When the mobads and sages of the Sasanian court proved utterly helpless before the enigmatic puzzle sent by the Caesar of Rome, deep distress fell upon the heart of King Khosrow Anushirvan. The Caesar had dispatched a magnificent golden casket, tightly sealed and stamped with a lock of musk, declaring that Iran's throne must yield tribute if its renowned sages could not divine what lay hidden within its velvet dark without breaking the seal.
In his desperation, Khosrow remembered Bozorgmehr. Remorse pierced the king's heart for having cast his matchless vizier into a dark dungeon. Realizing that only Bozorgmehr's illuminated mind could pierce this mystery, the King ordered fine robes from the royal treasury and a noble steed, dispatching a messenger to the prison to apologize for past grievances and plead for his counsel.
Upon hearing the royal summons, Bozorgmehr felt the sting of old wounds. Yet, he cleansed his body and bowed before the Sovereign Creator, lamenting his innocence and the king's prior wrath. As dawn crowned the heavens with radiant gold, Bozorgmehr—his physical sight dimmed by the relentless gloom of the dungeon—resorted to the luminous wellspring of inner wisdom. Accompanied by a sighted guide, he set out along the road, instructing his companion to observe the marital and maternal status of the first three women who crossed their path as divining omens.
The first woman revealed she had a husband and carried a child; the second was wedded but childless; the third was a maiden who had never known a man. From these three precise signs, Bozorgmehr instantly deciphered the nature of the three pearls concealed within the Roman casket: one fully pierced, one half-pierced, and one completely unpierced.
With a knowing smile, the wise vizier proceeded to the palace. When King Anushirvan beheld his grand vizier standing before the throne—weakened, with clouded eyes and a pale countenance—he drew a cold sigh from the depths of his chest, profoundly repenting his cruel treatment of an innocent sage, and welcomed him back to royal grace.
#1
چو گشتند یک انجمن ناتوان
✦
غمی شد دل شاه نوشین‌روان
“When the assembly of sages proved helpless, the heart of King Noshirvan grew heavy with grief.”
#2
همی‌گفت کاین راز گردان سپهر
✦
بیارد باندیشه بوزرجمهر
“He said to himself, 'Only the wisdom of Bozorgmehr can uncover this secret of the rolling heavens.'”
#3
شد از درد دانا دلش پر ز درد
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برو پر ز چین کرد و رخساره زرد
“His wise heart grew full of sorrow; his brow wrinkled with worry and his face turned pale.”
#4
شهنشاه چون دید ز اندیشه رنج
✦
بفرمود تا جامه دستی ز گنج
“When the Shahanshah saw the pain of his anxiety, he commanded a set of rich robes to be brought from the treasury.”
#5
بیاورد گنجور و اسبی گزین
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نشست شهنشاه کردند زین
“The treasurer brought forth a noble horse, and they placed the royal saddle upon its back.”
#6
به نزدیک دانا فرستاد و گفت
✦
که رنجی که دیدی نشاید نهفت
“He sent word to the sage, saying, 'The suffering you endured ought not to remain concealed.'”
#7
چنین راند بر سر سپهر بلند
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که آید ز ما بر تو چندی گزند
“'High heaven so decreed that some affliction should reach you at our hands.'”
#8
زیان تو مغز مرا کرد تیز
✦
همی با تن خویش کردی ستیز
“'Your harm has sharpened my understanding, for you fought against your own body with fortitude.'”
#9
یکی کار پیش آمدم ناگزیر
✦
کزان بسته آمد دل تیزویر
“'An unavoidable task has now come before me, binding the heart of the keen-minded monarch.'”
#10
یکی درج زرین سرش بسته خشک
✦
نهاده برو قفل و مهری ز مشک
“'A golden casket tightly sealed at its mouth, locked and stamped with a seal of musk.'”
#11
فرستاد قیصر بر ما ز روم
✦
یکی موبدی نامبردار بوم
“'The Caesar of Rome has sent it to us by the hand of a famous Mobad of that realm.'”
#12
فرستاده گوید که سالار گفت
✦
که این راز پیدا کنید از نهفت
“'The envoy says their ruler challenges us: unveil this hidden secret from its obscurity.'”
#13
که این درج را چیست اندر نهان
✦
بگویند فرزانگان جهان
“'Let the sages of the world tell what lies hidden within this casket.'”
#14
به دل گفتم این راز پوشیده چهر
✦
ببیند مگر جان بوزرجمهر
“'I said to my heart: perhaps the luminous soul of Bozorgmehr can behold this veiled face.'”
#15
چو بشنید بوزرجمهر این سخن
✦
دلش پرشد از رنج و درد کهن
“When Bozorgmehr heard these words, his heart overflowed with ancient grief and pain.”
