Caesar of Rum, deeply impressed by the wisdom of Khorrad Barzin—the brilliant envoy of King Khosrow Parviz—invited him to behold an extraordinary marvel within his palace. Floating in mid-air inside a radiant hall adorned with royal jewels stood an iron horseman, suspended without any ropes, pillars, or visible support. To any onlookers, it appeared as either an enchanted talisman or a divine miracle.
Khorrad Barzin entered the ancient chamber, examined the suspended figure with a keen scholar's eye, and returned to Caesar to effortlessly demystify the spectacle. He revealed that the rider and steed were forged of pure iron, while the surrounding walls were embedded with loadstones—magnets—whose equal pull from all sides trapped the iron figure in mid-air equilibrium. Caesar, astonished by his swift comprehension, turned the discourse toward philosophy, asking about the wisdom of India and the religions of the world.
Khorrad Barzin seized the moment to deliver a eloquent theological defense. He criticized extreme asceticism such as the self-immolation of Indian mystics, and addressed misconceptions regarding Jesus Christ. He recounted how Jesus was a humble, pious teacher of peace who taught forbearance, arguing that it defied reason to claim the almighty, self-sufficient Creator of the universe had a mortal son who could be crucified by enemies.
Instead, Khorrad Barzin championed the ancient Iranian monotheistic faith of Keyumars and Tahmuras. He proclaimed that Iranian monarchs and noble Dehqans worship the sole Creator, Yazdan. They look toward the supreme jewel of light as their Qibla, and measure their kingship not by greed, hypocrisy, or religious posturing, but by strict justice, generosity to the destitute, protection of their realm, and righteous deeds.
Caesar was utterly captivated by Khorrad Barzin's profound discourse. He praised him as a keeper of cosmic secrets whose mind towered above the stars. In honor of his peerless intellect, Caesar showered him with vast treasures of gold, silver, and a magnificent crown, sending his warmest blessings upon the land of Iran.
#1
بدو گفت قیصر که جاوید زی
✦
که دستور شاهنشهان را سزی
“Caesar said to him: 'May you live forever! For you are truly worthy to be the advisor of King of Kings.'”
#2
یکی خانه دارم در ایوان شگفت
✦
کزین برتر اندازه نتوان گرفت
“'I possess a chamber within a wondrous palace, the grandeur of which cannot be measured.'”
#3
یکی اسب و مردی برو بر سوار
✦
کز آنجا شگفتی شود هوشیار
“'Within it stands a horse and a mounted rider, a marvel that astounds even the most perceptive mind.'”
#4
چو بینی ندانی که این بند چیست
✦
طلسم است گر کردهٔ ایزدی‌ست
“'When you see it, you will not know its secret—whether it is a magical talisman or a work of God.'”
#5
چو خراد برزین شنید این سخن
✦
بیامد بر آن جایگاه کهن
“When Khorrad Barzin heard these words, he proceeded to that ancient place.”
#6
بدیدش یکی جای کرده بلند
✦
سوار ایستاده در او ارجمند
“He beheld a lofty chamber, wherein a noble horseman stood suspended.”
#7
کجا چشم بیننده چونان ندید
✦
بدان سان توگفتی خدای آفرید
“Never had an observer's eye beheld the like; one would say God Himself had fashioned it.”
#8
بدید ایستاده معلق سوار
✦
بیامد برِ قیصر نامدار
“Seeing the rider levitating in mid-air, he returned to the renowned Caesar.”
#9
چنین گفت کز آهن است آن سوار
✦
همه خانه از گوهر شاهوار
“He said: 'That horseman is forged of iron, while the entire chamber is set with regal jewels.'”
#10
که دانا ورا مغنیاطیس خواند
✦
که رومیش بر اسپ هندی نشاند
“'The wise call that stone loadstone (magnet), which the Rumis used to suspend the Indian steed.'”
#11
هرآنکس که او دفتر هندوان
✦
بخوانَد شود شاد و روشن‌روان
“'Whoever reads the texts of Hind shall become joyful and enlightened of soul.'”
#12
بپرسید قیصر که هندی ز راه
✦
همی تا کجا برکشد پایگاه
“Caesar asked: 'To what height does the Indian path of wisdom reach?'”
#13
ز دین پرستندگان برچِنَد
✦
همه بت پرستند گر خود کند
“'Do they turn away from worshipping faith? Do they all worship idols, even if wise?'”
