#1
چو بهرام با دخت شنگل بساخت
✦
زن او همی شاه گیتی شناخت
“When Bahram settled into life with Shangal’s daughter, his wife recognized him for who he was—the King of the World.”
#2
شب و روز گریان بد از مهر اوی
✦
نهاده دو چشم اندران چهر اوی
“Night and day she wept from the intensity of her love for him, keeping her eyes fixed continuously upon his face.”
#3
چو از مهرشان شنگل آگاه شد
✦
ز بدها گمانیش کوتاه شد
“When Shangal became aware of their deep affection, all his dark suspicions melted away.”
#4
نشستند یک روز شادان بهم
✦
همی رفت هرگونه از بیش و کم
“One day they sat together in joy, conversing freely about matters great and small.”
#5
سپینود را گفت بهرامشاه
✦
که دانم که هستی مرا نیک‌خواه
“King Bahram said to Sapinud, 'I know truly that you are my well-wisher and loyal mate.'”
#6
یکی راز خواهم همی با تو گفت
✦
چنان کن که ماند سخن در نهفت
“'I wish to entrust a deep secret to you; ensure that this word remains strictly hidden.'”
#7
همی رفت خواهم ز هندوستان
✦
تو باشی بدین کار همداستان
“'I intend to depart from India, and I long for you to join me in this plot.'”
#8
به تنها بگویم ترا یک سخن
✦
نباید که داند کس از انجمن
“'I share this word with you in absolute solitude; no one in the court must come to know of it.'”
#9
به ایران مرا کار زین بهترست
✦
همم کردگار جهان یاورست
“'For in Iran, my condition is far greater, and the Creator of the World is my helper.'”
#10
به رفتن گر ایدونک رای آیدت
✦
به خوبی خرد رهنمای آیدت
“'If it is your desire to depart with me, let wisdom be your benevolent guide.'”
#11
به هر جای نام تو بانو بود
✦
پدر پیش تختت به زانو بود
“'Wherever we go, your name shall be honored as Empress, and even kings shall bow before your throne.'”
#12
سپینود گفت ای سرافراز مرد
✦
تو بر خیره از راه دانش مگرد
“Sapinud replied, 'O exalted prince, do not wander away from the path of wisdom into uncertainty.'”
#13
بهین زنان جهان آن بود
✦
کزو شوی همواره خندان بود
“'The best of women in the world is she whose husband is forever kept joyful through her deeds.'”
#14
اگر پاک جانم ز پیمان تو
✦
بپیچد به بیزارم از جان تو
“'If my pure soul should ever deviate from your covenant, I would gladly foreswear my own life.'”
#15
بدو گفت بهرام پس چاره کن
✦
وزین راز مگشای بر کس سخن
“Bahram then said to her, 'Devise a scheme then, and breathe not a single word of this secret to anyone.'”
#16
سپینود گفت ای سزاوار تخت
✦
بسازم اگر باشدم یار بخت
“Sapinud said, 'O worthy heir to the throne, if fortune favors me, I shall arrange all things.'”
#17
یکی جشنگاهست ز ایدر نه دور
✦
که سازد پدرم اندران بیشه سور
“'There is a place of festival not far from here, where my father holds a grand celebration in the sacred forest.'”
#18
که دارند فرخ مران جای را
✦
ستایند جای بت‌آرای را
“'They hold that sanctuary holy and praise the site dedicated to their icons.'”
#19
بود تا بران بیشه فرسنگ بیست
✦
که پیش بت اندر بباید گریست
“'That forest lies twenty leagues away, where one must weep in devotion before the idol.'”
#20
بدان جای نخچیر گوران بود
✦
به قنوج در عود سوزان بود
“'It is a hunting ground for wild asses, while in Kannauj incense burns in homage.'”
#21
شود شاه و لشکر بدان جایگاه
✦
که بی‌ره نماید بران بیشه راه
“'The king and his entire army will march to that spot, taking a path through the dense, trackless woods.'”
#22
اگر رفت خواهی بدانجای رو
✦
همیشه کهن باش و سال تو نو
“'If you wish to make your departure, go towards that place. May your wisdom remain ancient and your fortune forever new!'”
