#1
یکی خویش بودش دلیر وجوان
✦
پرستندهٔ شاه نوشین‌روان
“He had a brave and youthful relative who served King Noshin-ravan.”
#2
بهرجای با شاه در کاخ بود
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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.”