The Line of the Ajamians

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English

The Line of the Ajamians

What a glorious age, the age of the great Ajamians, when Jamshid stood as their mighty leader. Through him the affairs of the world gained their splendor, for he was Yima, the son of Vivanghan. From the Ajam the name 'Ajam' remains as a keepsake; by the customs of Jamshid the age came alive. The Zend and Avesta whisper this: that Ahura Mazda once spoke with Yima. He saved his people from the bitter frost when they lay captive on the Aryan plain. To anyone who knows wisdom it is clear: he is indeed Yima, the son of Vivanghan. Blessed be that famous king's way of life, who dwelt upon the dark mountain heights. The wise call him Kayumars; perhaps they hold him to be eternally alive. From him too came Hur-Fakhshad, for that pure radiant king bore that name. And you, soil of Iran, scented like ambergris, how fortunate you are, for Zoroaster was born in you. That renowned one was Idris and Hermes; in this world, wisdom is the legacy he left. Through him the face of the earth gained its splendor, for he was Hushang, the bringer of justice and faith. From him the rite of the Sadeh feast remains, and from him the fire temple first appeared. The heavenly scripture is his as well, the one the priest recites as Zend and Avesta. He revealed the path of devotion and honored the rightful claims of life. How well King Parviz, the noble one, spoke when he matched wits with the Caesar of Rome. He said: we feel no shame for our ancient faith; in all the world there is none better than the faith of Hushang. It is wholly the way of justice and the rule of love, and the contemplation of the order of the heavens.
Explanation: Yima (Yima son of Vivanghan) is the Avestan name for Jamshid; the poet weaves together figures of early Iranian myth (Kayumars, Hushang) with their identification as Idris and Hermes in later tradition. The Sadeh feast is an ancient Iranian fire festival.

Original · Persian

بخش ۹ - سلاله آجامیان

زهی عصر آجامیان سترگ که جمشید بودی برایشان بزرگ
ازو فرهی یافت کار جهان که او بد یمه پور ویوانجهان
از آجام مانده عجم یادگار به آیین جم زنده شد روزگار
کند زند و اوستا بدین زمزمه که اورمزد گفت سخن با یمه
رهانید قوم خود از زمهریر که بودند در دشت آری اسیر
بنزد کسی کز خرد آگه است همانا یمه پور ویوانگه است
خوشا آن شیو نامبردار شاه که می زیست بر کوهسار سیاه
که دانا کیومرث می خواندش مگر زنده ی جاودان داندش
همان هورفخشاد ازو شد پدید که بد نام آن شاه ار پاک شید
تو ای خاک ایران عنبر سرشت خنک آن که اندر تو بد زردهشت
که ادریس و هرمس بد آن نامدار به گیتی است حکمت از آن یادگار
ازو فرهی یافت روی زمین که او بود هوشنگ با داد و دین
ازو ماند آیین جشن سده پدیدار ازو گشت آتشکده
همان نامه ی آسمانی ازوست که موبد همی خواندش زند و اوست
پدیدار کرده ره بندگی مراعات کرده حق زندگی
چه خوش گفت پرویز شاه کیا چو با قیصر روم زد کیمیا
که ما را ز دین کهن ننگ نیست به گیتی به از دین هوشنگ نیست
همه راه دادست و آیین مهر نظر کردن اندر شمار سپهر