#23
ز امروز بشکیب تا نیم روز
✦
چو پیدا شود تاج گیتی فروز
“'Wait patiently from today until noon, until the world-illuminating sun crowns the sky.'”
#24
چو از شهر بیرون رود شهریار
✦
به رفتن بیارای و بر ساز کار
“'As soon as the King marches out of the city, prepare yourself for travel and set your plans in motion.'”
#25
ز گفتار او گشت بهرام شاد
✦
نخفت اندر اندیشه تا بامداد
“Bahram rejoiced at her words and lay awake in anxious contemplation until dawn.”
#26
چو بنمود خورشید بر چرخ دست
✦
شب تیره بار غریبان ببست
“When the sun raised its radiant hand over the sky, the dark night packed up the gear of the strangers.”
#27
نشست از بر باره بهرام گور
✦
همی راند با ساز نخچیر گور
“Bahram Gur mounted his steed, riding forth equipped as if for hunting wild asses.”
#28
به زن گفت بر ساز و با کس مگوی
✦
نهادیم هر دو سوی راه روی
“He said to his wife, 'Make ready and tell no one; we two have set our faces toward the road.'”
#29
هرانکس که بودند ایرانیان
✦
به رفتن ببستند با او میان
“All those who were Iranians girded their loins to accompany him on his journey.”
#30
بیامد چو نزدیک دریا رسید
✦
به ره بار بازارگانان بدید
“Riding until he neared the sea, he encountered a caravan of merchants laden along the road.”
#31
که بازارگانان ایران بدند
✦
به آب و به خشکی دلیران بدند
“These were merchants of Iran, brave and bold upon both land and sea.”
#32
چو بازارگان روی بهرام دید
✦
شهنشاه لب را به دندان گزید
“When the merchant recognized Bahram’s face, the Shahanshah bit his lip in warning.”
#33
نفرمود بردن به پیشش نماز
✦
ز نادان سخن را همی داشت راز
“He signaled him not to bow down in homage before him, keeping the truth hidden from the ignorant.”
#34
به بازارگان گفت لب را ببند
✦
کزین سودمندی و هم با گزند
“He said to the merchant, 'Seal your lips, for in this silence lies profit, while speech brings harm.'”
#35
گرین راز در هند پیدا شود
✦
ز خون خاک ایران چو دریا شود
“'If this secret is revealed in India, the soil of Iran will turn into a sea of blood.'”
#36
گشاده بران کار کو لب ببست
✦
زبان بسته باید گشاده دو دست
“'He who seals his lips prospers in his deed; one must keep the tongue bound and the hands open to act.'”
#37
زبان شما را به سوگند سخت
✦
ببندیم تا بازیابیم بخت
“'We shall bind your tongues with a solemn oath so that we may reclaim our destiny.'”
#38
بگویید کز پاک یزدان خدای
✦
بریدیم و بستیم با دیو رای
“'Swear thus: "We sever ourselves from the pure God Yazdan and side with the Div..."'”
#39
اگر هرگز از رای بهرامشاه
✦
بپیچیم و داریم بد را نگاه
“'"...if ever we turn away from King Bahram's will or harbor ill intent against him!"'”
#40
چو سوگند شد خورده و ساخته
✦
دل شاه زان رنج پرداخته
“Once the solemn oath was sworn and established, the King's heart was relieved of its anxiety.”
#41
بدیشان چنین گفت پس شهریار
✦
که نزد شما از من این زنهار
“Then the Monarch said to them, 'Keep this trust I have placed in your hands as your sworn pledge.'”
#42
بدارید و با جان برابر کنید
✦
چو خواهید کز پندم افسر کنید
“'Guard it as dearly as your very lives, if you wish to crown yourselves with my counsel.'”
#43
گر از من شود تخت پرداخته
✦
سپاه آید از هر سوی ساخته
“'For if the throne should be emptied of me, armies will march forth prepared from every direction;'”
#44
نه بازارگان ماند ایدر نه شاه
✦
نه دهقان نه لشکر نه تخت و کلاه
“'Neither merchant nor king shall remain here, nor noble landowner, nor army, nor throne, nor crown!'”
#45
چو زان‌گونه دیدند گفتار اوی
✦
برفتند یکسر پر از آب روی
“When they witnessed his majestic discourse, tears welled up in all their eyes.”