#16
ز زندان بیامد سرو تن بشست
✦
به پیش جهانداور آمد نخست
“He emerged from the dungeon, washed his head and body, and first stood in prayer before the World-Ruler.”
#17
همی‌بود ترسان ز آزار شاه
✦
جهاندار پر خشم و او بیگناه
“He remained fearful of the King's harm—the ruler being full of wrath while he himself was guiltless.”
#18
شب تیره و روز پیدا نبود
✦
بدان سان که پیغام خسرو شنود
“The dark night and clear day passed indistinctly for him as he pondered the King's message.”
#19
چو خورشید بنمود تاج از فراز
✦
بپوشید روی شب تیره باز
“When the sun displayed its crown from above, concealing the face of dark night once more,”
#20
باختر نگه کرد بوزرجمهر
✦
چو خورشید رخشنده بد بر سپهر
“Bozorgmehr looked toward the heavens as the shining sun gleamed in the sky.”
#21
به آب خرد چشم دل را بشست
✦
ز دانندگان استواری بجست
“He cleansed the eye of his heart with the water of wisdom, seeking certainty through the knowledgeable.”
#22
بدو گفت بازار من خیره گشت
✦
چو چشمم ازین رنج‌ها تیره گشت
“He said to his companion, 'My perception has grown obscured since my eyes were dimmed by these hardships.'”
#23
نگه کن که پیشت که آید به راه
✦
ز حالش بپرس ایچ نامش مخواه
“'Watch who comes down the road before you; inquire of her state, but ask not her name.'”
#24
به راه آمد از خانه بوزرجمهر
✦
همی‌رفت پویان زنی خوب‌چهر
“Bozorgmehr walked out from his dwelling, while a fair-faced woman came walking along the path.”
#25
خردمند بینا به دانا بگفت
✦
سخن هرچ بر چشم او بد نهفت
“The wise, clear-sighted companion recounted to the sage all that his eyes beheld.”
#26
چنین گفت پرسنده را راه‌جوی
✦
که بپژوه تا دارد این ماه شوی
“The seeker of truth said to his guide, 'Inquire whether this moon-faced woman has a husband.'”
#27
زن پاکدامن به پرسنده گفت
✦
که شوی‌ست و هم کودک اندر نهفت
“The chaste woman replied to the inquirer, 'I have a husband, and also a child in secret.'”
#28
چو بشنید داننده گفتار زن
✦
بخندید بر بارهٔ گامزن
“When the sage heard the woman's words, he smiled upon his stepping horse.”
#29
همانگه زنی دیگر آمد پدید
✦
بپرسید چون ترجمانش بدید
“Presently, a second woman appeared; when the guide saw her, he questioned her.”
#30
که‌ای زن تو را بچه و شوی هست؟
✦
وگر یک تنی باد داری به‌دست
“'O woman, have you a husband and a child? Or are you solitary, grasping only the wind?'”
#31
بدو گفت شوی‌ست اگر بچه نیست
✦
چو پاسخ شنیدی بر من مایست
“She answered, 'I have a husband, but no child; now that you have your answer, tarry not beside me.'”
#32
همانگه سه‌دیگر زن آمد پدید
✦
بیامد بر او بگفت و شنید
“Immediately, a third woman came into view, approaching them for speech.”
#33
که ای خوب‌رخ کیست انباز تو؟
✦
برین کش خرامیدن و ناز تو
“'O fair one, who is your companion in life? Who shares this graceful walking and charm?'”
#34
مرا گفت هرگز نبوده‌ست شوی
✦
نخواهم که پیدا کنم نیز روی
“She said, 'I have never had a husband, nor do I wish to reveal my face to any.'”
#35
چو بشنید بوزرجمهر این سخن
✦
نگر تا چه اندیشه افگند بن
“When Bozorgmehr heard these words, see what profound foundation of thought he established!”
#36
بیامد دژم‌روی تازان به راه
✦
چو بردند جوینده را نزد شاه
“He rode hastily along the way with a grave face; when they ushered the seeker before the King,”
#37
بفرمود تا رفت نزدیک تخت
✦
دل شاه کسری غمی گشت سخت
“The King commanded him to approach the throne, his heart filled with deep grief,”
#38
که داننده را چشم بینا ندید
✦
بسی باد سرد از جگر بر کشید
“Seeing that the wise man's eyes were dimmed, he drew many a cold sigh from his breast.”
#39
همی‌کرد پوزش ازان کار شاه
✦
کزو داشت آزار بر بیگناه
“The King apologized deeply for that act, lamenting the distress he had caused an innocent man.”