When Shangal, the King of India, witnessed the matchless strength and peerless deeds of Bahram, his heart grew heavy with angst and his face paled with apprehension. He feared that should this extraordinary envoy return to the realm of Iran, he would report to his sovereign that India lacked true warriors and that its cavalry was weak, thereby inviting an invasion. Under the cover of night, Shangal summoned his wisest counselors and chief nobles to secretly plot Bahram's execution.
Yet a sage of profound wisdom stood before the king and warned him against such dishonorable folly. He declared that slaying an envoy of kings brings everlasting shame, and executing a champion who had just rid the land of the devastating dragon and rhino would invite cosmic vengeance. Furthermore, if the armies of Iran were to march in retribution, not a single trace of Shangal's kingdom would remain.
chastened by the sage's stern counsel, Shangal abandoned his dark design. At dawn, he summoned Bahram to a private audience, offering him command over the armies of India, a royal domain, and the hand of his daughter, declaring that Bahram must never leave India. Bahram pondered his royal blood and proud heritage; recognizing that he was a lion caught in a fox's snare, he deemed accepting the proposal a wise strategy to preserve his life and secure an ultimate return to his beloved Iran.
Upon Bahram's agreement, Shangal adorned his royal hall with Chinese silks and brought forth his three radiant daughters. Among them, Bahram chose Sepinud, a maiden of ethereal grace, bashful modesty, and glowing beauty, likened to a smokeless candle and a graceful cypress. Filled with joy, Shangal bestowed Sepinud upon Bahram along with keys to vast treasuries. He showered Bahram's companions with gold, silver, amber, and camphor, and gathered all the illustrious nobles of Qannauj for a magnificent celebration. For seven days, wine flowed freely, and Sepinud sat beside Bahram Gur like sparkling wine gleaming within a crystal goblet.
#1
همان شاه شنگل دلی پر ز درد
✦
همی داشت از کار او روی زرد
“King Shangal had a heart full of pain, and his countenance turned pale over his deeds.”
#2
شب آمد بیاورد فرزانه را
✦
همان مردم خویش و بیگانه را
“When night fell, he brought forth the sage, as well as his own kin and outsiders.”
#3
چنین گفت کاین مرد بهرامشاه
✦
بدین زور و این شاخ و این دستگاه
“He said: 'This man who claims to be Bahram's envoy, with such strength and stature and magnificence,'”
#4
نباشد همی ایدر از هیچ روی
✦
ز هرگونه آمیختم رنگ و بوی
“'Can in no wise remain here with us, though I tried to blend with him in every color and scent.'”
#5
گر از نزد ما او به ایران شود
✦
به نزدیک شاه دلیران شود
“'If he returns from our presence to Iran, to the valiant King of Kings,'”
#6
سپاه مرا سست خواند به کار
✦
به هندوستان نیست گوید سوار
“'He will call my army feeble in combat and say there are no true horsemen in Hindustan.'”
#7
سرافراز گردد مگر دشمنم
✦
فرستاده را سر ز تن برکنم
“'Perchance my enemy will grow proud; thus I should strike the envoy's head from his body!'”
#8
نهانش همی کرد خواهم تباه
✦
چه بینید این را چه دانید راه
“'I wish to destroy him secretly. What do you see in this, and what pathway do you know?'”
#9
بدو گفت فرزانه کای شهریار
✦
دلت را بدین‌گونه رنجه مدار
“The sage spake unto him, saying: 'O Sovereign! Do not afflict your heart in this manner.'”
#10
فرستادهٔ شهریاران کشی
✦
به غمری برد راه و بیدانشی
“'To slay the envoy of monarchs leads only to ruin and ignorance.'”
#11
کس اندیشه زین‌گونه هرگز نکرد
✦
به راه چنین رای هرگز مگرد
“'None hath ever harbored such a thought; never walk upon such a treacherous path.'”
#12
بر مهتران زشت‌نامی بود
✦
سپهبد به مردم گرامی بود
“'It brings ill repute upon rulers, whereas a commander should be beloved by the people.'”
#13
پس‌انگه بیاید از ایران سپاه
✦
یکی تاجداری چو بهرامشاه
“'And thereafter an army will come from Iran, under a crown-bearer such as King Bahram,'”
#14
نماند ز ما کس بدینجا درست
✦
ز نیکی نباید ترا دست شست
“'And none of us will remain whole in this place; thou must not wash thy hands of goodness.'”
#15
رهانیدهٔ ماست از اژدها
✦
نه کشتن بود رنج او را بها
“'He is the one who saved us from the dragon; slaying him is no fit reward for his toil.'”
#16
بدین بوم ما اژدها کشت و کرگ
✦
به تن زندگانی فزایش نه مرگ
“'In this our land he slew dragon and rhino; his body deserveth increase of life, not death.'”
