When the robust tree grows tall,

If harm descends upon it from the heavens.

Its leaves wither, and its roots weaken,

Its head first begins to incline downward.

When it uproots itself from its place,

It gives way to a fresh, young branch.

It entrusts its flowers, leaves, and garden to another,

A springtime as bright as a shining lamp.

If a bad branch sprouts from good roots,

Do not rashly attack the branch in haste.

When the world passes from father to son,

What was hidden becomes evident to him.

If he dishonors the glory and name of his father,

You may call him a stranger, not a son.

Whoever loses the path shown by a teacher,

Deserves to face hardship from fate.

Such is the rule of this ancient house,

Its origin and end are never revealed.

When one understands its ill practices,

He will not wish to remain long in this world.

When Kay Kavus took his father's throne,

The whole world became his servant.

The same throne, collar, and earrings,

The same golden crown adorned with emeralds.

The same Arabian horses with thick manes,

None in the world could match him.

So it was, that in a golden-hued garden,

He would drink sweet wine each day.

A golden throne with crystal legs,

Upon it sat the master of the world.

Together with the champions of Iran,

The king would consult on matters big and small.

Like a minstrel, a demon as the curtain-bearer,

Arrived, wishing an audience with the king.

Thus he said, 'From the city of Mazandaran, I come,'

'A skilled minstrel am I, among the entertainers.'

'If I am worthy of serving the king,'

'May he open a path for me to his throne.'

The curtain-keeper left his post at court,

And gracefully approached the sovereign.

'He said, a minstrel of great skill stands ready,'

'With his lute, a master of melodious songs.'

He commanded that they bring him forth,

And seated him among the players of instruments.

When the lute was tuned as it should be,

He sang a song of Mazandaran.

'Mazandaran, my city, may it be remembered,'

'May its lands and dwellings forever prosper.'

'For its gardens are always in bloom,'

'Its mountains adorned with tulips and hyacinths.'

'The air is pleasant, the land is colorful,'

'Neither hot nor cold, but always spring.'

'The nightingale sings in its gardens,'

'The deer prances through its meadows.'

'Always resting from strife and toil,'

'All year long, its sights and scents enchant.'

'Its streams seem to flow with rosewater,'

'Its aroma brings joy to the soul.'

'In Dey, Bahman, Azar, and Farvardin,'

'The land is always adorned with tulips.'

'All year, the streams smile brightly,'

'Everywhere, the falcon finds its prey.'

'The entire land is adorned,'

'With silks, coins, and treasures.'

'Idols adorned with golden crowns,'

'All nobles girded with golden belts.'

When Kay Kavus heard these words from him,

A new thought took root in his mind.

His warrior's heart was set on this,

To march his army towards Mazandaran.

He said to the proud warriors of battle,

'We have laid our heads down, all for the feast.'

'If a brave heart grows lazy in its ways,'

'It will never be sated with ease or desire.'

'I am greater than Jam, Zahhak, and Kay Qobad,'

'Surpassing them in fortune, glory, and justice.'

'I must exceed them in skill as well,'

'A world-seeker must bear the crown.'

When these words reached the ears of the nobles,

None of them saw this as a fortunate decision.

All turned pale, their brows furrowed deeply,

None wished for a war with the demons.

No one dared to give a direct response,

Secretly, their souls were filled with cold fear.

Like Tous, Goudarz, Keshvad, and Giv,

Like Khorad, Gorgin, and brave Roham.

They said aloud, 'We are your servants,'

'We shall not give the land to anyone but you.'

After that, they held a gathering,

And cleared their hearts of his words.

They sat and spoke to one another,

'What fate has befallen us?'

'If the king persists in the words he said,'

'And does not veil them in the drinking of wine,'

'Then ruin shall rise from us and from Iran,'

'And no water or earth will remain in this land.'

'For Jamshid, with his glory and ring,'

'Had demons, birds, and fairies under his command.'

