The Commander-in-Chief of Iran, Rostam Farrokhzad, caused a fateful letter to be penned upon shimmering white silk, bright as the sun. At its head stood the title of Rostam, son of King Hormozd, the benevolent World-Champion of Iran, addressed to Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, who had sought conflict and brought gloom upon his own destiny. Rostam began the epistle with solemn praise for the Holy Creator, by Whose divine command the revolving heavens stand, and Whose sovereignty rests upon justice and loving-kindness.
He invoked blessings upon the Iranian monarch, a ruler endowed with Divine Glory who holds Ahriman in chains and wields the high crown and mighty sword. Rostam expressed profound regret at this unwished-for turn of events, condemning the needless toil and bloodshed of this impending war. He challenged Sa'd, asking who his king was, what manner of men they were, and what custom and creed they followed to advance with an unclothed commander and a destitute army. He remarked that the Arab soldiers were satisfied with a mere crust of bread yet remained ever hungry, lacking war-elephants, thrones, and royal baggage, and asserted that their humble life in their own lands should suffice them, for the crown and signet belonged to an ancient lineage.
Rostam vividly depicted the splendour of the Persian King of Kings, descendant of glorious monarchs, whose grandeur outshone the moon in the sky. He described how the monarch bestowed vast treasures during banquets without diminishing his royal treasury, keeping twelve thousand hounds, hunting leopards, and falcons adorned with golden rings and bells—creatures whose daily rations far exceeded all that the desert army possessed. Rostam admonished the invaders for their lack of shame, wisdom, and reverence, marveling at how men of such origin and plight could covet the throne of the Kayans. He urged Sa'd to send an experienced, wise envoy to negotiate, offering to convey their requests to the Persian King to avert a disastrous conflict with the grandson of Noshinravan the Just. Having sealed the letter of counsel, Rostam dispatched the noble knight Piruz Shapur, accompanied by Iranian magnates arrayed in gleaming mail, golden shields, and jeweled girdles, to deliver the ultimatum unto Sa'd.
#1
فرستادهٔ نیز چون برق و رعد
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فرستاد تازان به نزدیک سعد
“He dispatched a messenger swift as lightning and thunder, speeding post-haste towards Sa'd.”
#2
یکی نامه‌ای بر حریر سپید
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نویسنده بنوشت تابان چو شید
“A letter was written upon white silk, shimmering brightly like the shining sun.”
#3
به عنوان بر از پور هرمزد شاه
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جهان پهلوان رستم نیک خواه
“At its head was written: From the son of King Hormozd, the well-wishing World-Champion Rostam,”
#4
سوی سعدِ وَقاص جوینده جنگ
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جهان کرده بر خویشتن تار و تنگ
“Unto Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, the seeker of war, who hath made the world dark and narrow for himself.”
#5
سرنامه گفت از جهاندار پاک
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بباید که باشیم با بیم و باک
“The preamble declared: In the name of the Pure Ruler of the World, before Whom we must stand in awe and reverence,”
#6
کزویست بر پای گردان سپهر
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همه پادشاهیش دادست و مهر
“For by Him the revolving heavens are sustained, and His whole realm is built on justice and love.”
#7
ازو باد بر شهریار آفرین
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که زیبای تاجست و تخت و نگین
“May blessings from Him be upon our Sovereign, who is worthy of crown, throne, and signet ring,”
#8
که دارد به فر اهرمن راببند
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خداوند شمشیر و تاج بلند
“Who by his Royal Glory holds Ahriman bound, the lord of the high crown and the sharp sword.”
#9
به پیش آمد این ناپسندیده کار
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به بیهوده این رنج و این کارزار
“Unseemly has this situation come to pass—this futile toil and this bitter strife.”
#10
به من بازگوی آنک شاه تو کیست
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چه مردی و آیین و راه تو چیست
“Tell me now, who is thy king? What manner of man art thou, and what is thy law and custom?”
#11
به نزد که جویی همی دستگاه
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برهنه سپهبد برهنه سپاه
“Before whom dost thou seek rank and power—thou, a bare commander of a bare army?”
#12
به نانی تو سیری و هم گرسنه
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نه پیل و نه تخت و نه بار و بنه
“Thou art sated with a loaf of bread, yet remainest hungry; thou hast neither elephant nor throne, nor gear nor baggage.”
