King Khosrow Anushirvan journeyed from Gorgan toward Sari and Amol at the season when nightingales filled the verdant air with song. The plains and hills stretched as an unbroken wilderness of emerald beauty, yet the King's heart was heavy with deep reflection. Ascending a lofty peak upon his swift bay steed, he gazed out across the blossoming fields, the pristine streams, and the abundant game. In reverence, the Shah bowed his head in prayer to the Almighty Creator—the Fashioner of the sun and moon, the Opener of all paths—recalling how King Fereydun, the God-fearing monarch of ancient memory, had once chosen these lush woods as his seat.
As Khosrow paused in contemplation, a spokesman for the local inhabitants approached the throne, pouring out the sorrow of the borderlands. He revealed that despite the celestial paradise of their surroundings, their lives were consumed by terror; nomadic Turkic invaders routinely swept through these mountain passes, pillaging towns, slaughtering families, and carrying off livestock, leaving neither man nor beast unmolested. This very corridor remained the open gateway through which foreign hosts struck into the heartland of Iran. The elder implored the Sovereign to use his imperial wisdom to seal this breach forever.
Upon hearing the suppliant's anguish, tears filled Khosrow's eyes. Turning to his chief minister, the monarch declared that a true ruler cannot feast in comfort or wear the royal crown with honor while the noble farmers and subjects suffer under tyranny. To leave such fertile valleys to be laid waste would strip all renown and divine glory from the throne of Iran.
Without delay, Khosrow issued royal decrees to summon the most renowned master builders, masons, and engineers from Rome, India, and every realm of the empire. He threw open the royal treasuries, commanding that all labor be generously compensated so that no peasant or landowner should endure hardship or forced toil. Under the supervision of a wise Mobad, a monumental wall was raised from the depths of the waters up to the sky, forged of solid stone and mortar, ten ropes in height. Upon this impregnable barrier, a colossal iron gate was set, forever shielding the flock of Iran from the ravenous wolves of war. Placing vigilant garrisons along the entire frontier, Khosrow led his victorious host back, confident that the realm was at last secure.
#1
ز گرگان به ساری و آمل شدند
✦
به هنگام آواز بلبل شدند
“From Gorgan they journeyed toward Sari and Amol, arriving just as the nightingales began their song.”
#2
در و دشت یکسر همه بیشه بود
✦
دل شاه ایران پراندیشه بود
“Valley and plain were covered in dense woodland, and the heart of Iran’s king was filled with deep thought.”
#3
ز هامون به کوهی برآمد بلند
✦
یکی تازیی برنشسته سمند
“From the plain he rode up onto a high mountain, seated upon an Arabian steed.”
#4
سر کوه و آن بیشه‌ها بنگرید
✦
گل و سنبل و آب و نخچیر دید
“He surveyed the mountain crest and lush woods, beholding flowers, hyacinths, clear waters, and abundant game.”
#5
چنین گفت کای روشن کردگار
✦
جهاندار و پیروز و پروردگار
“He spoke, saying: 'O Radiant Creator, Lord of the world, Victorious Sustainer!'”
#6
تویی آفرینندهٔ هور و ماه
✦
گشاینده و هم نماینده راه
“'Thou art the Maker of the sun and moon, the Opener and Guide of every path.'”
#7
جهان آفریدی بدین خرمی
✦
که از آسمان نیست پیدا زمی
“'Thou hast created the world in such pleasant splendor that sky and earth seem blended into one.'”
#8
کسی کو جز از تو پرستد همی
✦
روان را به دوزخ فرستد همی
“'Whosoever worships anyone but Thee consigns his own soul unto hellfire.'”
#9
ازیرا فریدون یزدان‌پرست
✦
بدین بیشه برساخت جای نشست
“'Hence Fereydun, the God-worshipping king, built his abode in this very forest.'”
#10
بدو گفت گوینده کای دادگر
✦
گر ایدر ز ترکان نبودی گذر
“A spokesman said to him: 'O Just King! Had there been no passage here for the Turks,'”
#11
ازین مایه‌ور جا بدین فرهی
✦
دل ما ز رامش نبودی تهی
“'Our hearts would never be devoid of joy in a place of such precious splendor.'”
#12
نیاریم گردن برافراختن
✦
ز بس کشتن و غارت و تاختن
“'Yet we cannot hold our heads high because of endless slaughter, plundering, and raids.'”
#13
نماند ز بسیار و اندک به جای
✦
ز پرنده و مردم و چارپای
“'Nothing remains, great or small—neither bird, nor human, nor quadruped.'”
#14
گزندی که آید به ایران سپاه
✦
ز کشور به کشور جزین نیست راه
“'The harm that befalls the army of Iran enters by this route alone from country to country.'”
