It is recounted that in the grand court of King Khosrow Anushirvan, there served a bold young attendant who was ever at the monarch's side. One day, Bozorgmehr, the chief of sages, observed his service and inquired how he presented the washbasin to the King. The servant confessed with a heavy heart that once, a drop of water had splattered inappropriately; the King's stern glance had frozen his blood, causing his hands to tremble. Moving with compassion and unmatched wisdom, Bozorgmehr taught the young man the flawless etiquette of royal service: to pour the warm water gently, without haste, and to remain steadfast until the King had finished perfuming his lips.
The following day, when the attendant executed the ritual with impeccable grace, Anushirvan instantly recognized the subtle mind of Bozorgmehr behind it. Displeased that the sage was meddling in personal courtly affairs, the King sent a sharp rebuke, questioning Bozorgmehr's judgment. Yet the sage sent back an unyielding, sublime reply: 'My inner and outer state is far better than that of the King of the World.' Enraged by this apparent insolence, Anushirvan ordered his grand vizier cast into a dark, subterranean pit.
Yet even from the depth of imprisonment, Bozorgmehr maintained his tranquility, asserting that his soul remained freer than the throne-bound King's. Furious, Anushirvan commissioned an iron furnace lined with sharp nails and arrowheads, sealing the philosopher within its tight, agonizing metal walls. Still, Bozorgmehr's stoic philosophy remained unbroken, reminding the King through messengers that neither earthly treasure nor physical agony endures forever, and that both monarch and prisoner must ultimately abandon this mortal realm. Astonished by such supreme wisdom and immortal spirit, the King was left humbled by his advisor's invincible mind.
#1
یکی خویش بودش دلیر وجوان
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پرستندهٔ شاه نوشین‌روان
“He had a brave and youthful relative who served King Noshin-ravan.”
#2
بهرجای با شاه در کاخ بود
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به گفتار با شاه گستاخ بود
“He accompanied the King everywhere in the palace, speaking boldly and freely with him.”
#3
بپرسید یک روز بوزرجمهر
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ز پروردهٔ شاه خورشید چهر
“One day, Bozorgmehr questioned this sun-faced attendant of the King.”
#4
که او را پرستش همی چون کنی
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بیاموز تا کوشش افزون کنی
“"Teach me how you perform your service to him, so that your effort may be multiplied."”
#5
پرستنده گفت ای سر موبدان
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چنان دان که امروز شاه ردان
“The servant said, "O chief of the Mobads, know that today the king of leaders..."”
#6
چو از خوان برفت آب بگساردم
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زمین ز آبدستان مگر یافت نم
“"When he left the meal table, I poured water, but the washbasin barely caught the drops without dampening the ground."”
#7
نگه سوی من بنده زان گونه کرد
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که گفتم سرآمد مرا خواب وخورد
“"He looked upon me, his servant, in such a manner that I thought my sleep and sustenance were ended forever."”
#8
جهاندار چون گشت بامن درشت
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مرا سست شد آبدستان بمشت
“"When the world-ruling King turned harsh toward me, the washbasin grew weak and trembling in my grip."”
#9
بدو دانشی گفت آب آر خیز
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چنان چون که بر دست شاه آب ریز
“The wise man told him, "Arise and bring water, and pour it upon the King's hands in this proper way..."”
#10
بیاورد مرد جوان آب گرم
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همی ریخت بر دست او نرم نرم
“The young man brought warm water and poured it gently and softly over his hands.”
#11
بدو گفت کین بار بر دستشوی
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تو با آب جو هیچ تندی مجوی
“He instructed him, "This time at the handwashing, do not seek any haste or harshness with the flowing water."”
#12
چو لب را ببالاید از بوی خوش
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تو از ریخت آبدستان نکش
“"When he perfumes his lips with sweet fragrances, do not pull back the water-pitcher prematurely."”
