When twenty-eight golden years of Khosrow Parviz’s reign had passed, the renown of his royal court reached every corner of the realm. Hearing that the King held secret appreciation for masterful minstrels and rewarded divine talent above all, Barbad—a young minstrel of incomparable genius—set out for the royal palace. However, Sarkash, the chief musician of the court, foresaw his own eclipse. Envious and alarmed, he showered the chief doorkeeper with silver and gold, commanding him to block Barbad’s entry at all costs. Turned away repeatedly by cold guards, Barbad harbored no malice but sought another path. Taking his lute, he made his way to the royal gardens where the King spent two weeks every Nowruz. There he won the friendship of Mardoy, the chief gardener. Barbad clad himself in vibrant emerald garments, wrapped his wooden lute in matching green silks, and concealed himself high amidst the dense boughs of a towering cypress tree. As dusk descended and King Khosrow sat drinking ruby wine, Barbad struck his first spellbinding chord, pouring forth the magnificent air known as Dad-Afarid. The King and his courtiers stood bewildered, searching every thicket in vain. With the next golden goblet, Barbad unloosed the fierce melody of Peykar-e Gerd, captivating the King’s heart. Finally, as night turned lazurite, the wondrous chords of Sabz-dar-Sabz echoed through the leaves. Emotionally overwhelmed, King Khosrow drained a massive goblet of wine and swore by the heavens that whoever produced such otherworldly music—be it angel, demon, or mortal—would be crowned supreme over all musicians and rewarded with jewels. Descending gracefully from the cypress tree, Barbad prostrated himself before the throne, revealing his identity and Sarkash’s deceit. Khosrow Parviz reproached the jealous Sarkash and elevated Barbad to be the master minstrel of the Sasanian empire.
#1
همی هر زمان شاه برتر گذشت
✦
چوشد سال شاهیش بر بیست و هشت
“As every moment the King's glory rose higher, his reign reached its twenty-eighth year.”
#2
کسی را نشد بر درش کار بد
✦
ز درگاه آگاه شد باربد
“No person met with injustice at his court; and thus Barbad learned of his radiant threshold.”
#3
بدو گفت هر کس که شاه جهان
✦
گزیده‌ست رامشگری در نهان
“They told him, 'The King of the World has chosen a master musician in secret.”
#4
اگر با تو او را برابر کند
✦
تو را بر سر سرکش افسر کند
“If he finds you equal to him, he will place the crown of supremacy upon your head over Sarkash.'”
#5
چو بشنید مرد آن بجوشیدش آز
✦
وگرچه نبودش به چیزی نیاز
“When the young man heard this, ambition surged within his heart, though he lacked for nothing.”
#6
ز کشور بشد تا به درگاه شاه
✦
همی‌کرد رامشگران را نگاه
“He traveled from his province unto the royal court, carefully observing the court musicians.”
#7
چوبشنید سرکش دلش تیره شد
✦
به زخم سرود اندرو خیره شد
“When Sarkash heard of his arrival, his heart darkened, and he was alarmed by his rhythmic skill.”
#8
بیامد به درگاه سالار بار
✦
درم کرد و دینار چندی نثار
“Sarkash approached the chief usher of the court and scattered many silver dirhams and gold dinars as bribes.”
#9
بدو گفت رامشگری بر درست
✦
که از من به سال و هنربرترست
“He said to him, 'There is a minstrel at the gate who surpasses me in age and artistic skill.”
#10
نباید که در پیش خسرو شود
✦
که ما کهنه گشتیم و او نو شود
“He must not appear before Khosrow, lest we become obsolete and he be made supreme.'”
#11
ز سرکش چو بشنید دربان شاه
✦
ز رامشگر ساده بربست راه
“Having heard Sarkash, the royal doorkeeper barred the path against the innocent minstrel.”
#12
چو رفتی به نزدیک او باربد
✦
همش کار بد بود و هم بار بد
“Whenever Barbad sought an audience, he met only with evil fortune and a harsh reception.”
#13
ندادی ورا بار سالار بار
✦
نه نیزش بدی مردمی خواستار
“The master of the hall granted him no entry, nor did anyone show him friendship.”
#14
چو نومید برگشت زان بارگاه
✦
ابا بربط آمد سوی باغ شاه
“When he returned hopeless from that court, he went with his lute toward the King's garden.”
#15
کجا باغبان بود مردوی نام
✦
شد از دیدنش باربد شادکام
“The gardener there was a man named Mardoy; at seeing him, Barbad's heart grew filled with hope.”
#16
بدان باغ رفتی به نوروز شاه
✦
دو هفته ببودی بدان جشنگاه
“The King would visit that garden during Nowruz, staying two full weeks at that place of feast.”
