When King Khosrow Anushirvan returned from the hunting grounds to his royal palace, the grandees and noble mobads assembled before him. The King commanded Ardashir, the supreme Mobad and scribe of the realm, to bring forth Pahlavi parchment and reed pen. As the amber-hued ink flowed across the page, Ardashir first inscribed praises unto the Just Creator—He who fashioned the revolving heavens, the soaring heights, the warmth of life, and the bonds of love. All beings are His servants, and wisdom itself stands witness to His absolute majesty; not a breath is drawn nor an ant treads upon the earth without His sovereign decree.
Following the sacred prologue, Khosrow dictated his response to the Khaqan of China: 'First, thou didst speak of the Hephthalites, who girded themselves in malice, shed innocent blood without cause, and entangled themselves in their own snare. Yet know that even if an evil-doer possesses the strength of a lion, he must never dare defy the Almighty. Because they chose the ravenous path of the panther, they fell into their own pit, and victory was granted unto thee over them.
'Second, thou didst boast of thy vast treasures, thy countless hosts, the force of Faghfur, and thy exalted throne. Yet a wise man of noble lineage never sings his own praise. Thou hast never witnessed true imperial grandeur, nor seen royal crowns; thus the army of Chaj appeared wondrous in thy eyes. One should speak in such wise that he boasts not of treasures or armies unproven. The great ones of the earth have beheld my sovereign rule; I consider the vast sea of China not worth a single drop of water, and the solid mountains tremble when I stir. All the earth, wherever water flows and soil abides, lies beneath my treasury and tribute.
'Third, thou didst seek friendship and a union between our royal houses. I too seek the banquet rather than the battlefield, for no rational man prefers war over peaceful celebration. Yet a wise monarch never challenges a renowned warrior to battle—especially one who was forged in the crucible of war and needs no master in combat. In the heat of violent battle, one's heart must remain as tranquil as though seated upon a golden throne. May the Creator of the World be thy ally, and may thy crown and signet remain forever luminous.'
When the letter was brought to a close, it was sealed with the imperial signet of the King of Kings. According to ancient Kayanid rites, glorious robes of honor were prepared for the envoy, and Khosrow added further verbal messages. The ambassadors departed the imperial hall with joyful hearts, chanting praises unto the Shah.
Upon arriving before the Khaqan of China, the ruler cleared his court, ascended his golden throne, and summoned the envoys into his presence. He inquired extensively concerning Khosrow—of his intellect, wisdom, and majestic posture; of the size of his armies and the nobility who wore his signet rings; of his justice, his realm, his treasures, and his crown. The eloquent envoy opened his mouth and recounted all he had witnessed: 'O Great Sovereign! Do not deem Khosrow an inferior prince! During the days we abode in his court, whether in the hall of battle or the hunting wilderness, we saw no monarch like unto him. He stands tall as a cypress with the strength of a war elephant, and his generosity flows like the mighty Nile. Upon the throne, he is a sky of loyalty; upon the battlefield, a dragon of calamity. When enraged, he roars like a thundercloud, taming fierce lions with his voice; yet when he pours wine, his soft speech captures every heart. He is like the blessed angel Sorush upon his throne, a fruitful tree of glory.'
The envoy declared that all the host of Iran were his devout servants, ready to lay down their lives for his crown. When he pitches his imperial pavilion upon the plains, the world itself cannot contain his legions—mace-bearing paladins adorned with splendor, attendants wearing belts of gold, war elephants, ivory thrones, armlets, and radiant crowns. None can compute his majesty save the Almighty Creator. Should his enemy be a mountain of solid iron, it would pass through the eye of a needle before his burning wrath, and only he who is weary of life itself would dare raise a blade against King Anushirvan.
#1
به ایوان شد از دشت شاه جهان
✦
یکایک برفتند با اومهان
“The King of the world entered the hall from the plain, and one by one the nobles gathered before him.”
#2
بفرمود تا پیش او شد دبیر
✦
ابا موبد موبدان اردشیر
“He commanded the royal scribe to come before him, along with Ardashir, the supreme Mobad of Mobads.”
#3
به قرطاس برنامهٔ خسروی
✦
نویسنده بنوشت بر پهلوی
“Upon the parchment of the royal letter, the scribe wrote in the sacred Pahlavi script.”
#4
قلم چون دو رخ را به عنبر بشست
✦
سرنامه کرد آفرین از نخست
“When the pen washed its two faces with amber ink, the preamble of the letter began with praises of God.”
#5
بران دادگر کوسپهر آفرید
✦
بلندی وتندی و مهر آفرید
“Praises to that Just Creator who fashioned the heavens, who created soaring heights, strength, and love.”
