When the Khaqan of China had fulfilled his vengeance for the betrayal of Bahram Chubin and smoothed the unrest across his realm, he reflected deeply upon his royal duty. He acknowledged that neglecting the surviving kin of so mighty a hero as Bahram was unworthy of a righteous ruler and would diminish the sanctity of his royal oaths. Bahram had brought glory and joy to his court, and it was unthinkable to leave his family ignored in Merv.
The Khaqan summoned his trusted brother and dispatched him with a solemn mission to Merv. He instructed him to offer warm condolences to Bahram's household, declaring that the Khaqan's own heart was pierced with grief, yet reminding them that no mortal can evade the cosmic decrees of Yazdan when destiny strikes.
Secretly alongside these public condolences, the Khaqan penned an exquisite personal letter to Gordyeh, Bahram's celebrated sister. He lauded her unmatched intellect, virtue, and nobility, offering her the mantle of Queen of China. He promised to cherish her as his own soul, uphold his vows, and grant her command over his realm.
The royal envoy rode swift as a falcon to Merv. Arriving among Bahram's grieving household, he delivered the King's formal tribute and comforting words. Then, in private, he presented the Khaqan's secret epistle to Gordyeh, relaying the sovereign's passionate praise.
Gordyeh received the letter in dignified silence. Uniting intellect with wisdom, she crafted a profound and diplomatic response. She praised the Khaqan for fulfilling his duties as a magnificent monarch and for exacting blood-vengeance for her brother. However, she noted that her house was presently submerged in deep lamentation; to leap hastily into a wedding while the ashes of grief were still hot would brand her as shameless and indiscreet. She requested four full months of solemn mourning, promising that once the period of sorrow concluded, she would send a messenger to honor the Khaqan's wishes properly. Bestowing rich gifts upon the envoy, she sent him back to China with honor.
#1
ازآن پس چو خاقان به پردخت دل
✦
ز خون شد همه کشور چین چوگل
“Thereafter, when the Khaqan eased his heart from grief, the entire realm of China blossomed red like a rose with the blood of vengeance.”
#2
چنین گفت یک روز کز مرد سست
✦
نیاید مگر کار نا تندرست
“He spoke one day, saying: 'From a weak man, nothing arises except faulty and imperfect deeds.'”
#3
بدان نامداری که بهرام بود
✦
مرا زو همه رامش و کام بود
“'By that renowned chieftain Bahram, I enjoyed all comfort, joy, and fulfilled desires.'”
#4
کنون من ز کسهای آن نامدار
✦
چرا بازماندم چنین سست و خوار
“'Now, why have I remained so sluggish and neglectful toward the family of that illustrious hero?'”
#5
نکوهش کند هرک این بشنود
✦
ازین پس به سوگند من نگرود
“'Whoever hears of this will reproach me, and henceforth none will trust my solemn oaths.'”
#6
نخوردم غم خرد فرزند اوی
✦
نه اندیشهٔ خویش و پیوند اوی
“'I have neither mourned for his young child, nor given thought to his kin and connections.'”
#7
چو با ما به فرزند پیوسته شد
✦
به مهر و خرد جان او شسته شد
“'When he bound himself to us like a son, his soul was cleansed with love and wisdom.'”
#8
بفرمود تا شد برادرش پیش
✦
سخن گفت با او ز اندازه بیش
“He commanded his brother to come forward, and spoke to him at great length.”
#9
که کسهای بهرام یل را ببین
✦
فراوان برایشان بخواند آفرین
“Saying: 'Go see the kin of Bahram the hero, and shower abundant blessings upon them.'”
#10
بگو آنک من خود جگر خسته‌ام
✦
بدین سوک تا زنده‌ام بسته‌ام
“'Tell them: My own heart is wounded, and I am bound to this mourning as long as I live.'”
#11
به خون روی کشور بشستم ز کین
✦
همه شهر نفرین بدو آفرین
“'I washed the face of the realm with blood in vengeance; the whole city echoed with curses upon the killer and blessings upon Bahram.'”
