When the dark shadow of Khosrow Parviz's suspicion fell heavily upon Zadfarrokh, placing the blame for the army's unrest solely on his shoulders, Zadfarrokh could no longer bring himself to enter the royal court. Standing outside the palace gates, he began to weave alliances among the ranks, gradually turning the hearts of the entire host away from the King of Kings. The generals agreed that Khosrow’s royal fortune (Farr) and divine luck had faded, and that a new sovereign must ascend the throne.
An elder advisor urged Zadfarrokh to act swiftly: unless a new ruler were established, Iran would burn in a furnace of grief. He pointed to Prince Shiruy, the valiant eldest son of Khosrow, currently languishing in prison under his father's harsh decree, as the rightful heir to be crowned with gold.
As these deliberations unfolded, a cloud of war-dust announced the arrival of the formidable general Takhavar. Zadfarrokh rode out to meet him, laying bare the full account of Khosrow's cruelties. Takhavar, a man of decisive action rather than empty words, agreed that if Khosrow retained power, every remaining hero in Iran would face the gallows or the pit. Spurring his steed like the sacred flame of Azar Goshasp, Takhavar led a fierce charge against the fortress prison.
The commander of the prison guard, backed by six thousand veteran cavalrymen, stood his ground, but Takhavar struck him down in the heat of battle. The royal guards collapsed in utter disarray. Armor-clad and triumphant, Takhavar breached the narrow dungeon and called out to Prince Shiruy. The young prince, overwhelmed with sorrow and fearing for his father's fate, wept bitterly. Takhavar bluntly warned him that if he refused the crown, one of his fifteen brothers would be chosen instead. Resigned to his destiny, Shiruy stepped forth from the cold shadows of captivity into the turbulent light of rule.
#1
بدانست هم زادفرخ که شاه
✦
ز لشکر همه زو شناسد گناه
“Zadfarrokh well understood that the King held him solely accountable for the army's treason.”
#2
چو آمد برون آن بد اندیش شاه
✦
نیارست شد نیز در پیشگاه
“When that ill-intentioned monarch came out, Zadfarrokh dared not present himself before the throne.”
#3
بدر بر همی‌بود تا هرکسی
✦
همی‌کرد زان آزمایش بسی
“He remained waiting at the gate, while everyone put various plans to the test.”
#4
همی‌ساخت همواره تا آن سپاه
✦
بپیچید یکسر ز فرمان شاه
“He continuously schemed until the army entirely turned away from the King's command.”
#5
همی‌راند با هر کسی داستان
✦
شدند اندر آن کار همداستان
“He conferred with every captain until they were all of one mind in the matter,”
#6
که شاهی دگر برنشیند به تخت
✦
کزین دور شد فرو آیین و بخت
“That another sovereign should sit upon the throne, for royal glory, custom, and fortune had departed from Khosrow.”
#7
بر زادفرخ یکی پیر بود
✦
که برکارها کردن آژیر بود
“There was a wise elder beside Zadfarrokh, experienced and prudent in all affairs.”
#8
چنین گفت با زادفرخ که شاه
✦
همی از تو بیند گناه سپاه
“He spoke thus to Zadfarrokh: 'The King sees the sin of the army as resting upon you.”
#9
کنون تا یکی شهریاری پدید
✦
نیاری فزون زین نباید چخید
“Now, unless you bring forth another monarch, you must not struggle aimlessly like this,”
#10
که این بوم آباد ویران شود
✦
از اندوه ایران چو نیران شود
“Lest this prosperous land turn to ruin, becoming like a blazing furnace from Iran's grief.”
#11
نگه کرد باید به فرزند اوی
✦
کدامست با شرم و بی‌گفت و گوی
“We must look among his sons to see which one possesses modesty, restraint, and wisdom.”
#12
ورا شاد بر تخت باید نشاند
✦
بران تاج دینار باید فشاند
“He should be seated joyfully upon the throne, and golden coins scattered over his crown.”
#13
چو شیروی بیدار مهتر پسر
✦
به زندان بود کس نباید دگر
“While Shiruy, the vigilant eldest son, remains in prison, no one else is fit for the crown.'”
#14
همی رای زد زین نشان هرکسی
✦
برین روز و شب برنیامد بسی
“Every commander deliberated on this counsel, and not many days or nights passed,”
#15
که برخاست گرد سپاه تخوار
✦
همه کارها زو گرفتند خوار
“Before a dust cloud arose from Takhavar's army, who treated the king's power with utter disregard.”
#16
پذیره شدش زادفرخ به راه
✦
فراوان برفتند با او سپاه
“Zadfarrokh went out to welcome him on the road, accompanied by a numerous host.”
#17
رسیدند پس یک بدیگر فراز
✦
سخن رفت چند آشکارا و راز
“When they reached one another, much was spoken both in secret and in the open.”
#18
همان زاد فرخ زبان برگشاد
✦
بدی های خسرو همه کرد یاد
“Zadfarrokh opened his tongue and recounted all the misdeeds and evils of Khosrow.”
