As Prince Nushzad, born to King Khosrow Anushirvan and a noble Christian mother, came of age, he sought to understand the mysteries of salvation and the paths of the afterlife. He studied the law of Ezra, the teachings of Christ, and the rites of Zoroaster. Yet, finding no inner conviction in the sacred Zand and Avesta of his father's realm, he washed his face in the baptismal waters of the Messiah and embraced the faith of his mother. The entire realm marvelled at a royal prince who turned away from the sacred fire. When word reached the King of Kings, Anushirvan's heart was plunged into sorrow and wrath; he lamented that his royal rose had yielded nothing but a bitter thorn. Unwilling to endure apostasy within his house, Khosrow ordered the grand gates of Nushzad's palace in Gondeshapur to be barred shut, transforming his noble residence into a prison. Thus, far from the throne of Iran and the western marches, Nushzad was locked away alongside other captives of the state.
#1
چو دوزخ بدانست و راه بهشت
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عُزیر و مسیح و ره زردهشت
“When he came to understand Hell and the path to Paradise, studying Ezra, Christ, and the way of Zoroaster,”
#2
نیامد همی‌زند و استش درست
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دو رخ را به آب مسیحا بشست
“The Zand and Avesta did not ring true to his heart; thus, he washed his face in the baptismal waters of Christ.”
#3
ز دین پدر کیش مادر گرفت
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زمانه بدو مانده اندر شگفت
“He turned away from the faith of his royal father and adopted the creed of his mother, leaving the world in utter astonishment.”
#4
چنان تنگدل گشته زو شهریار
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که از گل نیامد جز از خار بار
“The monarch grew so deeply grieved by his son's path, lamenting that from his rose had grown naught but a sharp thorn.”
#5
در کاخ و فرخنده ایوان او
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ببستند و کردند زندان او
“They barred the doors of his grand palace and splendid hall, converting his royal abode into a prison.”
#6
نشستنگهش جند شاپور بود
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از ایران وز باختر دور بود
“His place of confinement became Gondeshapur, far removed from the heart of Iran and the western frontiers.”
#7
بسی بسته و پر گزندان بدند
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برین بهره با او به زندان بدند
“Many other fettered and afflicted prisoners shared his fate, confined alongside him in that place of exile.”