fear of the malevolent tyrant, and the hearts of righteous men were rent asunder.'”
#11
همه دست کرده به کار بدی
✦
کسی را نبد کوشش ایزدی
“'All had turned their hands to evil deeds, and none strived in the path of God.'”
#12
نبد بر زن و زاده کس پادشا
✦
پر از غم دل مردم پارسا
“'No man held sway even over his wife and child, and the hearts of pious people were filled with sorrow.'”
#13
به هر جای گستردن دست دیو
✦
بریده دل از بیم گیهان خدیو
“'Everywhere the hand of the Demon was outstretched, and hearts had lost faith through fear of the Lord of the World.'”
#14
سر نیکویها و دست بدیست
✦
در دانش و کوشش بخردیست
“'The head of all virtue and the stay of evil lies in wisdom, knowledge, and righteous effort.'”
#15
همه پاک در گردن پادشاست
✦
که پیدا شود زو همه کژ و راست
“'All rests pure upon the neck of the King, through whom all crookedness and rectitude are brought to light.'”
#16
پدر گر به بیداد یازید دست
✦
نبد پاک و دانا و یزدان‌پرست
“'If my father reached his hand toward injustice, he was neither pure, nor wise, nor a worshipper of God.'”
#17
مدارید کردار او بس شگفت
✦
که روشن دلش رنگ آتش گرفت
“'Marvel not at his deeds, for his bright heart took on the hue of dark fire.'”
#18
ببینید تا جم و کاوس شاه
✦
چه کردند کز دیو جستند راه
“'Look and see what Jamshid and King Kavus wrought when they sought their path from the Demon!'”
#19
پدر همچنان راه ایشان بجست
✦
به آب خرد جان تیره نشست
“'My father likewise sought their path, and his dark soul was drowned in the water of wisdom's absence.'”
#20
همه زیردستانش پیچان شدند
✦
فراوان ز تندیش بیجان شدند
“'All his subjects squirmed under his rule, and many perished because of his harsh violence.'”
#21
کنون رفت و زو نام بد ماند و بس
✦
همی آفرین او نیابد ز کس
“'Now he has departed, leaving behind nothing but an evil name, and no one offers him blessings.'”
#22
ز ما باد بر جان او آفرین
✦
مبادا که پیچد روانش ز کین
“'Yet may our blessing rest upon his soul, and may his spirit never writhe in bitter hatred.'”
#23
کنون بر نشستم بر گاه اوی
✦
به مینو کشد بی‌گمان راه اوی
“'Now I have ascended his throne, and his path leads doubtless toward the spiritual realm.'”
#24
همی خواهم از کردگار جهان
✦
که نیرو دهد آشکار و نهان
“'I ask of the Creator of the World to grant me strength, both in secret and in public,'”
#25
که با زیردستان مدارا کنیم
✦
ز خاک سیه مشک سارا کنیم
“'That we may show forbearance toward our subjects, and turn black dust into pure, fragrant musk;'”
#26
که با خاک چون جفت گردد تنم
✦
نگیرد ستمدیده‌ای دامنم
“'So that when my body becomes one with the earth, no oppressed soul shall lay hold of my cloak.'”
#27
شما همچنین چادر راستی
✦
بپوشید شسته دل از کاستی
“'Do you likewise don the cloak of truth, washing your hearts clean of all flaw and deceit.'”
#28
که جز مرگ را کس ز مادر نزاد
✦
ز دهقان و تازی و رومی نژاد
“'For none born of mother escapes death—be he of Dehqan, Arab, or Roman lineage.'”
#29
به کردار شیرست آهنگ اوی
✦
نپیچد کسی گردن از چنگ اوی
“'Death advances like a fierce lion, and no one can twist his neck from its deadly grasp.'”
#30
همان شیر درنده را بشکرد
✦
به خواری تن اژدها بسپرد
“'It hunts even the tearing lion and pitilessly tramples the body of the dragon.'”
#31
کجا آن سر و تاج شاهنشهان
✦
کجا آن بزرگان و فرخ مهان
“'Where are those crowned heads of monarchs? Where are those grandees and auspicious nobles?'”
#32
کجا آن سواران گردنکشان
✦
کزیشان نبینم به گیتی نشان
“'Where are those proud warriors of whom I see no trace left in the world?'”
#33
کجا ان پری چهرگان جهان
✦
کزیشان بدی شاد جان مهان
“'Where are those fairy-faced maidens of the world, in whose presence the souls of nobles rejoiced?'”
#34
هرانکس که رخ زیر چادر نهفت
✦
چنان دان که گشتست با خاک جفت
“'Whosoever hid their face beneath the veil, know that they have now become one with the dust.'”
#35
همه دست پاکی و نیکی بریم
✦
جهان را به کردار بد نشمریم
“'Let us all carry hands of purity and goodness, and not judge the world by evil deeds.'”
