When Bahram Chubin arrived in Merv, he arrayed his host like the iridescent plumage of a pheasant and established his stronghold. Soon, warnings reached the Khaqan of Turkestan and China that no traveler should cross into Iranian territory without explicit royal permission, lest intelligence of Bahram's movements reach King Khosrow Parviz. Hearing this, the Khaqan issued a stern imperial decree: heralds proclaimed throughout the realm that anyone attempting to travel toward Iran without the Khaqan's personal seal would be cleaved in two, for no amount of silver could purchase his clemency.
Meanwhile, Kharad Borzin, the cunning envoy of Khosrow Parviz, remained in hiding for three long months, quietly observing the political currents. Sensing the right moment, he summoned an impoverished old warrior named Qalun, seating him in a place of honor. With calculated eloquence, Kharad Borzin addressed him: 'O Qalun, for decades you wandered China in hardship, begging for millet bread and coarse sheepskins. Now you taste fine lamb and wear noble garments. Your life is nearing its natural end, having seen the passage of countless days and rugged lands. I offer you a perilous quest—one that will either elevate you to supreme honor or lay you in the dark earth.'
Kharad Borzin laid out his covert plan: 'I shall provide you with an authentic imprint of the Khaqan’s signet seal, allowing you to traverse the realm unhindered. Put on your old black sheepskin coat, conceal a razor-sharp dagger within your sleeve, and make haste to the grand city of Merv. Watch carefully for the day named Bahram of the month. Bahram Chubin regards that day as deeply ill-omened; he refuses entry to large crowds and sits alone, his head wrapped in Chinese silk. Inform the palace guards that you carry a secret message from the Khaqan’s daughter intended solely for his ears. Once brought into his solitary presence, tell him the princess instructed you to whisper the secret into his ear. As he bends down to listen, strike hard and plunge the blade deep into his abdomen! In the ensuing panic, as guards scramble to save the carpets and treasures, slip away. If you perish, you die an old man who has tasted all the bitter and sweet of this world. But if you escape, King Khosrow Parviz shall bestow an entire city upon you.'
Qalun, a centenarian weary of poverty, accepted the mission with zeal, pledging his body and soul. Kharad Borzin immediately hurried to Khatun, the influential wife of the Khaqan. He besought her to grant him an imprint of the Khaqan's signet seal. Khatun informed him that the Khaqan lay in a deep, drunken stupor. Taking seal-clay from Kharad Borzin, she crept silently into the royal bedchamber, pressed the clay against the Khaqan's signet ring, and brought the impression back. Expressing immense gratitude, Kharad Borzin praised her wisdom and handed the sealed safe-conduct pass to Qalun, dispatching the old assassin on his fatal journey to Merv.
#1
وزان روی بهرام شد تا به مرو
✦
بیاراست لشکر چو پر تذرو
“From there Bahram went onward to Merv, arranging his host like the bright plumage of a pheasant.”
#2
کس آمد به خاقان که از ترک و چین
✦
ممان‌تا کس آید به ایران زمین
“A messenger came to the Khaqan, urging that no one from Turkestan or China be allowed to cross into Iran,”
#3
که آگاهی ما به خسرو برند
✦
ورا زان سخن هدیهٔ نو برند
“Lest news of their doings be carried to King Khosrow, bringing him fresh tidings.”
#4
منادیگری کرد خاقان چین
✦
که بی‌مهر ماکس به ایران زمین
“The Khaqan of China commanded heralds to cry out: 'Without our seal, no person shall journey to Iran!”
#5
شود تامیانش کنم بدو نیم
✦
به یزدان که نفروشم او را به سیم
“Whosoever attempts it shall be cleaved in twain; by God, I will not sell his life for silver!'”
#6
همی‌بود خراد برزین سه ماه
✦
همی‌داشت این رازها را نگاه
“For three months Kharad Borzin remained there in secret, carefully watching all these developments.”
#7
به تنگی دل اندر قلون را بخواند
✦
بران نامور جایگاهش نشاند
“With a troubled heart he called Qalun to his side and seated him in a position of honor.”
#8
بدو گفت روزی که کس در جهان
✦
ندارد دلی کش نباشد نهان
“He said to him: 'There is no man alive in this world whose heart harbors no hidden secret desire.”
#9
تو نان جو و ارزن و پوستین
✦
فراوان به جستی ز هردر به چین
“You once searched from door to door in China for barley bread, millet, and a coarse sheepskin coat.”
#10
کنون خوردنیهات نان و بره
✦
همان پوششت جامه‌های سره
“Now your food is choice bread and lamb, and your garments are of fine quality.”
#11
چنان بود یک چند و اکنون چنین
✦
چه نفرین شنیدی و چه آفرین
“Such was your plight for a time, and such it is now; what curses have you heard, and what blessings?”
#12
کنون روزگار تو بر سرگذشت
✦
بسی روز و شب دیدی و کوه و دشت
“Now your life is drawing toward its close; you have seen many days and nights, mountains and plains.”
#13
یکی کار دارم تو را بیمناک
✦
اگرتخت یابی اگر تیره خاک
“I have a perilous task for you: it will bring you either a high throne or the dark dust.”
#14
ستانم یکی مهر خاقان چین
✦
چنان رو که اندر نوردی زمین
“I shall obtain an impression of the Khaqan's seal; travel so swiftly that you seem to swallow the earth!”