#46
که جان بزرگان فدای تو باد
✦
جوانی و شاهی روای تو باد
“"May the lives of the noble be sacrificed for you; may youth and kingship ever flourish upon you!”
#47
اگر هیچ راز تو پیدا شود
✦
ز خون کشور ما چو دریا شود
“"Should your secret ever be revealed, our country would become a sea of blood.”
#48
که یارد بدین گونه اندیشه کرد
✦
مگر بخت را گوید از ره بگرد
“"Who would dare entertain such a thought, unless he would tell fortune itself to turn away from him?"”
#49
چو بشنید شاه آن گرفت آفرین
✦
بران نامداران با فر و دین
“When the king heard this, he bestowed praise upon those renowned men of glory and faith.”
#50
همی رفت پیچان به ایوان خویش
✦
به یزدان سپرده تن و جان خویش
“He returned to his palace full of anxiety, entrusting his soul and body unto God.”
#51
بدانگه که بهرام شد سوی راه
✦
چنین گفت با زن که ای نیک‌خواه
“When Bahram prepared to take to the road, he spoke thus to his wife: "O well-wisher,”
#52
ابا مادر خویشتن چاره ساز
✦
چنان کو درستی نداندت راز
“"Devise a scheme together with your mother, yet in such a way that she does not truly discern your secret.”
#53
که چون شاه شنگل سوی جشنگاه
✦
شود خواستار آید از نزد شاه
“"So that when King Shangal sets out for the festival grounds, an envoy will come asking for me;”
#54
بگوید که برزوی شد دردمند
✦
پذیردش پوزش شه هوشمند
“"And say that Borzoy has fallen ill, so that the wise king may accept his excuse."”
#55
زن این بند بنهاد با مادرش
✦
چو بشنید پس مادر از دخترش
“The wife arranged this ruse with her mother; when the mother heard this from her daughter,”
#56
همی بود تا تازه شد جشنگاه
✦
گرانمایگان برگرفتند راه
“She waited until the festival grounds came alive, and the nobles set out on their path.”
#57
چو برساخت شنگل که آید به دشت
✦
زنش گفت برزوی بیمار گشت
“When Shangal prepared to go out to the plain, his wife told him: "Borzoy has fallen ill,”
#58
به پوزش همی گوید ای شهریار
✦
تو دل را بمن هیچ رنجه مدار
“"He sends his apologies, saying: 'O King, do not trouble your heart at all on my account.'”
#59
چو ناتندرستی بود جشنگاه
✦
دژم باشد و داند این مایه شاه
“"'When one is sick, the festival yields only gloom, as the King well knows.'"”
#60
به زن گفت شنگل که این خود مباد
✦
که بیمار باشد کند جشن یاد
“Shangal said to his wife: "Heaven forbid that a sick man should think of coming to a festival!"”
#61
ز قنوج شبگیر شنگل برفت
✦
ابا هندوان روی بنهاد تفت
“At early dawn, Shangal departed from Kannauj and swiftly headed out with the Indians.”
#62
چو شب تیره شد شاه بهرام گفت
✦
که آمد گه رفتن ای نیک جفت
“When the night grew dark, King Bahram said: "The time to depart has come, my good companion!"”
#63
بیامد سپینود را برنشاند
✦
همی پهلوی نام یزدان بخواند
“He came and mounted Sepinoud upon her steed, constantly chanting the Holy Name in Pahlavi.”
#64
بپوشید خفتان و خود برنشست
✦
کمندی به فتراک و گرزی به دست
“He donned his mail, mounted his horse, tied a lasso to his saddle-bow, and took a mace in hand.”
#65
همی راند تا پیش دریا رسید
✦
چو ایرانیان را همه خفته دید
“He rode on until he reached the river, where he found all the Iranians fast asleep.”
#66
برانگیخت کشتی و زورق بساخت
✦
به زورق سپینود را در نشاخت
“He readied a vessel and prepared a boat, safely seating Sepinoud inside.”
#67
به خشکی رسیدند چون روز گشت
✦
جهان پهلوان گیتی افروز گشت
“As day broke, they reached dry land, and the world-conquering hero illuminated the world.”