'Yet he never thought of Mazandaran,'

'Nor sought a battle with the demons from the brave.'

'Fereydun, wise and full of magic,'

'Even his soul was not guided to this.'

If it were possible to overcome this evil,

Through bravery, wealth, fame, and skill.

Manuchehr had acted decisively in this matter,

And had not let his heart falter over it.

A solution must now be found for this,

So that this evil may be driven from the land of Iran.

Thus, Tous spoke to the noble elders,

'O valiant leaders, experienced in battle.'

'There is but one solution for this dilemma now,'

'Let us act, for this task is not impossible.'

A swift steed must be sent to Zal, son of Sam,

To deliver a message to him.

'If your head is buried in the mud, cleanse it now,

Sharpen your mind and show your face.'

'Perhaps he will open his wise lips to speak,

And his words will reach the heart of the lofty king.'

'He will remind him of the justice of this Ahriman,

'And that one must never open doors to demons.'

'Unless Zal can turn him away from this thought,

Otherwise, the end of this path is near.'

They crafted words of every kind,

And sent the swift steed racing forth.

The rider galloped until midday,

And arrived at Zal, the world-illuminating.

Thus, he delivered the message of the noblemen,

'O famous one, noble son of Sam.'

'A strange matter has arisen now,

Its solution is not easy to measure.'

'If you do not gird yourself for this task,

Neither body, land, nor tree will remain here.'

A thought arose in the king's heart,

And Ahriman twisted him away from the righteous path.

He does not align with the toil of his ancestors from ancient times,

And does not wish to share in their legacy.

He desires wealth without toil,

And covets the pastures of Mazandaran.

If no thorn of trouble arises from his coming,

The commander wishes to act swiftly.

He will squander your toil and justice,

Which you carried forth since the time of Kai Kobad.

You, with Rustam, the mighty lion yet unsatisfied,

Had girded yourselves like brave lions.

Now, all that has turned to mere wind before him,

His ill-intentioned soul has twisted away.

When Dastan heard this, he became deeply troubled,

His body trembled like a tree in the wind.

He kept saying, 'Kavoos is a willful man,

Neither experienced in warmth nor in the coldness of the world.'

One who holds a high position in the world,

Will see years, the sun, and the moon pass over him.

Who will remain in the world from his blade,

When all, young and old, tremble before it?

It is no wonder if he does not heed me,

I will be weary if he does not listen to my counsel.

If I take this trouble upon my heart lightly,

And separate my heart from the king's thoughts.

Neither the Creator of the world will approve of me,

Nor the king, nor the warriors of the land of Iran.

I will tell him whatever advice comes to me,

If he accepts it from me, it will be beneficial.

And if he becomes aggressive, the path is open,

Rustam is also here with his army.

He was full of thought that long night,

Until the sun revealed its crown from above.

He girded himself and set out toward the king,

And the nobles accompanied him on the way.

The news reached Tous, Goudarz, and Giv,

To Rohham, Gorgin, and the brave warriors of Ney.

That Dastan had reached near Iran,

And his auspicious banner had appeared.

The leaders of the army went to greet him,

For one who wears the warrior's crown.

When Dastan, son of Sam, came into the fort,

They all welcomed him without hesitation.

The nobles praised him greatly,

And accompanied him to the king.

Tous said to him, 'O proud hero,

You endured such a long and arduous journey.'

For the sake of the greats of the land of Iran,

You chose to bear this hardship for peace.

All of us are your well-wishers,

And admire the glory of your crown.

Zal said to the noblemen,

'Whoever remains unwearied by the years—'

'Will recall the wisdom of the elders,

And then the turning heavens will grant him justice.'

'We should not reject his advice,

For we are not without need of this counsel.'

'If one turns away from wisdom and counsel,

Regret will come upon him from the world.'

They all said aloud, 'We are with you,

And we will not heed anyone else's counsel over yours.'

Together, they all came to the king,

And approached the famed royal throne.