#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.”