Fereydoon and His Sons · A6.16

Salm and Tur Hear of the Young Heir

Fear of the new heir produces a petition for pardon. Destiny, the heavens and the Div become successive explanations for the brothers’ crime.

F&R English · 34 couplets · 4 commentary entries

Parallel text ↓Commentary ↓

The chapter in five texts

Text	Chapter treatment and distinctive choices
F&R English	Thirty-four couplets give the pardon petition a sustained and distinct voice.
Moscow	The reconciliation embassy follows the emergence of a credible heir and avenger.
Mohl	Pp 85–87 preserve the gifts and layered explanations for guilt.
Ganjoor	Sh13.1–33 supplies the petition before the envoy’s reception.
Khaleghi	The main text retains the petition as the brothers’ speech; destiny and demonic causation do not automatically become editorial exoneration.

Parallel text

English left · Persian right. Ganjoor is the reference except where a row names a printed source. Select a number to open the relevant note. G identifiers distinguish digital sections across chapter boundaries.

1–14+

When Salm and Tur, those men with guilty hand,

Heard Iran’s throne stood firm throughout the land,

They learned the royal throne again shone bright,

And saw their sinking star lose all its light.

They sat together, troubled, deep in thought,

And saw what ruin their own deeds had brought.

Their days grew dark; one remedy remained:

Fereydoon’s pardon, if it could be gained.

They chose a pure-hearted man, discreet and wise,

Eloquent in speech, with shame before his eyes.

They told him all their fear and grave intent,

And what rich gifts with him were to be sent.

They opened up the vaults of Khavar’s hoard,

And drew a golden crown long ages stored.

They saw the terror of their fall from height,

And searched old hoards for gifts of royal might.

They heaped the wagons high with musk, and filled

Their loads with ambergris and scents distilled.

With brocade cloth and golden coins in sacks,

And costly furs and silks in laden packs.

They decked the elephants along each side,

And loaded wagons for the eastward ride.

From Khavar toward Iran the convoy pressed,

With laden beasts and treasure richly dressed.

Each courtier added some yadgar rare,

A treasured gift entrusted to their care.

When all was ready, forth the envoy went,

With gifts and words the two kings jointly sent.

به سلم و به تور آمد این آگهی

که شد روشن آن تخت شاهنشهی

دل هر دو بیدادگر پر نهیب

که اختر همی رفت سوی نشیب

نشستند هر دو به اندیشگان

شده تیره روز جفاپیشگان

یکایک بران رایشان شد درست

کزان روی شان چاره بایست جست

که سوی فریدون فرستند کس

به پوزش کجا چاره این بود بس

بجستند از آن انجمن هردوان

یکی پاک دل مرد چیره‌زبان

بدان مرد باهوش و با رای و شرم

بگفتند با لابه بسیار گرم

در گنج خاور گشادند باز

بدیدند هول نشیب از فراز

ز گنج گهر تاج زر خواستند

همی پشت پیلان بیاراستند

به گردونه‌ها بر چه مشک و عبیر

چه دیبا و دینار و خز و حریر

ابا پیل گردونکش و رنگ و بوی

ز خاور به ایران نهادند روی

هر آنکس که بد بر در شهریار

یکایک فرستادشان یادگار

چو پردخته‌شان شد دل از خواسته

فرستاده آمد برآراسته

Ganjoor · f13:1-13

15–23+

They charged him: “First invoke the Maker’s name,

Then greet the Shah whose farr confirms his fame:

‘May Fereydoon the Pahlevan live long,

Whose royal farr from God has made him strong.

May head and body flourish, honored, bright;

May mind rise past the heavens’ utmost height.

I bring the words of two who serve your throne,

Your sons, who now their guilt and grief have known.

Their eyes brim tears from shame before your face;

Their branded hearts now seek forgiveness’ grace.

They scarcely hoped forgiveness could draw near;

Yet these are words they charged me to make clear:

“Whoever sins must bear the heart’s own pain,

And live in grief beneath his guilty stain.

