579. The Reign of Ardeshir the Righteous
EnglishWhen Ardeshir took his place on the royal throne,
he brought new luster to the throne of old Shapur.
He girded himself for the task, called the Iranians in,
and seated them at the foot of the golden throne.
He said: while the high sky keeps turning,
I want no harm to come to anyone.
If the world bends willingly to my desire,
they will see both my sharpness and my peace.
But if the world will not fall in step with us,
then we ourselves will reshape the world.
My brother left this whole realm to me,
because his own son was still a child.
I send my blessing after his departed soul,
for he washed the earth clean of evil schemers.
When his son Shapur grows to full stature,
the throne and crown will be honored beside him.
I will hand him the throne, the crown, and the army,
for so King Shapur made his pledge with me.
I am only this throne's servant on his behalf,
and I hold it as a keepsake from his father.
All of you, keep justice in mind;
strive, and uphold right custom and fair judgment.
Know that we too enjoyed our time and it passed us by;
like every man, all our toil turned to wind.
For ten years he governed the world with fairness,
he enjoyed life and gave away whatever he wished.
He demanded no tribute, tax, or levy from anyone,
and held the throne and crown as a free gift to all.
They called him the Righteous for this reason:
that under him everyone lived at ease.
When young Shapur was fit for crown and throne,
he handed him that blessed royal diadem.
That brave man never broke his given word;
with true manhood he kept his order intact.
Original
پادشاهی اردشیر نکوکار
چو بنشست بر گاه شاه اردشیر
بیاراست آن تخت شاپور پیر
کمر بست و ایرانیان را بخواند
بر پایهٔ تخت زرین نشاند
چنین گفت کز دور چرخ بلند
نخواهم که باشد کسی را گزند
جهان گر شود رام با کام من
ببینند تیزی و آرام من
ور ایدونک با ما نسازد جهان
بسازیم ما با جهان جهان
برادر جهان ویژه ما را سپرد
ازیرا که فرزند او بود خرد
فرستم روان ورا آفرین
که از بدسگالان بشست او زمین
چو شاپور شاپور گردد بلند
شود نزد او گاه و تاج ارجمند
سپارم بدو گاه و تاج و سپاه
که پیمان چنین کرد شاپور شاه
من این تخت را پایکار وی‌ام
همان از پدر یادگار وی‌ام
شما یکسره داد یاد آورید
بکوشید و آیین و داد آورید
چنان دان که خوردیم و بر ما گذشت
چو مردی همه رنج ما باد گشت
چو ده سال گیتی همی داشت راست
بخورد و ببخشید چیزی که خواست
نجست از کسی باژ و ساو و خراج
همی رایگان داشت آن گاه و تاج
مر او را نکوکار زان خواندند
که هرکس تن‌آسان ازو ماندند
چو شاپور گشت از در تاج و گاه
مر او را سپرد آن خجسته کلاه
نگشت آن دلاور ز پیمان خویش
به مردی نگه داشت سامان خویش