#1
چو چندی برآمد برین روزگار
✦
شب و روز آسایش آموزگار
“When some time had passed over this era, with night and day bringing rest to the teacher of men,”
#2
چنان بد که در کوه چین آن زمان
✦
دد و دام بودی فزون از گمان
“It so chanced that in the mountains of China at that time, wild beasts and predators existed beyond all reckoning.”
#3
ددی بود مهتر ز اسپی بتن
✦
فروهشته چون مشک گیسو رسن
“There was a beast larger than a horse in body, its hair hanging down like ropes of black musk.”
#4
به تن زرد و گوش و دهانش سیاه
✦
ندیدی کس او را مگر گرمگاه
“Its body was yellow, its ears and maw pitch-black; none ever caught sight of it save at the scorching heat of noon.”
#5
دو چنگش به کردار چنگ هژبر
✦
خروشش همی‌برگذشتی ز ابر
“Its two forepaws were like the claws of a lion, and its thunderous roar rose beyond the clouds.”
#6
همی سنگ را درکشیدی به دم
✦
شده روز ازو بر بزرگان دژم
“With its sweeping tail it would drag boulders, and because of it, the days of the nobles were darkened with grief.”
#7
ورا شیر کپی همی‌خواندند
✦
ز رنجش همه بوم در ماندند
“They called this beast the Shir-Kapi, and the entire land remained helpless under its affliction.”
#8
یکی دختری داشت خاتون چوماه
✦
اگر ماه دارد دو زلف سیاه
“Queen Khatun had a daughter fair as the moon—if ever the moon possessed two black tresses.”
#9
دو لب سرخ و بینی چو تیغ قلم
✦
دو بیجاده خندان و نرگس دژم
“Her two lips were ruby red, her nose straight as a reed pen, her ruby teeth smiling and her eyes like melancholy narcissus.”
#10
بران دخت لرزان بدی مام وباب
✦
اگر تافتی بر سرش آفتاب
“Her mother and father trembled for that daughter, lest even the sun shine too harshly upon her head.”
#11
چنان بد که روزی پیاده به دشت
✦
همی گرد آن مرغزاران بگشت
“It so chanced that one day on foot in the plain, she was strolling around those lush meadows.”
#12
جهاندار خاقان ز بهر شکار
✦
بدشتی دگر بود زان مرغزار
“The world-possessing Khaqan, for the sake of hunting, was in another plain far from that meadow.”
#13
همان نیز خاتون به کاخ اندورن
✦
همی رای زد با یکی رهنمون
“Likewise, Khatun inside the palace was taking counsel with a wise guide.”
#14
چو آن شیر کپی ز کوهش بدید
✦
فرود آمد او را به دم درکشید
“When the Shir-Kapi spotted her from its mountain, it swept down and drew her in with its sweeping tail.”
#15
بیک دم شد او از جهان در نهان
✦
سرآمد بران خوب چهره جهان
“In a single breath she vanished from the world; thus ended the life of that beautiful maiden.”
#16
چو خاقان شنید آن سیه کرد روی
✦
همان مادرش نیر بر کند موی
“When the Khaqan heard this, his face turned dark with sorrow, and her mother tore her hair in anguish.”
#17
ز دردش همه ساله گریان بدند
✦
چو بر آتش تیز بریان بدند
“In grief for her they wept through all the seasons, roasting as if laid upon a fierce fire.”
#18
همی چاره جستند زان اژدها
✦
که تا چین کی آید ز چنگش رها
“Constantly they sought a remedy against that dragon, wondering when China would be delivered from its grasp.”
#19
چو بهرام جنگ مقاتوره کرد
✦
وزان مرد جنگی برآورد گرد
“When Bahram fought the warrior Muqatura and raised the dust of battle from that warlike champion,”
#20
همی‌رفت خاتون بدیدار اوی
✦
بهر کس همی‌گفت کردار اوی
“Khatun went to behold him, as everyone spoke to her of his valiant deeds.”
#21
چنان بد که یک روز دیدش سوار
✦
از ایران همان نیز صد نامدار
“It so happened that one day she saw him riding, accompanied by a hundred renowned nobles of Iran.”