Such fate was written for us from the start,

And all that followed played its destined part.

No world-consuming lion, dragon great,

Can wrench himself free from the snare of fate.

بدادند نزد فریدون پیام

نخست از جهاندار بردند نام

که جاوید باد آفریدون گرد

همه فرهی ایزد او را سپرد

سرش سبز باد و تنش ارجمند

منش برگذشته ز چرخ بلند

بدان کان دو بدخواه بیدادگر

پر از آب دیده ز شرم پدر

پشیمان شده داغ دل بر گناه

همی سوی پوزش نمایند راه

چه گفتند دانندگان خرد

که هر کس که بد کرد کیفر برد

بماند به تیمار و دل پر ز درد

چو ما مانده‌ایم ای شه رادمرد

نوشته چنین بودمان از بوش

به رسم بوش اندر آمد روش

هژبر جهانسوز و نر اژدها

ز دام قضا هم نیابد رها

Ganjoor · f13:14-22

24–29+

The impure Div drew both our hearts away

From fear of God and reverence we should pay.

Evil counsel mastered every thought

And made our very minds the home it sought.

Let ignorance be counted in our plea,

For blindness led us where we should not be.

Let heaven also bear a share of blame;

Now refuge, now affliction, still the same.

And third, the Div stood girded in our way

For mischief, driving both our hearts astray.

If now the Shah will wash revenge away,

Our darkened faith may brighten from this day.

و دیگر که فرمان ناپاک دیو

ببرد دل از ترس گیهان خدیو

به ما بر چنین خیره شد رای بد

که مغز دو فرزند شد جای بد

همی چشم داریم از آن تاجور

که بخشایش آرد به ما بر مگر

اگر چه بزرگست ما را گناه

به بی‌دانشی برنهد پیشگاه

و دیگر بهانه سپهر بلند

که گاهی پناهست و گاهی گزند

سوم دیو کاندر میان چون نوند

میان بسته دارد ز بهر گزند

اگر پادشا را سر از کین ما

شود پاک و روشن شود دین ما

Ganjoor · f13:23-29

30–34+

Then send Manuchehr with a mighty train,

And let him come to us across the plain.

Before his face like slaves we both shall stand,

And bind ourselves to service at his hand.

The tree that vengeance caused at last to rise,

Our tears shall wash its roots before our eyes.

We water it and tend it with our tears,

Until it freshens after all these years.

When fresh again that tree stands in our sight,

Then crown and treasure shall become his right.”’”

منوچهر را با سپاه گران

فرستد به نزدیک خواهشگران

بدان تا چو بنده به پیشش به پای

بباشیم جاوید و اینست رای

مگر کان درختی کزین کین برست

به آب دو دیده توانیم شست

بپوییم تا آب و رنجش دهیم

چو تازه شود تاج و گنجش دهیم

Ganjoor · f13:30-33

Narrative and poetic form

The English makes the plea plausible without making it reliable. The analytical task is to keep its emotional and political motives available at once, allowing the later answer to test the petition on its own terms.

Couplet commentary

Quoted text · evidence · interpretation

1–14Repentance follows a change in power

1–14

When Salm and Tur, those men with guilty hand,

Heard Iran’s throne stood firm throughout the land,

They learned the royal throne again shone bright,

And saw their sinking star lose all its light.

They sat together, troubled, deep in thought,

And saw what ruin their own deeds had brought.

Their days grew dark; one remedy remained:

Fereydoon’s pardon, if it could be gained.

They chose a pure-hearted man, discreet and wise,

Eloquent in speech, with shame before his eyes.

They told him all their fear and grave intent,

And what rich gifts with him were to be sent.

They opened up the vaults of Khavar’s hoard,

And drew a golden crown long ages stored.

They saw the terror of their fall from height,

And searched old hoards for gifts of royal might.

They heaped the wagons high with musk, and filled

Their loads with ambergris and scents distilled.