#36
به یزدان دارنده کو داد فر
✦
به تاج و به تخت و نژاد و گهر
“'I swear by God the Sustainer who bestowed the Royal Glory, by the crown, the throne, the lineage, and the jewel,'”
#37
که گر کارداری به یک مشک خاک
✦
زیان جوید اندر بلند و مغاک
“'That if any official seeks to harm another for even a single handful of dust in high place or low,'”
#38
هم‌انجا بسوزم به آتش تنش
✦
کنم بر سر دار پیراهنش
“'I shall burn his body with fire on that very spot and hang his garment upon the gallows!'”
#39
وگر در گذشته ز شب چند پاس
✦
بدزدد ز درویش دزدی پلاس
“'And if, when several watches of the night have passed, a thief steals a felt cloak from a poor man,'”
#40
به تاوانش دیبا فرستم ز گنج
✦
بشویم دل غمگنان را ز رنج
“'I shall send brocade from the treasury as compensation, to wash the hearts of the sorrowful clean of grief.'”
#41
وگر گوسفندی برند از رمه
✦
به تیره شب و روزگار دمه
“'And if a sheep is stolen from a flock on a dark night or during a winter storm,'”
#42
یکی اسپ پرمایه تاوان دهم
✦
مبادا که بر وی سپاسی نهم
“'I shall grant a precious steed as restitution, seeking no gratitude or obligation in return.'”
#43
چو با دشمنم کارزاری بود
✦
وزان جنگ خسته سواری بود
“'If I be engaged in battle with an enemy, and a knight be wounded in that war,'”
#44
فرستمش یکساله زر و درم
✦
نداریم فرزند او را دژم
“'I shall send him a year's supply of gold and coin, nor shall we leave his children heavy-hearted.'”
#45
ز دادار دارنده یکسر سپاس
✦
که اویست جاوید نیکی‌شناس
“'All praise be to the Creator and Sustainer, for He alone is the eternal recognizer of goodness.'”
#46
به آب و به آتش میازید دست
✦
مگر هیربد مرد آتش‌پرست
“Stretch not your hand towards water or fire in profanation, save only the Hirbad, the devout guardian of the sacred flame.”
#47
مریزید هم خون گاوان ورز
✦
که ننگست در گاو کشتن به مرز
“Shed not the blood of the working oxen of the plow, for to slaughter a farm ox is a dishonor upon the realm.”
#48
ز پیری مگر گاو بیکار شد
✦
به چشم خداوند خود خوار شد
“Unless the ox has grown useless through old age, and lost its value in the eyes of its master.”
#49
نباید ز بن کشت گاو زهی
✦
که از مرز بیرون شود فرهی
“Never destroy a fertile and breeding cow, lest divine grace and prosperity depart from the land.”
#50
همه رای با مرد دانا زنید
✦
دل کودک بی‌پدر مشکنید
“Seek counsel in all affairs from the wise, and never break the heart of an orphaned child.”
#51
از اندیشهٔ دیو باشید دور
✦
گه جنگ دشمن مجویید سور
“Keep far from demonic temptations, and seek not revelry and feasting in the hour of battle with the foe.”
#52
اگر خواهم از زیردستان خراج
✦
ز دارنده بیزارم و تخت عاج
“If I should demand unjust tribute from the weak beneath my rule, may I be foresworn of the Creator and my ivory throne.”
#53
اگر بدکنش بد پدر یزدگرد
✦
به پاداش آن داد کردیم گرد
“Though my father Yazdegerd was an evil-doer, in amends for his deeds we have established justice and equity.”
#54
همه دل ز کردار او خوش کنید
✦
به آزادی آهنگ آتش کنید
“Gladden your hearts despite his past conduct, and turn toward the sacred fire with joyful freedom.”
#55
ببخشد مگر کردگارش گناه
✦
ز دوزخ به مینو نمایدش راه
“Perchance the Almighty may forgive his transgressions, and guide his soul from hell to paradise above.”
#56
کسی کو جوانست شادی کنید
✦
دل مردمان جوان مشکنید
“Rejoice in the presence of the young, and refrain from breaking the hearts of youth.”
#57
به پیری به مستی میازید دست
✦
که همواره رسوا بود پیر مست
“In old age, stretch not your hand to drunken excess, for an intoxicated elder is ever brought to shame.”
#58
گنهکار یزدان مباشید هیچ
✦
به پیری به آید به رفتن بسیچ
“Commit no sin against God; in advanced years, it is far better to prepare for the final journey.”
#59
چو خشنود گردد ز ما کردگار
✦
به هستی غم روز فردا مدار
“When the Creator is well pleased with us, harbor no grief for the morrow while life endures.”
#60
دل زیردستان به ما شاد باد
✦
سر سرکشان از غم آزاد باد
“May the hearts of the humble be joyful through us, and may the minds of the proud be delivered from sorrow.”
#61
همه نامداران چو گفتار شاه
✦
شنیدند و کردند نیکو نگاه
“When all the noble chieftains heard the King's words, they gave them their deepest and most earnest heed.”
#62
همه دیده کردند پیشش پر آب
✦
ازان شاه پردانش و زودیاب
“Their eyes filled with tears before his presence, moved by that deeply wise and discerning monarch.”
#63
خروشان برو آفرین خواندند
✦
ورا پادشا زمین خواندند
“Raising their voices, they sang his praises aloud, proclaiming him the rightful sovereign of the earth.”