The wheel of fortune turned in favor of young Bozorgmehr, whose star began to shine brightly over the Iranian realm, bringing immense joy to the formidable heart of King Khosrow Anushirvan. The monarch, whose spirit was anchored in justice and whose mind flourished with wisdom, had transformed his imperial court into a sanctuary for sages and keepers of secrets. Seventy articulate scholars and vigilant mobads were constantly maintained at court, provided with every royal comfort, so that whenever the King found respite from statecraft, dispensation of justice, and festive banquets, he could adorn his soul with fresh teachings.
Among these learned men stood Bozorgmehr—handsome, eloquent, and possessed of an extraordinarily acute intellect. He devoted himself to the pursuit of knowledge with such vigor that he soon surpassed the most venerable philosophers, astrologers, and scholars of the empire. Recognizing the rare brilliance of his era and hungering for deeper truths, King Anushirvan sat at his royal banquet table one day and commanded that all the most vigilant mobads, quick-witted sages, and secrets-seekers of the realm be gathered into a grand council of wisdom.
#1
فروزنده شد نام بوزرجمهر
✦
بدو روی بنمود گردان سپهر
“The name of Bozorgmehr grew luminous, as revolving fortune showed him its smiling face.”
#2
همی روز روزش فزون بود بخت
✦
بدو شادمان بد دل شاه سخت
“Day by day his good fortune increased, and the King's strong heart was filled with joy because of him.”
#3
دل شاه کسری پر از داد بود
✦
به دانش دل ومغزش آباد بود
“The heart of King Kasra was brimming with justice; his mind and heart were prosperous with wisdom.”
#4
بدرگاه بر موبدان داشتی
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ز هر دانشی بخردان داشتی
“He maintained mobads at his court and kept wise scholars of every branch of knowledge.”
#5
همیشه سخن گوی هفتاد مرد
✦
به درگاه بودی بخواب و بخورد
“Seventy eloquent men were ever present at his court, provided with food and rest.”
#6
هرانگه که پردخته گشتی ز کار
✦
ز داد و دهش وز می و میگسار
“Whenever he became free from the affairs of state, from justice, generosity, wine, and banqueting,”
#7
زهر موبدی نوسخن خواستی
✦
دلش را بدانش بیاراستی
“He would ask for fresh wisdom from every mobad, adorning his heart with knowledge.”
#8
بدانگاه نو بود بوزرجمهر
✦
سراینده وزیرک وخوب چهر
“At that time Bozorgmehr was young, eloquent, wise, and handsome of visage.”
#9
چنان بدکزان موبدان و ردان
✦
ستاره شناسان و هم بخردان
“It so happened that among those mobads, nobles, astrologers, and wise men,”
#10
همی دانش آموخت و اندر گذشت
✦
و زان فیلسوفان سرش برگذشت
“He acquired knowledge continuously until he surpassed them, rising above all those philosophers.”
#11
چنان بد که بنشست روزی بخوان
✦
بفرمود کاین موبدان را بخوان
“So it came to pass that one day the King sat at the feast and commanded: 'Summon these mobads,'”
#12
که باشند دانا و دانش پذیر
✦
سراینده و باهش و یاد گیر
“'Those who are wise, receptive to knowledge, eloquent, sharp-minded, and quick to learn.'”
#13
برفتند بیداردل موبدان
✦
زهر دانشی راز جسته ردان
“The vigilant mobads came forward, nobles who had sought out the secrets of every science.”