When the letter of the Shahanshah of Iran was presented at the royal court of India, the monarch demanded it be read aloud. As the scribe uttered the commanding lines, the countenance of the King of Hind paled with fury. Turning to the envoy, he bade him refrain from haste and arrogance, declaring that the Iranian King was walking a path of vain delusion by demanding tribute from Hind. The King of Hind boasted of his unyielding treasures, his armor-clad war-elephants, his mountains and seas laden with gems, amber, musk, and priceless medicines. He proclaimed that eighty crowned kings stood obedient at his command, and his dominion stretched from Qannuj to the borders of China and the lands of Saqlab. Comparing himself to a soaring eagle and other kings to mere cranes, he warned that only the ancient sacred law protecting heralds kept his blade from severing the messenger's head.
Unshaken by the Indian king's fierce bluster, Bahram—standing before him disguised as his own imperial messenger—replied with noble composure. He admonished the king against abandoning wisdom for pride, conveying his monarch's decree: let two learned sages be produced from the court of Hind to match minds with Iran's scholars; if the Indian sage should prove superior in wisdom, Iran would waive all demands of tribute. But if not, let the King of Hind select a hundred of his finest cavalrymen to face a single Iranian warrior in combat, that the true measure of their valor and worth might be revealed to all the world.
#1
چو بشنید شد نامه را خواستار
✦
شگفتی بماند اندران نامدار
“When he heard the message, he demanded the letter itself; and that renowned monarch remained in utter astonishment.”
#2
چو آن نامه برخواند مرد دبیر
✦
رخ تاجور گشت همچون زریر
“As the scribe read out the letter, the crowned king's face turned yellow as dried saffron.”
#3
بدو گفت کای مرد چیره‌سخن
✦
به گفتار مشتاب و تندی مکن
“He said to him: 'O eloquent messenger, do not hurry in your speech nor show rashness!'”
#4
بزرگی نماید همی شاه تو
✦
چنان هم نماید همی راه تو
“'Your king displays immense pride, and the path you tread seems equally arrogant.'”
#5
کسی باژ خواهد ز هندوستان
✦
نباشم ز گوینده همداستان
“'Should anyone demand tribute from Hindustan, I shall never agree with such a speaker.'”
#6
به لشکر همی‌گوید این گر به گنج
✦
وگر شهر و کشور سپردن به رنج
“'Does he speak thus relying on his army, his treasure, or by threatening to seize cities and realms through hardship?'”
#7
کلنگ‌اند شاهان و من چون عقاب
✦
وگر خاک و من همچو دریای آب
“'Other kings are like cranes while I am like an eagle; or if they are dry dust, I am like the vast sea!'”
#8
کسی با ستاره نکوشد به جنگ
✦
نه با آسمان جست کس نام و ننگ
“'No man wages war against the stars, nor seeks honor and shame by battling the heavens.'”
#9
هنر بهتر از گفتن نابکار
✦
که گیرد ترا مرد داننده خوار
“'True merit is better than foolish talk, lest wise men hold you in contempt.'”
#10
نه مردی نه دانش نه کشور نه شهر
✦
ز شاهی شما را زبانست بهر
“'Neither valor, nor knowledge, nor land, nor city—your only share of kingship is mere talk!'”
#11
نهفته همه بوم گنج منست
✦
نیاکان بدو هیچ نابرده دست
“'All my realm is filled with hidden treasures that my ancestors never even touched.'”
#12
دگر گنج برگستوان و زره
✦
چو گنجور ما برگشاید گره
“'And further treasures of armor and mail, whenever our treasurer opens their locks.'”
#13
به پیلانش باید کشیدن کلید
✦
وگر ژنده پیلش تواند کشید
“'The keys to my treasuries must be carried by elephants, if even mighty war-elephants can bear them!'”
#14
وگر گیری از تیغ و جوشن شمار
✦
ستاره شود پیش چشم تو خوار
“'And were you to count my swords and coats of mail, the stars would seem few in comparison!'”
#15
زمین بر نتابد سپاه مرا
✦
همان ژنده پیلان و گاه مرا
“'The earth itself cannot bear the weight of my host, nor my war-elephants and imperial throne!'”
#16
هزار ار به هندی زنی در هزار
✦
بود کس که خواند مرا شهریار
“'Should you multiply a thousand by a thousand in Hindi reckoning, such is the number of those who call me Shah!'”
#17
همان کوه و دریای گوهر مراست
✦
به من دارد اکنون جهان پشت راست
“'The mountains and seas of jewels belong to me; through me, the world maintains its strength and stability.'”
#18
همان چشمهٔ عنبر و عود و مشک
✦
دگر گنج کافور ناگشته خشک
“'Likewise the springs of ambergris, aloeswood, and musk, and the endless treasures of camphor that never run dry.'”