With brocade cloth and golden coins in sacks,

And costly furs and silks in laden packs.

They decked the elephants along each side,

And loaded wagons for the eastward ride.

From Khavar toward Iran the convoy pressed,

With laden beasts and treasure richly dressed.

Each courtier added some yadgar rare,

A treasured gift entrusted to their care.

When all was ready, forth the envoy went,

With gifts and words the two kings jointly sent.

به سلم و به تور آمد این آگهی

که شد روشن آن تخت شاهنشهی

دل هر دو بیدادگر پر نهیب

که اختر همی رفت سوی نشیب

نشستند هر دو به اندیشگان

شده تیره روز جفاپیشگان

یکایک بران رایشان شد درست

کزان روی شان چاره بایست جست

که سوی فریدون فرستند کس

به پوزش کجا چاره این بود بس

بجستند از آن انجمن هردوان

یکی پاک دل مرد چیره‌زبان

بدان مرد باهوش و با رای و شرم

بگفتند با لابه بسیار گرم

در گنج خاور گشادند باز

بدیدند هول نشیب از فراز

ز گنج گهر تاج زر خواستند

همی پشت پیلان بیاراستند

به گردونه‌ها بر چه مشک و عبیر

چه دیبا و دینار و خز و حریر

ابا پیل گردونکش و رنگ و بوی

ز خاور به ایران نهادند روی

هر آنکس که بد بر در شهریار

یکایک فرستادشان یادگار

چو پردخته‌شان شد دل از خواسته

فرستاده آمد برآراسته

Ganjoor · f13:1-13

Textual evidence

The brothers hear of restored kingship, fear the downturn of their star and prepare a treasure embassy.

Interpretation

The timing matters: their remorse is voiced when vengeance becomes possible. The English allows the reader to understand fear and guilt together without treating either as proof of a fully transformed character.

Return to parallel text

15–23Fate as the first defense

15–23

They charged him: “First invoke the Maker’s name,

Then greet the Shah whose farr confirms his fame:

‘May Fereydoon the Pahlevan live long,

Whose royal farr from God has made him strong.

May head and body flourish, honored, bright;

May mind rise past the heavens’ utmost height.

I bring the words of two who serve your throne,

Your sons, who now their guilt and grief have known.

Their eyes brim tears from shame before your face;

Their branded hearts now seek forgiveness’ grace.

They scarcely hoped forgiveness could draw near;

Yet these are words they charged me to make clear:

“Whoever sins must bear the heart’s own pain,

And live in grief beneath his guilty stain.

Such fate was written for us from the start,

And all that followed played its destined part.

No world-consuming lion, dragon great,

Can wrench himself free from the snare of fate.

بدادند نزد فریدون پیام

نخست از جهاندار بردند نام

که جاوید باد آفریدون گرد

همه فرهی ایزد او را سپرد

سرش سبز باد و تنش ارجمند

منش برگذشته ز چرخ بلند

بدان کان دو بدخواه بیدادگر

پر از آب دیده ز شرم پدر

پشیمان شده داغ دل بر گناه

همی سوی پوزش نمایند راه

چه گفتند دانندگان خرد

که هر کس که بد کرد کیفر برد

بماند به تیمار و دل پر ز درد

چو ما مانده‌ایم ای شه رادمرد

نوشته چنین بودمان از بوش

به رسم بوش اندر آمد روش

هژبر جهانسوز و نر اژدها

ز دام قضا هم نیابد رها

Ganjoor · f13:14-22

Textual evidence

The message invokes the Creator and the father’s farr, confesses guilt, and says the deed was written from the beginning.

Interpretation

This is the offenders’ explanatory claim, not the narrator’s release of them from responsibility. The lion and dragon unable to escape fate universalize helplessness precisely when the petition seeks a very particular pardon.

Return to parallel text

24–29Div, ignorance and heaven

24–29

The impure Div drew both our hearts away

From fear of God and reverence we should pay.

