Swift couriers rode continuously from the marches of Ctesiphon to bring grave tidings to King Anushirvan: his son Nush-Zad had raised the banner of rebellion, rallying freed prisoners, outlaws, and foreign partisans to his cause. The news cast a dark shadow over the monarch's heart. He who had bound the world in justice now faced defiance from within his own bloodline.
Anushirvan summoned his chief Mobad for a secret counsel to deliberate upon this sorrowful turn of fate. Thereafter, he commanded his royal scribe to draft a formal decree—a letter heavy with grief, righteous anger, and immortal wisdom. The letter opened with profound praise for Yazdan, the Eternal Creator of the cosmos, the moon, and Saturn, whose divine law governs all things from the smallest ant to the roaring elephant, and from dry straw to the mighty Nile.
Addressing the rebellious prince, the King reproved Nush-Zad for allowing his wisdom to be overshadowed by demonic temptation. He reminded his son of the absolute inevitability of death, noting that the earth's bosom is filled with fallen monarchs and forgotten warriors, and that neither the fragile mosquito nor the colossal rhinoceros can escape fate's talons. Anushirvan declared that if destiny had decreed the end of his own reign, Nush-Zad would have naturally inherited the throne; thus, this rash betrayal was pure madness. He emphasized that he feared not the loss of wealth or kingdom, but only the anger of Yazdan should he prove ungrateful for the Royal Glory bestowed upon him. Finally, touching upon the treasonous correspondence between Nush-Zad and the Roman Caesar, Anushirvan restrained his tongue from directly cursing his son, recognizing that cursing his own flesh and blood would be cursing himself.
#1
خبر زین به شهر مداین رسید
✦
ازان که آمد از پور کسری پدید
“News reached the city of Ctesiphon of what had manifested through the son of Kasra.”
#2
نگهبان مرز مداین ز راه
✦
سواری برافگند نزدیک شاه
“The guardian of Ctesiphon's frontier dispatched a swift horseman to the King.”
#3
سخن هرچ بشنید با او بگفت
✦
چنین آگهی کی بود در نهفت
“He recounted all that he had heard to him; for how could such grave news remain hidden?”
#4
فرستاده برسان آب روان
✦
بیامد به نزدیک نوشین‌روان
“The messenger arrived before Nushin-Ravan as swiftly as flowing water.”
#5
بگفت آنچ بشنید و نامه بداد
✦
سخنها که پیدا شد از نوش‌زاد
“He related what he had heard and delivered the letter detailing all that Nush-Zad had wrought.”
#6
ازو شاه بشنید و نامه بخواند
✦
غمی گشت زان کار و تیره بماند
“When the King heard this and read the letter, he grew deeply grieved and his world turned dark.”
#7
جهاندار با موبد سرفراز
✦
نشست و سخن رفت چندی به راز
“The World-Lord sat in secret with the noble Mobad, and long they spoke in confidence.”
#8
چو گشت آن سخن بر دلش جای گیر
✦
بفرمود تا نزد او شد دبیر
“When those words took root in his heart, he commanded the royal scribe to appear before him.”
#9
یکی نامه بنوشت با داغ و درد
✦
پرآژنگ رخ لب پر از باد سرد
“He composed a letter steeped in anguish and pain, with a furrowed brow and cold sighs upon his lips.”
#10
نخستین بران آفرین گسترید
✦
که چرخ و زمان و زمین آفرید
“First, he lavished praise upon Him who created the heavens, time, and the earth,”
#11
نگارندهٔ هور و کیوان و ماه
✦
فروزندهٔ فر و دیهیم و گاه
“The Painter of the sun, Saturn, and the moon; the Illuminator of glory, crown, and throne.”
#12
ز خاشاک ناچیز تا شیر و پیل
✦
ز گرد پی مور تا رود نیل
“From worthless dust to the lion and elephant, from the dust of an ant's foot to the River Nile,”
#13
همه زیر فرمان یزدان بود
✦
وگر در دم سنگ و سندان بود
“All exist under the command of God, even if sealed within stone and anvil.”
#14
نه فرمان او را کرانه پدید
✦
نه زو پادشاهی بخواهد برید
“No end is visible to His decree, nor can any realm cut itself off from His authority.”
#15
بدانستم این نامهٔ ناپسند
✦
که آمد ز فرزند چندین گزند
“I have learned of this unworthy letter, and how such harm has proceeded from my son,”
#16
وزان پرگناهان زندان‌شکن
✦
که گشتند با نوش‌زاد انجمن
“And of those sin-laden breakers of prisons who assembled alongside Nush-Zad.”
#17
چنین روز اگر چشم دارد کسی
✦
سزد گر نماند به گیتی بسی
“If anyone anticipates such a dark day, it were fitting if he remained not long in this world.”
#18
که جز مرگ را کس ز مادر نزاد
✦
ز کسری بر آغاز تا نوش‌زاد
“For no one is born of a mother except for death—from Kasra at the top down to Nush-Zad.”
#19
رها نیست از چنگ و منقار مرگ
✦
پی پشه و مور با پیل و کرگ
“None can escape the claws and beak of death, whether gnat or ant, elephant or rhinoceros.”
#20
زمین گر گشاده کند راز خویش
✦
بپیماید آغاز و انجام خویش
“If the earth should open up its secrets, measuring out its beginning and its end,”
#21
کنارش پر از تاجداران بود
✦
برش پر ز خون سواران بود
“Its bosom is filled with crown-bearing kings, its lap soaked with the blood of horsemen.”
