Following the flight of Bahram Chubin, Khosrow Parviz entered the battlefield where the fate of Iran had been decided. He distributed the captured spoils—purses of gold and rich crowns—among his triumphant warriors. Mounting a swift steed, he rode until he reached a desolate, thorny field, where he dismounted and cast himself upon the dust before the Almighty. In deep humility, the Sasanian King praised God for purging the realm of his fierce adversary and granting victory to the rightful crown.
Returning to his royal pavilion, Khosrow summoned his scribe to draft a grand letter upon fine silk to Caesar of Rome. He recounted the divine favor shown at Adhar Gushnasp, the fierce clashes, the sudden collapse of Bahram's host, and the burning of the enemy camp. Sealed with the imperial emblem, the message was dispatched across the borders to Rome.
Upon receiving the letter, Caesar stepped down from his throne in reverence, giving thanks to the Creator who guides all mortals and bestows victory. He distributed vast wealth and food to the poor, and penned a noble response filled with cosmological wisdom, exalting the Sovereign of the sun, moon, elephant, and ant. Along with his letter, Caesar sent unmatched imperial treasures: an ancient Roman crown, regal collars and earrings, one hundred and sixty gold-inlaid robes, thirty camel-loads of dinars and precious gems, a jewel-encrusted cross, a magnificent throne, and a green tunic woven with golden threads, accompanied by four esteemed Roman philosophers.
Khosrow welcomed the Roman embassy with an escort of one thousand noble horsemen. Yet, upon examining the gifts, he hesitated before the Christian robe adorned with the sign of the cross. Weary of geopolitical fallout, he pondered whether rejecting the garment would alienate Caesar, while wearing it might cause his Zoroastrian nobles to accuse him of apostasy for the sake of wealth. His trusted advisor assured him that true faith lies within the soul, not in outward vestments, and that wearing the robe would honor the alliance without breaching his devotion to Zoroaster. Thus, Khosrow donned the cross-adorned garment and set the crown upon his head, leading the wise to recognize a masterstroke of diplomacy, even as the ignorant rumored that the King of Kings had secretly embraced the Christian faith.
#1
ازین سوی خسرو بران رزمگاه
✦
بیامد که بهرام بد با سپاه
“From this side, Khosrow came onto the battlefield where Bahram had stood with his army.”
#2
همه رزمگاهش به تاراج داد
✦
سپه را همه بدره و تاج داد
“He gave up the whole battlefield to plunder and bestowed purses of money and crowns upon his army.”
#3
یکی بارهٔ تیز رو برنشست
✦
میان را ز بهر پرستش ببست
“He mounted a swift steed and girded his loins for the worship of the Almighty.”
#4
به پیش اندر آمد یکی خارستان
✦
پیاده ببود اندران کارستان
“He came upon a thorny wilderness ahead and dismounted on foot in that difficult place.”
#5
به غلتید در پیش یزدان به خاک
✦
همی‌گفت کای داور داد و پاک
“He rolled in the dust before God, crying: 'O Sovereign Judge, Just and Pure!'”
#6
پی دشمن از بوم برداشتی
✦
همه کار ز اندیشه بگذاشتی
“'Thou hast uprooted the enemy's foot from this land and brought all matters beyond human calculation.'”
#7
پرستنده و ناسزا بنده‌ام
✦
به فرمان و رایت سرافگنده‌ام
“'I am Thy worshiper and an unworthy servant, bowing my head to Thy command and guidance.'”
#8
وزان جایگه شد به پرده سرای
✦
بیامد به نزدیک او رهنمای
“From that place he went to his royal tent, where his wise advisor came into his presence.”
#9
بفرمود تا پیش او شد دبیر
✦
نوشتند زو نامه‌ای برحریر
“He commanded his scribe to present himself, and from his dictation they wrote a letter upon silk.”
#10
ز چیزی که رفت اندران رزمگاه
✦
به قیصر نوشت اندران نامه شاه
“In that missive, the King wrote to Caesar of all that had transpired upon the battlefield.”
