When the envoys of the Khaqan of China brought word of a proposed royal alliance to Khosrow Anushirvan, the King of Kings ordered his scribe to draft a magnificent reply. The letter opened with profound homage to Yazdan, the victorious Almighty whose command sustains the cosmos, raising the humble to the heavens and leaving the wicked to their fate. Khosrow expressed his joy at the Khaqan's goodwill and the promise of a maiden born of noble lineage, announcing that he was sending a counselor of supreme wisdom to finalize the holy bond.
Once the scribe sealed the parchment with musked wax and the King bestowed astonished eyes upon the opulent robes of honor granted to the Chinese envoys, Khosrow selected Mehran-Setad—a veteran statesman renowned for wisdom and nobility—to lead the embassy, accompanied by one hundred eloquent and illustrious Iranian knights. The King summoned Mehran-Setad and imparted critical counsel: he urged him to rely on soft speech and penetrating wisdom, cautioning him never to be deceived by mere facial beauty or superficial ornament. He instructed Mehran-Setad to scrutinize the Khaqan's inner court and choose only a princess of genuine modesty and immaculate heritage—one whose mother was the supreme Khatun herself, bearing the noble blood of both the Faghfur and the Khaqan, for a daughter born of a handmaiden could never grace the throne of Iran.
Offering praises to the King's throne, Mehran-Setad departed on the auspicious day of Khordad alongside his noble retinue. Word swiftly crossed the borders into the realm of China that Mehran-Setad and the grand embassy of Iran were drawing near.
#1
بفرمود تا نامه پاسخ نبشت
✦
گزیده سخنهای فرخ نبشت
“He commanded that an answer be written to the letter, composing auspicious and chosen words.”
#2
نخست آفرین کرد بر کردگار
✦
جهاندار پیروز و پروردگار
“First he offered praise unto the Creator, the victorious Lord and Nourisher of the world.”
#3
به فرمان اویست گیتی به پای
✦
همویست بر نیک و بد رهنمای
“By His command the cosmos stands, and He alone is the guide unto good and evil.”
#4
کسی راکه خواهد کند ارجمند
✦
ز پستی برآرد به چرخ بلند
“Whomever He wills, He exalts in glory, raising them from the depths to the high heavens.”
#5
دگر مانده اندر بد روزگار
✦
چو نیکی نخواهد بدو کردگار
“And another remains trapped in ill fortune, when the Almighty destines no good for him.”
#6
بهرنیکی از وی شناسم سپاس
✦
وگر بد کنم زو دل اندر هراس
“I offer gratitude to Him for every blessing, and if I do evil, my heart trembles before Him.”
#7
نباید که جان باشد اندر تنم
✦
اگر بیم و امید از و برکنم
“May soul not remain within my body, should I ever sever my fear and hope from Him.”
#8
رسید این فرستادهٔ به آفرین
✦
ابا گرم گفتار خاقان چین
“This worthy envoy has arrived, bringing the warm greetings of the Khaqan of China.”
#9
شنیدم ز پیوستگی هرچ گفت
✦
ز پاکان که او دارد اندر نهفت
“I heard all that he spake of alliance, and of the pure maidens he holds in secret.”
#10
مرا شاد شد دل زپیوند تو
✦
بویژه ز پوشیده فرزند تو
“My heart was made joyful by your offered bond, especially by the mention of your veiled daughter.”
#11
فرستادم اینک یکی هوشمند
✦
که دارد خرد جان او را ببند
“I now send forth an intelligent counselor, whose soul is bound by wisdom.”
#12
بیاید بگوید همه راز من
✦
ز فرجام پیوند و آغاز من
“He shall arrive to speak all my secrets, of the beginning and end of this union.”
#13
همیشه تن و جانت پرشرم باد
✦
دلت شاد و پشتت به ما گرم باد
“May your body and soul be ever filled with modesty, your heart joyful, and your reliance upon us strong.”
#14
نویسنده چون خامه بیکار گشت
✦
بیاراست قرطاس واندر نوشت
“When the scribe ceased moving his reed pen, he embellished the paper and wrote inside.”
#15
همان چون سرشک قلم کرد خشک
✦
نهادند مهری بروبر ز مشک
“As the ink dried upon the parchment, they placed upon it a seal of pure musk.”
#16
برایشان یکی خلعت افگند شاه
✦
کزان ماند اندر شگفتی سپاه
“The King bestowed such robes of honor upon them that the whole army stood in awe.”
#17
گزین کرد کسری خردمند و راد
✦
کجا نام او بود مهران ستاد
“Khosrow chose a wise and generous noble, whose name was Mehran-Setad.”
#18
ز ایرانیان نامور صد سوار
✦
سخنگوی و شایسته و نامدار
“Along with one hundred renowned Iranian horsemen, eloquent, worthy, and of high repute.”
#19
چنین گفت کسری به مهران ستاد
✦
که رو شاد و پیروز با مهر و داد
“Thus spake Khosrow to Mehran-Setad: 'Go forth joyful and victorious, guided by love and justice.'”
#20
زبان وگمان بایدت چرب‌گوی
✦
خرد رهنمای ودل آزر مجوی
“'Your speech and thoughts must be sweet; let wisdom be your guide and seek not to offend.'”
#21
شبستان او را نگه کن نخست
✦
بد و نیک بایدکه دانی درست
“'Inspect his inner women's court first; you must discern both the good and the ill truly.'”
#22
به آرایش چهره و فر و زیب
✦
نباید که گیرندت اندر فریب
“'Let not facial adornments, grandeur, and grace entrap you in deception.'”
#23
پس پردهٔ او بسی درخترست
✦
که با فر و بالا و با افسرست
“'Behind his curtains dwell many daughters, endowed with glory, stature, and crowns.'”
#24
پرستار زاده نیاید به کار
✦
اگر چند باشد پدر شهریار
“'One born of a servant girl is of no avail, even if her father be the King himself.'”
#25
نگر تا کدامست با شرم و داد
✦
به مادر که دارد ز خاتون نژاد
“'Observe which one possesses modesty and justice, born of a mother who springs from the Khatun's lineage.'”
#26
نبیره جهاندار فغفور چین
✦
ز پشت سپهدار خاقان چین
“'A granddaughter of the Faghfur of China, from the loins of the commander Khaqan of China.'”
#27
اگر گوهرتن بود با نژاد
✦
جهان زو شود شاد او نیز شاد
“'If her inner nature matches her noble lineage, the world will rejoice through her, and she will be glad.'”
#28
چوبشنید مهران ستاد این ز شاه
✦
بسی آفرین کرد بر تاج و گاه
“When Mehran-Setad heard this from the King, he offered abundant praises upon his crown and throne.”
#29
برفت از بر گاه گیتی‌فروز
✦
به فرخنده فال و بخرداد روز
“He departed from the presence of the world-illuminating throne on the auspicious day of Khordad.”
#30
به خاقان چین آگهی شد که شاه
✦
فرستاده مهران ستاد و سپاه
“Word reached the Khaqan of China that King Khosrow had dispatched Mehran-Setad and an embassy.”