When the Khaqan of China heard the joyful accord of the Iranian envoy, his heart warmed with delight, and the sun-visaged Khatun smiled with radiant contentment. Having settled the inner arrangements of the heart, they bade Mehran Setad step forward. Plainly and with great honor, they spoke of the veiled princess of noble Khatun heritage. Mehran Setad accepted the maiden’s hand on behalf of the victorious Shahanshah of Iran, and the Khaqan justly ratified the royal union.
Retainers and attendants arrived bearing offerings, celebrating before their sovereign. Thereupon, a monumental treasure house of gifts was assembled: mountains of red dinars, precious jewels, royal torques, crowns, turquoise seals, and thrones of polished ivory. A table of Indian aloe-wood encased in gold and encrusted with gems was brought forth, alongside royal diadems, a hundred blooded horses, and a hundred mules laden with riches. Camels groaned under the weight of fine Chinese silks, and warhorses wore saddles embroidered with gold. Forty camels carried golden brocades laced with emeralds, while a hundred more carried luxurious carpets, accompanied by three hundred maidens trained in palace grace.
By order of the victorious Khaqan, a magnificent throne was set upon the brow of a mighty elephant, woven with bars of silver and gold set with countless jewels. A banner of Chinese silk fluttered so vast that it obscured the earth beneath; a hundred strong men lifted it from the plain and raised it toward the heavens. A litter wrapped in golden brocade was prepared for the untouched gem of the realm—the princess. Accompanied by three hundred maidens, fifty female attendants, and forty court eunuchs, the moon-faced princess embarked on her journey, safeguarded by a formidable army.
When all preparations were complete, the Khaqan summoned his scribe, who brought forth musk, rosewater, and silk to draft a letter as vibrant as the mythical painting gallery of Arzhang. The letter opened with praises to the Creator of the cosmos, the watchful and all-seeing Lord whose divine decree shapes the path of all mortals. The Khaqan declared that the Emperor of Iran was his supreme crown, and that this alliance was sought not merely to bestow a daughter, but because wise mobeds and elders had long praised the glory, majesty, and justice of Khosrow. He attested that nowhere in the world reigned a monarch so famed for valor, wisdom, victory, and devotion to the divine faith of God.
He noted that he was sending his own inner sight—his daughter—to serve dutifully behind the royal curtain, to absorb the culture, splendor, and wisdom of the Persian realm. Sealing the document with fragrant Chinese musk, the Khaqan bestowed upon Mehran Setad a robe of honor so magnificent that history recalled none to match it, while also lavishing gold and musk upon his retinue. Escorted by armored cavalry and decorated elephants, the caravan proceeded to the banks of the Oxus River (Jayhun). There, with tears of blood trickling from his eyelashes, the Khaqan bade farewell to his beloved child, returning with a heavy heart as the princess crossed into her new destiny.
#1
چو بشنید خاقان دلش گشت خوش
✦
بخندید خاتون خورشیدفش
“When the Khaqan heard this, his heart filled with joy, and the sun-visaged Khatun smiled warmly.”
#2
چو از چاره دلها بپرداختند
✦
فرستاده را پیش بنشاختند
“Once their minds were settled regarding the arrangement, they brought the envoy forward to sit before them.”
#3
بگفتند چیزی که بایست گفت
✦
ز فرزند خاتون که بد در نهفت
“They spoke all that needed to be said concerning the Khatun's child, who had been kept in veiled seclusion.”
#4
بپذرفت مهران ستاد از پدر
✦
به نام شهنشاه پیروزگر
“Mehran Setad accepted the marriage covenant from her father in the name of the victorious Emperor.”
#5
میانجی بپذرفت خاقان به داد
✦
همان راکه دارد ز خاتون نژاد
“The Khaqan justly granted the mediation, bestowing the daughter born of the Khatun.”
#6
پرستندگان با نثار آمدند
✦
به شادی بر شهریار آمدند
“The attendants came forward with scatterings of jewels, joyfully presenting themselves to the king.”
#7
وزان پس یکی گنج آراسته
✦
بدو در ز هر گونه‌ای خواسته
“Thereafter, an embellished treasure was prepared, containing every manner of fine wealth.”
#8
ز دینار و ز گوهر و طوق و تاج
✦
همان مهر پیروزه و تخت عاج
“Consisting of gold coins, jewels, royal collars, and crowns, as well as turquoise seals and ivory thrones.”
#9
یکی دیگر ازعود هندی به زر
✦
برو بافته چند گونه گهر
“Another treasure was of Indian aloe-wood encased in gold, inwrought with many kinds of precious stones.”
#10
ابا هر یکی افسری شاهوار
✦
صد اسب و صد استر به زین و به بار
“With each set went a royal diadem, a hundred horses, and a hundred mules equipped with saddles and loads.”
#11
شتر بارکرده ز دیبای چین
✦
بیاراسته پشت اسبان به زین
“Camels laden with fine Chinese silk, and the backs of noble horses adorned with rich saddles.”
#12
چهل را ز دیبای زربفت گون
✦
کشیده زبر جد به زر اندرون
“Forty camels bore brocades woven with gold, inlaid with emeralds set in gold.”
#13
صد اشتر ز گستردنی بار کرد
✦
پرستنده سیصد پدیدار کرد
“A hundred camels were loaded with fine floor-coverings, and three hundred maidens came into view.”
#14
همی‌بود تاهرکسی برنشست
✦
برآیین چین با درفشی بدست
“They waited until everyone was mounted, according to Chinese custom, holding banners in hand.”
