In the serene counsel of the royal chamber, King Khosrow Anushirvan unveiled his innermost thoughts to his wise chief Mobad. The righteous monarch affirmed that a sovereign's true legacy rests not upon accumulated wealth or ephemeral power, but solely upon justice and truth. To hoard treasures while the world suffers in ephemeral agony, he declared, brings only torment to the soul in this fleeting realm. The king recounted how he had pondered the vulnerabilities of the kingdom, recognizing that an undefended crown invites the lingering shadow of Ahriman.
Determined to build an invincible shield for Iran without burdening the impoverished, Anushirvan conceived a noble strategy. He ordered the royal treasuries opened, dispensing gold and silver to every province so that no subject would fall into destitution. Concurrently, imperial decrees were dispatched to every lord, noble, and chieftain across the empire. The letters commanded all leaders to train their youth in the arts of war—in horsemanship, the wielding of the heavy mace, the sword, and the bow. Anushirvan warned that an unaccomplished youth, even if descended from the legendary archer Arash himself, remains unfit for honor and command.
For forty days, royal funds were distributed, prompting young warriors from every corner of the realm to equip themselves and step forward with pride. Thus, a formidable and disciplined army was forged, outshining the legions of all past monarchs in both spirit and martial readiness. Upon hearing the king's profound wisdom and meticulous planning, the chief Mobad showered abundant blessings upon the royal throne and Anushirvan's divine glory. As the golden sun ascended and dissolved the dark tresses of night, the radiant young king took his seat upon the imperial throne, welcoming seekers of justice and leaders of nations to his court.
#1
به موبد چنین گفت نوشین‌روان
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که با داد ما پیر گردد جوان
“Thus spoke Anushirvan to the high priest: 'Through our justice, even the youth grows wise as the elderly.'”
#2
به گیتی نباید که از شهریار
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بماند جز از راستی یادگار
“Nothing should remain in the world from a monarch save the enduring memory of righteousness.”
#3
چرا باید این گنج و این روز رنج
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روان بستن اندر سرای سپنج
“Why should one bind one's soul to treasure and days of toil within this transient abode?”
#4
چو ایدر نخواهی همی‌آرمید
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بباید چرید و بباید چمید
“Since you are not to abide here forever, one must live uprightly and walk with grace.”
#5
پراندیشه بودم ز کار جهان
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سخن را همی‌داشتم در نهان
“My mind was deeply troubled by the affairs of the world, yet I kept my thoughts concealed.”
#6
که تا تاج شاهی مرا دشمنست
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همه گرد بر گرد آهرمنست
“For as long as the royal crown is envied by foes, all around us lurks the shadow of Ahriman.”
#7
به دل گفتم آرم ز هر سو سپاه
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بخواهم ز هر کشوری رزمخواه
“I said to my heart: I shall gather armies from every quarter and summon warriors from every realm.”
#8
نگردد سپاه انجمن جز به گنج
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به بی مردی آید هم از گنج رنج
“Yet an army is not assembled without gold, and without brave men, treasure brings only grief.”
#9
اگر بد به درویش خواهد رسید
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ازین آرزو دل بباید برید
“If hardship is to befall the needy through this desire, then one must cut heart from such an ambition.”
#10
همی‌راندم با دل خویش راز
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چو اندیشه پیش خرد شد فراز
“I shared these secrets with my own heart, until thought met with the counsel of wisdom.”
#11
سوی پهلوانان و سوی ردان
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هم از پند بیداردل بخردان
“I turned to the champions and noble chieftains, seeking counsel from enlightened and wise minds.”
#12
نبشتم به هر کشوری نامه‌ای
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به هر نامداری و خودکامه‌ای
“I wrote a royal decree to every kingdom, to every famous chieftain and ruler,”
#13
که هر کس که دارید هوش و خرد
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همی کهتری را پسر پرورد
“That whoever among you possesses intellect and reason, let him foster his young sons,”
#14
به میدان فرستید با ساز جنگ
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بجویند نزدیک ما نام و ننگ
“And send them to the battlefield equipped for war, to seek honor and renown beside us.”
#15
نباید که اندر فراز و نشیب
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ندانند چنگ و عنان و رکیب
“Let it not be that upon hill or dale they know not how to master the reins, the stirrup, and the fight.”
#16
به گُرز و به شمشیر و تیر و کمان
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بدانند پیچید با بدگمان
“They must know how to clash with malicious foes using mace, sword, bow, and arrow.”
#17
جوان بی‌هنر سخت ناخوش بود
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اگر چند فرزند آرش بود
“A youth devoid of skill and virtue is most unseemly, even if he be a scion of Arash himself.”
#18
عرض شد ز در سوی هر کشوری
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درم برد نزدیک هر مهتری
“Envoys dispatched from the court to every realm, carrying silver and gold to every noble lord.”
#19
چهل روز بودی درم را درنگ
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برفتند از شهر با ساز جنگ
“For forty days the distribution of coin continued, and then they marched forth equipped for battle.”
#20
ز دیوان چو دینار برداشتند
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بدان خرمی روز بگذاشتند
“When they received the gold from the treasury, they spent those days in joyful readiness.”
#21
کنون لاجرم روی گیتی بمرد
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بیاراستم تا کی آید نبرد
“Now indeed the face of the earth has turned pale before us; I have prepared all until battle comes.”
#22
مرا ساز و لشکر ز شاهان پیش
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فزونست و هم دولت و رای بیش
“My equipment and army exceed those of former kings, as do my fortune, intellect, and counsel.”
#23
سخنها چو بشنید موبد ز شاه
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بسی آفرین خواند بر تاج و گاه
“When the Mobad heard these words from the king, he showered countless blessings upon the crown and throne.”
#24
چو خورشید بنمود تابنده چهر
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در باغ بگشاد گردان سپهر
“As the bright sun revealed its shining face, the turning sphere opened the gates of the garden of dawn.”
#25
پدید آمد آن تودهٔ شنبلید
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دو زلف شب تیره شد ناپدید
“The golden yellow cluster of dawn appeared, and the two dark tresses of night vanished away.”
#26
نشست از بر تخت نوشین روان
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خجسته دلفروز شاه جوان
“Anushirvan sat upon the royal throne—that blessed, heart-illuminating young monarch.”
#27
جهانی به درگاه بنهاد روی
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هر آنکس که بد بر زمین راه‌جوی
“The entire world turned its face to his court—everyone on earth who sought a noble path.”