#1
چو باز آمد از راه بهرامشاه
✦
به آرام بنشست بر پیش‌گاه
“When King Bahram returned from his journey, he sat down in tranquility upon his royal throne.”
#2
ز مرگ و ز روز بد اندیشه کرد
✦
دلش گشت پر درد و رخساره زرد
“He pondered upon death and the day of evil fate; his heart filled with grief and his face turned pale.”
#3
بفرمود تا پیش او شد دبیر
✦
سرافراز موبد که بودش وزیر
“He commanded his scribe to attend him, along with the exalted Mobad who served as his minister.”
#4
همی خواست تا گنجها بنگرد
✦
زر و گوهر و جامه‌ها بشمرد
“He wished to inspect his treasures, counting the gold, jewels, and rich garments.”
#5
که بااو ستاره‌شمر گفته بود
✦
ز گفتار ایشان برآشفته بود
“For the astrologer had spoken to him, and he had grown deeply troubled by their words.”
#6
که باشد ترا زندگانی سه بیست
✦
چهارم به مرگت بباید گریست
“"Your lifespan shall be three times twenty years; in the fourth score, one must weep for your death."”
#7
همی گفت شادی کنم بیست سال
✦
که دارم به رفتن به گیتی همال
“He said to himself, "I shall rejoice for twenty years, knowing that in leaving this world I have peers."”
#8
دگر بیست از داد و بخشش جهان
✦
کنم راست با آشکار و نهان
“"Another twenty years I shall spend in justice and generosity, setting the world right in public and in secret."”
#9
نمانم که ویران شود گوشه‌ای
✦
بیابد ز من هرکسی توشه‌ای
“"I will not allow any corner of the realm to fall into ruin, and every person shall gain sustenance from me."”
#10
سوم بیست بر پیش یزدان به پای
✦
بباشم مگر باشدم رهنمای
“"The third twenty years I shall stand before God in prayer, hoping He may be my guide."”
#11
ستاره‌شمر شست و سه سال گفت
✦
شمار سه سالش بد اندر نهفت
“The astrologer had foretold sixty-three years in total, keeping the count of three additional years hidden.”
#12
ز گفت ستاره‌شمر جست گنج
✦
وگرنه نبودش خود از گنج رنج
“Because of the astrologer's words he sought his treasure; otherwise, treasure brought him no distress.”
#13
خنک مرد بی‌رنج و پرهیزگار
✦
به ویژه کسی کو بود شهریار
“Happy is the man who is free of sorrow and pious, especially one who is a monarch!”
#14
چو گنجور بشنید شد پیش گنج
✦
به کار شمردن همی برد رنج
“When the treasurer heard the king's command, he went to the treasury and took great pains to tally the wealth.”
#15
به سختی چنان روزگاری ببرد
✦
همه پیش دستور او برشمرد
“With great difficulty he spent much time in this task, and presented the entire tally before the vizier.”
#16
چو دستور او برگرفت آن شمار
✦
پراندیشه آمد بر شهریار
“When the minister took that account, he came before the sovereign, full of deep thought.”
#17
بدو گفت تا بیست و سه سال نیز
✦
همانا نیازت نیاید به چیز
“He said to him, "For twenty-three years more, you surely shall have no need of anything."”
#18
ز خورد و ز بخشش گرفتم شمار
✦
درمهای این لشکر نامدار
“"I have calculated all expenses for food, gifts, and the coin for this renowned army."”
#19
فرستاده‌ای نیز کاید برت
✦
ز شاهان وز نامور کشورت
“"As well as the envoys who come to you from rival kings and famous lands."”
#20
بدین سال گنج تو آراستست
✦
که پر زر و سیمست و پر خواستست
“"Thus your treasury is arranged, overflowing with gold, silver, and precious riches."”
#21
چو بشنید بهرام و اندیشه کرد
✦
ز دانش غم نارسیده نخورد
“When Bahram heard this and pondered, out of wisdom he refused to grieve for troubles yet to arrive.”
#22
بدو گفت کوتاه شد داوری
✦
که گیتی سه روزست چون بنگری
“He said to him, "The argument is cut short, for if you look closely, the world is but three days long."”
#23
چو دی رفت و فردا نیامد هنوز
✦
نباشم ز اندیشه امروز کوز
“"Since yesterday is gone and tomorrow has not yet arrived, I shall not bend double with sorrow over today."”
