#1
برین سان همی خورد شست و سه سال
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
بگویم جهان جستن یزدگرد
“Now my full-thoughted brain pondereth; I shall recount Yazdgard's quest for the world.”