#6
همه بنده‌گانیم و او پادشاست
✦
خرد برتوانایی او گواست
“We are all His humble servants and He is the Supreme Ruler; wisdom itself bears witness to His almighty power.”
#7
نفس جز به فرمان اونشمرد
✦
پی مور بی او زمین نسپرد
“No breath is drawn except by His command, nor does an ant step upon the earth without His will.”
#8
ازو خواستم تا مگر آفرین
✦
رساند ز ما سوی خاقان چین
“From Him I requested that He might carry our blessings and greetings unto the Khaqan of China.”
#9
نخست آنک گفتی ز هیتالیان
✦
کزان گونه بستند بد را میان
“First, regarding what thou didst say of the Hephthalites, how they girded themselves in malice and evil.”
#10
به بیداد بر خیره خون ریختند
✦
به دام نهاده خود آویختند
“They shed innocent blood in tyranny without cause, and thus became ensnared in the very trap they laid.”
#11
اگر بد کنش زور دارد چو شیر
✦
نباید که باشد به یزدان دلیر
“Even if an evil-doer possesses the strength of a lion, he ought not to act insolently against God.”
#12
چوایشان گرفتند راه پلنگ
✦
تو پیروز گشتی برایشان به جنگ
“Since they chose the ferocious path of the panther, thou didst become victorious over them in battle.”
#13
و دیگر که گفتی ز گنج و سپاه
✦
ز نیروی فغفور و تخت و کلاه
“And second, what thou didst speak of thy treasure, army, the might of Faghfur, the throne, and the royal crown.”
#14
کسی کز بزرگی زند داستان
✦
نباشد خردمند همداستان
“Whosoever boasts vanity of his own greatness will not find agreement with a wise man.”
#15
توتخت بزرگی ندیدی نه تاج
✦
شگفت آمدت لشکر و مرز چاج
“Thou hast never seen a true throne of grandeur nor a royal crown, hence the army and border of Chaj seemed wondrous to thee.”
#16
چنین باکسی گفت باید که گنج
✦
نبیند نه لشکر نه رزم و نه رنج
“One should speak to others in a manner that boasts not of unseen treasures, armies, battles, or tribulations.”
#17
بزرگان گیتی مرا دیده‌اند
✦
کسان کم ندیدند بشنیده‌اند
“The magnates of the world have seen me; those who have not seen me have surely heard of my deeds.”
#18
که دریای چین را ندارم به آب
✦
شود کوه از آرام من درشتاب
“I hold the Sea of China not worth a single drop of water, and solid mountains tremble at my repose.”
#19
سراسر زمین زیر گنج منست
✦
کجا آب وخاکست رنج منست
“The entire earth lies beneath my treasury; wherever there is water and land, it pays tribute to my effort.”
#20
سه دیگر کجا دوستی خواستی
✦
به پیوند ما دل بیاراستی
“Third, where thou didst seek friendship and didst adorn thy heart with the desire of our alliance.”
#21
همی بزم جویی مرا نیست رزم
✦
نه خرد کسی رزم هرگز به بزم
“I too seek the feast and have no desire for war, for no wise person ever trades a feast for battle.”
#22
و دیگر که با نامبردار مرد
✦
نجوید خردمند هرگز نبرد
“Furthermore, a wise man never seeks battle with a warrior of legendary renown.”
#23
بویژه که خود کرده باشد به جنگ
✦
گه رزم جستن نجوید درنگ
“Especially one who has proven himself in war, who hesitates not when the hour of battle comes.”
#24
بسی دیده باشد گه کارزار
✦
نخواهد گه رزم آموزگار
“One who has witnessed much on the battlefield requires no instructor in the art of war.”
#25
دل خویش باید که درجنگ سخت
✦
چنان رام دارد که با تاج و تخت
“In fierce combat, one must keep one's heart as calm and controlled as when seated upon the royal throne.”
#26
تو را یار بادا جهان آفرین
✦
بماناد روشن کلاه و نگین
“May the Creator of the World be thy helper, and may thy crown and signet ring remain forever radiant.”
#27
نهادند برنامه بر مهر شاه
✦
بیاراست آن خسروی تاج و گاه
“They placed the royal letter under the seal of the Shah, adorning that Kayanid crown and throne.”
#28
برسم کیان خلعت آراستند
✦
فرستاده را پیش اوخواستند
“Following the royal tradition of Kayanids, robes of honor were prepared, and the envoy was summoned before the Shah.”