#24
چو بخشیدنی باشد و تاج و تخت
✦
نخواهم ز گیتی ازین بیش رخت
“"While I possess the crown, throne, and wealth to bestow, I desire no more earthly goods than this."”
#25
بفرمود پس تا خراج جهان
✦
نخواهند نیز از کهان و مهان
“He then decreed that taxes should no longer be collected from the world, neither from the humble nor the high.”
#26
به هر شهر مردی پدیدار کرد
✦
سر خفته از خواب بیدار کرد
“In every city he appointed an overseer, awakening the sleeping heads from their slumber.”
#27
بدان تا نجویند پیکار نیز
✦
نیاید ز پیکار افگار نیز
“So that they might seek conflict no longer, nor suffer wounds and distress from battle.”
#28
ز گنج آنچ بایستشان خوردنی
✦
ز پوشیدنی گر ز گستردنی
“From the treasury he granted whatever they needed for food, garments, or rugs.”
#29
بدین پرخرد موبدان داد و گفت
✦
که نیک و بد از من نباید نهفت
“He entrusted these tasks to wise Mobads, saying: "No good or evil must be kept hidden from me."”
#30
میان سخنها میانجی بوید
✦
نخواهند چیزی کرانجی بوید
“"Be mediators in disputes, and if they seek nothing, do not be tight-fisted or severe."”
#31
مرا از به و بتر آگه کنید
✦
ز بدها گمانیم کوته کنید
“"Inform me of good and bad affairs, and clear my mind of ill suspicions."”
#32
پراگنده شد موبد اندر جهان
✦
نماند ایچ نیک و بد اندر نهان
“The Mobads dispersed throughout the realm; no virtue or vice remained hidden in secret.”
#33
بران پر خرد کارها بسته شد
✦
ز هر کشوری نامه پیوسته شد
“Affairs were established upon wisdom, and letters arrived continuously from every land.”
#34
که از داد و پیکاری و خواسته
✦
خرد شد به مغز اندرون کاسته
“They wrote that through strife, luxury, and greed, wisdom had diminished within men's minds.”
#35
ز بس جنگ و خون ریختن در جهان
✦
جوانان ندانند ارج مهان
“"From so much war and bloodshed in the world, the youth no longer know the respect due to elders."”
#36
دل آگنده گردد جوان را به چیز
✦
نبیند هم از شاه و موبد به نیز
“A young man's heart grows puffed with wealth and pride, / Fearing nor King nor Mobad at his side.”
#37
برین‌گونه چون نامه پیوسته شد
✦
ز خون ریختن شاه دل خسته شد
“When thus the letter's scroll was joined and sealed, / The Shah's heart weary of bloodshed was revealed.”
#38
به هر کشوری کارداری گزید
✦
پر از داد و دانش چنانچون سزید
“In every realm an officer he chose, / Full of high justice and the lore he knows.”
#39
هم از گنج بد پوشش و خوردشان
✦
ز پوشیدن و باز گستردشان
“Their food and raiment came from royal store, / For all their garments and the robes they wore.”
#40
که شش ماه دیوان بیاراستی
✦
وزان زیردستان درم خواستی
“For six months did the court hold state and sway, / Demanding tax the subjects had to pay.”
#41
نهادی بران سیم نام خراج
✦
به دیوان ستاننده با فر و تاج
“They called that silver tribute tribute-tax, / Collected by the crown that never slacks.”
#42
به شش ماه بستد به شش باز داد
✦
نبودی ستاننده زان سیم شاد
“Six months he took it, six months gave it back; / No tax collector rejoiced in what they'd pack.”
#43
بدان چاره تا مرد پیکار خون
✦
نریزد نباشد به بد رهنمون
“By such a means, lest men of war should spill / Innocent blood or turn to ways of ill.”
#44
وزان پس نوشتند کارآگهان
✦
که از داد وز ایمنی در جهان
“Then reports came in from spies and scouts around, / That through his justice peace and safety drowned...”
#45
که هر کش درم بد خراجش نبود
✦
به سرش اندرون داوریها فزود
“Whoever possessed wealth but paid no tax, / Grew wild with foolish thoughts and morals lax.”
#46
ز پری به کژی نهادند روی
✦
پر از رنج گشتند و پرخاشجوی
“From surfeit unto evil ways they turned; / Contentious, steeped in strife, for broils they burned.”
#47
چو آن نامه بر خواند بهرام گور
✦
به دلش اندر افتاد زان کار شور
“When Bahram Gur had read that letter through, / Agitation deep within his spirit grew.”