#15
بسی پیش ازین کوشش و رزم بود
✦
گذر ترک را راه خوارزم بود
“'Long ago in battles past, the path of the Turks lay through Khwarazm.'”
#16
کنون چون ز دهقان و آزادگان
✦
برین بوم و بر پارسازادگان
“'Now, from the noble landlords and freeborn citizens of this land, religious and righteous,'”
#17
نکاهد همی رنج کافزایشست
✦
به ما برکنون جای بخشایست
“'The suffering never diminishes but increases; now we stand in dire need of thy mercy.'”
#18
نباشد به گیتی چنین جای شهر
✦
گر از داد تو ما بیابیم بهر
“'No city in the world would rival this place, if through thy justice we receive our share of peace.'”
#19
همان آفریدون یزدان‌پرست
✦
به بد بر سوی ما نیازید دست
“'Even Fereydun the God-worshipper did not stretch out a hand of harm toward us.'”
#20
اگر شاه بیند به رای بلند
✦
به ما برکند راه دشمن ببند
“'If the King sees fit in his high judgment, let him seal off the enemy's path against us.'”
#21
سرشک از دو دیده ببارید شاه
✦
چو بشنید گفتار فریادخواه
“Tears streamed from the King's eyes when he heard the words of the desperate suppliant.”
#22
به دستور گفت آن زمان شهریار
✦
که پیش آمد این کار دشوار خوار
“The monarch then said to his counselor: 'This problem has presented itself as a heavy burden.'”
#23
نشاید کزین پس چمیم و چریم
✦
وگر تاج را خویشتن پروریم
“'It is not right that from now on we strut and graze in luxury, pampering ourselves for the sake of the crown,'”
#24
جهاندار نپسندد از ما ستم
✦
که باشیم شادان و دهقان دژم
“'The Lord of the world approves not oppression from us—that we be joyful while the landowners are heart-sick.'”
#25
چنین کوه و این دشتهای فراخ
✦
همه از در باغ و میدان و کاخ
“'Such majestic mountains and wide plains, fitting for gardens, arenas, and palaces,'”
#26
پر از گاو و نخچیر و آب روان
✦
ز دیدن همی خیره گردد روان
“'Full of cattle, game, and flowing water, such that the soul is dazzled merely by beholding it—'”
#27
نمانیم کین بوم ویران کنند
✦
همی غارت از شهر ایران کنند
“'We shall not suffer this land to be ruined, nor allow the Iranian cities to be plundered.'”
#28
ز شاهی وز روی فرزانگی
✦
نشاید چنین هم ز مردانگی
“'Neither by kingship nor by the light of wisdom, nor indeed by manhood, is such negligence fitting.'”
#29
نخوانند بر ما کسی آفرین
✦
چو ویران بود بوم ایران زمین
“'No one shall utter praise for us if the territory of Iran lies in ruins.'”
#30
به دستور فرمود کز هند و روم
✦
کجا نام باشد به آباد بوم
“He commanded his minister that from India and Rome, wherever prosperous realms were known,”
#31
ز هر کشوری مردم بیش بین
✦
که استاد بینی برین برگزین
“Gather knowledgeable folk from every country, selecting every expert master builder.”
#32
یکی باره از آب برکش بلند
✦
برش پهن و بالای او ده کمند
“To raise a high rampart up from the water, broad in width and ten lariats in height.”
#33
به سنگ و به گچ باید از قعر آب
✦
برآورده تا چشمهٔ آفتاب
“Out of stone and mortar from the bed of the waters, raised up unto the fountain of the sun.”
#34
هر آنگه که سازیم زین گونه بند
✦
ز دشمن به ایران نیاید گزند
“'Whenever we construct such a barrier, no harm shall come to Iran from the enemy.'”
#35
نباید که آید یکی زین به رنج
✦
بده هرچ خواهند و بگشای گنج
“'Let no one suffer distress from this labor; grant whatever they demand and open the treasury.'”
#36
کشاورز و دهقان و مرد نژاد
✦
نباید که آزار یابد ز داد
“'The farmer, the landowner, and the man of noble birth must suffer no hardship under our justice.'”
#37
یکی پیر موبد بران کار کرد
✦
بیابان همه پیش دیوار کرد
“An elderly Mobad took charge of the work, laying out the vast desert before the wall.”
#38
دری برنهادند ز آهن بزرگ
✦
رمه یک سر ایمن شد از بیم گرگ
“They fitted a massive iron gate upon it; the entire flock was secured from fear of the wolf.”
#39
همه روی کشور نگهبان نشاند
✦
چو ایمن شد از دشت لشکر براند
“He stationed sentinels all across the realm, and once secured, he marched his army back from the plain.”