#22
پیاده فراوان به پیش اندرون
✦
همی‌راند بهرام با رهنمون
“With countless foot-soldiers marching ahead, Bahram rode forward alongside a guide.”
#23
بپرسید خاتون که این مرد کیست
✦
که با برز و با فرهٔ ایزدیست
“Khatun asked: 'Who is this man, possessing such stature and divine glory?'”
#24
بدو گفت کهتر که دوری ز کام
✦
که بهرام یل را ندانی بنام
“An attendant said to her: 'You are far from knowledge if you do not know the valiant Bahram by name!”
#25
به ایران یکی چند گه شاه بود
✦
سرتاج او برتر از ماه بود
“For a time he was king in Iran, his crown exalted higher than the moon.”
#26
بزرگانش خوانند بهرام گرد
✦
که از خسروان نام مردی ببرد
“The nobles call him Bahram the Hero, who bore away the fame of manhood from all kings.”
#27
کنون تا بیامد ز ایران بچین
✦
بلرزد همی زیر اسپش زمین
“Now that he has come from Iran to China, the earth trembles beneath his steed.”
#28
خداوند خواند همی مهترش
✦
همی تاج شاهی نهد بر سرش
“Our lord [the Khaqan] calls him his superior and places a royal crown upon his head.'”
#29
بدو گفت خاتون که با فر اوی
✦
سزد گر بنازیم در پر اوی
“Khatun replied: 'With his divine splendor, it is right that we pride ourselves under his shadow.”
#30
یکی آرزو زو بخواهم درست
✦
چو خاقان نگردد بدان کارسست
“I shall ask a direct request of him, since the Khaqan acts sluggish in this matter.”
#31
بخواهد مگر ز اژدها کین من
✦
برو بشنود درد و نفرین من
“Perhaps he will seek my vengeance against the dragon when he hears my pain and curse upon it.'”
#32
بدو گفت کهتر گر این داستان
✦
بخواند برو مهتر راستان
“The attendant said: 'If the chief of the righteous reads this tale before him,”
#33
تو از شیر کپی نیابی نشان
✦
مگر کشته و گرگ پایش کشان
“You shall find no trace of the Shir-Kapi, save slain with wolves dragging its feet!'”
#34
چو خاتون شنید این سخن شاد شد
✦
ز تیمار آن دختر آزاد شد
“When Khatun heard these words she rejoiced, feeling freed from the sorrow over her daughter.”
#35
همی‌تاخت تا پیش خاقان رسید
✦
یکایک بگفت آنچ دید وشنید
“She hastened until she came before the Khaqan and recounted one by one all she had seen and heard.”
#36
بدو گفت خاقان که عاری بود
✦
بجایی که چون من سواری بود
“The Khaqan said to her: 'It would be a shame in a place where a knight such as I exists,”
#37
همی شیر کپی خورد دخترم
✦
بگوییم و ننگی شود گوهرم
“That the Shir-Kapi should devour my daughter, and we speak of it to strangers, bringing disgrace upon my lineage!”
#38
ندانند کان اژدهای دژم
✦
همی کوه آهن رباید به دم
“They know not that this fierce dragon can snatch even a mountain of iron with its tail/breath!”
#39
اگر دختر شاه نامی بود
✦
همان شاه را جان گرامی بود
“Though she was the daughter of a renowned king, a king's life is also precious to him.'”
#40
بدو گفت خاتون که من کین خویش
✦
بخواهم ز بهر جهان بین خویش
“Khatun said: 'I shall seek my vengeance for the sake of the light of my eyes!”
#41
اگر ننگ باشد وگر نام من
✦
بگویم برآید مگر کام من
“Whether it brings shame or renown upon me, I shall speak out so that my desire may be fulfilled.'”
#42
برآمد برین نیز روز دراز
✦
نهانی ز هرکس همی‌داشت راز
“A long time passed over this, and she kept her secret hidden from everyone.”
#43
چنان بد که خاقان یکی سور کرد
✦
جهان را بران سور پر نور کرد
“It so happened that the Khaqan held a grand feast, illuminating the world with that royal banquet.”
#44
فرستاد بهرام یل رابخواند
✦
چو آمدش برتخت زرین نشاند
“He sent for the heroic Bahram, and when he arrived, seated him upon a golden throne.”