#19
دگر داروی مردم دردمند
✦
به روی زمین هرک گردد نژند
“'And the remedies for afflicted people, whoever on earth may fall sick or distressed.'”
#20
همه بوم ما را بدین‌سان برست
✦
اگر زر و سیم است و گر گوهر‌ست
“'All our land flourishes in this manner, filled with gold, silver, and precious gems.'”
#21
چو هشتاد شاهند با تاج زر
✦
به فرمان من تنگ بسته کمر
“'Eighty crowned kings bearing golden tiaras stand ready, with belts tightly girt to obey my commands.'”
#22
همه بوم را گرد دریاست راه
✦
نیاید بدین خاک‌بر دیو گاه
“'All around our realm lies the sea as a barrier; not even a demon could find a path into this land!'”
#23
ز قنوج تا مرز دریای چین
✦
ز سقلاب تا پیش ایران زمین
“'From Qannuj to the borders of the Sea of China, and from Saqlab to the front of the Iranian realm...'”
#24
بزرگان همه زیردست منند
✦
به بیچارگی در پرست منند
“'...all the noble lords are subject to me, serving me in humbleness and dependence.'”
#25
به هند و به چین و ختن پاسبان
✦
نرانند جز نام من بر زبان
“'Across Hind, China, and Khotan, the guards speak no name other than mine!'”
#26
همه تاج ما را ستاینده‌اند
✦
پرستندگی را فزاینده‌اند
“'All praise my crown and increase in their devotion and obedience.'”
#27
به مشکوی من دخت فغفور چین
✦
مرا خواند اندر جهان‌آفرین
“'In my palace, the daughter of the Faghfur of China praises the Creator for giving me to her.'”
#28
پسر دارم از وی یکی شیردل
✦
که بستاند از که به شمشیر دل
“'I have a lion-hearted son by her, who can tear the heart out of a mountain with his sword!'”
#29
ز هنگام کاوس تا کیقباد
✦
ازین بوم و بر کس نکرده‌ست یاد
“'From the time of Kay Kavus back to Kay Qubad, no Iranian king ever dared demand tribute from this land!'”
#30
همان نامبردار سیصد هزار
✦
ز لشکر که خواند مرا شهریار
“'Also three hundred thousand renowned warriors in my army call me their King.'”
#31
ز پیوستگانم هزار و دویست
✦
کزیشان کسی را به من راه نیست
“'Twelve hundred of my close royal kinsmen exist, yet none among them may easily approach me.'”
#32
همه زاد بر زاد خویش منند
✦
که در هند بر پای پیش منند
“'Generation after generation, my kin stand respectfully before me in Hind.'”
#33
که در بیشه شیران به هنگام جنگ
✦
ز آورد ایشان بخاید دو چنگ
“'Lions in the thicket, when facing them in war, bite their own paws in terror at their onslaught!'”
#34
گر آیین بدی هیچ آزاده را
✦
که کشتی به تندی فرستاده را
“'If it were the custom of any noble ruler to slay a messenger in wrath...'”
#35
سرت را جدا کردمی از تنت
✦
شدی مویه‌گر بر تو پیراهنت
“'...I would have severed your head from your body, leaving your very garment to mourn for you!'”
#36
بدو گفت بهرام کای نامدار
✦
اگر مهتری کام کژی مخار
“'Bahram said to him: 'O renowned king, if you are a ruler, do not cherish crooked desires!''”
#37
مرا شاه من گفت کو را بگوی
✦
که گر بخردی راه کژی مجوی
“''My king instructed me to tell you: if you are wise, do not seek the path of deceit and arrogance.''”
#38
ز درگه دو دانا پدیدار کن
✦
زبان‌آور و کامران بر سخن
“''Bring forth two wise men from your court—eloquent speakers and masters of discourse.''”
#39
گر ایدونک زیشان به رای و خرد
✦
یکی بر یکی زان ما بگذرد
“''If in judgment and wisdom, one of your sages surpasses one of ours...''”
#40
مرا نیز با مرز تو کار نیست
✦
که نزدیک بخرد سخن خوار نیست
“''...then my king will have no business with your realm, for to the wise, a noble word is never held cheap.''”
#41
وگرنه ز مردان جنگاوران
✦
کسی کو گراید به گرز گران
“''Otherwise, let your warriors who brandish the heavy mace step forth!''”
#42
گزین کن ز هندوستان صد سوار
✦
که با یک تن از ما کند کارزار
“''Select one hundred horsemen from Hindustan to engage in battle against a single warrior of ours!''”
#43
نخواهیم ما باژ از مرز تو
✦
چو پیدا شدی مردی و ارز تو
“''We shall demand no tribute from your border once your manhood and true worth are thus revealed!''”