#15
بفرمود خاقان پیروزبخت
✦
که بنهند برکوههٔ پیل تخت
“The fortunate Khaqan ordered a grand throne to be placed upon the back of a royal elephant.”
#16
برو بافته شوشهٔ سیم و زر
✦
به شوشه درون چند گونه گهر
“Woven with bars of silver and gold, and inlaid with diverse precious gems within the metalwork.”
#17
درفشی درفشان به دیبای چین
✦
که پیدا نبودی ز دیبا زمین
“A radiant banner of Chinese silk was raised, so immense that the ground beneath it was completely hidden.”
#18
به صد مردش از جای برداشتند
✦
ز هامون به گردون برافراشتند
“A hundred men were required to lift it from its place, hoisting it from the plain into the heavens.”
#19
ز دیبا بیاراست مهدی به زر
✦
به مهد اندرون نابسوده گهر
“They adorned a royal litter with silk and gold, placing within it the untouched, pristine gem.”
#20
چو سیصد پرستار با ماهروی
✦
برفتند شادان‌دل و راه‌جوی
“Thus three hundred maidens accompanied the moon-faced princess, setting forth with glad hearts upon the road.”
#21
فرستاد فرزند را نزد شاه
✦
سپاهی همی‌رفت با او به راه
“He dispatched his child to the King, with an escorting army riding alongside her.”
#22
پرستنده پنجاه و خادم چهل
✦
برو برگذشتند شادان به دل
“Fifty maidens and forty eunuchs passed by, their hearts filled with rejoicing.”
#23
چوپردخته شد زان بیامد دبیر
✦
بیاورد مشک و گلاب وحریر
“When these arrangements were complete, the scribe arrived, bringing musk, rosewater, and silk.”
#24
یکی نامه بنوشت ارتنگ وار
✦
پر آرایش و بوی و رنگ و نگار
“He composed a letter ornate as the Artang gallery, overflowing with ornament, scent, color, and imagery.”
#25
نخستین ستود آفریننده را
✦
جهاندار و بیدار و بیننده را
“First he praised the Almighty Creator, the Sovereign of the world, the ever-watchful and all-seeing Lord.”
#26
که هرچیز کو سازد اندر بوش
✦
بران سو بود بندگان را روش
“Stating that whatever He ordains in creation, His servants must walk in that appointed direction.”
#27
شهنشاه ایران مرا افسرست
✦
نه پیوند او از پی دخترست
“The Shahanshah of Iran is my crown; my seeking this bond is not merely for the giving of a daughter.”
#28
که تامن شنیدستم از بخردان
✦
بزرگان و بیدار دل موبدان
“For since I have heard from wise men, noble lords, and enlightened mobeds,”
#29
ز فر و بزرگی و اورند شاه
✦
بجستم همی رای و پیوند شاه
“Of the royal divine glory, majesty, and throne of the King, I have sought His majesty's counsel and alliance.”
#30
که اندر جهان سر به سر دادگر
✦
جهاندار چون او نبندد کمر
“That in all the world, no ruler buckles his belt in justice like unto him.”
#31
به مردی و پیروزی و دستگاه
✦
به فر و بنیرو و تخت و کلاه
“In manhood, victory, and power, in divine glory, strength, throne, and crown.”
#32
به رادی و دانش به رای وخرد
✦
ورا دین یزدان همی‌پرورد
“In generosity, knowledge, sound judgment, and wisdom; he is nurtured by the holy faith of God.”
#33
فرستادم اینک جهان بین خویش
✦
سوی شاه کسری به آیین خویش
“Now I have sent the sight of my world—my daughter—unto King Khosrow according to custom.”
#34
بفرموده‌ام تا بود بنده‌وار
✦
چوشاید پس پردهٔ شهریار
“I have instructed her to remain like a humble servant, as fits the inner chambers of the King.”
#35
خرد گیرد از فر و فرهنگ اوی
✦
بیاموزد آیین و آهنگ اوی
“To gather wisdom from his divine glory and culture, and learn his royal ways and custom.”
#36
که بخت وخرد رهنمون تو باد
✦
بزرگی ودانش ستون تو باد
“May fortune and wisdom ever be thy guides, and greatness and knowledge the pillars of thy realm.”
#37
نهادند مهر از بر مشک چین
✦
فرستاده را داد و کرد آفرین
“They placed the royal seal upon Chinese musk, handed it to the envoy, and showered blessings upon him.”
#38
یکی خلعت از بهر مهران ستاد
✦
بیاراست کان کس ندارد به یاد
“He prepared a robe of honor for Mehran Setad such as no man remembered ever seeing before.”
#39
که دادی کسی از مهان جهان
✦
فرستاده را آشکار ونهان
“That any of the great monarchs of the world had ever given an envoy in public or in private.”
#40
همان نیز یارانش را هدیه داد
✦
ز دینار وز مشکشان کرد شاد
“Likewise he bestowed gifts upon his companions, gladdening them with dinars and musk.”
#41
همی‌رفت با دختر وخواسته
✦
سواران و پیلان آراسته
“The caravan moved forward with the princess and the wealth, accompanied by adorned horsemen and elephants.”
#42
چنین تا لب رود جیحون کشید
✦
به مژگان همی از دلش خون کشید
“Thus they proceeded until they reached the banks of the Oxus River, his eyelashes weeping blood from his heart.”
#43
همی‌بود تا رود بگذاشتند
✦
ز خشکی بران روی برداشتند
“He waited there until they crossed the river and stepped onto the dry land of the opposite bank.”
#44
ز جیحون دلی پر زخون بازگشت
✦
ز فرزند با درد انباز گشت
“He returned from the Oxus with a heart full of sorrow, sharing in the poignant grief of losing his child.”