#14
چنین گفت خراد برزین که راه
✦
به هند اندرون گاو شاه است و ماه
“Khorrad Barzin replied: 'In India, their path centers upon the King Cow and the Moon.'”
#15
به یزدان نگروند و گردان سپهر
✦
ندارد کسی بر تن خویش مهر
“'They believe not in God nor in the revolving sphere, and none among them shows compassion for his own body.'”
#16
ز خورشید گردنده بر بگذرند
✦
چو ما را ز دانندگان نشمرند
“'They claim to transcend the revolving sun, while viewing us as devoid of true wisdom.'”
#17
هرآنکس که او آتشی برفروخت
✦
شد اندر میان خویشتن را بسوخت
“'Whoever kindles a fire among them steps into the flames and burns himself alive.'”
#18
یکی آتشی داند اندر هوا
✦
به فرمان یزدان فرمان‌روا
“'They believe in a fire in the upper air, existing by command of the Sovereign God,'”
#19
که دانای هندوش خوانَد اثیر
✦
سخنهای نغز آورَد دلپذیر
“'Which the wise Hindu calls Ether, speaking fine and enchanting words about it.'”
#20
چنین گفت کآتش به آتش رسید
✦
گناهش ز کردار شد ناپدید
“'They say when fire merges with fire, one's sins vanish from their past deeds.'”
#21
از آن ناگزیر آتش افروختن
✦
همان راستی خواند این سوختن
“'They consider that self-immolation inevitable, calling such burning the ultimate truth.'”
#22
همان گفت‌وگوی شما نیست راست
✦
بر این بر روان مسیحا گواست
“'Yet your own theology is also inconsistent, to which the spirit of the Messiah bears witness.'”
#23
نبینی که عیسی مریم چه گفت
✦
بدانگه که بگشاد راز از نهفت
“'Do you not see what Jesus, son of Mary, declared when he revealed the sacred secrets?'”
#24
که پیراهنت گر ستانَد کسی
✦
میاویز با او به تندی بسی
“'That if someone takes your shirt, do not strive harshly against him in anger;'”
#25
وگر برزند کف به رخسار تو
✦
شود تیره زآن زخم دیدار تو
“'And if he slaps your cheek, causing your face to darken from the blow,'”
#26
مزن همچنان تا بماندت نام
✦
خردمند را نام بهتر ز کام
“'Strike not back, so that your noble name endures; for to the wise, a good name is better than worldly desire.'”
#27
بسوتام را بس کن از خوردنی
✦
مجو ار نباشدت گستردنی
“'Be content with dry bread for food, and seek no bed if you lack a carpet.'”
#28
بدین سر بدی را به بد مشمرید
✦
بی‌آزار از این تیرگی بگذرید
“'Repay not evil with evil in this world; pass through this darkness harmlessly.'”
#29
شما را هوا بر خرد شاه گشت
✦
دل از آز بسیار بیراه گشت
“'Yet passion has become king over your wisdom, and your hearts have strayed through excessive greed.'”
#30
که ایوانهاتان به کیوان رسید
✦
شماری که شد گنجتان را کلید
“'Your palaces reach to the heavens, beyond the measure of keys that open your treasuries.'”
#31
ابا گنجتان نیز چندان سپاه
✦
زره‌های رومی و رومی کلاه
“'Along with your treasures, you raise vast armies, with Roman armor and Roman helmets.'”
#32
به هر جای بیداد لشکر کشید
✦
ز آسودگی تیغها برکشید
“'Everywhere you march your armies in oppression, drawing swords away from peace.'”
#33
همی چشمه گردد بیابان ز خون
✦
مسیحا نبود اندر این رهنمون
“'The wilderness becomes a spring of blood—the Messiah never guided you to this path!'”
#34
یکی بینوا مرد درویش بود
✦
که نانش ز رنج تن خویش بود
“'He was a destitute, humble man whose bread came from the labor of his own body.'”
#35
جز از ترف و شیرش نبودی خورش
✦
فزونیش رخبین بُدی پرورش
“'He ate nothing save wild herbs and milk, nurtured on simple sustenance.'”
#36
چو آورد مرد جهودش به مشت
✦
چو بی‌یار و بیچاره دیدش بکشت
“'When the Jewish rulers captured him, seeing him friendless and helpless, they killed him.'”
#37
همان کشته را نیز بر دار کرد
✦
بر آن دار بر مر ورا خوار کرد
“'And they placed his body upon the gibbet, humiliating him upon that cross.'”