#13
به ایران تو را زندگانی بس است
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که تاج و نگین بهر دیگر کس است
“Suffice it for thee to live in thy own lands, for crown and signet belong to another.”
#14
که با پیل و گنجست و با فروجاه
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پدر بر پدر نامبردار شاه
“To one who possesses elephants, treasure, and glory, a renowned king descended from kings.”
#15
به دیدار او بر فلک ماه نیست
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به بالای او بر زمین شاه نیست
“Compared to his countenance, the moon in the heavens is naught; compared to his stature, no king on earth compares.”
#16
هر آن گه که در بزم خندان شود
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گشاده لب و سیم دندان شود
“Whenever he smiles at the royal banquet, his lips part to reveal teeth white as silver.”
#17
به بخشد بهای سر تازیان
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که بر گنج او زان نیاید زیان
“He bestows the value of a chief of the Arabs as gifts, yet no harm comes to his treasury thereby.”
#18
سگ و یوز و بازش ده و دو هزار
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که با زنگ و زرند و با گوشوار
“He possesses twelve thousand hounds, hunting leopards, and falcons, all adorned with golden bells and earrings.”
#19
به سالی همه دشت نیزه وران
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نیابند خورد از کران تا کران
“Throughout the year, the whole plain of spear-bearers cannot find enough sustenance from end to end,”
#20
که او را به باید به یوز و به سگ
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که در دشت نخچیر گیرد به تگ
“To match what is needed for his leopards and hounds, which sprint across the plain to catch game.”
#21
سگ و یوز او بیشتر زان خورد
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که شاه آن به چیزی همی‌نشمرد
“His hounds and leopards consume more than that, which the King considers a thing of no account.”
#22
شما را به دیده درون شرم نیست
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ز راه خرد مهر و آزرم نیست
“There is no shame in your eyes, nor love and modesty guided by wisdom.”
#23
بدان چهره و زاد و آن مهر و خوی
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چنین تاج و تخت آمدت آرزوی
“With such a face, birth, disposition, and manner, how canst thou desire such a throne and crown?”
#24
جهان گر بر اندازه جویی همی
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سخن بر گزافه نگویی همی
“If thou seekest the world with measure and restraint, thou wilt not speak words in vain arrogance.”
#25
سخن گوی مردی برِ ما فرست
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جهاندیده و گرد و زیبا فرست
“Send to us an eloquent man, a worldly-wise, valiant, and comely warrior,”
#26
بدان تا بگوید که رای تو چیست
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به تخت کیان رهنمای تو کیست
“So that he may declare what thy judgment is, and who guides thee toward the throne of the Kayans.”
#27
سواری فرستیم نزدیک شاه
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بخواهیم ازو هرچ خواهی بخواه
“We shall dispatch a horseman unto the King and request of him whatever thou desirest.”
#28
تو جنگ چنان پادشاهی مجوی
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که فرجام کارانده آید بروی
“Seek not war with such a monarch, lest a dire outcome come upon thee at the end.”
#29
نبیره جهاندار نوشین روان
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که با داد او پیرگردد جوان
“He is the grandson of the ruler Noshinravan, by whose justice the old become young again.”
#30
پدر بر پدر شاه و خود شهریار
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زمانه ندارد چنو یادگار
“King after king, his fathers were sovereigns; Time has no memorial like unto him.”
#31
جهانی مکن پر ز نفرین خویش
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مشو بد گمان اندر آیین خویش
“Make not a world full of curses against thyself; do not fall into ill thoughts regarding thy own faith.”
#32
به تخت کیان تا نباشد نژاد
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نجوید خداوند فرهنگ و داد
“Unless one possesses noble lineage for the throne of the Kayans, a master of wisdom and justice will not seek it.”
#33
نگه کن بدین نامهٔ پندمند
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مکن چشم و گوش و خرد را ببند
“Look upon this counsel-laden epistle; close not thine eyes, ears, and wisdom against it.”
#34
چو نامه به مهر اندر آمد به داد
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به پیروز شاپور فرخ نژاد
“When the letter was duly sealed, it was committed to Piruz Shapur of auspicious birth.”
#35
بر سعد وقاص شد پهلوان
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از ایران بزرگان روشن روان
“The champion departed unto Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, accompanied by luminous-souled nobles of Iran,”
#36
همه غرقه در جوشن و سیم و زر
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سپرهای زرین و زرین کمر
“All clad in coats of mail, silver, and gold, bearing golden shields and wearing golden girdles.”