Lohrasp Takes the Throne

When Lohrasp sat upon the throne of justice, he placed the royal crown upon his head. He began to praise the Creator of the world, and his devotion to God only grew. He said: 'From the just and pure Judge, keep your hope, but also your reverence and fear.' He is the painter of the turning wheel of heaven; the giver of glory to His servant. He created the sea, the mountains, and the earth, and raised the high sky above it. One thing spins swiftly, another stays still; the Maker gave it no feet to move. We are like a hair upon a ball, caught in the middle, worn by bodily pain, greed, gain, and loss. Your heart is glad, yet death, with its sharp claws, sits waiting like a fierce, quarrelsome lion. Let us turn away from greed and excess, and confess our own ignorance. From this royal crown and lofty throne, we seek nothing but justice, peace, and good counsel. May our share from this fleeting inn of a world not turn out to be spite, curses, and suffering. I will build upon Kaykhosrow's wisdom, and drive spite and greed out of my heart. Work and be glad of justice; live at ease and hold no thought of malice. The great ones of the world called him the Creator's champion and named him the king of the earth. The noble Lohrasp found peace; he gained wisdom's substance and joyful fulfillment. After that he sent messengers to Rome, to India, to China, and to every prosperous land. From every border, all who were wise and able to keep his covenant, took to the road from every country and hurried to the king's court. They tasted knowledge in all its bitterness and delight, and stayed a while, contented, in Balkh. The king raised up a great city, full of quarters, lanes, and marketplaces. In every quarter a festival ground for Sadeh, and all around it stood a fire temple. He built a fire temple named Barzin, one blessed with good fortune, grandeur, and joy.