#29
ز پیغام هرچش به دل بود نیز
✦
به گفتار بر نامه بفزود نیز
“Whatever oral messages he held in his heart, the King added them in speech to the written epistle.”
#30
بخوبی برفتند ز ایوان شاه
✦
ستایش کنان برگرفتند راه
“The envoys departed gracefully from the Shah's court, taking to the road while offering endless praise.”
#31
رسیدند پس پیش خاقان چین
✦
سراسر زبانها پر از آفرین
“They arrived before the Khaqan of China, their tongues completely filled with praises of Khosrow.”
#32
جهاندیده خاقان بپردخت جای
✦
بیامد برتخت او رهنمای
“The world-experienced Khaqan vacated his place, stepped forward, and ascended his royal throne.”
#33
فرستادگان را همه پیش خواند
✦
ز کسری فراوان سخنها براند
“He called all the envoys before him and spoke at great length concerning King Khosrow.”
#34
نخست از هش و دانش و رای اوی
✦
ز گفتار و دیدار و بالای او
“First he asked of his intellect, wisdom, and judgment, of his speech, appearance, and stature.”
#35
دگر گفت چندست با او سپاه
✦
ازیشان که دارد نگین و کلاه
“Then he asked how large his army was, and how many crown-wearing grandees he held under his command.”
#36
ز داد وز بیداد وز کشورش
✦
هم از لشکر و گنج وز افسرش
“He asked of his justice and tyranny, of his kingdom, his host, his treasury, and his royal crown.”
#37
فرستاده گویا زبان برگشاد
✦
همه دیده ها پیش او کرد یاد
“The eloquent envoy opened his mouth and recounted everything he had witnessed with his own eyes.”
#38
به خاقان چین گفت کای شهریار
✦
تواو را بدین زیردستی مدار
“He said to the Khaqan of China: 'O Sovereign! Do not consider him an inferior ruler!'”
#39
بدین روزگاری که ما نزد اوی
✦
ببودیم شادان دل و تازه روی
“'During these days when we abode in his presence, with happy hearts and joyful countenance,'”
#40
به ایوان رزم و به دشت شکار
✦
ندیدیم هرگز چنو شهریار
“'Whether in the palace of war or upon the hunting plain, we have never seen a monarch like unto him.'”
#41
به بالای سروست و هم زور پیل
✦
به بخشندگی همچو دریای نیل
“'He has the stature of a tall cypress and the strength of a war elephant, while his generosity is like the Nile river.'”
#42
چو برگاه باشد سپهر وفاست
✦
به آورد گه هم نهنگ بلاست
“'Upon the throne he is a heaven of loyalty, and in the battleground he is a whale of calamity.'”
#43
اگر تیز گردد بغرد چو ابر
✦
از آواز او رام گردد هژبر
“'If he grows enraged, he roars like a cloud; at his thunderous voice, the fierce lion grows tame.'”
#44
وگر می‌گسارد به آواز نرم
✦
همی دل ستاند به گفتار گرم
“'And if he pours wine with a gentle voice, he wins every heart with his warm speech.'”
#45
خجسته سروشست بر گاه و تخت
✦
یکی بارور شاخ زیبا درخت
“'He is like the auspicious angel Sorush upon the throne, a beautiful and fruitful tree of grace.'”
#46
همه شهر ایران سپاه ویند
✦
پرستندگان کلاه ویند
“All the domain of Iran constitutes his host; all its people are devoted servants to his crown.”
#47
چوسازد به دشت اندرون بارگاه
✦
نگنجد همی درجهان آن سپاه
“When he pitches his royal pavilion in the plain, the realm of the world can barely contain his vast army.”
#48
همه گُرزداران با زیب وفر
✦
همه پیشکاران به زرین کمر
“All are mace-bearing warriors endowed with grandeur, all are noble attendants girt with belts of gold.”
#49
ز پیل وز بالا و از تخت عاج
✦
ز اورنگ وز یاره و طوق و تاج
“Rich with mighty elephants, lofty litters, ivory thrones, royal seats, armlets, golden collars, and crowns.”
#50
کس آیین او را نداند شمار
✦
به گیتی جز از دادگر شهریار
“No one in this world knows the true measure of his magnificence, save for the Just Monarch himself.”
#51
اگر دشمنش کوه آهن شود
✦
بر خشم او چشم سوزن شود
“Should his enemy become a mountain of solid iron, before the furnace of his wrath it shrinks to the eye of a needle.”
#52
هرآنکس که سیر آید از روزگار
✦
شود تیز وبا او کند کارزار
“Only he who has grown weary of life itself would rashly step forward to wage war against him.”