Tidings of high gravity reached the ears of King Khosrow Anushirvan regarding the eastern borders. Intelligence brought word that the Khaqan of China—a formidable and ambitious monarch of Turanian lineage—had descended upon the Hephthalites with devastating force. For seven days, the combined hosts of Chaj, China, and Khotan had not unbridled their warhorses, leaving two-thirds of Ghatafar’s Hephthalite forces wounded or dead. So severe was the collapse of Hephthalite power that their shattered remnants scrambled to seat a claimant of Bahram Gur’s blood upon a fragile new throne, while the ruler of Chaghan submitted to the Khaqan's overwhelming ascendancy.
Deeply troubled by the shadow falling over the eastern marches, Khosrow ordered the grand hall decorated and summoned his supreme council. Among those who assembled by the throne were Ardashir, the Mobad of Mobads, alongside the noble scribes Shapur and Yazdegerd, and the most battle-tested counselors of the realm. Khosrow addressed the assembly: 'Unwelcome news has come from the marches of Turan, Hephthal, Chaj, and Khotan. The Khaqan, stemming from the fierce lineage of Afrasiab and Arjasb, has shattered Ghatafar and now exalts his head to the sun. He presses upon lands that pay homage to our crown. What is your collective wisdom? How shall we confront this rising storm of the Turks and the Khaqan of China?'
The wise elders arose, offering blessings upon the King. They declared that the Hephthalite realm had long been an Ahrimanic hotbed of treachery and that their destruction was nothing less than the righteous retribution of the Just God for their past betrayal—the foul murder of King Peroz, that radiant lamp of Iran. Yet, concerning the victorious Khaqan, they warned that his arrogance was indeed dangerous, but urged the Shah not to personally march his grand army into distant Khorasan. They cautioned that leaving the heartland of Iran unguarded would invite the Roman legions to cross the western borders and ravage the empire.
As Khosrow listened to the measured words of his lords, he perceived the true sentiment underlying their counsel: accustomed to decades of peace and luxury, his nobles harbored little desire for a grueling campaign in foreign sands, preferring the comfort of the court over the blood-soaked trials of war.
#1
پس آگاهی آمد به شاه بزرگ
✦
ز خاقان که شد نامدار سترگ
“News came to the great King concerning the Khaqan, who had become a formidable lord.”
#2
ز هیتال و گردان آن انجمن
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که آمد ز خاقان بریشان شکن
“Word came of the Hephthalites and their noble host, who suffered defeat at the hands of the Khaqan.”
#3
ز شاه چغانی که با بخت نو
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بیامد نشست از بر تخت نو
“And of the King of Chaghan, who with newfound fortune came and seated himself upon a new throne.”
#4
پراندیشه بنشست شاه جهان
✦
ز گفتار بیدار کارآگهان
“Full of deep apprehension sat the King of the World, pondering the reports of his vigilant intelligence-gatherers.”
#5
به ایوان بیاراست جای نشست
✦
برفتند گردان خسروپرست
“He adorned the hall of audience, and the King's loyal champions entered.”
#6
ابا موبد موبدان اردشیر
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چوشاپور وچون یزدگرد دبیر
“Together with Ardashir, the Mobad of Mobads, and scribes such as Shapur and Yazdegerd.”
#7
همان بخردان نماینده راه
✦
نشستند یک سر بر تخت شاه
“Likewise all the wise guide-finders sat together around the throne of the King.”
#8
چنین گفت کسری که ای بخردان
✦
جهان گشته و کار دیده ردان
“Thus spoke Khosrow: 'O wise men, world-experienced and battle-tested elders!”
#9
یکی آگهی یافتم ناپسند
✦
سخنهای ناخوب و ناسودمند
“I have received unwelcome news—troubling words yielding no profit.”
#10
ز هیتال وز ترک وخاقان چین
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وزان مرزبانان توران زمین
“Concerning Hephthal, the Turks, the Khaqan of China, and the border-lords of Turan's realm.”
#11
بی اندازه لشکر شدند انجمن
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ز چاچ وز چین وز ترک و ختن
“An endless army gathered together from Chaj, China, the Turks, and Khotan.”
#12
یکی هفته هیتال با ترک و چین
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ز اسبان نبرداشتند ایچ زین
“For a whole week, the Hephthalites, Turks, and Chinese rested not their saddles from their steeds.”
#13
به فرجام هیتال برگشته شد
✦
دو بهره مگر خسته و کشته شد
“In the end, the fortune of the Hephthalites was overturned; two-thirds of them were wounded or slain.”
#14
بدان نامداری که هیتال بود
✦
جهانی پر از گُرز وکوپال بود
“That famous realm of Hephthal, which was once a world filled with heavy maces and weapons...”
#15
شگفتست کآمد بریشان شکست
✦
سپهبد مباد ایچ با رای پست
“It is astonishing that defeat befell them! May no army commander ever suffer from low counsel!”
#16
اگر غاتفر داشتی نام و رای
✦
نبردی سپهر آن سپه را ز جای
“Had Ghatafar possessed true wisdom and judgment, fate would not have uprooted his army.”
#17
چوشد مرز هیتالیان پر ز شور
✦
بجستند از تخم بهرام گور
“When the Hephthalite border fell into turmoil, they sought a ruler from the lineage of Bahram Gur.”
#18
نو آیین یکی شاه بنشاندند
✦
به شاهی برو آفرین خواندند
“They seated a new monarch on the throne and raised blessings upon his kingdom.”
#19
نشستست خاقان بدان روی چاج
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سرافراز با لشگر و گنج تاج
“Meanwhile, the Khaqan sits beyond Chaj, exalted with army, treasure, and crown.”
