When the usurper Farayin seized the Kayanian crown and ascended the throne, he was consumed by arrogant delusion. Vaunting his newfound majesty, he declared that even a fleeting moment of high kingship was far sweeter than sixty years of bow-headed servitude. Ignoring the prudent warnings of his eldest son to secure his hold against a true heir of royal lineage, he surrendered to reckless extravagance and vanity.
In a mere fortnight, the ancient treasuries of King Ardashir were squandered down to the last coin. By night, Farayin opened the royal halls, bestowing undeserved gifts and gold upon flatterers. His nights turned into endless revelries set amidst amber-scented candles and gem-studded golden basins, as he wandered orchards and grounds with an entourage of candle-bearers.
Yet as his prodigality exhausted the realm's wealth, Farayin turned cruel, faithless, and miserly. He blinded his heart with greed, shed innocent blood without remorse, and turned his foul tongue against his own commanders. A wave of hatred washed over Iran, and both nobles and commoners prayed for his downfall.
Seeing the realm on the brink of ruin, a valiant knight from Istakhr named Hormozd Shahr-an-Guraz gathered the chieftains under the dark cover of night. He urged them to cast off the tyranny of the unworthy monarch. Pledging their absolute allegiance, the soldiers formed a wall of support. Mounting his coal-black steed, Shahr-an-Guraz drew a steel-tipped shaft from his quiver and bent his powerful bow till the notch met his ear. With a thunderous release, the arrow pierced Farayin through the back, its iron tip emerging from his navel. The usurper fell headlong into the dust, his blood pouring into the earth as his soul departed in agony. In the aftermath, panic and dark confusion seized the leaderless army, dispersing them like frightened sheep into the night.
#1
فرایین چو تاج کیان برنهاد
✦
همی‌گفت چیزی که آمدش یاد
“When Farayin placed the Kayanian crown upon his head, he spoke whatever came to his mind.”
#2
همی‌گفت شاهی کنم یک زمان
✦
نشینم برین تخت بر شادمان
“He said: 'I shall rule for a time and sit upon this throne in joy and triumph.'”
#3
به از بندگی توختن شست سال
✦
برآورده رنج و فرو برده یال
“'This is far better than sixty years of servitude, enduring toil with a bowed head.'”
#4
پس از من پسر بر نشیند بگاه
✦
نهد بر سر آن خسروانی کلاه
“'After me, my son shall ascend the throne and wear the royal crown of kings.'”
#5
نهانی بدو گفت مهتر پسر
✦
که اکنون به گیتی توی تاجور
“Secretly, his elder son said to him: 'Now that you are the crowned ruler of the world,'”
#6
مباش ایمن و گنج را چاره کن
✦
جهان بان شدی کار یکباره کن
“'Do not feel secure; secure the treasury and finalize your grasp on power without delay.'”
#7
چو از تخمهٔ شهریاران کسی
✦
بیاید نمانی تو ایدر بسی
“'For if anyone of royal blood should appear, you will not remain here for long.'”
#8
وزان پس چنین گفت کهتر پسر
✦
که اکنون به گیتی توی تاجور
“Then the younger son spoke to him: 'Now that you are the world's crowned lord,'”
#9
سزاوار شاهی سپاهست و گنج
✦
چو با گنج باشی نمانی به رنج
“'What befits kingship is an army and wealth; so long as you hold treasure, you shall suffer no ill.'”
#10
فریدون که بد آبتینش پدر
✦
مر او را که بد پیش او تاجور
“'Consider Fereydun, whose father was Abtin—who was the crowned lord before him?'”
#11
جهان را بسه پور فرخنده داد
✦
که اندر جهان او بد از داد شاد
“'He divided the realm among three blessed sons, and rejoiced in the world through his justice.'”
#12
به مرد و به گنج این جهان را بدار
✦
نزاید ز مادر کسی شهریار
“'Hold this world through brave men and wealth; no prince is born from a mother except by power.'”
#13
ورا خوش نیامد بدین سان سخن
✦
به مهتر پسر گفت خامی مکن
“This speech pleased Farayin not; he said to his elder son, 'Do not speak so foolishly.'”
#14
عرض را به دیوان شاهی نشاند
✦
سپه را سراسر به درگاه خواند
“He seated the muster-master at the royal court and summoned the entire army to his threshold.”
#15
شب تیره تا روز دینار داد
✦
بسی خلعت ناسزاوار داد
“From dark night until dawn, he gave away gold coins and bestowed many unworthy robes of honor.”
#16
به دو هفته از گنج شاه اردشیر
✦
نماند از بهایی یکی پر تیر
“Within two weeks, of King Ardashir's immense treasure, not even the value of an arrow's feather remained.”
#17
هر آنگه که رفتی به می سوی باغ
✦
نبردی جز از شمع عنبر چراغ
“Whenever he went to the gardens to drink wine, he used no lights except amber-scented candles.”
#18
همان تشت زرین و سیمین بدی
✦
چو زرین بدی گوهر آگین بدی
“Golden and silver basins were set out; and those of gold were studded with precious gems.”
#19
چو هشتاد در پیش و هشتاد پس
✦
پس شمع یاران فریادرس
“Eighty walked before him and eighty behind, following the candle-bearing companions.”
#20
همه شب بدی خوردن آیین اوی
✦
دل مهتران پرشد ازکین اوی
“Feasting through every night became his custom, and the hearts of the nobles filled with hatred for him.”
#21
شب تیره همواره گردان بدی
✦
به پالیزها گر به میدان بدی
“Through the dark nights he wandered constantly, whether in the orchards or in the polo grounds.”