#15
به نزدیک بهرام باید شدن
✦
به مروت فراوان بباید بدن
“You must go to Bahram, displaying great stealth, courtesy, and cunning.”
#16
بپوشی همان پوستین سیاه
✦
یکی کارد بستان و بنورد راه
“Don your old black sheepskin, concealed with a bare dagger, and strike out upon the road.”
#17
نگه دار از آن ماه بهرام روز
✦
برو تا در مرو گیتی فروز
“Watch for the day of Bahram in that month; travel until you reach the radiant gates of Merv.”
#18
وی آن روز را شوم دارد به فال
✦
نگه داشتیم بسیار سال
“For Bahram considers that day ill-omened; we have observed this practice of his for many years.”
#19
نخواهد که انبوه باشد برش
✦
به دیبای چینی بپوشد سرش
“He permits no crowd in his presence then, wrapping his head in Chinese brocade in solitary retreat.”
#20
چنین گوی کز دخت خاقان پیام
✦
رسانم برین مهتر شادکام
“Say to his guard: 'I bring a private message from the Khaqan's daughter to this prosperous leader.'”
#21
همان کارد در آستین برهنه
✦
همی‌دار تا خواندت یک تنه
“Keep the bare blade concealed within your sleeve until he summons you to stand alone with him.”
#22
چو نزدیک چوبینه آیی فراز
✦
چنین گوی کان دختر سرفراز
“When you draw close to Chubineh, say to him: 'That exalted maiden...'”
#23
مرا گفت چون راز گویی بگوش
✦
سخنها ز بیگانه مردم بپوش
“'Commanded me: speak this secret in his ear and keep these words hidden from all strangers.'”
#24
چو گوید چه رازست با من بگوی
✦
تو بشتاب و نزدیک بهرام پوی
“When he asks 'What is this secret? Tell me!', make haste and step close to Bahram.”
#25
بزن کارد و نافش سراسر بدر
✦
وزان پس بجه گر بیابی گذر
“Strike with the knife and rip open his belly completely, and then flee if you can find a way out!”
#26
هر آنکس که آواز او بشنود
✦
ز پیش سهبد به آخر دود
“Whoever hears his death-cry will run from the commander's presence toward the outer court.”
#27
یکی سوی فرش و یکی سوی گنج
✦
نیاید ز کشتن بروی تو رنج
“One will rush to save the carpets, another to guard the treasure; no hardship will fall upon you for the slaying.”
#28
وگر خود کشندت جهاندیده‌ای
✦
همه نیک و بدها پسندیده‌ای
“And if they cut you down, you are an experienced old man who has already tasted all of life's good and evil.”
#29
همانا بتو کس نپردازدی
✦
که با تو بدانگه بدی سازدی
“Surely no one in that chaos will pay heed to you or seek to inflict harm upon you.”
#30
گر ایدون که یابی زکشتن رها
✦
جهان را خریدی و دادی بها
“And if you escape alive after the killing, you have truly purchased the world and paid its price!”
#31
تو را شاه پرویز شهری دهد
✦
همان از جهان نیز بهری دهد
“King Parviz will bestow a city upon you and grant you a vast portion of the kingdom.”
#32
چنین گفت با مرد دانا قلون
✦
که اکنون بباید یکی رهنمون
“Qalun answered the wise man: 'Now a guide is needed for this path.”
#33
همانا مرا سال بر صد رسید
✦
به بیچارگی چند خواهم کشید
“Indeed, my age has reached a hundred years; how much longer must I endure in misery?”
#34
فدای تو بادا تن و جان من
✦
به بیچارگی بر جهانبان من
“May my body and soul be sacrificed for you! You are my master in my helplessness.'”
#35
چو بشنید خراد برزین دوید
✦
ازان خانه تا پیش خاتون رسید
“When Kharad Borzin heard his words, he ran swiftly from that house until he reached Khatun.”
#36
بدو گفت کامد گه آرزوی
✦
بگویم تو را ای زن نیک خوی
“He said to her: 'The moment for our wish has arrived; let me tell you, O noble-hearted lady!”
#37
ببند اندرند این دو کسهای من
✦
سزد گرگشاده کنی پای من
“'My two companions are bound in chains; it is fitting that you loosen my feet.'”
#38
یکی مهر بستان ز خاقان مرا
✦
چنان دان که بخشیده‌ای جان مرا
“'Obtain for me an imprint of the Khaqan's seal; know that in doing so, you have saved my life!'”
#39
بدو گفت خاتون که خفتست مست
✦
مگر گل نهم از نگینش بدست
“Khatun said to him: 'He lies asleep in drunkenness; perhaps I can take an impression of his signet ring upon clay.'”
#40
ز خراد برزین گل مهر خواست
✦
به بالین مست آمد از حجره راست
“She requested seal-clay from Kharad Borzin and went directly from her chamber to the bedside of the drunken king.”
#41
گل اندر زمان برنگینش نهاد
✦
بیامد بران مرد جوینده داد
“She immediately pressed the clay against his signet ring and returned to that seeker of justice.”
#42
بدو آفرین کرد مرد دبیر
✦
بیامد سپرد آن بدین مرد پیر
“The scribe praised her, took the sealed clay, and delivered it into the hands of the old man.”