#38
چو روشن‌روان گشت و دانش‌پذیر
✦
سخن‌گوی و داننده و یادگیر
“'When he became enlightened of soul and receptive to knowledge, eloquent and wise,'”
#39
به پیغمبری نیز هنگام یافت
✦
به برنایی از زیرکی کام یافت
“'He attained the time of prophethood, achieving wisdom in his youth.'”
#40
تو گویی که فرزند یزدان بُد اوی
✦
بر آن دار برگشته خندان بُد اوی
“'Yet you claim he was the Son of God, smiling upon that cross of agony!'”
#41
بخندد بر این بر خردمند مرد
✦
تو گر بخردی گِردِ این فن مگرد
“'A wise man would laugh at such a claim; if you possess wisdom, wander not around such belief.'”
#42
که هست او ز فرزند و زن بی‌نیاز
✦
به نزدیک او آشکار است راز
“'For God is free from needing wife or child, and all secrets are open before Him.'”
#43
چه پیچی ز دین کیومرّثی
✦
هم از راه و آیین طهمورثی
“'Why do you turn away from the faith of Keyumars, and from the path and custom of Tahmuras?'”
#44
که گویند دارای گیهان یکی‌ست
✦
جز از بندگی کردنت رای نیست
“'Which teach that the Creator of the universe is One, and your only duty is to serve Him.'”
#45
جهاندار دهقان یزدان‌پرست
✦
چو بر واژه برسم بگیرد به دست
“'When the God-worshipping Dehqan who rules the land holds the sacred Barsam in hand during prayer,'”
#46
نشاید چشیدن یکی قطره آب
✦
گر از تشنگی آب بیند به خواب
“He ought not to taste even a single drop of water, though in his dreams he were perishing of thirst.”
#47
به یزدان پناهد به روز نبرد
✦
نخواهد به جنگ اندرون آب سرد
“On the day of battle he takes refuge in God, desiring no cool water in the midst of conflict.”
#48
همان قبله‌شان برترین گوهر است
✦
که از آب و خاک و هوا برتر است
“Likewise, their direction of prayer is that supreme Essence, which transcends water, earth, and air.”
#49
نباشند شاهان ما دین‌فروش
✦
به فرمان دارنده دارند گوش
“Our monarchs are no traders of their faith; they lend their ears solely to the Creator's decree.”
#50
به دینار و گوهر نباشند شاد
✦
نجویند نام و نشان جز به داد
“They take no joy in gold and precious gems, seeking renown and fame through justice alone.”
#51
ببخشیدن کاخ‌های بلند
✦
دگر شاد کردن دل مستمند
“Their joy lies in bestowing lofty palaces and bringing comfort to the hearts of the needy.”
#52
سدیگر کسی کو به روز نبرد
✦
بپوشد رخ شید گردان به گَرد
“Thirdly is the warrior who, on the day of battle, darkens the radiant sun with the dust of combat.”
#53
بروبوم دارد ز دشمن نگاه
✦
جز این را نخواهد خردمند شاه
“He guards the motherland against the enemy; a wise king desires nothing other than this.”
#54
جز از راستی هرک جوید ز دین
✦
بر او باد نفرین بی‌آفرین
“Whoever seeks from religion anything save truth, may endless curses fall upon him!”
#55
چو بشنید قیصر پسند آمدش
✦
سخنهای او سودمند آمدش
“When Caesar heard these words, he approved of them and deemed his discourse profoundly wise.”
#56
بدو گفت آن‌کو جهان آفرید
✦
تو را نامدار مِهان آفرید
“He said to him: 'He who created the world hath rendered thee illustrious among the great.”
#57
سخنهای پاک از تو باید شنید
✦
تو داری درِ رازها را کلید
“Pure and sublime words ought to be heard from thee, for thou holdest the key to hidden mysteries.”
#58
کسی را کز این گونه کهتر بُوَد
✦
سرش ز افسر ماه برتر بُوَد
“The monarch who has a servant such as thee shall wear a crown that towers above the moon.'”
#59
درم خواست از گنج و دینار خواست
✦
یکی افسری نامبردار خواست
“He ordered silver, gold coins, and a splendid crown brought forth from his royal treasury.”
#60
بدو داد و بسیار کرد آفرین
✦
که آباد باد از تو ایران زمین
“He bestowed them upon him with countless blessings, saying: 'May the land of Iran flourish through thee!'”