#45
چو خاتون پس پرده آوا شنید
✦
بشد تیز و بهرام یل را بدید
“When Khatun heard his voice from behind the curtain, she moved swiftly and saw the hero Bahram.”
#46
فراوانش بستود وکرد آفرین
✦
که آباد بادا بتو ترک و چین
“She praised him abundantly and offered blessings, saying, "May the lands of Turk and Chin flourish through you!"”
#47
یکی آرزو خواهم از شهریار
✦
که باشد بران آرزو کامگار
“"I have one wish to ask of the prince, and may he be triumphant in fulfilling this desire."”
#48
بدو گفت بهرام فرمان تو راست
✦
برین آرزو کام و پیمان تو راست
“Bahram replied to her, "Your command is mine to obey; your desire shall be met, and my promise to you is true."”
#49
بدو گفت خاتون کز ایدر نه دور
✦
یکی مرغزارست زیبای سور
“Khatun said to him, "Not far from here lies a lush meadow, a beautiful place fit for celebration."”
#50
جوانان چین اندران مرغزار
✦
یکی جشن سازند گاه بهار
“"In that meadow, the youths of Chin gather to hold a glorious festival in the season of spring."”
#51
ازان بیشه پرتاب یک تیروار
✦
یکی کوه بینی سیه‌تر ز قار
“"An arrow's flight away from that thicket, you will behold a mountain blacker than pitch."”
#52
بران کوه خارا یکی اژدهاست
✦
که این کشور چین ازو در بلاست
“"Upon that stony mountain dwells a dragon, bringing ruin and misery upon this realm of Chin."”
#53
یکی شیر کپیش خواند همی
✦
دگر نیز نامش نداند همی
“"Some call it the Shir-Kapi, while no one knows any other name for it."”
#54
یکی دخترم بد ز خاقان چین
✦
که خورشید کردی برو آفرین
“"I had a daughter by the Khaqan of Chin, so fair that even the sun would bestow praise upon her."”
#55
از ایوان بشد نزد آن جشنگاه
✦
که خاقان به نخچیر بد با سپاه
“"She went out from the palace to that festive grounds while the Khaqan was away hunting with his army."”
#56
بیامد ز کوه اژدهای دژم
✦
کشید آن بهار مرا او بدم
“"Down came the grim dragon from the mountain and snatched away my spring-like child with its tail."”
#57
کنون هر بهاری بران مرغزار
✦
چنان هم بیاید ز بهر شکار
“"Now, every spring, it descends upon that meadow in the same manner to hunt for prey."”
#58
برین شهر ما را جوانی نماند
✦
همان نامور پهلوانی نماند
“"In our city, no youth has been left alive, nor has any renowned champion survived."”
#59
شدند از پی شیرکپی هلاک
✦
برانگیخت از بوم آباد خاک
“"They all perished in pursuit of the Shir-Kapi, which turned our prosperous land into dust."”
#60
سواران چینی ومردان کار
✦
بسی تاختند اندران کوهسار
“"Many Chinese horsemen and battle-proven warriors rode into those mountains to challenge it."”
#61
چو از دور بینند چنگال اوی
✦
برو پشت و گوش و سر و یال اوی
“"Yet when from afar they behold its dread claws, its back, its ears, its head, and its mane,"”
#62
بغرد بدرد دل مرد جنگ
✦
مر او را چه شیر و چه پیل و نهنگ
“"It roars and strikes terror into brave hearts—to it, a lion, an elephant, or a crocodile are all the same!"”
#63
کس اندر نیارد شدن پیش اوی
✦
چوگیرد شمار کم و بیش اوی
“"None dares to step forward against it once they measure the vastness of its terrifying power."”
#64
بدو گفت بهرام فردا پگاه
✦
بیایم ببینم من این جشنگاه
“Bahram said to her, "Tomorrow at early dawn, I shall go and inspect this festival ground."”
#65
به نیروی یزدان که او داد زور
✦
بلند آفرینندهٔ ماه وهور
“"By the power of God who granted strength—the exalted Creator of the moon and the sun!"”
#66
بپردازم از اژدها جشنگاه
✦
چو شبگیر ما را نمایند راه
“"I shall clear the festive grounds of this dragon as soon as daybreak guides my path."”