At the dawn of the next day, Khosrow Parviz ascended the Kayanid throne and placed the imperial crown upon his head. By his royal command, a magnificent feast was prepared in the banquet garden, and Niyatus, alongside Roman nobles and philosophers, took his seat at the King's table. Khosrow, arrayed in jewel-embroidered Roman robes, approached the board with a welcoming smile while Bandoy stood in attendance holding the sacred Barsam twigs. However, as the King of Kings recited the ancient Zoroastrian table grace—the silent Vaj—under his breath according to the rites of his ancestors, Niyatus grew incensed. Offended by this departure from Christian practice, the Roman commander threw down his bread and retreated from the table, exclaiming that merging secret Zoroastrian whispers with the reverence of the Cross was an insult by Caesar against Christ.
Witnessing such insolence at the royal table, Bandoy struck the back of his hand sharply across the face of the cross-worshipper. Khosrow was deeply grieved by this rash display, his countenance turning as pale as a yellow wild-rose. He chastised Gostahm, lamenting that Bandoy's folly had brought dishonor upon them before their foreign allies. Half-intoxicated and consumed by rage, Niyatus rode back to his camp, donned his battle armor, and readied his Roman cavalry to assault Khosrow's royal court. He dispatched a swift courier demanding that Bandoy be delivered into his hands immediately, threatening a full-scale riot if his request were denied.
Upon hearing this ultimatum, Khosrow flared with imperial pride, declaring that he would never abandon the ancient faith of his exalted ancestors—from Keyumars and Jamshid down to Kay Qobad—nor renounce his holy heritage to adopt the creed of Christ merely to appease Rome. Seeing the impending disaster, Queen Maryam, the sagacious Roman princess and wife of Khosrow, stepped forward. She offered to quell the violent uprising herself, taking Bandoy under her protection alongside ten horsemen and riding directly to Niyatus's camp.
With eloquent diplomacy and profound wisdom, Maryam confronted Niyatus. She reminded him of the solemn alliance forged by Caesar, the blood ties between their houses, and the emptiness of provoking a war over table customs. She reasoned that Iranian nobles never forsake their ancestral faith, and that Khosrow’s heart was already heavy with grief and vengeance for his slain father. Her words dissolved Niyatus's wrath and moved him to deep shame. Repentant, Niyatus returned swiftly to Khosrow's presence, offering apologies and acknowledging that a wise monarch must remain faithful to the religion of his forefathers. Thus, through Maryam's brilliant intervention, peace was restored between the empires.
#1
دگر روز خسرو بیاراست گاه
✦
به سر برنهاد آن کیانی کلاه
“On the next day Khosrow arrayed his royal throne, placing the Kayanid crown upon his head.”
#2
نهادند در گلشن سور خوان
✦
چنین گفت پس رومیان را بخوان
“They laid out a feast in the banquet garden, and he commanded the Romans to be summoned.”
#3
بیامد نیاطوس با رومیان
✦
نشستند با فیلسوفان بخوان
“Niyatus arrived with the Romans and sat at the table alongside the philosophers.”
#4
چو خسرو فرود آمد از تخت بار
✦
ابا جامهٔ روم گوهر نگار
“When Khosrow descended from his audience throne, clad in jewel-embroidered Roman robes...”
#5
خرامید خندان و برخوان نشست
✦
بشد نیز بندوی برسم بدست
“He walked smilingly and took his seat at the board, while Bandoy stood at hand with the sacred Barsam.”
#6
جهاندار بگرفت واژ نهان
✦
به زمزم همی رای زد با مهان
“The ruler took the silent Vaj grace, reciting sacred whispers alongside the grandees.”
#7
نیاطوس کان دید بنداخت نان
✦
از آشفتگی باز پس شد ز خوان
“When Niyatus saw this, he cast away his bread and stepped back from the banquet in outrage.”
#8
همی‌گفت واژ و چلیپا بهم
✦
ز قیصر بود بر مسیحا ستم
“He declared: 'Combining secret Zoroastrian whispers with the Cross is an insult by Caesar against Christ!'”
#9
چو بندوی دید آن بزد پشت دست
✦
بخوان بر به روی چلیپا پرست
“When Bandoy saw his conduct, he struck the back of his hand sharply across the face of the cross-worshipper.”
#10
غمی گشت زان کار خسرو چودید
✦
برخساره شد چون گل شنبلید
“Khosrow grew deeply grieved at this deed, his face turning pale as a yellow wild-rose.”
#11
به گستهم گفت این گو بی‌خرد
✦
نباید که بی‌داوری می‌خورد
“He said to Gostahm: 'This foolish warrior ought not to drink without discernment!'”
#12
ورا با نیاطوس رومی چه کار
✦
تن خویش را کرد امروز خوار
“'What business had he with Niyatus the Roman? Today he brought shame upon himself.'”
#13
نیاطوس زان جایگه برنشست
✦
به لشکرگه خویش شد نیم مست
“Niyatus rose from that place and returned to his military camp half-intoxicated.”
#14
بپوشید رومی زره رزم را
✦
ز بهر تبه کردن بزم را
“The Roman commander donned his battle armor, intent on ruining the royal feast.”
#15
سواران رومی همه جنگ جوی
✦
به درگاه خسرو نهادند روی
“All the warlike Roman horsemen set out toward the court of Khosrow.”
#16
هم آنگه ز لشکر سواری چو باد
✦
به خسرو فرستاد رومی نژاد
“Right then, a rider swift as the wind was dispatched to Khosrow by the Roman lord...”
#17
که بندوی ناکس چرا پشت دست
✦
زند بر رخ مرد یزدان‌پرست
“...saying: 'Why did the vile Bandoy strike the face of a God-fearing worshipper?'”
