English
Bahram Gur Takes the Throne
When Bahram Gur took his seat on the throne, he gave praise to the sun and offered blessings.
He turned in worship to the Creator, the ruler of the world, ever watchful and all-seeing.
The Lord of victory and of greatness, the Lord of abundance and of scarcity.
The Lord of justice and of wisdom, by whom the whole world stands upright.
Then he said: this crown and throne I received from Him who created my good fortune.
In Him is my hope and my fear alike, and I thank Him for all the good He has given.
You too should take pride in Him, and strive never to break your covenant with Him.
The Persians answered aloud: we have bound ourselves in service to you.
May this crown be blessed upon our fortunate king; may his heart and his fortune live forever.
Then they all offered their blessings, and scattered jewels over his head.
Bahram said: proud chieftains, you have seen the marks of good days and bad.
We are all servants, and God is one; nothing but Him deserves our worship.
I will keep you safe from hard days, and never hand you over to an enemy.
He said this, and they rose from before him, and once more arranged fresh blessings for him.
They passed the dark night in conversation, until the sun showed its face on the wheel of sky.
Calmly the king sat upon his throne, and the Persians came seeking audience.
Bahram spoke to the nobles: these men of good name and good fortune,
let us hold to God and take our joy, let us hasten and set our hearts free from this world.
He said this, and they brought the royal horse, and arranged for him a kingly court.
On the third day, when he sat on the throne, he said: the custom of worship must not be hidden.
Let us bear witness to God's existence, and make our souls familiar with this truth.
There is heaven, and hell, and the resurrection; from good and evil there is no escape.
Whoever does not believe in the day of reckoning, do not count him as faithful or wise.
On the fourth day, upon the ivory throne, he placed that admired crown on his head.
He said: I take no joy from my treasury for even a moment as I do from a joyful people.
I do not crave this fleeting caravansary of a world, nor to return to it in grief and pain.
For that world is eternal and this one a mere passage; keep clear of greed and carry no sorrow.
On the fifth day he said: I take no joy in another's suffering while I have the power to help.
Let us seek the happy paradise through effort; blessed is the one who sowed only the seed of goodness.
On the sixth day he said: may I never seek to crush the people beneath me.
Let us set the world at ease from its enemies, and strike fear into those who plot evil.
On the seventh day when he sat, he said: great ones, wise and watchful, who have seen the world,
when we are harsh with a harsh man, we are gentle with the wise.
Whoever will not act warmly toward us will see more harm from me than from my father.
Whoever chooses to obey our command need suffer no grief, pain, or hardship.
On the eighth day when the king was seated, he ordered Javanuy summoned to the court.
He told him: to every chieftain, to every noble and to every land,
write a letter of kindness and justice, that Bahram has taken the throne in gladness,
a lord of mercy and of truth, who flees from crookedness and defect,
who has glory and stature, love and justice, and remembers none but the pure Creator.
I accept whoever obeys my command; why should the one who brings a remedy think of wrongdoing?
I have sat upon the fortunate throne of my father, following the way of just Tahmuras.
In justice I will surpass my ancestors; I will guide you in the faith.
With everyone I deal in nothing but honesty, even if much crookedness comes back from them.
I hold to the faith of the prophet Zoroaster; I will not stray from the path of my forefathers.
On the ninth day he said: Zoroaster came before us, and before him Abraham, the truthful prophet.
You are each rulers over your own possessions, guardians of the borders and guardians of the faith.
You are also masters over your children and wives; blessed is the clever and devout person.
We will not heap gold into treasuries, for from such hoarding the poor are left in misery.
If God grants me life and gives me success under these stars,
read also a book of joy, so that through it you may gain lasting worth and substance.
From us, greetings to every kingdom, and especially to the one whose fabric is woven of love.
They set the royal seals upon the letters, and he summoned the messengers with a blessing.
The priests set out with the letters, riders of clear heart and sound wisdom.