#11
نخست آفرین کرد بر دادگر
✦
کزو دید مردی و بخت و هنر
“First, he offered praise to the Just God, from Whom he received valour, fortune, and mastery.”
#12
دگر گفت کز کردگار جهان
✦
همه نیکوی دیدم اندر نهان
“Then he wrote: 'From the Creator of the world, I have seen only goodness in secret.'”
#13
به آذرگشسپ آمدم با سپاه
✦
دوان پیش بازآمدم کینه خواه
“'I came with an army to Adhar Gushnasp, riding forward swiftly seeking vengeance.'”
#14
بدان گونه تنگ اندر آمد به جنگ
✦
که بر من ببد کار پیکار تنگ
“'The battle became so closely pressed that the fight grew exceedingly dire upon me.'”
#15
چو یزدان پاکش نبد دستگیر
✦
بمرد آن دم آتش و دار و گیر
“'When pure God held back His aiding hand from him, the fire of his battle and tumult died in an instant.'”
#16
چوبیچاره‌تر گشت و لشکر نماند
✦
گریزان به شبگیر ز آنجا براند
“'When he became helpless and no army remained for him, he fled in the early dawn from that place.'”
#17
همه لشکرش را بهم بر زدیم
✦
به لشکر گهش آتش اندرزدیم
“'We routed his entire host and set fire to his military encampment.'”
#18
به فرمان یزدان پیروزگر
✦
ببندم برو نیز راه گذر
“'By the command of the Victorious God, I shall also block every path of escape for him.'”
#19
نهادند برنامه بر مهرشاه
✦
فرستادگان بر گرفتند راه
“They affixed the royal seal upon the letter, and the envoys took to the road.”
#20
فرستاده با نامه شهریار
✦
بشد تا بر قیصر نامدار
“The envoy departed with the sovereign's letter, traveling until he reached the renowned Caesar.”
#21
چو آن نامه برخواند قیصر ز تخت
✦
فرود آمد آن مرد بیداربخت
“When Caesar read that letter from his throne, that vigilant-fortuned ruler descended from his seat.”
#22
به یزدان چنین گفت کای رهنمای
✦
همیشه توی جاودانه بجای
“He spoke to God: 'O Guide! Thou art eternal and abiding forever.'”
#23
تو پیروز کردی مر آن بنده را
✦
کشنده توی مرد افگنده را
“'Thou hast granted victory to that servant; Thou art the Slayer of the arrogant and the Raiser of the fallen.'”
#24
فراوان به درویش دینار داد
✦
همان خوردنیهای بسیار داد
“He distributed abundant dinars to the needy, as well as vast stores of food.”
#25
مر آن نامه را نیز پاسخ نوشت
✦
بسان درختی به باغ بهشت
“He also wrote a reply to that letter, lush and beautiful like a tree in the garden of Paradise.”
#26
سرنامه کرد از جهاندار یاد
✦
خداوند پیروزی و فرو داد
“He began the letter by remembering the Lord of the world—the Master of victory, royal glory, and justice.”
#27
خداوند ماه و خداوند هور
✦
خداوند پیل و خداوند مور
“'Lord of the moon and Lord of the sun, Lord of the mighty elephant and Lord of the tiny ant.'”
#28
بزرگی و نیک اختری زو شناس
✦
وزو دار تا زنده باشی سپاس
“'Recognize greatness and good fortune as coming from Him, and render thanks to Him as long as you live.'”
#29
جز از داد و خوبی مکن در جهان
✦
چه در آشکار و چه اندر نهان
“'Do nothing in the world except justice and virtue, whether openly or in secret.'”
#30
یکی تاج کز قیصران یادگار
✦
همی‌داشتی تا کی آید به کار
“He sent an imperial crown, an heirloom of past Caesars, kept for when a fitting moment should arise.”