#19
همی‌گفت لشکر به مردی و رای
✦
همی‌کرد خواهند شاهی بپای
“He said the army, with manly strength and wisdom, wished to establish a new king.”
#20
سپهبد چنین داد پاسخ بدوی
✦
که من نیستم چامهٔ گفت وگوی
“The general Takhavar replied to him: 'I am not a man of mere empty talk.”
#21
اگر با سپاه اندر آیم به جنگ
✦
کنم بر بدان جهان جای تنگ
“If I enter the war with my troops, I shall narrow the wide world for the wicked.”
#22
گرامی بد این شهریار جوان
✦
به نزد کنارنگ و هم پهلوان
“This young prince was held dear by Kanarang and by all the noble champions.”
#23
چو روز چنان مرد کرد او سیاه
✦
مبادا که بیند کسی تاج و گاه
“Since Khosrow has blackened the days of such a man, may no one ever behold his crown and throne again!”
#24
نژند آن زمان شد که بیداد شد
✦
به بیدادگر بندگان شاد شد
“Iran grew wretched when tyranny took hold, and servants rejoiced under a tyrant's sway.'”
#25
سخنهاش چون زاد فرخ شنید
✦
مر او را ز ایرانیان برگزید
“When Zadfarrokh heard his resolute words, he selected him above all Iranians for the deed.”
#26
بدو گفت کاکنون به زندان شویم
✦
به نزدیک آن مستمندان شویم
“He said to him: 'Now let us go to the prison, to those afflicted and miserable captives.”
#27
بیاریم بی‌باک شیروی را
✦
جوان و دلیر جهانجوی را
“Let us bring out the fearless Shiruy, the brave and ambitious young hero.”
#28
سپهبد نگهبان زندان اوست
✦
کزو داشتی بیشتر مغز و پوست
“The general of the guard keeps watch over him; Khosrow trusted him with his very heart and skin.”
#29
ابا شش هزار آزموده سوار
✦
همی‌دارد آن بستگان را به زار
“With six thousand tested horsemen, he guards those prisoners with harsh rigor.'”
#30
چنین گفت با زاد فرخ تخوار
✦
که کار سپهبد گرفتیم خوار
“Takhavar said to Zadfarrokh: 'We hold the warden's power in small regard!”
#31
گرین بخت پرویز گردد جوان
✦
نماند به ایران یکی پهلوان
“If Parviz's fortune rejuvenates, not a single hero will remain alive in Iran.”
#32
مگر دار دارند گر چاه وبند
✦
نماند به ایران کسی بی‌گزند
“Either they will be sent to the gallows, or to pits and chains; none in Iran will remain unharmed.'”
#33
بگفت این و از جای برکند اسپ
✦
همی‌تاخت برسان آذر گشسپ
“Having said this, he spurred his horse and charged like the fierce fire of Azar Goshasp.”
#34
سپاه اندر آورد یکسر به جنگ
✦
سپهبد پذیره شدش بی درنگ
“He brought his entire army into battle, and the prison commander promptly advanced to meet him.”
#35
سر لشکر نامور گشته شد
✦
سپهبد به جنگ اندرون کشته شد
“The renowned prison commander was slain, killed in the thick of combat.”
#36
پراگنده شد لشکر شهریار
✦
سیه گشت روز و تبه گشت کار
“The King's royal guards scattered; their day turned dark and their cause was ruined.”
#37
به زندان تنگ اندر آمد تخوار
✦
بدان چاره با جامهٔ کارزار
“Takhavar entered the narrow prison cell, clad in armor for battle.”
#38
به شیروی گردنکش آواز داد
✦
سبک پاسخش نامور باز داد
“He called out to the proud Shiruy, and the renowned prince quickly answered him.”
#39
بدانست شیروی کان سرفراز
✦
بدانگه به زندان چرا شد فراز
“Shiruy understood why that exalted warrior had come to the prison at such a moment.”
#40
چو روی تخوار او فروزان بدید
✦
از اندوه چندان دلش بردمید
“When he saw Takhavar's radiant face, his heart heaved with immense grief.”
#41
بدو گفت گریان که خسرو کجاست
✦
رها کردن مانه کار شماست
“Weeping, he said to him: 'Where is Khosrow? Freeing us is no business of yours!'”
#42
چنین گفت با شاه‌زاده تخوار
✦
که گر مردمی کام شیران مخوار
“Takhavar said to the prince: 'If you possess manhood, do not abandon your desire to despair.”
#43
اگر تو بدین کار همداستان
✦
نباشی تو کم گیر زین راستان
“If you are not of one mind with us in this affair, consider yourself omitted from these nobles.”
#44
یکی کم بود شاید از شانزده
✦
برادر بماند تو را پانزده
“If one is missing out of sixteen brothers, fifteen will still remain for you.”
#45
بشایند هرکس به شاهنشهی
✦
بدیشان بود شاد تخت مهی
“Each of them is fit for kingship, and the grand throne would rejoice in them.'”
#46
فروماند شیروی گریان بجای
✦
ازان خانهٔ تنگ بگذارد پای
“Shiruy remained weeping in his place, then stepped out from that narrow chamber.”