English
Bahram's Charter of Justice
On the third day they set out a feast of nobles, and seated the scribe before them.
As his face grew bright with wine, he cheerfully wrote out a letter, sealed with affection.
He began the letter first with praise for the one who has washed his soul clean with joy.
The one who has made wisdom the ornament of his heart, and through the body's labor drawn strength from kindness to others.
He recognized all good things as coming from God, sought wisdom, and kept company with the learned.
Know this: from justice nothing but good comes forth, and it does not knock at the door of ill temper.
Anyone among our officials, our proud and battle-hardened riders,
who makes the people cry out shall see nothing but the pit or the gallows, and if killed, be cast down worthless in the dust.
Strive to lessen suffering; make the hearts of the grieving glad and free of sorrow.
For the world stays with no one for long; seek only harmlessness and justice, nothing else.
In this world I am the standard raised; I am the very cause and sign of righteousness.
For so vast an army marched against me, aiming at this renowned assembly.
I went out from here with a small force, and those who wished me ill turned into well-wishers.
A famous man like the Khaqan of China, a world-ruler with crown and throne and signet ring,
fell captive into my hands, and the fortune of the Turks was overturned.
The pure God made me victorious; the heads of my enemies went beneath the earth.
May my craft be nothing but service to God, and my thought nothing but the truth.
For seven years I will take no tribute from the world, whether from a subject below me or an equal.
To every official and headstrong ruler they wrote out a letter in Pahlavi:
Toward those beneath you use nothing but custom and justice; do not follow any evil path.
Anyone in the city who is poor, who takes no share in the days of joy,
send their names to us, and we will grant them what they wish.
Likewise all who are of noble birth, who dread the hardship of the road,
provide for them from our treasury so they need nothing, and give the wise their honored rank.
One who has debts and empty hands is left without worth or standing in every task.
Pay off their debts from our treasury too, and record their names in the registers.
Ask of God that, just like this, He keep our heart devoted to faith and religion.
Rejoice in this affection of ours, and show kindness to those great ones.
Do not treat servants and slaves with contempt, for they too are servants of the Creator.
Whoever has the means and standing should hand his children over to teachers.
Enrich souls with knowledge; make wisdom a crown upon the body.
Keep your hands off what belongs to others; be harmless and worship God.
Strive and do not break our covenant; tear out the roots and branches and bonds of evil.
Take refuge in God and obey Him; pledge your soul to His love.
Do not seek to harm your neighbors, nor those great and noble ones.
Anyone worthless who has gained the upper hand and overstepped the bounds of his low station,
do not call him great, for such a rise soon slips back down to lowliness.
Withhold nothing from the poor, every one of you who has no need.
Turn toward the pure and do good; do not crush the hearts and hopes of those in need.
Whatever has strayed from what is right stays close to harm.
May the blessing of the Lord be on the soul of anyone whose very fabric is woven of humanity.
When they had written it on Chinese silk, the scribe dipped his pen's tip in musk.
As its heading he wrote: the king of the world, the generous heart who knows good from ill,
the Lord of mercy, glory, and strength, the bountiful king of kings, Bahram Gur,
to the obedient governors of the marches, the wise, the learned, and the warlike chiefs.
In every direction couriers, riders, and swift camels set off carrying the guiding letter.
When that letter reached every land, every notable and every chief,
everyone said: thanks be to God that this world-ruler knows and reveres Him.
Women, men, and children went out onto the plains, coming from their homes in every land.
In private they called down blessings on that just king of the world.
After that they set out a feast, and called for wine, music, and minstrels.
One half of the day was for feasting, the other half was for work.
Each morning, fresh at dawn, a cry would go up before the king's court:
Whoever has, let him eat and give, and count the gift of food as a duty upon himself.
Whoever is in need, let him come to the treasury and take five weighed silver coins,
three units of aged, refined wine, the color of pomegranate blossom tinged with gold.
The whole world turned its face to pleasure; town and street rang with the voices of wine-drinkers.
It came to such a state that a garland of willow and rose, at the mere sight of it, one longed to have.
For a single coin a man could buy a spray of narcissus, and no one grew unhappy over it.
With joy the old man's heart grew young; in the fountains the waters seemed like milk.
The world-seeking king remembered God, for he saw the whole world so full of joy.