#1
پر از درد شد گو بایوان خویش
✦
جهاندیده فرزانه را خواند پیش
“King Gav returned to his palace full of pain, and summoned his battle-tested counselor before him.”
#2
بگفت آنچ با مادرش رفته بود
✦
ز مادر که برآتش آشفته بود
“He related all that had transpired with his mother, who burned in anger as if set upon fire.”
#3
نشستند هر دو بهم رای زن
✦
گو و مرد فرزانه بی‌انجمن
“The monarch and the wise man sat together in private, seeking counsel without any assembly present.”
#4
بدو گفت فرزانه کای نیکخوی
✦
نگردد بما راست این آرزوی
“The wise counselor said: 'O noble king, this desire of ours cannot be easily fulfilled.'”
#5
ز هر سو بخوانیم برنا و پیر
✦
کجا نامداری بود تیزویر
“'We must summon young and old from every direction—whoever possesses a sharp and seeking intellect.'”
#6
ز کشمیر وز دنبر و مرغ و مای
✦
وزان تیزویران جوینده رای
“'From Kashmir, Danbar, Murgh, and Mai—from all those sharp-minded seekers of wisdom.'”
#7
ز دریا و از کنده ورزمگاه
✦
بگوییم با مرد جوینده راه
“'We shall describe the sea, the trench, and the battlefield to these seekers of the way.'”
#8
سواران بهر سو پراگند گو
✦
بجایی که بد موبدی پیشرو
“Gav sent riders in all directions, to every realm where a leading Mobad resided.”
#9
سراسر بدرگاه شاه آمدند
✦
بدان نامور بارگاه آمدند
“They all gathered at the king's gate and entered that famous court.”
#10
جهاندار بنشست با موبدان
✦
بزرگان دانادل و بخردان
“The ruler sat among the Mobads, the wise leaders, and the men of intellect.”
#11
صفت کرد فرزانه آن رزمگاه
✦
که چون رفت پیکار جنگ وسپاه
“The counselor depicted the scene of conflict, explaining how the battle between the two armies unfolded.”
#12
ز دریا و از کنده و آبگیر
✦
یکایک بگفتند با تیزویر
“One by one, they detailed the sea, the trench, and the water reservoir to the keen thinkers.”
#13
نخفتند زایشان یکی تیره شب
✦
نه بر یکدگر برگشادند لب
“Not one of them slept through the dark night, nor did they open their lips to speak idle words.”
#14
ز میدان چو برخاست آواز کوس
✦
جهاندیدگان خواستند آبنوس
“When the sound of the morning drum rose from the field, the world-experienced sages asked for ebony wood.”
#15
یکی تخت کردند از چارسوی
✦
دومرد گرانمایه و نیکخوی
“Those two noble and virtuous men fashioned a square table board.”
#16
همانند آن کنده و رزمگاه
✦
بروی اندر آورده روی سپاه
“Resembling that trench and battlefield, bringing the opposing armies face to face upon it.”
#17
بران تخت صدخانه کرده نگار
✦
صفی کرد او لشکر کارزار
“Upon that board they carved one hundred squares, and lined up the armies of war.”
#18
پس آنگه دولشکر زساج و زعاج
✦
دو شاه سرافراز با پیل وتاج
“Then came two armies carved of teak and ivory, with two exalted kings possessing elephants and crowns.”
#19
پیاده بدید اندرو با سوار
✦
همه کرده آرایش کارزار
“Foot-soldiers and horsemen were depicted on it, all arranged for combat.”
#20
ز اسبان و پیلان و دستور شاه
✦
مبارز که اسب افگند بر سپاه
“With horses, elephants, the royal advisor, and champions ready to charge into the battle lines.”
#21
همه کرده پیکر به آیین جنگ
✦
یک تیز وجنبان یکی با درنگ
“All carved according to the custom of war—some moving swiftly, others advancing with deliberate delay.”
#22
بیاراسته شاه قلب سپاه
✦
ز یک دست فرزانهٔ نیک‌خواه
“The King was set in the heart of the host, with the well-wishing Counselor at his side.”
