When the Khaqan of China heard the counsel of his wise mobad, he deliberated deeply and arrived at a noble resolution. Consulting his experienced ministers, he declared that in the face of inevitable turning points, silence was folly: 'War yields nothing but endless grief; far better to disperse treasure in pursuit of peace. Gold and silk provide neither food nor armor on the day of battle. What men truly require is safety, sustenance, fine raiment, and tranquil rest. He who fears destruction must hold wealth light so his body and spirit may know ease.'
Thus, the Khaqan selected ten eloquent, prudent envoys skilled in discourse. A letter of praise was penned upon Chinese silk in magnificent calligraphy, beautiful as the famed Artang. The ten wise horsemen traveled swiftly and discreetly until they arrived at the imperial gate of King Khosrow Anushirvan.
Upon receiving word of their arrival, King Khosrow commanded the royal palace to be adorned and the court curtains drawn back. The emissaries entered with joy, bowing before the throne to present their gifts and message. The silk letter was handed to the royal scribe, who read it aloud before the astonished assembly.
The epistle began with praises unto Almighty God (Yazdan) and blessings upon the sovereign of Iran. It detailed the Khaqan’s vast armies, his treasury, his favor in the eyes of the Faghfur of China who bestowed his daughter upon him, and his swift vengeance against Ghatfar and the Hephthalites who had ambushed Khosrow's previous gift caravans. The Khaqan described how he crossed the River Golzariyun, bathing the Oxus in red, to punish Ghatfar. Concluding with high praise for Khosrow's valour, wisdom, and righteousness, he sought an enduring bond of brotherhood. Moved by the Khaqan's grand posture and earnest words, Khosrow honored the ambassadors with rich lodgings and welcomed them to a magnificent royal banquet.
#1
چوبشنید خاقان ز موبد سخن
✦
یکی رای شایسته افگند بن
“When the Khaqan heard the words of the mobad, he laid the foundation of a fitting resolve.”
#2
چنین گفت با کاردان راه‌جوی
✦
که این را چه بیند خردمند روی
“He spoke to his wise and experienced counselor: 'How does a wise man view this matter?'”
#3
دوکارست پیش اندرون ناگزیر
✦
که خامش نشاید بدن خیره خیر
“'Two paths lie before us, both unavoidable; it is not right to remain blindly silent.'”
#4
که آن را به پایان جز از رنج نیست
✦
به از بر پراگندن گنج نیست
“'One leads to nothing but suffering; thus, dispersing treasure is far better.'”
#5
ز دینار پوشش نیاید نه خورد
✦
نه گستردنی روز ننگ و نبرد
“'For gold yields neither clothing nor food, nor a comfortable bed on the day of disgrace and battle.'”
#6
بدو ایمنی باید و خوردنی
✦
همان پوشش و نغز گستردنی
“'What man requires is security, sustenance, raiment, and comfortable resting places.'”
#7
هرآنکس که از بد هراسان شود
✦
درم خوار گیرد تن آسان شود
“'Whoever fears harm must hold wealth light, so his body and mind may find rest.'”
#8
ز لشکر سخنگوی ده برگزید
✦
که دانند گفتار دانا شنید
“He chose ten eloquent men from his army, who knew how to speak and comprehend wise words.”
#9
یکی نامه بنبشت با آفرین
✦
سخندان چینی چو ار تنگ چین
“He wrote a letter filled with praise, beautiful as the Artang of China, through a skilled Chinese scribe.”
#10
برفت آن خرد یافته ده سوار
✦
نهان پرسخن تا درشهریار
“Those ten wise horsemen departed in secret, carrying discreet messages to the King's gate.”
#11
به کسری چو برداشتند آگهی
✦
بیاراست ایوان شاهنشهی
“When news reached Kasra (Khosrow), he ordered the imperial hall to be magnificently adorned.”
#12
بفرمود تا پرده برداشتند
✦
ز درگاهشان شاد بگذاشتند
“He commanded the court curtain to be raised and joyfully welcomed them at the threshold.”
#13
برفتند هر ده برشهریار
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ابا نامه و هدیه و با نثار
“All ten went before the sovereign, bearing the letter, magnificent gifts, and tributes.”
#14
جهاندار چون دید بنواختشان
✦
ز خاقان بپرسید و بنشاختشان
“When the monarch saw them, he greeted them warmly, inquired of the Khaqan, and seated them honorably.”
#15
نهادند سر پیش او بر زمین
✦
بدادند پیغام خاقان چین
“They bowed their heads to the ground before him and delivered the message of the Khaqan of China.”
#16
به چینی یکی نامه‌ای برحریر
✦
فرستاده بنهاد پیش دبیر
“The envoy placed a letter written in Chinese upon silk before the royal scribe.”
#17
دبیر آن زمان نامه خواندن گرفت
✦
همه انجمن ماند اندر شگفت
“The scribe began reading the letter, and the entire assembly marveled in wonder.”
#18
سر نامه بود از نخست آفرین
✦
ز دادار بر شهریار زمین
“The letter began with praises to the Creator, invoking blessings upon the monarch of the earth.”
#19
دگر سر فرازی و گنج و سپاه
✦
سلیح وبزرگی نمودن به شاه
“Next, it recounted the Khaqan's pride, treasury, armies, weapons, and grand stature to the King.”
#20
سه دیگر سخن آنک فغفور چین
✦
مراخواند اندر جهان آفرین
“Thirdly, it told how the Faghfur of China praised him throughout the world and honored his rule.”
#21
مرا داد بی‌آرزو دخترش
✦
نجویند جز رای من لشکرش
“'He gave me his daughter without hesitation, and his army seeks nothing but my counsel.'”
#22
وزان هدیه کز پیش نزدیک شاه
✦
فرستاد وهیتال بستد ز راه
“'And concerning those gifts sent to the King, which the Hephthalites seized along the road...'”
#23
بران کینه رفتم من از شهر چاج
✦
که بستانم از غاتفر گنج وتاج
“'To avenge that insult, I marched from the city of Chaj to take the crown and treasure from Ghatfar.'”
#24
بدان گونه رفتم ز گلزریون
✦
که شد لعلگون آب جیحون ز خون
“'I advanced from Golzariyun in such fashion that the waters of the Jayhun turned crimson with blood.'”
#25
چو آگاهی آمد به ماچین و چین
✦
بگوینده برخواندیم آفرین
“'When word of your deeds reached Machin and China, we bestowed blessings upon the newsgiver...'”
#26
ز پیروزی شاه ومردانگی
✦
خردمندی و شرم و فرزانگی
“'...Praising the King’s victory, heroism, wisdom, noble modesty, and sagacity.'”
#27
همه دوستی بودی اندرنهان
✦
که جوییم باشهریار جهان
“'Our inner desire was solely friendship and seeking an alliance with the sovereign of the world.'”
#28
چو آن نامه بشنید و گفتار اوی
✦
بزرگی ومردی وبازار اوی
“When Khosrow heard the letter, its noble words, and the Khaqan’s grandeur and martial prestige...”
#29
فرستاده راجایگه ساختند
✦
ستودند بسیار و بنواختند
“...They prepared suitable lodgings for the emissaries, praising and honoring them greatly.”
#30
چو خوان ومی آراستی میگسار
✦
فرستاده راخواستی شهریار
“When the cupbearer prepared the feast and wine, the monarch summoned the envoys to his banquet.”