#17
چو بشنید شنگل سخن تیره شد
✦
ز گفتار فرزانگان خیره شد
“When Shangal heard these words, his countenance darkened; he was dazed by the wise men's speech.”
#18
ببود آن شب و بامداد پگاه
✦
فرستاد کس نزد بهرامشاه
“He waited that night, and at early dawn he sent someone unto Bahram Shah.”
#19
به تنها تن خویش بی‌انجمن
✦
نه دستور بد پیش و نه رای زن
“He met him alone, without assembly, with no advisor present nor counselor.”
#20
به بهرام گفت ای دلارای مرد
✦
توانگر شدی گرد بیشی مگرد
“He said to Bahram: 'O heart-delighting man, thou hast gained wealth; seek not for more.'”
#21
بتو داد خواهم همی دخترم
✦
ز گفتار و کردار باشد برم
“'I will give thee my daughter in marriage, that my speech and deed may bear fruit.'”
#22
چو این کرده باشم بر من بایست
✦
کز ایدر گذشتن ترا روی نیست
“'When I have done this, stay by my side, for thou hast no way to pass beyond this realm.'”
#23
ترا بر سپه کامگاری دهم
✦
به هندوستان شهریاری دهم
“'I shall give thee rule over the host and grant thee sovereignty in Hindustan.'”
#24
فروماند بهرام و اندیشه کرد
✦
ز تخت و نژاد و ز ننگ و نبرد
“Bahram paused and pondered deeply, thinking of throne, lineage, shame, and battle.”
#25
ابا خویشتن گفت کاین جنگ نیست
✦
ز پیوند شنگل مرا ننگ نیست
“He said to himself: 'This is no time for battle; kinship with Shangal brings me no shame.'”
#26
و دیگر که جان بر سر آرم بدین
✦
ببینم مگر خاک ایران زمین
“'And moreover, I will save my life through this, until perchance I see the land of Iran again.'”
#27
که ایدر بدین‌سان بماندیم دیر
✦
برآویخت با دام روباه شیر
“'For we have remained here in this manner for long; a lion hath become entangled in a fox's snare.'”
#28
چنین داد پاسخ که فرمان کنم
✦
ز گفتارت آرایش جان کنم
“Thus he answered: 'I shall obey thy command; I make thy words the adornment of my soul.'”
#29
تو از هر سه دختر یکی برگزین
✦
که چون بینمش خوانمش آفرین
“'Choose one of thy three daughters, so that when I see her, I may sing her praise.'”
#30
ز گفتار او شاد شد شاه هند
✦
بیاراست ایوان به چینی پرند
“At his words, the King of India was gladdened; he adorned the palace with brocade of China.”
#31
سه دختر بیامد چو خرم بهار
✦
به آرایش و بوی و رنگ و نگار
“Three daughters came forth like joyful spring, filled with adornment, fragrance, color, and grace.”
#32
به بهرام گور آن زمان گفت رو
✦
بیارای دل را به دیدار نو
“Shangal then said unto Bahram Gur: 'Go now, and adorn thy heart with a fresh vision.'”
#33
بشد تیز بهرام و او را بدید
✦
ازان ماه‌رویان یکی برگزید
“Bahram went swiftly and looked upon them; from among those moon-faced maidens he chose one.”
#34
چو خرم بهاری سپینود نام
✦
همه شرم و ناز و همه رای و کام
“Named Sepinud, like a joyful spring, all modesty, tenderness, wisdom, and desire.”
#35
بدو داد شنگل سپینود را
✦
چو سرو سهی شمع بی‌دود را
“Shangal bestowed Sepinud upon him—a stately cypress, a smokeless shining candle.”
#36
یکی گنج پرمایه‌تر برگزید
✦
بدان ماه‌رخ داد شنگل کلید
“Shangal selected a most precious treasury and handed the key to that moon-faced maiden.”
#37
بیاورد یاران بهرام را
✦
سواران بازیب و با نام را
“He brought forth Bahram's companions—knights of dignity and renown.”
#38
درم داد ودینار و هرگونه چیز
✦
همان عنبر و عود و کافورنیز
“He gave silver, gold, and diverse treasures, as well as ambergris, aloeswood, and camphor.”
#39
بیاراست ایوان گوهرنگار
✦
ز قنوج هرکس که بد نامدار
“He decorated the jewel-studded hall, and gathered all the renowned men of Qannauj.”
#40
خرامان بران بزمگاه آمدند
✦
به شادی همه نزد شاه آمدند
“Graciously they entered the banquet house, approaching the king in joyous state.”
#41
ببودند یک هفته با می به دست
✦
همه شاد و خرم به جای نشست
“They remained for a week with wine in hand, all joyful and glad in their seats.”
#42
سپینود با شاه بهرام گور
✦
چو می بود روشن به جام بلور
“Sepinud sat with King Bahram Gur, like clear wine shining in a crystal glass.”