When news of Shiruy's death reached General Guraz in the realm of Rome, he learned that the Sasanian crown had fallen to the young child-king Ardashir. Concealing his insatiable ambition beneath feigned laments for Khosrow Parviz, Guraz dispatched a swift courier to Piroz Khosrow, the chief minister and treasurer of the Iranian court. In his letter, Guraz incited Piroz Khosrow to do away with the boy-king, promising ultimate favors while threatening to sweep down with an overwhelming Byzantine host should the conspiracy be betrayed.
Swayed by treachery and fear, Piroz Khosrow embraced the foul plot. One dark night, inside the royal halls of Ctesiphon, young Ardashir hosted a magnificent banquet where wine flowed without measure. As midnight arrived, the court companions and minstrels succumbed to heavy drunken sleep. The wicked Piroz Khosrow dismissed the remaining attendants until he alone remained with the vulnerable king. Seizing his moment, the villain sprang forward and clamped his hands over the child-king's mouth, suffocating Ardashir until life left his body. The palace was at once seized by Piroz Khosrow's armed conspirators, and a camel-rider was sent racing toward Guraz. Overjoyed by the success of his scheme, Guraz assembled a colossal host that darkened the lands, marching like a hurricane toward defenseless Ctesiphon to seize the throne.
#1
پس آگاهی آمد به نزد گراز
✦
که زو بود خسرو به گرم و گداز
“Then news arrived unto Guraz, who had been in constant turmoil regarding Khosrow.”
#2
فرستاد گوینده‌ای را ز روم
✦
که در خاک شد تاج شیروی شوم
“He sent a spokesman from the land of Rome, saying that the crown of ill-omened Shiruy had turned to dust,”
#3
که جانش به دوزخ گرفتار باد
✦
سر دخمهٔ او نگون سار باد
“May his soul be entangled in hell, and may the roof of his tomb be cast down headlong!”
#4
که دانست هرگز که سرو بلند
✦
به باغ از گیا یافت خواهد گزند
“Who ever knew that a tall cypress in the garden could suffer harm from a mere weed?”
#5
چو خسرو که چشم و دل روزگار
✦
نبیند چنو نیز یک شهریار
“Such as Khosrow, whom the eye and heart of Time shall never behold the like of again.”
#6
چو شیروی را شهریاری دهد
✦
همه شهر ایران به خواری دهد
“When fortune granted kingship unto Shiruy, he brought contempt upon all the realm of Iran.”
#7
چنو رفت شد تاجدار اردشیر
✦
بدو شادمان جان برنا و پیر
“When he departed, Ardashir assumed the crown, bringing joy to the souls of both young and old.”
#8
مرا گر ز ایران رسد هیچ بهر
✦
نخواهم که بر وی رسد باد شهر
“If any share of Iran falls to me, I desire not that even a city's harsh wind should touch him.”
#9
نبودم من آگه که پرویز شاه
✦
به گفتار آن بدتنان شد تباه
“I was unaware that King Parviz was ruined by the counsel of those wicked-souled men.”
#10
بیایم کنون با سپاهی گران
✦
ز روم و ز ایران گزیده سران
“Now I shall march with a mighty host, with chosen chieftains from Rome and Iran,”
#11
ببینیم تا کیست این کدخدای
✦
که باشد پسندش بدین گونه رای
“To see who this ruler is that approves of such an ill judgment.”
#12
چنان برکنم بیخ او را ز بن
✦
کزان پس نراند ز شاهی سخن
“I shall uproot his foundation so completely that he will never again speak of kingship.”
#13
نوندی برافگند پویان به راه
✦
به نزدیک پیران ایران سپاه
“He dispatched a swift courier on the road, heading toward the elders of the Iranian army.”
#14
دگرگونه آهنگ بدکامه کرد
✦
به پیروز خسرو یکی نامه کرد
“He struck a different, treacherous key, writing a secret letter to Piroz Khosrow,”
#15
که شد تیره این تخت ساسانیان
✦
جهانجوی باید که بندد میان
“Stating that the Sasanian throne has grown dark, and a true world-seeker must gird his loins.”
#16
توانی مگر چاره‌ای ساختن
✦
ز هرگونه اندیشه انداختن
“Perhaps you can devise a remedy, putting aside every other thought and intention,”
#17
بجویی بسی یار برنا و پیر
✦
جهان را بپردازی از اردشیر
“Seeking many allies among the young and old, to rid the world of young King Ardashir.”