#13
چو روز دگر شاه نوشین‌روان
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بهنگام خوردن بیاورد خوان
“On the next day, when King Noshin-ravan ordered the feast table to be set for dining,”
#14
پرستنده را دل پراندیشه گشت
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بدان تا دگر بار بنهاد تشت
“The servant's heart was filled with thought as he placed the basin down once more.”
#15
چنان هم چو داناش فرموده بود
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نه کم کرد ازان نیز و نه برفزود
“He acted precisely as the wise sage had instructed him, neither lessening nor adding anything to it.”
#16
به گفتار دانا فرو ریخت آب
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نه نرم ونه از ریختن برشتاب
“Following the wise man's words, he poured the water—neither too slow nor in a sudden rush.”
#17
بدو گفت شاه ای فزاینده مهر
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که گفت این تو راگفت بوزرجمهر
“The King said to him, "O enhancer of love! Who taught you this? Was it Bozorgmehr?"”
#18
مرا اندرین دانش او داد راه
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که بیند همی این جهاندار شاه
“"He guided me in this wisdom, which the world-ruling King now beholds."”
#19
بدو گفت رو پیش دانا بگوی
✦
کزان نامور جاه و آن آبروی
“The King said to him, "Go before the wise sage and ask: 'With all that illustrious rank and honor...'”
#20
چرا جستی از برتری کمتری
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ببدگوهر و ناسزا داوری
“'...why did you descend from your greatness to seek petty things, meddling in an unworthy and bad-natured manner?'"”
#21
پرستنده بشنید و آمد دوان
✦
برخال شد تند وخسته روان
“The servant heard this, ran swiftly, and came to the sage with a sharp tone and wounded spirit.”
#22
ز شاه آنچ بشیند با او بگفت
✦
چنین یافت زو پاسخ اندر نهفت
“He related to him all he had heard from the King, receiving this secret answer from the sage:”
#23
که حال من از حال شاه جهان
✦
فراوان بهست آشکار و نهان
“"My state of soul is far better than the state of the World-King, both openly and in secret."”
#24
پرستنده برگشت و پاسخ ببرد
✦
سخنها یکایک برو برشمرد
“The servant returned and delivered the response, recounting every single word to the King.”
#25
فراوان ز پاسخ برآشفت شاه
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ورا بند فرمود و تاریک چاه
“The King was deeply enraged by this reply, ordering him bound and thrown into a dark pit.”
#26
دگر باره پرسید زان پیشکار
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که چون دارد آن کم خرد روزگار
“Once more, the King asked his attendant how that sage of little sense was faring.”
#27
پرستنده آمد پر از آب چهر
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بگفت آن سخنها به بوزرجمهر
“The servant arrived with tears upon his face and recounted those words to Bozorgmehr.”
#28
چنین داد پاسخ بدو نیکخواه
✦
که روز من آسانتر از روز شاه
“The well-wishing sage gave him this answer: "My day is easier than the day of the King."”
#29
فرستاده برگشت وآمد چو باد
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همه پاسخش کرد بر شاه یاد
“The messenger returned like the wind and reminded the King of the full reply.”
#30
ز پاسخ بر آشفت و شد چون پلنگ
✦
ز آهن تنوری بفرمود تنگ
“Enraged by the answer like a fierce leopard, the King ordered a narrow iron furnace to be built,”
#31
ز پیکان وز میخ گرد اندرش
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هم از بند آهن نهفته سرش
“Studded all around with sharp arrowheads and nails, its top firmly sealed with bands of iron.”
#32
بدو اندرون جای دانا گزید
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دل از مهر دانا بیکسو کشید
“Within that chamber the wise man took his place, while the King turned his heart completely away from loving him.”
#33
نبد روزش آرام و شب جای خواب
✦
تنش پر ز سختی دلش پرشتاب
“His day knew no peace and his night no sleep; his body was filled with hardship and his heart with anguish.”
#34
چهارم چنین گفت شاه جهان
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ابا پیشکارش سخن درنهان
“A fourth time, the King of the World spoke in secret with his attendant,”
#35
که یک بار نزدیک دانا گذار
✦
ببر زود پیغام و پاسخ بیار
“"Go once more near the sage, carry the message swiftly, and bring back his answer."”