#18
گر او را فرستی به نزدیک من
✦
و گرنه ببین شورش انجمن
“'If you send him to me, well and good; otherwise, prepare to witness an army in revolt!'”
#19
ز من بیش پیچی کنون کز رهی
✦
که جوید همی تخت شاهنشهی
“'Will you now turn against me, after I came as your helper seeking the royal throne for you?'”
#20
چو بشنید خسرو برآشفت و گفت
✦
که کس دین یزدان نیارد نهفت
“When Khosrow heard this, he grew enraged and declared: 'No man may hide the true faith of God!'”
#21
کیومرث و جمشید تا کی قباد
✦
کسی از مسیحا نکردند یاد
“'From Keyumars and Jamshid down to Kay Qobad, who among them ever invoked Christ?'”
#22
مبادا که دین نیاکان خویش
✦
گزیده سرافراز و پاکان خویش
“'May it never be that I abandon the faith of my exalted, noble, and pure ancestors!'”
#23
گذارم بدین مسیحا شوم
✦
نگیرم بخوان واژ و ترسا شوم
“'Should I abandon it for Christ’s creed, forsaking the sacred Vaj grace to turn Christian?'”
#24
تو تنها همی کژگیری شمار
✦
هنر دیدم از رومیان روز کار
“'You alone calculate perversely, though I have seen the noble skill of the Romans in battle.'”
#25
به خسرو چنین گفت مریم که من
✦
بپا آورم جنگ این انجمن
“Then Maryam said to Khosrow: 'I shall quell the strife of this assembly myself.'”
#26
به من ده سرافراز بندوی را
✦
که تا رومیان از پی روی را
“'Hand over the proud Bandoy to me, so that the Romans may see him in my company...'”
#27
ببینند و باز آرمش تن درست
✦
کسی بیهوده جنگ هرگز نجست
“'...and I shall bring him back safe and sound; no wise person seeks an empty war.'”
#28
فرستاد بندوی را شهریار
✦
به نزد نیاطوس با ده سوار
“The king dispatched Bandoy to Niyatus accompanied by ten horsemen...”
#29
همان نیز مریم زن هوشمند
✦
که بودی همیشه لبانش بپند
“...along with the wise lady Maryam, whose lips were ever filled with noble counsel.”
#30
بدو گفت رو با برادر پدر
✦
بگو ای بداندیش پرخاشخر
“She said to Niyatus: 'Go to your brother and father, and say, O ill-thinking, quarrelsome warrior!'”
#31
ندیدی که با شاه قیصر چه گفت
✦
ز بهر بزرگی ورا بود جفت
“'Did you not see what Caesar spoke with the King for the sake of royal dignity and kinship?'”
#32
ز پیوند خویشی و از خواسته
✦
ز مردان وز گنج آراسته
“'With bonds of kinship, wealth, valiant warriors, and decorated treasures...'”
#33
تو پیوند خویشی همی‌برکنی
✦
همان فر قیصر ز من بفگنی
“'...do you now sever this alliance of blood and cast away Caesar’s glory on my account?'”
#34
ز قیصر شنیدی که خسرو ز دین
✦
بگردد چو آید به ایران زمین
“'Did you not hear from Caesar that Khosrow will return to his ancient faith once he reaches Iran?'”
#35
مگو ایچ گفتار نا دلپذیر
✦
تو بندوی را سر به آغوش گیر
“'Utter no unpleasant words; embrace Bandoy warmly!'”
#36
ندانی که دهقان ز دین کهن
✦
نپیچد چرا خام گویی سخن
“'Do you not know that an Iranian noble never turns from his ancient faith? Why speak so foolishly?'”
#37
مده رنج و کردار قیصر بباد
✦
بمان تا به باشیم یک چند شاد
“'Do not waste Caesar's efforts and deeds; let us remain joyful together for a while!'”
#38
بکین پدر من جگر خسته‌ام
✦
کمر بر میان سوک را بسته‌ام
“'My heart is wounded with grief for my husband's slain father, and I am girt in mourning.'”
#39
دل او سراسر پر از کین اوست
✦
زبانش پر از رنج و تیماراوست
“'His heart is entirely filled with vengeance for him, and his tongue speaks of sorrow and pain.'”
#40
که او از پی واژ شد زشت گوی
✦
تو از بی‌خرد هوشمندی مجوی
“'He spoke harshly because of the sacred Vaj grace; expect not wisdom from an unthinking man.'”
#41
چو مریم برفت این سخنها بگفت
✦
نیاطوس بشنید و کینه نهفت
“When Maryam finished these words, Niyatus listened and concealed his wrath.”
#42
هم از کار بندوی دل کرد نرم
✦
کجا داشت از روی بندوی شرم
“His heart softened toward Bandoy, for he felt shame before Bandoy's face.”
#43
بیامد به نزدیک خسرو چو گرد
✦
دل خویش خوش کرد زان گفته مرد
“He came swift as dust before Khosrow, his heart gladdened by those wise words.”
#44
نیاطوس گفت ای جهاندیده شاه
✦
خردمندی از مست رومی مخواه
“Niyatus said: 'O world-experienced King, expect not wisdom from a drunken Roman!'”
#45
توبس کن بدین نیاکان خویش
✦
خردمند مردم نگردد ز کیش
“'Be content with the faith of your ancestors, for a wise man turns not from his creed.'”
#46
برین گونه چون شد سخنها دراز
✦
به لشکر گه آمد نیاطوس باز
“When in this wise their talk had drawn out late, / Niatos returned unto his camp's estate.”