Marzban-nama

Marzban-nama was a 9th-century Mazandarani prose work. Its original book doesn't exist anymore but Marzban-nama has an early 13th-century Persian translate. The first works author, Marzuban bin Rustam of Bavand, was a prince and ruler of Tabaristan (today Iran).

The book begins with Marzuban's older brother, the king, fearing that he will try to kill him and take over his government. But Marzuban says that he intends to retire from the court and write a book. He debates with his brother's minister and tells stories in between.

Quotes

• "Know, O king, that the purest gem that has been united from the world of unity with the elements is wisdom, and the greatest result of the results of wisdom is good creation, and the noblest of creatures is given this title of honor and speaks of its greatness. And indeed, you are a great creation, a good creation whose virtue is the source of eternal happiness and a means of power. And the most needy creatures are the most beautiful creations, and the pure gem is the king. Since the king was a good man, he would not abandon anything except the path of justice and truth, which is one of his requirements, and he would not adopt anything except the beloved tradition and the desirable law. And when the conclusion of his character is on this path, the subordinates and subjects in all the corners of the kingdom will be in the shelter of peace and security."
• "I have heard that during the reign of Zahhak, two snakes emerged from both of his shoulders, and every day he would catch a new young man, and the brain of his head would be used as bait for the two snakes. There was a woman named Hanbui; one day, a bad fate was cast for her son, her husband, and her brother; they had detained all three of them to inflict the usual atrocity on them... [Zahhak said] that she should choose one of the them whom she wanted to spare and return him... [Hanbui said to herself] I am a young woman, I can have another husband, and it is possible that a child will come from him, so that I can pour the fire of separation into the water of his reunion, and cure the poison of death with the opium of his survival, but it is not possible that another brother will come from my mother and father who have passed away, so that I can throw this dowry away. Failing and helpless, greed took the child and husband away, and took the brother's hand and led him out of prison."
• "Others planted and we ate. We plant and others will eat. If you look closely, we are all each other's gardeners."

Sources

• Al-Marzuban, Marzban-nama. (in Persian)