King Khosrow Anushirvan sat upon his throne heavy-hearted and filled with sorrow, troubled by a dream he had witnessed. He summoned the realm's interpreters of dreams and seated the wise mobads upon high places of honor. The king recounted all that he had seen in his vision to these guiding priests, seeking the hidden truth. Yet none among the dream-interpreters could provide an answer, for such knowledge lay beyond their grasp; indeed, he who acknowledges his own ignorance spares himself the sting of rebuke.
Finding no answers among the court sages, Khosrow’s heart grew anxious, turning his mind toward a new remedy. He dispatched noble lords and prudent envoys to every corner of the empire. With each messenger he sent a pouch of ten thousand dirhams, holding high hopes for their return. He commanded them to search the world over for a wise interpreter—one who had traversed many paths of learning—who could decipher the King of the World's dream and unlock its hidden mystery. To whoever succeeded, the heavy pouch of coin would be given as reward, placing the king in their debt. Thus, skilled mobads and insightful horsemen rode out in all directions across the land.
#1
نشست از بر تخت کسری دژم
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ازان دیده گشته دلش پر ز غم
“Khosrow sat upon his throne mournfully, his heart filled with sorrow because of what he had seen.”
#2
گزارندهٔ خواب را خواندند
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ردان را ابر گاه بنشاندند
“They summoned the interpreters of dreams, seating the noble sages upon the royal dais.”
#3
بگفت آن کجا دید در خواب شاه
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بدان موبدان نماینده راه
“The king recounted all he had seen in his vision to those path-guiding mobads.”
#4
گزارندهٔ خواب پاسخ نداد
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کزان دانش او را نبد هیچ یاد
“The dream interpreter gave no reply, for he possessed no knowledge of such matters.”
#5
به نادانی آنکس که خستو شود
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ز فام نکوهنده یک سو شود
“He who confesses to his own ignorance sets himself free from the debt of blame.”
#6
ز داننده چون شاه پاسخ نیافت
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پراندیشه دل را سوی چاره تافت
“Finding no response from the learned, the king turned his anxious heart toward finding a remedy.”
#7
فرستاد بر هر سویی مهتری
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که تا باز جوید ز هر کشوری
“He dispatched a noble leader to every realm to seek out an answer from every land.”
#8
یکی بدره با هر یکی یار کرد
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به برگشتن امید بسیار کرد
“He assigned a purse of coins to each envoy, harboring great hopes for their successful return.”
#9
به هر بدره‌ای بد درم ده هزار
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بدان تاکند در جهان خواستار
“In each purse were ten thousand dirhams, intended to search out and reward throughout the world.”
#10
گزارنده خواب دانا کسی
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به هر دانشی راه جسته بسی
“Seeking a wise dream interpreter who had traversed many paths of learning,”
#11
که بگزارد این خواب شاه جهان
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نهفته بر آرد ز بند نهان
“Who could interpret the dream of the King of the World and unlock what lay hidden in mystery.”
#12
یکی بدره آگنده او را دهند
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سپاسی به شاه جهان برنهند
“They would present him with a purse packed with coins, bestowing a favor upon the King of the World.”
#13
به هر سو بشد موبدی کاردان
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سواری هشیوار بسیار دان
“Thus, adept mobads and vigilant, learned horsemen set out in every direction.”