Evil counsel mastered every thought

And made our very minds the home it sought.

Let ignorance be counted in our plea,

For blindness led us where we should not be.

Let heaven also bear a share of blame;

Now refuge, now affliction, still the same.

And third, the Div stood girded in our way

For mischief, driving both our hearts astray.

If now the Shah will wash revenge away,

Our darkened faith may brighten from this day.

و دیگر که فرمان ناپاک دیو

ببرد دل از ترس گیهان خدیو

به ما بر چنین خیره شد رای بد

که مغز دو فرزند شد جای بد

همی چشم داریم از آن تاجور

که بخشایش آرد به ما بر مگر

اگر چه بزرگست ما را گناه

به بی‌دانشی برنهد پیشگاه

و دیگر بهانه سپهر بلند

که گاهی پناهست و گاهی گزند

سوم دیو کاندر میان چون نوند

میان بسته دارد ز بهر گزند

اگر پادشا را سر از کین ما

شود پاک و روشن شود دین ما

Ganjoor · f13:23-29

Textual evidence

The plea adds demonic prompting, lack of understanding and the turning heavens as causes. English distributes these excuses across separate couplets.

G f13 23 ↗ G f13 24 ↗ G f13 25 ↗ G f13 26 ↗ G f13 27 ↗ G f13 28 ↗ G f13 29 ↗ Moscow p 112 ↗ Moscow p 113 ↗ Moscow p 114 ↗ Moscow p 115 ↗ Mohl p 85 ↗ Mohl p 86 ↗ Mohl p 87 ↗ Khaleghi p 127 ↗ Khaleghi p 128 ↗ Khaleghi p 129 ↗ Khaleghi p 130 ↗

Interpretation

The accumulation is rhetorically effective but morally unstable. The petition both admits guilt and distributes its causes outward; Fereydoon’s next answer will refuse to let explanation become absolution.

Return to parallel text

30–34The invitation to Manuchehr

30–34

Then send Manuchehr with a mighty train,

And let him come to us across the plain.

Before his face like slaves we both shall stand,

And bind ourselves to service at his hand.

The tree that vengeance caused at last to rise,

Our tears shall wash its roots before our eyes.

We water it and tend it with our tears,

Until it freshens after all these years.

When fresh again that tree stands in our sight,

Then crown and treasure shall become his right.”’”

منوچهر را با سپاه گران

فرستد به نزدیک خواهشگران

بدان تا چو بنده به پیشش به پای

بباشیم جاوید و اینست رای

مگر کان درختی کزین کین برست

به آب دو دیده توانیم شست

بپوییم تا آب و رنجش دهیم

چو تازه شود تاج و گنجش دهیم

Ganjoor · f13:30-33

Textual evidence

The brothers ask for Manuchehr with an army and promise submission, tears and the handing over of royal resources. The tree of vengeance is to be washed and renewed.

G f13 30 ↗ G f13 31 ↗ G f13 32 ↗ G f13 33 ↗ Moscow p 112 ↗ Moscow p 113 ↗ Moscow p 114 ↗ Moscow p 115 ↗ Mohl p 85 ↗ Mohl p 86 ↗ Mohl p 87 ↗ Khaleghi p 127 ↗ Khaleghi p 128 ↗ Khaleghi p 129 ↗ Khaleghi p 130 ↗

Interpretation

The offer echoes Iraj’s earlier visit but alters the balance: this invited heir would come with force. It must remain the brothers’ promise, not a narrator-certified safe conduct. The tree image is deliberately contested across the family speeches.

Return to parallel text

Chapter source record

English original ↗ Ganjoor f13 ↗ Moscow p 112 ↗ Moscow p 113 ↗ Moscow p 114 ↗ Moscow p 115 ↗ Mohl p 85 ↗ Mohl p 86 ↗ Mohl p 87 ↗ Khaleghi p 127 ↗ Khaleghi p 128 ↗ Khaleghi p 129 ↗ Khaleghi p 130 ↗