#18
ازان پس بیابی همه کام خویش
✦
شوی ایمن و شاد زارام خویش
“Thereafter you shall attain all your desires, remaining secure, joyful, and at peace.”
#19
گر ایدون که این راز بیرون دهی
✦
همی خنجر کینه را خون دهی
“If, however, you divulge this secret, you will but feed the dagger of vengeance with blood,”
#20
من از روم چندان سپاه آورم
✦
که گیتی به چشمت سیاه آورم
“For I shall bring such an army from Rome as will turn the world dark in your eyes.”
#21
به ژرفی نگه‌دار گفتار من
✦
مبادا که خوار آیدت کار من
“Consider my words profoundly, and beware lest you take my warning lightly.”
#22
چو پیروز خسرو چنان نامه دید
✦
همه پیش و پس رای خودکامه دید
“When Piroz Khosrow read that missive, seeing the ambitious plot surrounding him,”
#23
دل روشن نامور شد تباه
✦
که تا چون کند بد بدان زادشاه
“The bright heart of that famous lord turned wicked, plotting how to bring evil upon the royal child.”
#24
ورا خواندی هر زمان اردشیر
✦
که گوینده مردی بد و یادگیر
“Ardashir was wont to summon him at all times, for he was an eloquent man of deep memory.”
#25
برآسای دستور بودی ورا
✦
همان نیز گنجور بودی ورا
“He served as his counselor during hours of leisure, and likewise served as his keeper of treasure.”
#26
بیامد شبی تیره گون بار یافت
✦
می روشن و چرب گفتار یافت
“He came one pitch-black night and gained audience, finding clear wine and persuasive talk.”
#27
نشسته به ایوان خویش اردشیر
✦
تنی چند با او ز برنا و پیر
“Ardashir was seated within his royal hall, accompanied by a few companions, both young and old.”
#28
چو پیروز خسرو بیامد برش
✦
تو گفتی ز گردون برآمد سرش
“When Piroz Khosrow entered his presence, you would say his head touched the heavy sky with honor.”
#29
بفرمود تا برکشیدند رود
✦
شد ایوان پر از بانگ رود و سرود
“He ordered the lutes to be played, filling the royal hall with the resonance of song and sound.”
#30
چو نیمی شب تیره اندرکشید
✦
سپهبد می یک منی در کشید
“When half of the dark night had elapsed, the chieftain drained a heavy measure of wine.”
#31
شده مست یاران شاه اردشیر
✦
نماند ایچ رامشگر و یادگیر
“The companions of King Ardashir became drunken; not a single minstrel or scholar remained awake.”
#32
بد اندیش یاران او را براند
✦
جز از شاه و پیروز خسرو نماند
“The treacherous villain drove away all the king's companions, until none remained save the King and Piroz Khosrow.”
#33
جفا پیشه از پیش خانه بجست
✦
لب شاه بگرفت ناگه به دست
“The ruthless traitor sprang up from the doorway and suddenly seized the king's mouth in his hand.”
#34
همی‌داشت تا شد تباه اردشیر
✦
همه کاخ شد پر ز شمشیر و تیر
“He held him fast until Ardashir perished; then the whole palace filled with swords and arrows.”
#35
همه یار پیروز خسرو شدند
✦
اگر نو جهانجوی اگر گو بدند
“All became allies unto Piroz Khosrow, whether new seekers of fortune or seasoned warriors.”
#36
هیونی برافگند نزد گراز
✦
یکی نامه‌ای نیز با آن دراز
“He dispatched a swift camel-rider to Guraz, bearing a detailed missive.”
#37
فرستاده چون شد به نزدیک او
✦
چو خورشید شد جان تاریک اوی
“When the messenger arrived before him, his dark soul illuminated like the sun.”
#38
بیاورد زان بوم چندان سپاه
✦
که بر مور و بر پشه بر بست راه
“He brought from that realm such a host that they blocked the path for ants and flies.”
#39
همی‌تاخت چون باد تا طیسفون
✦
سپاهش همه دست شسته به خون
“He galloped like the wind toward Ctesiphon, his host having washed their hands in blood.”
#40
ز لشکر نیارست دم زد کسی
✦
نبد خود دران شهر مردم بسی
“No one among the army dared breathe a word, nor were there many inhabitants left in that city.”