When word swept across Iran that the brave King Bahram Gur had returned triumphant from India alongside his victorious army, the entire realm erupted in joy. Cities and highways were draped in rich decorations, and the populace showered his path with coin, precious musk, silver, and fragrant saffron. His young son Yazdegerd, together with the King's brother Narsi, the High Mobad, and the wisest elders of the realm, rode forth to welcome the monarch. Upon sighting his royal father, Yazdegerd pressed his face into the dust in reverent honor, while Narsi and the Mobad, their faces dusty from the journey and their hearts overflowing with happiness, embraced the King. Bahram entered his glorious palace, surrendering his heart and soul in gratitude to God.
As the dark tunic of night gave way to the world-illuminating candle of dawn, the King of Kings mounted his golden throne and opened the royal court. Standing tall, Bahram delivered a profound and virtuous sermon. He began by praising the Creator of the World, fulfilling the debt owed to wisdom. He commanded all present to fear God, to pray in the quiet hours of the night, to turn away from deceit, and to adorn their lives with charity, truth, and justice. He proclaimed that under his reign, no person—whether holding mountains of gold or dwelling in poverty—should ever live in fear. The King declared that he sought no useless hoard of riches for personal greed, but rather aimed to build an everlasting treasure-house of Justice, so that his soul might rejoice long after death. He urged any noble or soldier who had suffered an unspoken wrong to speak boldly, promising that justice would be rendered.
The assembled chieftains and sages burst into chorus, praising the sovereign whose wisdom, royal glory, and justice renewed the earth and raised the spirits of the realm. Following these grand decrees, Bahram rode forth with his army to the sacred fire temple of Adur Gushnasp. At its holy threshold, he scattered immense treasures of gold and jewels among the poor. He then presented his Indian bride, Sapinud, initiating her into the Good Religion, purifying her soul with holy water and sacred Zoroastrian rites, and clearing away all vestiges of her former ignorance. Finally, the King ordered the gates of all prisons thrown open across the land, showering coin upon the populace and steeping his empire in profound peace and joy.
#1
چو آگاهی آمد به ایران که شاه
✦
بیامد ز قنوج خود با سپاه
“When news reached Iran that the king had returned from Kannauj with his army,”
#2
ببستند آذین به راه و به شهر
✦
همی هرکس از کار برداشت بهر
“They decorated the roads and cities, and everyone partook in the celebration.”
#3
درم ریختند از کران تا کران
✦
هم از مشک و دینار و هم زعفران
“They scattered coins from side to side, along with musk, gold dinars, and saffron.”
#4
چو آگاه شد پور او یزدگرد
✦
سپاه پراگنده را کرد گرد
“When his son Yazdegerd learned of this, he gathered the scattered army together.”
#5
چو نرسی و چون موبد موبدان
✦
پذیره شدندش همه بخردان
“Narsi, the Mobad of Mobads, and all the wise sages went forth to welcome him.”
#6
چو بهرام را دید فرزند اوی
✦
بیامد بمالید بر خاک روی
“When his son saw Bahram, he came and rubbed his face upon the dust.”
#7
برادرش نرسی و موبد همان
✦
پر از گرد رخسار و دل شادمان
“His brother Narsi and the Mobad likewise approached, dusty-faced yet cheerful at heart.”
#8
چنان هم بیامد به ایوان خویش
✦
به یزدان سپرده تن و جان خویش
“Thus the king entered his palace, entrusting his body and soul to God.”
#9
بیاسود چون گشت گیتی سیاه
✦
به کردار سیمین سپر گشت ماه
“He rested when the world grew dark and the moon shone like a silver shield.”
#10
چو پیراهن شب بدرید روز
✦
پدید آمد آن شمع گیتی فروز
“When dawn tore the garment of night, that world-illuminating candle appeared.”
#11
شهنشاه بر تخت زرین نشست
✦
در بار بگشاد و لب را ببست
“The King of Kings sat upon the golden throne, opened the court, and unsealed his lips.”
#12
برفتند هر کس که بد مهتری
✦
خردمند و در پادشاهی سری
“Every chief, wise man, and leader of the realm entered into his presence.”
#13
جهاندار بر تخت بر پای خاست
✦
بیاراست پاکیزه گفتار راست
“The ruler of the world stood beside his throne and adorned his speech with righteous truth.”
#14
نخست از جهان‌آفرین یاد کرد
✦
ز وام خرد گردن آزاد کرد
“First he remembered the Creator of the World and freed his neck from the debt of wisdom.”
#15
چنین گفت کز کردگار جهان
✦
شناسندهٔ آشکار و نهان
“He said: 'Before the Creator of the universe, who knows the hidden and the manifest,'”
#16
بترسید و او را ستایش کنید
✦
شب تیره پیشش نیایش کنید
“'Fear Him and sing His praises; pray before Him in the dark of night,'”
#17
که او داد پیروزی و دستگاه
✦
خداوند تابنده خورشید و ماه
“'For He gave victory and power, He who is the Lord of the radiant sun and moon.'”
#18
هرانکس که خواهد که یابد بهشت
✦
نگردد به گرد بد و کار زشت
“'Whoever desires to gain Paradise must not wander near evil or vile deeds.'”
#19
چو داد و دهش باشد و راستی
✦
بپیچد دل از کژی و کاستی
“'When justice, generosity, and truth prevail, the heart turns away from deceit and defect.'”
#20
ز ما کس مباشید زین پس به بیم
✦
اگر کوه زر دارد و گنج سیم
“'Let no one among you fear us from this day forth, whether he possesses mountains of gold or treasures of silver.'”