#17
سبک باربد نزد مردوی شد
✦
هم آن روز با مرد همبوی شد
“Swiftly Barbad approached Mardoy, and on that very day became one in spirit with him.”
#18
چنین گفت با باغبان باربد
✦
که گویی تو جانی و من کالبد
“Thus spoke Barbad to the gardener: 'You are like the soul and I am like the body.”
#19
کنون آرزو خواهم از تو یکی
✦
کجاهست نزدیک تو اندکی
“Now I have one modest wish from you, which is easily within your power.”
#20
چو آید بدین باغ شاه جهان
✦
مرا راه ده تاببینم نهان
“When the King of the World comes to this garden, give me passage so I may secretly watch him,”
#21
که تاچون بود شاه را جشنگاه
✦
ببینم نهفته یکی روی شاه
“So that I may behold how the King's banquet is arranged, seeing his royal face in secret.'”
#22
بدو گفت مردوی کایدون کنم
✦
ز مغز تو اندیشه بیرون کنم
“Mardoy replied to him, 'I shall do so, and lift all sorrow from your mind.'”
#23
چو خسرو همی‌خواست کاید بباغ
✦
دل میزبان شد چو روشن چراغ
“When Khosrow desired to come to the garden, the heart of the host turned bright as a lamp.”
#24
بر باربد شد بگفت آنک شاه
✦
همی‌رفت خواهد بران جشنگاه
“He went to Barbad and told him that the King was about to enter the banquet grounds.”
#25
همه جامه را باربد سبز کرد
✦
همان بربط و رود ننگ و نبرد
“Barbad dyed all his garments green, and likewise covered his stringed lute of song and strife.”
#26
بشد تابجایی که خسرو شدی
✦
بهاران نشستن گهی نو شدی
“He went to the place where Khosrow was to rest, where the springtime abode was prepared anew.”
#27
یکی سرو بد سبز و برگش گشن
✦
ورا شاخ چون رزمگاه پشن
“There stood a green cypress tree with lush foliage, its boughs wide as the battlefield of Pashan.”
#28
بران سرو شد بربط اندر کنار
✦
زمانی همی‌بود تا شهریار
“He climbed that cypress tree with lute in arm, waiting for a time until the King arrived.”
#29
ز ایوان بیامد بدان جشنگاه
✦
بیاراست پیروزگر جای شاه
“The victorious King emerged from the palace into the feast-place, decorating the royal seat.”
#30
بیامد پری چهرهٔ میگسار
✦
یکی جام بر کف بر شهریار
“A fairy-faced cupbearer drew near, holding a goblet for the Monarch.”
#31
جهاندار بستد ز کودک نبید
✦
بلور از می سرخ شد ناپدید
“The Master of the World took the wine from the youth; the crystal cup vanished beneath the red wine.”
#32
بدانگه که خورشید برگشت زرد
✦
همی‌بود تاگشت شب لاژورد
“As the sun turned yellow and twilight faded into lapis lazuli, the feast continued.”
#33
زننده بران سرو برداشت رود
✦
همان ساخته پهلوانی سرود
“The player atop that cypress struck his lute, composing a song in noble Pahlavi strain.”
#34
یکی نغز دستان بزد بر درخت
✦
کزان خیره شد مرد بیداربخت
“He played a sweet air upon the tree that left the fortunate King spellbound in astonishment.”
#35
سرودی به آواز خوش برکشید
✦
که اکنون تو خوانیش داد آفرید
“He sang a melody in a voice so wondrous, which today is called Dad-Afarid.”
#36
بماندند یک مجلس اندر شگفت
✦
همی هرکسی رای دیگر گرفت
“All at the banquet were left in utter wonder; each expressed a different opinion.”
#37
بدان نامداران بفرمود شاه
✦
که جویند سرتاسر آن جشنگاه
“The King commanded his nobles to search the banquet grounds from end to end.”
#38
فراوان بجستند و باز آمدند
✦
به نزدیک خسرو فراز آمدند
“They searched everywhere and returned, coming before Khosrow to report.”
#39
جهاندیده آنگه ره اندر گرفت
✦
که از بخت شاه این نباشد شگفت
“An experienced elder then remarked, 'From the fortune of the King, this is no marvel—”
#40
که گردد گل سبز رامشگرش
✦
که جاوید بادا سر و افسرش
“That even the green rose tree has become his minstrel! May his head and crown endure forever!'”
#41
بیاورد جامی دگر میگسار
✦
چو از خوب رخ بستد آن شهریار
“The cupbearer brought another goblet of wine, and as the King took it from the fair-faced youth,”
#42
زننده دگرگون بیاراست رود
✦
برآورد ناگاه دیگر سرود
“The minstrel altered his lute's tune, suddenly bursting into another melody,”
#43
که پیکار گردش همی‌خواندند
✦
چنین نام ز آواز او راندند
“Which they named Peykar-e Gerd; by such a title was it known from his song.”
