#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
✦
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
✦
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
✦
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.”