#12
بدین درد هر چند کین آورم
✦
وگر آسمان بر زمین آورم
“'Yet however much I exact vengeance for this grief, even if I were to bring down the heavens to the earth...'”
#13
ز فرمان یزدان کسی نگذرد
✦
چنین داند آنکس که دارد خرد
“'No one can escape the decree of God; he who possesses wisdom knows this truth well.'”
#14
که او را زمانه بران گونه بود
✦
همه تنبل دیو وارونه بود
“'For time had ordained such a fate for him, wrought by the deceitful sorcery of a inverted demon.'”
#15
بران زینهارم که گفتم سخن
✦
بران عهد و پیمان نهادیم بن
“'I stand firm upon the refuge and words I gave; we laid the foundation upon that solemn covenant.'”
#16
سوی گردیه نامه‌ای بد جدا
✦
که ای پاکدامن زن پارسا
“He sent a separate letter unto Gordyeh, writing: 'O chaste and pious lady,'”
#17
همه راستی و همه مردمی
✦
سرشتت فزونی و دور از کمی
“'Your nature is all truthfulness and humanity, filled with excellence and far from any defect.'”
#18
ز کار تو اندیشه کردم دراز
✦
نشسته خرد با دل من براز
“'I have pondered long upon your character, while wisdom sat as a secret confidant in my heart.'”
#19
به از تو ندیدم کسی کدخدای
✦
بیارای ایوان ما را به رای
“'I have seen no lady better suited to govern a home; come, grace and adorn our royal palace with your prudent counsel.'”
#20
بدارم تو را همچوجان و تنم
✦
بکوشم که پیمان تو نشکنم
“'I shall cherish you like my own soul and body, and strive never to break my pledge to you.'”
#21
وزان پس بدین شهر فرمان تراست
✦
گروگان کنم دل بدانچت هواست
“'And henceforth, the command of this city shall be yours; I pledge my heart to whatever you desire.'”
#22
کنون هرکه داری همه گرد کن
✦
به پیش خردمند گوی این سخن
“'Now gather all whom you have around you, and speak these words in the presence of wise elders.'”
#23
ازین پس ببین تاچه آیدت رای
✦
به روشن روانت خرد رهنمای
“'Thereafter see what your judgment decrees, while wisdom guides your enlightened soul.'”
#24
خرد را بران مردمان شاه کن
✦
مرا زآن سگالیده آگاه کن
“'Make wisdom the king over those people, and inform me of whatever you resolve.'”
#25
همی‌رفت برسان قمری ز سرو
✦
بیامد برادرش تازان به مرو
“His brother rode swiftly like a dove taking flight from a cypress, arriving hastily in Merv.”
#26
جهانجوی با نامور رام شد
✦
به نزدیک کسهای بهرام شد
“The renowned, world-seeking prince proceeded calmly and approached the kin of Bahram.”
#27
بگفت آنچ خاقان بدو گفته بود
✦
که از کین آن کشته آشفته بود
“He delivered all that the Khaqan had commanded, telling how the King was grief-stricken over the slain hero.”
#28
ازان پس چنین گفت کای بخردان
✦
پسندیده و کار دیده ردان
“Then he spoke, saying: 'O wise, approved, and experienced chieftains,'”
#29
شما را بدین مزد بسیار باد
✦
ورا داور دادگر یار باد
“'May your reward for this suffering be great, and may the Just Judge of Heaven be your helper.'”
#30
یکی ناگهان مرگ بود آن نه خرد
✦
که کس در جهان ز آن گمانی نبرد
“'His was a sudden death, unforeseen by wisdom; one that no person in the world could have anticipated.'”
#31
پس آن نامه پنهان به خواهرش داد
✦
سخنهای خاقان همه کرد یاد
“Then he secretly delivered the letter to Bahram's sister, recalling all the Khaqan's heartfelt words.”
#32
ز پیوند وز پند و نیکوسخن
✦
چه از نو چه از روزگار کهن
“Speaking of marriage, wise counsel, and beautiful words—both of modern times and ancient lore.”