#44
چو آن دانشی گفت و خسرو شنید
✦
به آواز او جام می در کشید
“When that wise song was sung and Khosrow heard it, he drank the goblet of wine to its sweet melody.”
#45
بفرمود کاین رابجای آورید
✦
همه باغ یک سر به پای آورید
“He commanded: 'Find the source of this music! Search every inch of this garden!'”
#46
بجستند بسیار هر سوی باغ
✦
ببردند زیر درختان چراغ
“They searched everywhere throughout the garden, carrying lanterns beneath the trees.”
#47
ندیدند چیزی جز از بید و سرو
✦
خرامان به زیر گل اندر تذرو
“They saw nothing but willow and cypress, and pheasants strutting gracefully beneath the blossoms.”
#48
شهنشاه پس جام دیگر بخواست
✦
بر آواز سربرآورد راست
“The Shahanshah then called for another goblet of wine, and at his command, Barbad sang the melody of Rast.”
#49
برآمد دگر باره بانگ سرود
✦
همان ساخته کرده آواز رود
“Once more the sound of song arose, tuned in perfect harmony with the voice of the lute.”
#50
همی سبز در سبز خوانی کنون
✦
برین گونه سازند مکر و فسون
“"Now you play 'Sabz dar Sabz'," he said; "in this manner do they weave enchantment and magic!"”
#51
چوبشنید پرویز برپای خاست
✦
به آواز او بر یکی جام خواست
“When Parviz heard the song, he rose to his feet and called for a goblet to toast the singer.”
#52
که بود اندر آن جام یک من نبید
✦
به یکدم می روشن اندر کشید
“In that goblet was a whole measure of wine, which he drained in a single draft of bright liquor.”
#53
چنین گفت کاین گر فرشته بدی
✦
ز مشک و زعنبر سرشته بدی
“He said, "If this singer be an angel, he must be fashioned of musk and ambergris;”
#54
وگر دیو بودی نگفتی سرود
✦
همان نیز نشناختی زخم رود
“And were he a demon, he could not sing such song, nor master the delicate touch upon the strings.”
#55
بجویید درباغ تا این کجاست
✦
همه باغ و گلشن چپ و دست راست
“Search throughout the garden to find where he hides—left and right, every corner of the rose bower!”
#56
دهان و برش پر ز گوهر کنم
✦
برین رود سازانش مهتر کنم
“I shall fill his mouth and chest with gems, and exalt him above all other musicians!"”
#57
چو بشنید رامشگر آواز اوی
✦
همان خوب گفتار دمساز اوی
“When the minstrel heard the King’s voice and his gracious, harmonizing praise,”
#58
فرود آمد از شاخ سرو سهی
✦
همی‌رفت با رامش و فرهی
“He descended from the branch of the tall cypress tree, walking forward with joy and splendor.”
#59
بیامد بمالید برخاک روی
✦
بدو گفت خسرو چه مردی بگوی
“He approached and pressed his face to the dust; Khosrow asked him, "Speak, who are you?"”
#60
بدو گفت شاهایکی بنده‌ام
✦
به آواز تو در جهان زنده‌ام
“He replied, "O King, I am your humble servant; I live in this world only by the sound of your glory."”
#61
سراسر بگفت آنچ بود از بنه
✦
که رفت اندر آن یک دل و یک تنه
“He recounted the whole story from the beginning, explaining all that he had endured alone.”
#62
بدیدار او شاد شد شهریار
✦
بسان گلستان به ماه بهار
“The King was overjoyed at seeing him, blossoming like a rose garden in the month of spring.”
#63
به سرکش چنین گفت کای بد هنر
✦
تو چون حنظلی باربد چون شکر
“Then he turned to Sarkash and said, "O untalented man! You are like bitter colocynth, while Barbad is pure sugar!”
#64
چرا دور کردی تو او را ز من
✦
دریغ آمدت او درین انجمن
“Why did you keep him away from me? Did you begrudge his presence in this assembly?"”
#65
به آواز او شاد می درکشید
✦
همان جام یاقوت بر سرکشید
“Rejoicing in Barbad's song, the King drank wine and raised high the ruby goblet.”
#66
برین گونه تا سرسوی خواب کرد
✦
دهانش پر از در خوشاب کرد
“In this manner, until he laid his head down to sleep, he filled Barbad’s mouth with lustrous pearls.”
#67
ببد باربد شاه رامشگران
✦
یکی نامدارای شد از مهتران
“Thus Barbad became the king of all minstrels, renowned and exalted among the great nobles.”
#68
سر آمد کنون قصهٔ باربد
✦
مبادا که باشد تو را یار بد
“Now ends the tale of Barbad; may you never be cursed with an evil companion!”