بخش 21

The renowned king sat upon the royal throne and granted audience to the chosen of the host—nobles and high-born kings. Esfandiyār the bull-mace-bearer came forward, his war-club in hand; he wore the Kayanid cap, and beneath it his face shone like the moon. His master stood before him, head bowed, hands drawn up in respect. When the world-king beheld his face, he chose him in his heart from among life and the world, saying: O champion Esfandiyār, your longing must be for battle. The blade-wielding hero replied: Your command is law—you are the king and the world is yours. The famed king bestowed a golden crown upon him and opened the doors of the treasury; he entrusted all the affairs of Iran to him, for the grasp of a champion was his. He gave him the standard, the treasure, and the army, and said: It is not yet the time for the throne; put your foot into the stirrup and bring your whole realm into the Faith. The king’s warlike son circled the realm; he passed into Rome and India, went through ocean and darkness. The kings of Rome, India, and Yemen all acclaimed the mighty one; they asked him for instruction in the Faith and adorned themselves with this true religion. Esfandiyār proclaimed the creed and set matters by God’s command; when they learned of his good religion, they took his path and rite; they burned idols upon the mountaintops and lit Fire in place of the idol. All wrote letters to the sovereign: We have received the religion from Esfandiyār; we have moored our ships and levied tribute—now do not seek tribute from us, for we are made upright and worship God; send us the Zand and Avesta. When the king read the letters of the rulers, he sat upon the throne and summoned his companions; he sent a Zand to every land, to every notable and lord, and ordered that renowned champions range about the world. Wherever the king set his face, someone came to greet him; all became obedient to him and were hidden within that purity in the world. When all the world was set aright for his father, he loosed his golden belt, sat joyfully upon the throne, and rested for a time with the army. He summoned his brother Farshidvard, led forth a force of true men, entrusted it to him, gave him much gold, granted him Khorāsān, and sent him off. When some time had passed, the world was made special—cleansed of evil and devoted to the true Faith. Then he sent to his father: O famed, victorious king, I make the world devoted to God’s religion; the shadow of Homāy is cast across the land; none fears another, no one is without gold and silver; the world shines like Paradise—cultivated, and crops everywhere; the riders of the world are maintained like farmers sowing seed. Thus has the whole world become, and the ill-disposed doubter is lost.