For sixty-three glorious years, Bahram Gur ruled the realm without equal in wisdom, prowess, and generosity. At the turn of the year, his wise minister and chief scribe approached the throne to reveal a solemn truth: the royal treasury had been completely depleted through the king's boundless munificence, and he sought the monarch's command on how to replenish it. Bahram, whose soul was illuminated by divine wisdom, steadfastly rejected the notion of taking from the people or burdening his subjects to refill coffers. He proclaimed that a true ruler seeks no wealth from the hands of others, leaving the cosmic turn of the world to its Creator while holding fast to righteousness.
That night, the king rested, and at dawn, an immeasurable army and the high nobles gathered at the imperial court. Before the assembled grandees, Bahram summoned his beloved son, Yazdgard, and bestowed upon him the sacred crown, the golden necklace, the royal diadem, and the exalted ivory throne. Desiring only to spend his remaining days in divine worship, Bahram cast aside the crown and willingly vacated the seat of power. As night's shadows wrapped the palace, he laid down to sleep.
When the first rays of the sun pierced the morning sky, dread gripped the royal Mobad as the King of Kings failed to rise. Yazdgard rushed to his father's chambers, only to find the great monarch lifeless upon his gold-embroidered silk, froth at his mouth and his complexion faded into the stillness of death. Mourning swept through the empire for the sovereign who had loved his people so deeply. Resolving that his father's legacy of justice and compassion would never be tarnished, Yazdgard swore to continue Bahram's noble ways. They entombed the legendary king in a magnificent mausoleum, as the world wept for the loss of Bahram Gur.
#1
برین سان همی خورد شست و سه سال
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کس اندر زمانه نبودش همال
“For sixty and three years he reigned in this wise, and in his time there was none to equal him.”
#2
سر سال در پیش او شد دبیر
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خردمند موبد که بودش وزیر
“At the turn of the year, his scribe came before him—the wise Mobad who served as his minister.”
#3
که شد گنج شاه بزرگان تهی
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کنون آمدم تا چه فرمان دهی
“He said: 'The treasury of the King of grandees is empty; now I am come to see what command thou wilt give.'”
#4
هرانکس که دارد روانش خرد
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به مال کسان از بنه ننگرد
“The King replied: 'Whosoever hath wisdom in his soul doth never look covetously upon the wealth of others.'”
#5
چنین پاسخ آورد این خود مساز
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که هستیم زین ساختن بی‌نیاز
“'Bring not such a remedy, for we are truly independent of accumulating such treasure.'”
#6
جهان را بدان باز هل کافرید
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سر گردش آفرینش بدید
“'Leave the world unto Him who created it, for He beholdeth the turning of all creation.'”
#7
همی بگذرد چرخ و یزدان به جای
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به نیکی ترا و مرا رهنمای
“'The heavens turn and God abideth, guiding both thee and me unto goodness.'”
#8
بخفت آن شب و بامداد پگاه
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بیامد به درگاه بی‌مر سپاه
“He slept that night, and at early dawn an endless host gathered at his court.”
#9
گروهی که بایست کردند گرد
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بر شاه شد پور او یزدگرد
“The group of elders who were needed assembled, and his son Yazdgard came before the King.”
#10
به پیش بزرگان بدو داد تاج
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همان طوق با افسر و تخت عاج
“Before the grandees, he gave him the crown, as well as the necklace, the diadem, and the ivory throne.”
#11
پرستیدن ایزد آمدش رای
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بینداخت تاج و بپردخت جای
“He resolved to worship God alone; he cast off the crown and vacated his royal seat.”
#12
گرفتش ز کردار گیتی شتاب
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چو شب تیره شد کرد آهنگ خواب
“The swift turn of fate overtook him; when dark night descended, he turned to sleep.”
#13
چو بنمود دست آفتاب از نشیب
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دل موبد شاه شد پر نهیب
“When the sun showed its hand from below, the Mobad's heart filled with dire dread,”
#14
که شاه جهان برنخیرد همی
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مگر از کرانی گریزد همی
“Fearing that the King of the world rose not, unless he had fled to some secret realm.”
#15
بیامد به نزد پدر یزدگرد
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چو دیدش کف اندر دهانش فسرد
“Yazdgard came to his father's side; when he saw him, froth was frozen at his mouth.”
#16
ورا دید پژمرده رنگ رخان
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به دیبای زربفت بر داده جان
“He saw his complexion withered, having yielded his soul upon gold-embroidered silk.”
#17
چنین بود تا بود و این بود روز
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تو دل را به آز و فزونی مسوز
“Such has it been since time began, and such is the day; burn not thy heart with greed and excess.”
#18
بترسد دل سنگ و آهن ز مرگ
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هم ایدر ترا ساختن نیست برگ
“Even a heart of stone and iron fears death; thou too hast no permanent dwelling here.”
#19
بی‌آزاری و مردمی بایدت
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گذشته چو خواهی که نگزایدت
“Thou needest harmlessness and humanity, if thou desirest that past days harm thee not.”
#20
همی نو کنم بخشش و داد اوی
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مبادا که گیرد به بد یاد اوی
“Yazdgard said: 'I shall renew his giving and justice, lest he be remembered with ill.'”
#21
ورا دخمه‌ای ساختند شاهوار
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ابا مرگ او خلق شد سوکوار
“They built him a kingly mausoleum, and the people mourned deeply over his death.”
#22
کنون پرسخن مغزم اندیشه کرد
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بگویم جهان جستن یزدگرد
“Now my full-thoughted brain pondereth; I shall recount Yazdgard's quest for the world.”