#1
ز دریا به راه الانان کشید
✦
یکی مرز ویران و بیکار دید
“From the sea he marched toward Alanan, and beheld a desolate and ruined borderland.”
#2
به آزادگان گفت ننگست این
✦
که ویران بود بوم ایران زمین
“He said to his nobles: 'It is a shame for the land of Iran to lie in ruin!'”
#3
نشاید که باشیم همداستان
✦
که دشمن زند زین نشان داستان
“'We must not consent to this, lest our enemies mock us and tell tales of our shame.'”
#4
ز لشکر فرستاده‌ای برگزید
✦
سخن‌گوی و دانا چنان چون سزید
“From his army he chose an envoy, eloquent and wise as befitted the quest.”
#5
بدو گفت شبگیر ز ایدر بپوی
✦
بدین مرزبانان لشکر بگوی
“He said to him: 'Depart at dawn from here, and say unto the chieftains of this host:'”
#6
شنیدم ز گفتار کارآگهان
✦
سخن هرچ رفت آشکار و نهان
“'I have heard from my spies all that hath been spoken, both openly and in secret:'”
#7
که گفتید ما را ز کسری چه باک
✦
چه ایران بر ما چه یک مشت خاک
“'That ye said: What fear have we of Khosrow? What is Iran to us but a handful of dust?'”
#8
بیابان فراخست و کوهش بلند
✦
سپاه از در تیر و گُرز و کمند
“'The desert is vast and its mountains tall; our army is skilled with arrows, maces, and lassos.'”
#9
همه جنگجویان بیگانه‌ایم
✦
سپاه و سپهبد نه زین خانه‌ایم
“'We are all alien warriors; neither our army nor our commander belong to this realm.'”
#10
کنون ما به نزد شما آمدیم
✦
سراپرده و گاه و خیمه زدیم
“'Now we have come unto your borders, pitching our royal pavilions and high tents.'”
#11
در و غار جای کمین شماست
✦
بر و بوم و کوه و زمین شماست
“'The passes and caves are your hiding places, yet this territory, mountains, and soil belong to you.'”
#12
فرستاده آمد بگفت این سخن
✦
که سالار ایران چه افگند بن
“The envoy arrived and delivered the words, telling what foundation the ruler of Iran had laid.”
#13
سپاه الانی شدند انجمن
✦
بزرگان فرزانه و رای زن
“The host of Alanan gathered together, their wise leaders and counselors assembling.”
#14
سپاهی که شان تاختن پیشه بود
✦
وز آزادمردی کم‌اندیشه بود
“A warlike host whose habit was raiding, who gave little thought to nobility or honor.”
#15
از ایشان بدی شهر ایران ببیم
✦
نماندی بکس جامه و زر و سیم
“Because of them the cities of Iran lived in dread; no man was left with clothes, gold, or silver.”
#16
زن و مرد با کودک و چارپای
✦
به هامون رسیدی نماندی بجای
“Women, men, children, and cattle fled to the plains; nothing remained in its place.”
#17
فرستاده پیغام شاه جهان
✦
بدیشان بگفت آشکار و نهان
“The envoy delivered the King of the World's message unto them, both overt and subtle.”
#18
رخ نامداران ازان تیره گشت
✦
دل از نام نوشین‌روان خیره گشت
“The faces of their chieftains turned dark with fear, their hearts astonished at the name of Nushin-Ravan.”
#19
بزرگان آن مرز و کنداوران
✦
برفتند با باژ و ساو گران
“The nobles and valiant warriors of that land set out, bringing heavy tribute and tax.”
#20
همه جامه و برده و سیم و زر
✦
گرانمایه اسبان بسیار مر
“Laden with garments, captives, silver, and gold, along with countless noble horses.”
#21
از ایشان هر آنکس که پیران بدند
✦
سخن‌گوی و دانش‌پذیران بدند
“Whosoever among them were elders, well-spoken and receptive to wisdom,”
#22
همه پیش نوشین‌روان آمدند
✦
ز کار گذشته نوان آمدند
“All came before Nushin-Ravan, weeping and lamenting for their past misdeeds.”
#23
چو پیش سراپردهٔ شهریار
✦
رسیدند با هدیه و با نثار
“When they arrived before the royal pavilion, bearing gifts and offerings,”
#24
خروشان و غلتان به خاک اندرون
✦
همه دیده پر خاک و دل پر ز خون
“They wept aloud and prostrated in the dust, their eyes full of soil and their hearts full of blood.”
#25
خرد چون بود با دلاور به راز
✦
به شرم و به پوزش نیاید نیاز
“When wisdom is secret companion to a hero, he need not suffer shame or plead for pardon.”
#26
بر ایشان ببخشود بیدار شاه
✦
ببخشید یک سر گذشته گناه
“The vigilant King took pity upon them, forgiving entirely all their past transgressions.”
#27
بفرمود تا هرچ ویران شدست
✦
کنام پلنگان و شیران شدست
“He ordered that whatever had fallen into ruin and become the lair of leopards and lions,”
#28
یکی شارستانی برآرند زود
✦
بدو اندرون جای کشت و درود
“Be rebuilt swiftly into a thriving city, complete with fields for sowing and reaping.”
#29
یکی باره‌ای گردش اندر بلند
✦
بدان تا ز دشمن نیابد گزند
“And a lofty rampart built around it, so that it might suffer no harm from enemies.”
#30
بگفتند با نامور شهریار
✦
که ما بندگانیم با گوشوار
“They said unto the renowned monarch: 'We are thy ring-in-the-ear obedient servants.'”
#31
برآریم ازین سان که فرمود شاه
✦
یکی باره و نامور جایگاه
“'We shall construct, as the King hath commanded, a high wall and a celebrated stronghold.'”
#32
وزان جایگه شاه لشکر براند
✦
به هندوستان رفت و چندی بماند
“From that place the King marched his host; he journeyed to Hindustan and stayed for a time.”
#33
به فرمان همه پیش او آمدند
✦
به جان هر کسی چاره‌جو آمدند
“All obeyed his command and came before him, eagerly seeking ways to serve him.”
#34
ز دریای هندوستان تا دو میل
✦
درم بود با هدیه و اسب و پیل
“For two miles along the Indian Sea, gifts, coins, horses, and elephants were arrayed.”
#35
بزرگان همه پیش شاه آمدند
✦
زدوده دل و نیک‌خواه آمدند
“All the chieftains came before the King, with hearts purified and full of good will.”
#36
بپرسید کسری و بنواختشان
✦
براندازه بر پایگه ساختشان
“Khosrow inquired after their welfare and bestowed upon them favor, assigning to each a station suited to their merit.”
#37
به دل شاد برگشت ز آن جایگاه
✦
جهانی پر از اسب و پیل و سپاه
“With a joyful heart he departed from that place, leaving a world abundant with horses, elephants, and vast armies.”