As the formidable host of Khosrow Parviz swept across the frontier into the Roman realms, they made straight for the fortified city known to Caesar as Karestan. When the Christian inhabitants beheld the shimmering dust of the Persian army from afar, panic seized them. Fleeing through every path and alley, they retreated within their high battlements and bolted the massive city gates fast.
The world-illuminating King was thus brought to a halt, forced to encamp outside the walled city for three full days. On the fourth morn, Khosrow dispatched an envoy, reminding the citizens that his host was vast and hungry, urging them to send provisions and assist rather than display hostility. Yet the townsfolk held his words cheap, leaving the Persian soldiers weary and unfed.
Then the hand of Providence intervened. A dark, brooding cloud materialized over the skies, roaring like a wounded war lion. Gale-force winds whipped through the avenues of Karestan, and cries of terror echoed from every corner. Before half the night had elapsed, a tremendous section of the ancient battlements collapsed into dust. Astounded by this cosmic rebuke, the citizens trembled and offered earnest prayers of repentance to Yazdan under the roof of heaven.
In haste, forage and food were prepared at every crossroad. Three senior Christian bishops and ascetics rode out bearing the finest treasures and textiles that Rome could produce. Laying these offerings before Khosrow, they confessed their error and sought his mercy. Because Khosrow was a youthful sovereign of noble disposition, he abstained from harsh reproaches and granted them amnesty.
Within the city stood a grand palace whose pinnacle brazenly scraped the clouds—a royal residence erected by Caesar himself. Khosrow entered from the plains, strolled through the glorious city, and took residence within the palace. The Romans sang his praises and showered precious gems beneath his footsteps. Finding the city prosperous and restful, the King tarried there for a season and penned a chronicle of the tempest and storm to Caesar.
Thereafter, the monarch marched onward to the region of Manvi. The wisest, most generous elders, bishops, and monks of Manvi hastened out with tribute and gifts to greet the sovereign. Sitting in audience with the King, they spoke of the ancient fortress and the miraculous tempest, reaffirming their absolute submission and bowing their heads to Khosrow's mandate.
#1
چو بگذشت لشکر بران تازه بوم
✦
بتندی همی‌راند تا مرز روم
“When the army passed across that fresh land, it rode swiftly toward the Roman frontier.”
#2
چنین تا بیامد بران شارستان
✦
که قیصر ورا خواندی کارستان
“Thus he arrived at that city fortress which Caesar called Karestan.”
#3
چواز دور ترسا بدید آن سپاه
✦
برفتند پویان به بی راه و راه
“When the Christians saw that host from afar, they hurried away on roads and pathless ways.”
#4
بدان باره اندر کشیدند رخت
✦
در شارستان را ببستند سخت
“They withdrew their possessions inside the battlements and closed the city gates tightly.”
#5
فروماند زان شاه گیتی فروز
✦
به بیرون بماندند لشکر سه روز
“The world-illuminating King was checked there, and the host remained outside for three days.”
#6
فرستاد روز چهارم کسی
✦
که نزدیک ما نیست لشکر بسی
“On the fourth day he sent a messenger, saying: 'We do not have a large force near us;'”
#7
خورشها فرستید و یاری کنید
✦
چه برما همی کامگاری کنید
“'Send provisions and render aid; why do you seek to lord it over us?'”
#8
به نزدیک ایشان سخن خوار بود
✦
سپاهش همه سست و ناهار بود
“To them, his words were held cheap; his army was weary and without food.”
#9
هم آنگه برآمد یکی تیره ابر
✦
بغرید برسان جنگی هژبر
“At that very moment, a dark cloud arose and roared like a ferocious war lion.”
#10
وز ابر اندران شارستان باد خاست
✦
بهر بر زنی بانگ و فریاد خاست
“From that cloud a gale swept into the city, and shouts and cries erupted in every quarter.”
#11
چونیمی ز تیره شب اندر کشید
✦
ز باره یکی بهره شد ناپدید
“Before half of the dark night had passed, a whole section of the rampart vanished.”
#12
همه شارستان ماند اندر شگفت
✦
به یزدان سقف پوزش اندر گرفت
“The entire city stood in awe and began to seek forgiveness under God's high roof.”
#13
بهر بر زنی بر علف ساختند
✦
سه پیر سکوبا برون تاختند
“At every crossroad they prepared forage, and three senior bishops rode forth.”
#14
ز چیزی که بود اندران تازه بوم
✦
همان جامه هایی که خیزد ز روم
“Bearing whatever was produced in that fresh land, along with garments woven in Rome,”
#15
ببردند بالا به نزدیک شاه
✦
که پیدا شد ای شاه برما گناه
“They brought them up to the King, saying: 'O King, our fault has now been revealed to us.'”
#16
چو خسرو جوان بود و برتر منش
✦
بدیشان نکرد از بدی سرزنش
“As Khosrow was young and lofty of spirit, he did not reproach them for their ill deed.”
#17
بدان شارستان دریکی کاخ بود
✦
که بالاش با ابر گستاخ بود
“Within that city stood a palace whose summit rose boldly toward the clouds.”
#18
فراوان بدو اندرون برده بود
✦
همان جای قیصر برآورده بود
“Richly decorated within, it was the sanctuary that Caesar had raised for himself.”
#19
ز دشت اندرآمد بدانجا گذشت
✦
فراوان بدان شارستان دربگشت
“Coming in from the plain, the King entered there and toured widely throughout that city.”
#20
همه رومیان آفرین خواندند
✦
بپا اندرش گوهر افشاندند
“All the Romans sang praises and scattered jewels beneath his feet.”
#21
چو آباد جایی به چنگ آمدش
✦
برآسود و چندی درنگ آمدش
“Having gained possession of such a prosperous place, he rested and lingered for a time.”
#22
به قیصر یکی نامه بنوشت شاه
✦
ازان باد وباران وابر سیاه
“The King wrote a letter to Caesar telling of that wind, rain, and black cloud.”
#23
وزان شارستان سوی مانوی راند
✦
که آن را جهاندار مانوی خواند
“From that city he rode toward Manvi, which the ruler of the world called Manvi.”
#24
زما نوییان هرک بیدار بود
✦
خردمند و راد و جهاندار بود
“Whosoever among the Manvians was vigilant, wise, generous, and noble,”
#25
سکوبا و رهبان سوی شهریار
✦
برفتند با هدیه و با نثار
“The bishops and monks went toward the Sovereign with gifts and offerings.”
#26
همی‌رفت با شاه چندی سخن
✦
ز باران و آن شارستان کهن
“Much discourse passed with the King regarding the rain and that ancient city.”
#27
همی‌گفت هرکس که ما بنده‌ایم
✦
به گفتار خسرو سر افگنده‌ایم
“Everyone said: 'We are your servants, and we bow our heads to Khosrow's command.'”