#22
نماندش به ایران یکی دوستدار
✦
شکست اندر آمد به آموزگار
“Not a single friend remained to him in Iran, and ruin overtook his advisors.”
#23
فرایین همان ناجوانمرد گشت
✦
ابی داد و بی‌بخشش و خرد گشت
“Thus Farayin became ignoble—void of justice, lacking generosity, and devoid of wisdom.”
#24
همی زر بر چشم بر دوختی
✦
جهان را به دینار بفروختی
“He bound his eyes with gold and sold the world for mere gold coins.”
#25
همی‌ریخت خون سر بی‌گناه
✦
از آن پس برآشفت به روی سپاه
“He shed the blood of the innocent, and thereafter turned in fury against the army.”
#26
به دشنام لبها بیاراستند
✦
جهانی همه مرگ او خواستند
“Lips were readied with curses against him, and the entire world desired his death.”
#27
شب تیره هرمزد شهران گراز
✦
سخنها همی‌گفت چندان به راز
“In the dark of night, Hormozd Shahr-an-Guraz spoke many secret words with the nobles.”
#28
گزیده سواری ز شهر صطخر
✦
که آن مهتران را بدو بود فخر
“He was an elite horseman from the city of Istakhr, in whom the chieftains took great pride.”
#29
به ایرانیان گفت کای مهتران
✦
شد این روزگار فرایین گران
“He said to the Iranians: 'O nobles, this era of Farayin has grown unbearable!'”
#30
همی‌دارد او مهتران را سبک
✦
چرا شد چنین مغز و دلتان تُنُک
“'He treats the grandees with light contempt; why have your minds and hearts grown so frail?'”
#31
همه دیده‌ها زو شده پر سرشک
✦
جگر پر ز خون شد بباید پزشک
“'All eyes are filled with tears because of him; our livers bleed, and a healer is required.'”
#32
چنین داد پاسخ مرا او را سپاه
✦
که چون کس نماند از در پیشگاه
“The army answered him thus: 'Since no eligible heir remains before the throne,'”
#33
نه کس را همی‌آید از رشک یاد
✦
که پردازدی دل بدین بد نژاد
“'No one feels envy or hesitation to turn their heart away from this evil-born usurper.'”
#34
بدیشان چنین گفت شهران گراز
✦
که این کار ایرانیان شد دراز
“Shahr-an-Guraz said to them: 'This plight of the Iranians has dragged on too long.'”
#35
گر ایدون که بر من نسازید بد
✦
کنید آنک از داد و گردی سزد
“'If you will not turn against me in betrayal, do what is worthy of justice and heroism.'”
#36
هم اکنون به نیروی یزدان پاک
✦
مر او را ز باره در آرم به خاک
“'By the power of pure God, I shall cast him down from his mount unto the dust right now!'”
#37
چنین یافت پاسخ ز ایرانیان
✦
که بر تو مبادا که آید زیان
“He received this reply from the Iranians: 'May no harm ever come upon you!'”
#38
همه لشکر امروز یار توایم
✦
گرت زین بد آید حصار توایم
“'The entire army is your ally today; if ill comes to you from this, we shall be your shield.'”
#39
چو بشنید ز ایشان ز ترکش نخست
✦
یکی تیر پولاد پیکان بجست
“Hearing this from them, he at once drew forth a steel-tipped arrow from his quiver.”
#40
برانگیخت از جای اسپ سیاه
✦
همی‌داشت لشکر مر او را نگاه
“He spurred his black horse forward while the entire army watched him intently.”
#41
کمان رابه بازو همی‌درکشید
✦
گهی در بروگاه بر سرکشید
“He drew back the bowstring with his arm, pulling it now toward his chest and now past his ear.”
#42
به شورش‌گری تیر بازه ببست
✦
چو شد غرقه پیکانش بگشاد شست
“Amidst the commotion, he fixed the arrow to the notch; when the arrowhead was fully drawn, he released his thumb.”
#43
بزد تیر ناگاه بر پشت اوی
✦
بیفتاد تازانه از مشت اوی
“Suddenly he struck the arrow into Farayin's back; the whip fell from the usurper's fist.”
#44
همه تیرتا پر در خون گذشت
✦
سرآهن ازناف بیرون گذشت
“The entire shaft plunged in blood up to its feathers, and the iron tip emerged from his navel.”
#45
ز باره در افتاد سر سرنگون
✦
روان گشت زان زخم او جوی خون
“Headlong he tumbled from his horse, and a stream of blood gushed forth from that mortal wound.”
#46
بپیچید و برزد یکی باد سرد
✦
به زاری بران خاک دل پر ز درد
“He writhed in agony and breathed a cold sigh, falling piteously upon the dust with a heart full of pain.”
#47
سپه تیغها بر کشیدند پاک
✦
برآمد شب تیره از دشت خاک
“The army drew their swords every one, as dark night enveloped the dusty plain.”
#48
همه شب همی خنجر انداختند
✦
یکی از دگر باز نشناختند
“All through the night they wielded their daggers, unable in the darkness to tell friend from foe.”
#49
همی این از آن بستد و آن ازین
✦
یکی یافت نفرین دگر آفرین
“Each seized spoils from the other; one earned curses, while another received praise.”
#50
پراگنده گشت آن سپاه بزرگ
✦
چومیشان بددل که بینند گرگ
“That vast host was dispersed and fled, like faint-hearted ewes catching sight of a wolf.”
#51
فراوان بماندند بی شهریار
✦
نیامد کسی تاج را خواستار
“For a long space they remained without a sovereign, and no one stepped forward to claim the crown.”
#52
بجستند فرزند شاهان بسی
✦
ندیدند زان نامداران کسی
“Long did they search for offspring of the royal line, yet found not a single survivor among those illustrious lords.”