#21
ز دلها همه بیم بیرون کنید
✦
نیایش به دارای بیچون کنید
“'Banish all fear from your hearts and offer prayers to the peerless God.'”
#22
کشاورز گر مرد دهقان‌نژاد
✦
بکوشید با ما به هنگام داد
“'If the farmer of noble landborn stock strives alongside us in times of justice,'”
#23
هران را که ما تاج دادیم و تخت
✦
ز یزدان شناسید وز داد و بخت
“'Know that whomsoever we granted crown and throne received it from God, justice, and fortune.'”
#24
نکوشم به آگندن گنج من
✦
نخواهم پراگنده کرد انجمن
“'I will not strive to hoard gold in my treasury, nor do I wish to scatter the assembly.'”
#25
یکی گنج خواهم نهادن ز داد
✦
که باشد روانم پس از مرگ شاد
“'I wish to lay up a treasure of justice, so that my soul may be happy after death.'”
#26
برین نیز گر خواست یزدان بود
✦
دل روشن از بخت خندان بود
“'If God wills it, the enlightened heart shall smile with joy.'”
#27
برین نیکویها فزایش کنیم
✦
سوی نیک‌بختی نمایش کنیم
“'We shall increase these virtues and guide all toward prosperous fortune.'”
#28
گر از لشکر و کارداران من
✦
ز خویشان و جنگی سواران من
“'If anyone among my army, my officials, my kinsmen, or my warriors,'”
#29
کسی رنج بگزید و با من نگفت
✦
همی دارد آن کژی اندر نهفت
“'Has suffered grief and kept it hidden from me, concealing that injustice in secret,'”
#30
ورا از تن خویش باشد بِزِه
✦
بُزِه کی گزیند کسی بی‌مَزِه
“'The sin rests upon his own head—and why should anyone choose a fruitless sin?'”
#31
منم پیش یزدان ازو دادخواه
✦
که در چادر ابر بنهفت ماه
“'I myself am an advocate for him before God—like one who unveils the moon from beneath a cloud veil.'”
#32
شما را مگر دیگرست آرزوی
✦
که هرکس دگرگونه باشد به خوی
“'Unless you harbor some other wish, for every person has a different nature,'”
#33
بگویید گستاخ با من سخن
✦
مگر نو کنم آرزوی کهن
“'Speak boldly with me, so that I may grant your old desires anew.'”
#34
همه گوش دارید و فرمان کنید
✦
ازین پند آرایش جان کنید
“'Give ear and obey; adorn your soul with this counsel.'”
#35
بگفت این و بنشست بر تخت داد
✦
کلاه کیانی به سر بر نهاد
“Having said this, he sat upon the throne of justice and placed the Kayanid crown upon his head.”
#36
بزرگان برو خواندند آفرین
✦
که بی‌تو مبادا کلاه و نگین
“The nobles showered praises upon him, saying: 'May crown and signet never be without thee!'”
#37
چو دانا بود شاه پیروز بخت
✦
بنازد بدو کشور و تاج و تخت
“'When a king is wise and victorious of fortune, the realm, crown, and throne pride themselves in him.'”
#38
ترا مردی و دانش و فرهی
✦
فزون آمد از تخت شاهنشهی
“'Your valor, wisdom, and Royal Glory surpass the royal throne itself.'”
#39
بزرگی و هم دانش و هم نژاد
✦
چو تو شاه گیتی ندارد به یاد
“'The world remembers no king like thee in greatness, knowledge, and noble lineage.'”
#40
کنون آفرین بر تو شد ناگزیر
✦
ز ما هر که هستیم برنا و پیر
“'Now praise of thee is bounden upon us all, young and old alike.'”
#41
هم آزادی تو به یزدان کنیم
✦
دگر پیش آزادمردان کنیم
“'We praise your nobility before God, and proclaim it before free-born men.'”
#42
برین تخت ارزانیانست شاه
✦
به داد و به پیروزی و دستگاه
“'The king is truly worthy of this throne in justice, victory, and grandeur.'”
#43
همه مردگان را برآری ز خاک
✦
به داد و به بخشش به گفتار پاک
“'You raise the dead from the dust through justice, bounty, and pure speech.'”
#44
خداوند دارنده یار تو باد
✦
سر اختر اندر کنار تو باد
“'May the Almighty Lord be your protector, and the head of the stars rest in your lap!'”
#45
برفتند با رامش از پیش تخت
✦
بزرگان و فرزانهٔ نیک‌بخت
“The nobles and blessed sages departed from before the throne in joyful delight.”
#46
نشست آن زمان شاه و لشکر بر اسپ
✦
بیامد سوی خان آذر گشسپ
“Then the king mounted his horse with his army and traveled toward the Temple of Adur Gushnasp.”
#47
بسی زر و گوهر به درویش داد
✦
نیاز آنک بنهفت ازو بیش داد
“He bestowed vast gold and jewels upon the needy, granting even more to those who hid their distress.”
#48
پرستندهٔ آتش زردهشت
✦
همی رفت با باژ و برسم به مشت
“The fire-priest of Zoroaster drew near, holding the sacred barsam and chanting the bazh prayers.”
#49
سپینود را پیش او برد شاه
✦
بیاموختش دین و آیین و راه
“The king brought Sapinud before him and taught her the true religion, its rites, and path.”
#50
بشستش به دین به و آب پاک
✦
ازو دور شد گرد و زنگار و خاک
“He washed her according to the Good Religion with pure water, cleansing all dust and rust from her.”
#51
در تنگ زندانها باز کرد
✦
به هرسو درم دادن آغاز کرد
“He opened the narrow gates of prisons and began distributing coins in every direction.”