#20
ز خویشان ارجاسب و افراسیاب
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جز از مرز ایران نبینند به خواب
“Being of the blood of Arjasb and Afrasiab, they dream of nothing save the border of Iran.”
#21
ز پیروزی لشکر غاتفر
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همی‌برفرازد به خورشید سر
“Exalted by his victory over Ghatafar's army, his head now touches the sun in pride.”
#22
سزد گر نباشیم همداستان
✦
که خاقان نخواند چنین داستان
“It is not fitting for us to agree with this status quo, lest the Khaqan recount such a triumph.”
#23
که تا آن زمین پادشاهی مراست
✦
که دارند ازو چینیان پشت راست
“For that land belongs to my sovereignty, upon which the Chinese lean for support.”
#24
همه زیردستان از ایشان به رنج
✦
سپرده بدیشان زن و مرد و گنج
“All their subjects suffer under their hardship, giving up women, men, and treasure to them.”
#25
چه بینید یکسر کنون اندرین
✦
چه سازیم با ترک وخاقان چین
“What do you all see now in this matter? What plan shall we make against the Turks and the Khaqan of China?'”
#26
بزرگان داننده برخاستند
✦
همه پاسخش را بیاراستند
“The learned elders arose and in unison prepared their response.”
#27
گرفتند یک سر برو آفرین
✦
که ای شاه نیک اختر و پاکدین
“They offered blessings upon him, saying: 'O King of fortunate star and pure faith!”
#28
همه مرز هیتال آهرمنند
✦
دورویند واین مرز را دشمنند
“All the Hephthalite borders belong to Ahriman; they are double-faced enemies to this realm.”
#29
بریشان سزد هرچ آید ز بد
✦
هم از شاه گفتار نیکو سزد
“Whatever evil befalls them is fitting, while from the King only good speech is worthy.”
#30
ازیشان اگر نیستی کین و درد
✦
جز از خون آن شاه آزادمرد
“Have we not suffered pain and vengeance at their hands, save for the blood of that noble King?”
#31
بکشتند پیروز را ناگهان
✦
چنان شهریاری چراغ جهان
“They suddenly slew King Peroz—such a monarch who was the very lamp of the world!”
#32
مبادا که باشند یک روز شاد
✦
که هرگز نخیزد ز بیداد داد
“May they never see a happy day, for justice never arises from cruelty!”
#33
چنینست بادافره دادگر
✦
همان بدکنش را بد آید به سر
“Such is the retribution of the Just God: evil ultimately comes upon the evil-doer.”
#34
ز خاقان اگر شاه راند سخن
✦
که دارد به دل کین و درد کهن
“As for the Khaqan of whom the Shah speaks, who nurtures ancient malice and pain in his heart...”
#35
سزد گر ز خویشان افراسیاب
✦
بدآموز دارد دو دیده پرآب
“It is fitting if a descendant of Afrasiab keeps his ill-taught eyes wet with tears.”
#36
دگر آنک پیروز شد دل گرفت
✦
اگر زو بترسی نباشد شگفت
“Moreover, now that he has grown victorious, he has gained courage; if you fear him, it is not strange.”
#37
ز هیتال وز لشکر غاتفر
✦
مکن یاد وتیمار ایشان مخور
“Yet make no mention of Hephthal or Ghatafar's host, nor let your heart grieve for them.”
#38
ز خویشان ارجاسب و افراسیاب
✦
زخاقان که بنشست ازان روی آب
“As for the bloodline of Arjasb and Afrasiab, and the Khaqan who sits beyond the river...”
#39
به روشن روان کار ایشان بساز
✦
تویی درجهان شاه گردن فراز
“Settle their affair with an enlightened mind, for you are the supreme, exalted King of the world!”
#40
فروغ از تو گیرد روان و خرد
✦
انوشه کسی کو روان پرورد
“Wisdom and spirit draw their luster from you; blessed is he who nurtures his soul!”
#41
تو داناتری از بزرگ انجمن
✦
نبایدت فرزانه و رای زن
“You are wiser than this great council; you require no sage or advisor.”
#42
تو را زیبد اندر جهان تاج وتخت
✦
که با فر و برزی و با رای و بخت
“Crown and throne suit you best, for you possess divine glory, grand stature, wisdom, and fortune.”
#43
اگر شاه سوی خراسان شود
✦
ازین پادشاهی هراسان شود
“Yet if the King marches toward Khorasan, this realm will fall into apprehension.”
#44
هرآن گه که بینند بی‌شاه بوم
✦
زمان تا زمان لشکر آید ز روم
“Whenever they behold a land bereft of its king, time and again an army will stream from Rome.”
#45
از ایرانیان باز خواهند کین
✦
نماند بروبوم ایران زمین
“They will seek vengeance upon the Iranians, leaving no trace of the land of Iran.”
#46
نه کس پای بر خاک ایران نهاد
✦
نه زین پادشاهی ببد کرد یاد
“Hitherto no enemy has set foot on Iran's soil, nor spoken ill of this realm.”
#47
اگر شاه را رای کینست وجنگ
✦
ازو رام گردد به دریا نهنگ
“If the King decides upon vengeance and war, even the sea-dragon will grow tame before him!'”
#48
چو بشنید ز ایرانیان شهریار
✦
ز بزم وز پرخاش وز کارزار
“When the King heard these words from the Iranians, regarding feasting, fight, and war...”
#49
کسی را نبد گرد رزم آرزوی
✦
به بزم و بناز اندرون کرده خوی
“He realized that none of them desired battle, having grown accustomed to luxury and ease.”
#50
بدانست شاه جهان کدخدای
✦
که اندر دل بخردان چیست رای
“Thus the ruler of the world understood what truly lay in the minds of his wise counselors.”