#36
بگویش که چون بینی اکنون تنت
✦
که از میخ تیزست پیراهنت
“"Say to him: 'How do you see your body now, when your garment is made of sharp iron nails?'"”
#37
پرستنده آمد بداد آن پیام
✦
که بشنید زان مهر خویش کام
“The servant came and delivered the message he had received from his beloved King.”
#38
چنین داد پاسخ بمرد جوان
✦
که روزم به از روز نوشین‌روان
“The wise sage gave this answer to the young man: "My day is better than the day of Noshin-ravan!"”
#39
چو برگشت و پاسخ بیاورد مرد
✦
ز گفتار شد شاه را روی زرد
“When the man returned and brought the reply, the King's face turned pale from his words.”
#40
ز ایوان یکی راستگوی گزید
✦
که گفتار دانا بداند شنید
“From the palace, he chose a truthful speaker who could comprehend the wise man's speech,”
#41
ابا او یکی مرد شمشیر زن
✦
که دژخیم بود اندران انجمن
“Accompanied by a swordsman who acted as the executioner in that assembly.”
#42
که رو تو بدین بد نهان را بگوی
✦
که گر پاسخت را بود رنگ و بوی
“Saying, "Go to that evil-minded one and say: 'If your answer has true sense and color...'”
#43
و گرنه که دژخیم با تیغ تیز
✦
نماید تو را گردش رستخیز
“'...otherwise this executioner with his sharp blade will show you the turn of Resurrection!'"”
#44
که گفتی که زندان به از تخت شاه
✦
تنوری پر از میخ با بند و چاه
“"For you claimed that prison is better than the King's throne—even a spiked furnace, chains, and a pit!"”
#45
بیامد بگفت آنچ بشنید مرد
✦
شد از درد دانا دلش پر ز درد
“The messenger came and delivered what he heard, his heart filled with sorrow for the pure-hearted sage.”
#46
بدان پاکدل گفت بوزرجمهر
✦
که ننمود هرگز بمابخت چهر
“Bozorgmehr said to that pure-hearted man: 'Fate has never shown a smiling face to us.'”
#47
چه با گنج و تختی چه با رنج سخت
✦
ببندیم هر دو بناکام رخت
“'Whether possessing treasure and a throne, or suffering under bitter hardship, we both must unwillingly depart this life.'”
#48
نه این پای دارد بگیتی نه آن
✦
سرآید همی نیک و بد بی‌گمان
“'Neither state endures in this mortal realm; good and ill alike shall surely reach their end.'”
#49
ز سختی گذر کردن آسان بود
✦
دل تاجداران هراسان بود
“'To pass through hardship is easy enough; it is the heart of crown-wearers that lives in dread.'”
#50
خردمند ودژخیم باز آمدند
✦
بر شاه گردن فراز آمدند
“The wise counselor and the executioner returned, presenting themselves before the exalted king.”
#51
شنیده بگفتند با شهریار
✦
دلش گشت زان پاسخ او فگار
“They reported to the monarch what they had heard, and his heart grew pained by the sage's response.”
#52
به ایوانش بردند زان تنگ جای
✦
به دستوری پاکدل رهنمای
“By order of that noble guide, they brought him out of that narrow cell into the palace.”
#53
برین نیز بگذشت چندی سپهر
✦
پر آژنگ شد روی بوزرجمهر
“Time rolled onward for a while, and wrinkles gathered upon Bozorgmehr's face.”
#54
دلش تنگتر گشت و باریک شد
✦
دوچشمش ز اندیشه تاریک شد
“His heart grew even heavier and faint; his eyes grew dim beneath the weight of constant grief.”
#55
چو با گنج رنجش برابر نبود
✦
بفرسود ازان درد و در غم بسود
“Since his suffering was beyond all treasures' worth, he languished away, consumed by pain and sorrow.”