On the day of Ard in the month of Spandarmad, Yazdegerd III ascended the imperial throne of Iran and placed the crown of majesty upon his head. Proclaiming his lineage as the pure heir of the renowned Anushirvan, he swore to govern with absolute justice, to uplift the humble, and to honor the noble. He declared that a monarch's true quest must not be the pursuit of fleeting worldly desires, but the exaltation of an immortal and righteous name, knowing well that neither strength, nor diadem, nor royal treasure can endure forever against the relentless tide of time.
Yet woven into his accession is a profound reflection upon the transience of human existence. The turning spheres of heaven recognize no sovereign; even the greatest kings of old, such as Fereydun and Khosrow Parviz, were eventually rendered to dust. The majestic skies play indifferently with both elephant and lion alike, ensnaring mortals within their tight compass. In this manner, sixteen years of Yazdegerd's reign passed beneath the revolving sun and moon, as the invisible hands of fate prepared the heavy destiny that lay in store for the kingdom.
#1
چو بگذشت زو شاه شد یزدگرد
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به ماه سفندار مذ روز ارد
“When he passed, Yazdegerd became king, on the day of Ard in the month of Spandarmad.”
#2
چه گفت آن سخنگوی مرد دلیر
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چو از گردش روز برگشت سیر
“What did that eloquent and brave sage say when he grew weary of the wheel of fate?”
#3
که باری نزادی مرا مادرم
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نگشتی سپهر بلند از برم
“'Would that my mother had never borne me, nor the high sky turned above me!'”
#4
به پرگار تنگ و میان دو گوی
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چه گویم جز از خامشی نیست روی
“'Within this narrow compass between two spheres, what can I do but choose silence?'”
#5
نه روز بزرگی نه روز نیاز
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نماند همی برکسی بر دراز
“'Neither days of splendor nor days of hardship endure long for anyone.'”
#6
زمانه ز ما نیست چون بنگری
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ندارد کسی آلت داوری
“'If you look closely, fate is not ours to rule, and no one holds the tools to judge it.'”
#7
بیارای خوان و بپیمای جام
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ز تیمار گیتی مبر هیچ نام
“'Adorn the banquet table and fill the cup; speak no word of the world's grief.'”
#8
اگر چرخ گردان کشد زین تو
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سرانجام خاکست بالین تو
“'Even if the turning wheel saddles your horse, in the end your pillow shall be dust.'”
#9
دلت را به تیمار چندین مبند
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بس ایمن مشو بر سپهر بلند
“'Do not bind your heart to such grieving, nor place too much trust in the high heavens.'”
#10
که با پیل و با شیربازی کند
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چنان دان که از بی‌نیازی کند
“'For it plays with both the elephant and the lion—know that it acts out of absolute detachment.'”
#11
تو بیجان شوی او بماند دراز
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درازست گفتار چندین مناز
“'You shall become lifeless while it endures; speech is endless, so strive not so much.'”
#12
تو از آفریدون فزونتر نه ای
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چو پرویز باتخت و افسر نه ای
“'You are not greater than Fereydun, nor like Parviz with throne and crown.'”
#13
به ژرفی نگه کن که با یزدگرد
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چه کرد این برافراخته هفت گرد
“'Look deeply into what these seven elevated turning spheres did to Yazdegerd.'”
#14
چو بر خسروی گاه بنشست شاد
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کلاه بزرگی به سر برنهاد
“When he happily sat upon the royal throne, he placed the crown of majesty upon his head.”
#15
چنین گفت کز دور چرخ روان
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منم پاک فرزند نوشین روان
“He spoke thus: 'By the cycle of the swift sky, I am the pure descendant of Anushirvan.'”
#16
پدر بر پدر پادشاهی مراست
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خور و خوشه و برج ماهی مراست
“'Generation after generation, kingship belongs to me; the sun, Virgo, and Pisces are mine.'”
#17
بزرگی دهم هر که کهتر بود
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نیازارم آن راکه مهتر بود
“'I shall grant exaltation to whoever is humble, and I will not cause pain to him who is great.'”
#18
نجویم بزرگی و فرزانگی
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همان رزم و تندی و مردانگی
“'I seek nobility and wisdom, avoiding needless battle, anger, and arrogance.'”
#19
که برکس نماند همی زور و بخت
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نه گنج و نه دیهیم شاهی نه تخت
“'For strength and fortune remain with no man forever, nor treasure, nor royal diadem, nor throne.'”
#20
همی نام جاوید باید نه کام
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بینداز کام و برافراز نام
“'One must strive for an eternal name, not fleeting desire; cast away desire and elevate your name.'”
#21
برین گونه تا سال شد بر دو هشت
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همی ماه و خورشید بر سر گذشت
“In this manner sixteen years passed, as the moon and sun moved above his head.”