#22
پر از مرد دانا بود دامنش
✦
پر از خوب رخ جیب پیراهنش
“Its skirt is packed with wise men, its folds filled with fair-faced maidens.”
#23
چه افسر نهی بر سرت بر چه ترگ
✦
بدو بگذرد زخم پیکان مرگ
“Whether you place a royal crown upon your head or a helmet of war, the arrow-strike of death shall pierce it.”
#24
گروهی که یارند با نوش‌زاد
✦
که جز مرگ کسری ندارند یاد
“That group who stand as allies to Nush-Zad look forward to nothing save the death of Kasra.”
#25
اگر خود گذر یابی از روز بد
✦
به مرگ کسی شاد باشی سزد
“Even if you yourself escape the evil day, is it fitting to rejoice in another's death?”
#26
و دیگر که از مرگ شاهان داد
✦
نگیرد کسی یاد جز بدنژاد
“And furthermore, none recalls the death of just kings with joy except those of evil lineage.”
#27
سر نوش‌زاد از خرد بازگشت
✦
چنین دیو با او هم‌آواز گشت
“Nush-Zad's mind has strayed from wisdom; thus a demon has become his companion.”
#28
نباشد برو پایدار این سخن
✦
برافراخت چون خواست آمد ببن
“This glory will not endure for him; he exalted himself just as his end drew near.”
#29
نبایست کو نزد ما دستگاه
✦
بدین آگهی خیره کردی تباه
“He ought not to have foolishly ruined his status and honor in our eyes over such news.”
#30
اگر تخت گشتی ز خسرو تهی
✦
همو بود زیبای شاهنشهی
“If the throne were emptied of Khosrow, he himself was the worthy ornament of royalty.”
#31
چنین بود خود در خور کیش اوی
✦
سزاوار جان بداندیش اوی
“Yet such was fitting for his faith, and worthy of his ill-wishing soul.”
#32
ازین بر دل اندیشه و باک نیست
✦
اگر کیش فرزند ما پاک نیست
“Yet my heart harbors no dread or worry, even if our son's faith be unpure.”
#33
وزین کس که با او بهم ساختند
✦
وز آزرم ما دل بپرداختند
“Nor do I grieve for those who conspired with him and cast off respect for us from their hearts,”
#34
وزان خواسته کو تبه کرد نیز
✦
همی بر دل ما نسنجد به چیز
“Nor for the treasures he ruined; none of this weighs upon my heart at all.”
#35
بداندیش و بیکار و بدگوهرند
✦
بدین زیردستی نه اندر خورند
“They are ill-wishers, idle, and of vile nature; they are unfit even for low subjection.”
#36
ازین دست خوارست بر ما سخن
✦
ز کردار ایشان تو دل بد مکن
“Such matters are trivial to us; do not let your heart be troubled by their deeds.”
#37
مرا بیم و باک از جهانداورست
✦
که از دانش برتران برترست
“My only fear and awe is of the World-Lord, who is higher in knowledge than all the exalted.”
#38
نباید که شد جان ما بی‌سپاس
✦
به نزدیک یزدان نیکی‌شناس
“Lest our soul become ungrateful before God, the knower of all goodness.”
#39
مرا داد پیروزی و فرهی
✦
فزونی و دیهیم شاهنشهی
“He granted me victory, divine glory, abundance, and the crown of kingship.”
#40
سزای دهش گر نیایش بدی
✦
مرا بر فزونی فزایش بدی
“If my praise matched His gifts, His blessings upon me would multiply even more.”
#41
گر از پشت من رفت یک قطره آب
✦
به جای دگر یافته جای خواب
“If a drop of water from my loins went forth and found its resting place elsewhere,”
#42
چو بیدار شد دشمن آمد مرا
✦
بترسم که رنج از من آمد مرا
“And waking up, became my enemy, I fear only that trouble may have come from me.”
#43
وگر گاه خشم جهاندار نیست
✦
مرا از چنین کار تیمار نیست
“Yet if it is not the moment of the Creator's wrath, I hold no sorrow over such an affair.”
#44
وزان کس که با او شدند انجمن
✦
همه زار و خوارند بر چشم من
“As for those who joined with him, they are all wretched and vile in my eyes.”
#45
وزان نامه کز قیصر آمد بدوی
✦
همی آب تیره درآمد به جوی
“And regarding that letter sent to him by Caesar, dark water has indeed entered the stream.”
#46
ازان کو هم‌آواز و هم کیش اوست
✦
گمانند قیصر بتن خویش اوست
“Since Caesar shares his creed and vocal faith, he deems him to be of his very own flesh and blood.”
#47
کسی را که کوتاه باشد خرد
✦
بدین نیاکان خود ننگرد
“Whosoever is short of wisdom and insight pays no heed to the noble faith of his ancestors.”
#48
گران بی‌خرد سر بپیچد ز داد
✦
به دشنام او لب نباید گشاد
“Though a fool in his foolishness turns away from justice, one ought not open one's lips to revile him.”
#49
که دشنام او ویژه دشنام ماست
✦
کجا از پی و خون و اندام ماست
“For to curse him is to curse ourselves indeed, since he is fashioned from our own sinews, blood, and body.”