#48
ز هر کشوری مرزبانی گزید
✦
پر از داد دلشان چنانچون سزید
“From every province he chose a governor wise, / With heart filled full of justice in his eyes.”
#49
به درگاه یکساله روزی بداد
✦
ز یزدان نیکی دهش کرد یاد
“He granted a whole year's stipend at his court, / And remembered God who grants all good report.”
#50
بفرمود کان را که ریزند خون
✦
گر آرند کژی به کار اندرون
“He ordered that if any spilled men's blood, / Or turned to evil from the true and good,”
#51
برانند فرمان یزدان بروی
✦
بدان تا شود هرکسی چاره‌جوی
“The divine decree be executed straight, / That all may seek a wise and honest fate.”
#52
برآمد برین بر بسی روزگار
✦
یکی نامه فرمود پس شهریار
“Long time passed by upon this turn of fate, / Then the King decreed a letter of high state.”
#53
سوی راستگویان و کارآگهان
✦
کجا او پراگنده بد در جهان
“To all his honest men and agents wise, / Scattered across the earth beneath the skies.”
#54
که اندر جهان چیست ناسودمند
✦
که آرد برین پادشاهی گزند
“Asking: "What thing on earth brings harm or yields no gain, / That might bring injury unto our reign?"”
#55
نوشتند پاسخ که از داد شاه
✦
نگردد کسی گرد آیین و راه
“They wrote in answer: "Through the King's fair law, / None strays from right or breaks the sacred saw.”
#56
بشد رای و اندیشهٔ کشت و ورز
✦
به هر کشوری راست بیکار مرز
“Yet thought of agriculture is decayed, / And idle lie the lands in every glade.”
#57
پراگنده بینیم گاوان کار
✦
گیا رست از دشت وز کشت‌زار
“Scattered we see the oxen of the field, / Weeds choke the plain where crops no longer yield."”
#58
چنین داد پاسخ که تا نیم‌روز
✦
که بالا کند تاج گیتی فروز
“The Shah replied: "Ere noon-day sun ascend, / And high the world-illuming crown extend,”
#59
نباید کس آسود از کشت و ورز
✦
ز بی‌ارز مردم مجویید ارز
“None should refrain from farming and the plow; / From worthless folk expect no value now.”
#60
که بیکار مردم ز بی‌دانشیست
✦
به بی دانشان بر بباید گریست
“For idle folk are so from lack of mind, / And for the ignorant weeping you should find.”
#61
ورا داد باید دو و چار دانگ
✦
چو شد گرسنه تا نیاید به بانگ
“Give him two-thirds, a full four-sixths of bread, / Lest in his hunger cries of woe be spread.”
#62
کسی کو ندارد بر و تخم و گاو
✦
تو با او به تندی و زفتی مکاو
“Whoever lacks for seed and crop and steer, / Deal not with him in roughness or severity severe.”
#63
به خوبی نوا کن مر او را به گنج
✦
کس از نیستی تا نیاید به رنج
“Provide for him from treasury with grace, / That poverty bring pain to no man's face.”
#64
گر ایدونک باشد زیان از هوا
✦
نباشد کسی بر هوا پادشا
“If harm should come from weather and the sky, / No man holds sway over the heavens high.”
#65
چو جایی بپوشد زمین را ملخ
✦
برد سبزی کشتمندان به شخ
“When locusts cover all the ground below, / And strip the greens of crops upon the plateau,”
#66
تو از گنج تاوان او بازده
✦
به کشور ز فرموده آواز ده
“Pay back their damage from the treasury royal, / And herald this decree throughout the soil.”
#67
وگر بر زمین گورگاهی بود
✦
وگر نابرومند راهی بود
“If on the land there be a graveyard space, / Or any barren track, an unfertile place,”
#68
که ناکشته باشد به گرد جهان
✦
زمین فرومایگان و مهان
“That lies unplanted anywhere around, / Belonging unto high or low-born ground,”
#69
کسی کو بدین پایکار منست
✦
وگر ویژه پروردگار منست
“Whoever is the steward of this land, / E'en were he favored closely of my hand,”
#70
کنم زنده در گور جایی که هست
✦
مبادش نشیمن مبادش نشست
“I'll bury him alive where he doth dwell, / May he have no abode, no home as well!”
#71
نهادند بر نامه بر مهر شاه
✦
هیونی برافگند هر سو به راه
“They affixed the royal seal of the King upon the decree, and dispatched swift couriers along every road.”