Every noble discourse and fragment of cosmic wisdom has been gathered by the sages of antiquity, yet he who cannot reach the highest boughs of that fruitful tree may still find refuge beneath its shade, building a humble pedestal beside the great cypress of epic memory so that a lasting memorial of the Book of Kings may remain across time. Let no one deem these ancient chronicles to be mere falsehoods, fables, or idle enchantment; whatever aligns with the touchstone of human reason must be accepted as truth, while the rest guides the seeker along the path of allegory and hidden meaning. In ages past, there existed a single ancient chronicle whose fragments were dispersed among wise Mobads and Dehqans in every corner of the realm. A noble champion of Dehqan lineage—valiant, generous, wise, and devoted to the lore of antiquity—arose to resurrect the forgotten past. He summoned venerable Mobads from every kingdom and inquired after the ancient Kayanian kings and illustrious heroes, asking how they held the world in its dawn, how their days of glory unfolded, and how time eventually swept them away. As the wise elders recounted the deeds of kings and the turns of fate, the chieftain laid the foundation of a great book, leaving behind an immortal monument lauded by high and low alike.
#1
سخن هر چه گویم همه گفته‌اند
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بَرِ باغِ دانش همه رُفته‌اند
“Whatever words I might utter have all been spoken before; every path in the garden of knowledge has been trodden.”
#2
اگر بر درختِ برومند جای
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نیابم که از بَر شدن نیست رای
“Yet though I find no place atop that fruitful tree, for climbing to its highest bough is beyond my reach...”
#3
کسی کو شَوَد زیرِ نخلِ بلند
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همان سایه ز او بازدارَد گَزَند
“...He who rests beneath the shade of a tall palm tree shall at least find shelter from harm in its shade.”
#4
توانم مگر پایه‌ای ساختن
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بَرِ شاخِ آن سروِ سایه فکن
“Perchance I may build a pedestal beside the branch of that shade-casting cypress,”
#5
کز این ناموَر نامهٔ شهریار
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به گیتی بمانم یکی یادگار
“So that from this renowned Book of Kings, I may leave a lasting monument in the world.”
#6
تو این را دروغ و فَسانه مَدان
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به رنگِ فُسون و بهانه مَدان
“Do not consider this to be falsehood or mere myth, nor view it as the deceit of enchantment and pretext.”
#7
از او هر چه اندر خورَد با خِرَد
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دگر بَر رَهِ رمز و معنی بَرَد
“Whatever in it accords with reason accept as truth; all else leads along the path of allegory and hidden meaning.”
#8
یکی نامه بود از گَهِ باستان
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فراوان بِدو اندرون داستان
“There was an ancient chronicle from times of old, containing countless tales and narratives within.”
#9
پراگَنده دَر دستِ هَر موبَدی
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از او بَهره‌ای نزدِ هَر بِخرَدی
“Scattered in the hands of various Mobads, with a portion of it held by every wise man.”
#10
یکی پهلوان بود دهقان‌نژاد
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دلیر و بزرگ و خردمند و راد
“There was a noble hero of Dehqan lineage—brave, exalted, wise, and generous.”
#11
پژوهندهٔ روزگارِ نَخُست
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گذشته سخن‌ها همه باز جُست
“A seeker of ancient times, who searched out all the tales of the bygone past.”
#12
زِ هر کشوری موبَدی سال‌خَورد
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بیاورد کاین نامه را یاد کرد
“He brought forth aged Mobads from every realm, who held the memory of this ancient book.”
#13
بپرسیدشان از کیانِ جهان
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وزان نامدارانِ فرخ مَهان
“He questioned them of the ancient Kayan sovereigns of the world, and of those glorious, noble figures.”
#14
که گیتی به آغاز چون داشتند
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که ایدون به ما خوار بگذاشتند
“How they held the world in the beginning, and how they ultimately left it behind to us so fleetingly.”
#15
چگونه سَر آمد به نیک اختری
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بر ایشان همه روزِ کُندآوری
“How their days of valor came to an end, even when guided by auspicious stars.”
#16
بگفتند پیشَش یکایک مَهان
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سخن‌های شاهان و گشتِ جهان
“The noble elders recounted to him one by one the stories of kings and the turning wheel of the world.”
#17
چو بشنید از ایشان سِپَهبَد سَخُن
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یکی ناموَر نامه اَفکند بُن
“When the chieftain heard these tales from them, he laid the foundation of a renowned chronicle.”
#18
چنین یادگاری شد اندر جهان
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بر او آفرین از کهان و مهان
“Thus such a monument was created in the world, receiving praise from both the humble and the great.”