#33
ز پاکی و از پارسایی زن
✦
که هم غمگسارست و هم رای زن
“Praising the purity and piety of a woman who is both a comforter in sorrow and a wise counselor.”
#34
جوان گفت و آن پاکدامن شنید
✦
ز گفتار او خامشی برگزید
“The young prince spoke, and that chaste lady listened, choosing silence in response to his words.”
#35
وزان پس چو برخواند آن نامه را
✦
سخنهای خاقان خود کامه را
“Thereafter, when she read the letter containing the words of the proud, self-willed Khaqan,”
#36
خرد را چو با دانش انباز کرد
✦
به دل پاسخ نامه را ساز کرد
“She partnered wisdom with knowledge, and prepared the reply to the letter within her heart.”
#37
بدو گفت کاین نامه برخواندم
✦
خرد رابر خویش بنشاندم
“She said to him: 'I have read this letter, and seated wisdom beside me as my counsel.'”
#38
چنان کرد خاقان که شاهان کنند
✦
جهاندیده و پیشگاهان کنند
“'The Khaqan has acted as true kings act, as experienced rulers sitting on thrones do.'”
#39
بدو باد روشن جهان بین من
✦
که چونین بجوید همی کین من
“'May the sight of my eyes stay bright for him, who seeks vengeance for my brother's blood in this manner.'”
#40
دل او ز تیمار خسته مباد
✦
امید جهان زو گسسته مباد
“'May his heart never be wounded by grief, and may the world's hope in him never be severed.'”
#41
مباد ایچ گیتی ز خاقان تهی
✦
بدو شاد بادا کلاه مهی
“'May the world never be void of the Khaqan, and may the crown of greatness flourish happily upon his head.'”
#42
کنون چون نشستیم با یکدگر
✦
بخوانیم نامه همه سر به سر
“'Now, let us sit together and read the letter from beginning to end,'”
#43
بدان کو بزرگست و دارد خرد
✦
یکایک بدین آرزو بنگرد
“'So that whoever is great and possesses wisdom may consider this desire step by step.'”
#44
کنون دوده را سر به سر شیونست
✦
نه هنگامهٔ این سخن گفتنست
“'At present, our entire clan is filled with lamentation; this is no fitting time to speak of weddings.'”
#45
چو سوک چنان مهتر آید به سر
✦
ز فرمان خاقان نباشد گذر
“'When the mourning for such a great prince comes to an end, we shall not stray from the Khaqan's command.'”
#46
مرا خود به ایران شدن روی نیست
✦
زن پاک را به ز تو شوی نیست
“Indeed, I have no desire to return to Iran, nor could a chaste woman find a finer husband than you.”
#47
اگر من بدین زودی آیم به راه
✦
چه گوید مرا آن خردمند شاه
“Yet if I set forth upon the road so hastily, what would that wise monarch think of me?”
#48
خردمند بی‌شرم خواند مرا
✦
چو خاقان بی آزرم داند مرا
“The wise would deem me shameless, and the Khagan himself would judge me lacking in respect.”
#49
بدین سوک چون بگذرد چار ماه
✦
سواری فرستم به نزدیک شاه
“When four full months of mourning have passed, I shall dispatch a courier to the king.”
#50
همه بشنوم هرچ باید شنید
✦
بگویندگان تا چه آید پدید
“I shall listen attentively to all that must be heard, to see what those messengers bring forth.”
#51
بگویم یکایک به نامه درون
✦
چو آید به نزدیک او رهنمون
“I shall set down every detail in a letter when my guide arrives before him.”
#52
تو اکنون از ایدر به شادی خرام
✦
به خاقان بگو آنچ دادم پیام
“Now depart hence in joy, and convey unto the Khagan the message I have entrusted to you.”
#53
فراوان فرستاده را هدیه داد
✦
جهاندیده از مرو برگشت شاد
“She bestowed abundant gifts upon the envoy, and the seasoned messenger departed Merv in high spirits.”