When five years of Khosrow Parviz’s reign had passed, he stood without peer in the realm, bathed in splendor. In the sixth year, a magnificent son was born to him by Caesar's moon-like daughter, bearing the unmistakable royal countenance of his father. According to the imperial custom of two names, the king leaned down to whisper a hidden name into the infant’s ear—'Qobad'—while proclaiming him publicly to the world as 'Shiroye'.
When three watches of the night had elapsed, the royal astrologers assembled before the king. Khosrow inquired of them: 'What does the celestial horoscope reveal? What destiny is written in the stars for this royal newborn?' With heavy hearts, the stargazers replied: 'O Sovereign, none can bypass the turns of fate. From this child, chaos shall engulf the earth; your armies will utter no blessings upon him, and he shall stray far from the path of Yazdan.'
Upon hearing these ill-omened words, the king’s heart sank into deep affliction. He strictly commanded the astrologers to seal their lips, forbidding them from uttering a word of this prophecy before the grandees of Iran. He sealed the parchment containing the ominous horoscope and secured it within the royal treasury. Overcome with dread, Khosrow retreated into isolation for a week, shunning the hunt, the wine-cup, and the sight of all court officials.
Troubled by the monarch’s withdrawal, the nobles assembled before the High Priest (Mobad) to seek an explanation. The Mobad entered the royal chambers and conveyed the concern of the army and grandees. Khosrow confessed his deep despair over the turning heavens and ordered the treasurer to produce the silk-bound document. When the Mobad read the dark prophecy, he was struck silent at first, but soon offered profound wisdom: 'O King, God alone suffices, whose wisdom towers above all mortal knowledge. If the celestial sphere has ordained a fate, no amount of sorrow can alter the turning sky. How does such anguish fit a ruler of your wisdom? Dismiss these predictions and embrace nothing but joy.'
Upon hearing the wise Mobad's counsel, Khosrow smiled, brushed away the cloud of melancholy, and summoned his royal scribe to begin a new decree.
#1
چو بر پادشاهیش شد پنج‌سال
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به گیتی نبودش سراسر همال
“When five years of his reign had passed, he had no equal in all the world.”
#2
ششم سال زان دخت قیصر چو ماه
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یکی پورش آمد همانند شاه
“In the sixth year, from Caesar's moon-like daughter, a son was born to him like the king himself.”
#3
نبود آن زمان رسم بانگ نماز
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به گوش چنان پروریده بناز
“In those times, it was not the custom to whisper the call to prayer into the ear of a child so delicately reared.”
#4
یکی نام گفتی مر او را پدر
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نهانی دگر آشکارا دگر
“His father gave him two names: one in secret, and another in public.”
#5
نهانی به گفتی بگوش اندرون
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همی‌خواندی آشکارا برون
“The secret one he whispered softly into his ear, while calling him publicly by the other.”
#6
بگوش اندرون خواند خسرو قباد
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همی‌گفت شیروی فرخ نژاد
“Into his ear Khosrow whispered 'Qobad', while calling the noble-born child 'Shiroye' to the world.”
#7
چو شب کودک آمد گذشته سه پاس
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بیامد بر خسرو اخترشناس
“When three watches of the night had passed on the child's birth, the astrologer came before Khosrow.”
#8
از اخترشناسان بپرسید شاه
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که هرکس که دارند اختر نگاه
“The king questioned the astrologers, those who observe the movements of the stars:”
#9
بدیدی که فرجام این کار چیست
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ز زیچ اختر این جهاندار چیست
“'Have you seen what the outcome of this birth will be? What says the horoscope for this world-ruler?'”
#10
چنین داد پاسخ ستاره شمر
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که بر چرخ گردان نیابی گذر
“The astrologer replied: 'You cannot alter or bypass the turns of the revolving sky;”
#11
ازین کودک آشوب گیرد زمین
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نخواند سپاهت برو آفرین
“From this child turmoil will grip the earth, and your army will utter no blessings upon him.”
#12
هم از راه یزدان بگردد بنیز
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ازین بیشتر چون سراییم چیز
“He will also turn away from the path of God; how can we utter more than this?'”
#13
دل شاه غمگین شد از کارشان
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وزان ناسزاوار گفتارشان
“The king's heart grew grieved by their work and by their ill-omened words.”
#14
چنین گفت با مرد داننده شاه
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که نیکو کنید اندر اختر نگاه
“The king said to the learned men: 'Examine the stars carefully once more,”
#15
نگر تا نگردد زبانتان برین
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به پیش بزرگان ایران زمین
“And take heed that your tongues do not speak of this before the nobles of the land of Iran.'”
#16
همی‌داشت آن اختران را نگاه
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نهاده بران بسته بر مهر شاه
“He kept that horoscope document sealed and bound with the king's royal stamp.”
#17
پر اندیشه بد زان سخن شهریار
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بران هفته کس را ندادند بار
“Full of dark thoughts from those words, the monarch granted audience to no one for a week.”
#18
ز نخچیر و از می به یکسو کشید
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بدان چندگه روی کس را ندید
“He turned away from hunting and wine, and for some time saw the face of no man.”
#19
همه مهتران سوی موبد شدند
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ز هر گونه‌ای داستانها زدند
“All the grandees went to the High Mobad, discussing all manner of concerns,”
#20
بدان تا چه بد نامور شاه را
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که بربست بر کهتران راه را
“To discover what ill had befallen the renowned king that he closed his door to his subjects.”
#21
چو بشنید موبد بشد نزد شاه
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بدو داد یکسر پیام سپاه
“When the Mobad heard this, he went to the king and delivered the message of the army.”
#22
چنین داد پاسخ ورا شهریار
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که من تنگ دل گشتم از روزگار
“The king answered him: 'My heart has grown heavy and sorrowful because of time and fate,”
#23
ز گفتار این مرد اخترشناس
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ز گردون گردان شدم ناسپاس
“From the words of this astrologer, I have grown discontented with the revolving heavens.'”
#24
به گنجور گفت آن یکی پرنیان
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بیاور یکی رقعه اندر میان
“He said to the treasurer: 'Bring forth that silk cloth with the parchment inside.'”
#25
بیاورد گنجور و موبد بدید
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دلش تنگ شد خامشی برگزید
“The treasurer brought it, and when the Mobad saw it, his heart sank and he chose silence.”
#26
ازان پس بدو گفت یزدان بس است
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کجا برتر از دانش هر کس است
“Thereafter he said to him: 'God alone is sufficient, whose wisdom is far beyond that of any man.”
#27
گر ایدون که ناچار گردان سپهر
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دگرگون نماید به جوینده چهر
“If the revolving sky inevitably turns a changed countenance upon the seeker,”
#28
به تیمار کی باز گردد ز بد
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چنین گفته از دانشی کی سزد
“How can grief turn away evil? How is such despair fitting for a man of wisdom?”
#29
جز از شادمانیت هرگز مباد
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ز گفتار ایشان مکن هیچ یاد
“May you never have anything but joy; take no heed of their predictions!'”
#30
ز موبد چو بشنید خسرو سخن
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بخندید و کاری نو افگند بن
“When Khosrow heard these words from the Mobad, he smiled and began a new undertaking.”
#31
دبیر پسندیده را خواند پیش
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سخن گفت با او ز اندازه بیش
“He summoned his approved scribe before him and spoke to him at great length.”