The king thus spoke; opinions were compared*⁷⁷⁹; the oldest priest*⁷⁸⁰ then stood up from the midst.

He said, You in your lordliness are wise and giver, too, of wisdom (to us all).

All you have said in your well-ordered sense reason has graven on the ring, the heart.

The highest place befits you, for of all you’re chief, the shepherd, guardian of the flock.

To wear the crown befits your nature (too): the crown’s with us, but it is on your head*⁷⁸¹.

Save you, who’s read the Avesta of Gushtāsp*⁷⁸²? Save you, who’s left to keep the Kais alive*⁷⁸³?

The (royal) line of Bahman*⁷⁸⁴ and Dārā*⁷⁸⁵, (Kayānian kings), declares itself in you.

Fresh fruit are you from (King) Siyāmak (too)*⁷⁸⁶; a living record, you, of Bābak’s son*⁷⁸⁷.

Allied to throne and crown your lineage goes back to (King) Kayūmars*⁷⁸⁸, king by king.

Dominion has no option as to you, (for) save you there’s no monarch in the world.

The priests all, whether they be young or old, agree in this (as) with a single tongue.

But we who are (but) slaves are chained by this that we’re engaged by covenant and oath.

A heavy hand is laid upon us (all) by this strict pledge to him who holds the throne,

That by our will no one should have the crown save him; that from his court we would not turn.

We must now have some strong and valid plea to save us from the infringement of that pledge*⁷⁸⁹;

So that in this affair we be not shamed; the compact be not broken, we not grieved.