#31
همان خسروی طوق با گوشوار
✦
صدوشست تا جامهٔ زرنگار
“As well as a royal torque, earrings, and one hundred and sixty gold-adorned garments.”
#32
دگر سی شتر بار دینار بود
✦
همان در و یاقوت بسیار بود
“Furthermore, thirty camel-loads of dinars, alongside vast quantities of pearls and rubies.”
#33
صلیبی فرستاد گوهر نگار
✦
یکی تخت پرگوهر شاهوار
“He sent a gem-encrusted cross and a royal throne studded with magnificent jewels.”
#34
یکی سبز خفتان به زر بافته
✦
بسی شوشه زر برو تافته
“And a green tunic woven with gold, intricately entwined with golden threads.”
#35
ازان فیلسوفان رومی چهار
✦
برفتند با هدیه وبا نثار
“Four Roman philosophers set out accompanied by these gifts and offerings.”
#36
چو زان کارها شد به شاه آگهی
✦
ز قیصر شدش کاربا فرهی
“When news of these deeds reached the King, his standing was magnified with glory through Caesar's gesture.”
#37
پذیره فرستاد خسرو سوار
✦
گرانمایگان گرامی هزار
“Khosrow dispatched an escort of one thousand noble and cherished horsemen to welcome them.”
#38
بزرگان به نزدیک خسرو شدند
✦
همه پاک با هدیه نو شدند
“The nobles entered Khosrow's presence, all offering fresh gifts and homage.”
#39
چو خسرو نگه کرد و نامه بخواند
✦
ازان خواسته در شگفتی بماند
“When Khosrow looked upon the gifts and read the letter, he was left in awe of such immense treasure.”
#40
به دستور فرمود پس شهریار
✦
که آن جامهٔ روم گوهر نگار
“Then the sovereign spoke to his minister regarding that jeweled Roman garment:”
#41
نه آیین پرمایه دهقان بود
✦
کجا جامهٔ جاثلیقان بود
“'This is not in accordance with the noble custom of the Dehqans, for it is the vestment of Christian Patriarchs (Catholicoi).'”
#42
چو بر جامهٔ ما چلیپا بود
✦
نشست اندر آیین ترسا بود
“'If our garment bears the cross, sitting in it belongs to the Christian rite.'”
#43
وگر خود نپوشم بیازارد اوی
✦
همانا دگرگونه پندارد اوی
“'Yet if I do not wear it, Caesar will take offense and peradventure harbor ill thoughts.'”
#44
وگر پوشم این نامداران همه
✦
بگویند کاین شهریار رمه
“'And if I do wear it, all these renowned nobles will say: "O King of the flock!"'”
#45
مگر کز پی چیز ترسا شدست
✦
که اندر میان چلیپا شدست
“'"Perchance he became a Christian for the sake of wealth, since he has clad himself in the cross!"'”
#46
به خسرو چنین گفت پس رهنمای
✦
که دین نیست شاها به پوشش بپای
“Then the counselor said to Khosrow: 'O King, true faith is not established merely by the robe one wears.'”
#47
تو بردین زر دشت پیغمبری
✦
اگر چند پیوسته قیصری
“'You abide by the faith of Zoroaster the Prophet, even though you are closely allied with the Caesar.'”
#48
بپوشید پس جامهٔ شهریار
✦
بیاویخت آن تاج گوهرنگار
“Thereupon the monarch donned the robe and suspended upon himself that jewel-encrusted crown.”
#49
برفتند رومی و ایرانیان
✦
ز هر گونه مردم اندر میان
“The Romans and Iranians set forth together, with people of every rank and station walking in their midst.”
#50
کسی کش خرد بود چون جامه دید
✦
بدانست کو رای قیصر گزید
“Whoever possessed wisdom, upon beholding the garment, realized he had adopted Caesar's wish for diplomatic expediency.”
#51
دگر گفت کاین شهریار جهان
✦
همانا که ترسا شد اندر نهان
“Another whispered, 'In truth, this sovereign of the world must have embraced Christianity in secret!'”