#23
ابر دست شاه از دو رویه دو پیل
✦
ز پیلان شده گرد همرنگ نیل
“Flanking the king were two great elephants, kicking up indigo-colored dust.”
#24
دو اشتر بر پیل کرده به پای
✦
نشانده برایشان دو پاکیزه رای
“Beside the elephants stood two camels, bearing two pure-minded riders.”
#25
به زیر شتر در دو اسب و دو مرد
✦
که پرخاش جویند روز نبرد
“Beneath the camels were two horses and two war-seeking warriors.”
#26
مبارز دو رخ بر دو روی دوصف
✦
ز خون جگر بر لب آورده کف
“On the two flanks of the two lines stood two Rooks, foaming at the mouth with fierce rage.”
#27
پیاده برفتی ز پیش و ز پس
✦
کجا بود در جنگ فریادرس
“The foot-soldier moved forward and back, serving as the rescuer in battle.”
#28
چو بگذاشتی تا سر آوردگاه
✦
نشستی چو فرزانه بر دست شاه
“If he reached the end of the battlefield, he sat beside the King like a Counselor.”
#29
همان نیز فرزانه یک خانه بیش
✦
نرفتی نبودی ازین شاه پیش
“The Counselor too moved only one square at a time, never straying ahead of his King.”
#30
سه خانه برفتی سرافراز پیل
✦
بدیدی همه رزم گه از دو میل
“The exalted Elephant moved three squares, surveying the whole field from afar.”
#31
سه خانه برفتی شتر همچنان
✦
برآورد گه بر دمان و دنان
“The Camel likewise advanced three squares, charging furiously through the engagement.”
#32
نرفتی کسی پیش رخ کینه‌خواه
✦
همی‌تاختی او همه رزمگاه
“None could stand before the vengeful Rook; he charged across the entire battlefield.”
#33
همی‌راند هر یک به میدان خویش
✦
برفتن نکردی کسی کم و بیش
“Each piece moved strictly within its scope, neither more nor less than prescribed.”
#34
چو دیدی کسی شاه را در نبرد
✦
به آواز گفتی که شاها بگرد
“When anyone targeted the King in battle, he called out aloud: 'O King, turn away!'”
#35
ازان پس ببستند بر شاه راه
✦
رخ و اسب و فرزین و پیل و سپاه
“Then they blocked the path to the King with Rook, Horse, Counselor, Elephant, and host.”
#36
نگه کرد شاه اندران چارسوی
✦
سپه دید افگنده چین در بروی
“The King looked to all four sides and saw the enemy host frowning upon him.”
#37
ز اسب و ز کنده برو بسته راه
✦
چپ و راست و پیش و پس اندر سپاه
“His way was barred by horse, trench, and army—left, right, front, and rear.”
#38
شد از رنج وز تشنگی شاه مات
✦
چنین یافت از چرخ گردان برات
“The King became 'Mat'—checkmated—from distress and thirst; such was his decree from turning fate.”
#39
ز شطرنج طلخند بد آرزوی
✦
گوآن شاه آزاده و نیکخوی
“This game of chess was devised by the desire of Gav, that noble and good-natured monarch.”
#40
همی‌کرد مادر ببازی نگاه
✦
پر از خون دل از بهر طلخند شاه
“The mother continuously gazed at the game, her heart overflowing with blood for King Talkhand.”
#41
نشسته شب و روز پر درد وخشم
✦
ببازی شطرنج داده دو چشم
“Sitting night and day in grief and pain, keeping her eyes fixed upon the game of chess.”
#42
همه کام و رایش به شطرنج بود
✦
ز طلخند جانش پر از رنج بود
“All her desire was bound to chess; her soul was tormented with agony for Talkhand.”
#43
همیشه همی‌ریخت خونین سرشک
✦
بران درد شطرنج بودش پزشک
“She perpetually shed bloody tears, and chess was the physician to her suffering.”
#44
بدین گونه بد تا چمان و چران
✦
چنین تا سر آمد بروبر زمان
“In this manner she lived out her days, until her time on earth reached its end.”
#45
سرآمد کنون برمن این داستان
✦
چنان هم که بشنیدم ازباستان
“And so this tale reaches its end for me, just as I heard it handed down from ancient lore.”