Alexander commanded that the miraculous golden goblet be brought forth and filled to the brim with icy water. From the first light of dawn until the hour of slumber, the soldiers and courtiers drank greedily from the vessel, yet not a single drop was diminished from its contents. Marveling at this endless bounty, Alexander turned to the wise philosopher, asking him not to conceal the mystery: was this perpetual replenishment wrought through the alignments of the stars, or by some secret mechanical artifice of the Indian sages?
The philosopher bowed and advised the King never to deem this cup a simple trifle. He revealed that for long years, the most renowned astrologers and sages from every corner of the realm had gathered at King Kaid's court, enduring immense toil. They observed the shifting natures of the celestial bodies by bright daylight and sapphire night, weaving cosmic influences into the metal. Just as the lodestone draws iron across a void, so did this cup naturally attract pure, sweet moisture directly from the heavens, invisibly replenishing itself whenever its waters fell low.
Alexander was greatly pleased by the sage's explanation, finding wisdom and truth in his words. Turning to Piran son of Milad, the King declared that he would scrupulously honor his covenant of justice with King Kaid, for having received the four legendary marvels, he sought no further conquest or spoil from his kingdom. Alexander then loaded two hundred beasts of burden with rich tribute and placed a hundred jeweled crowns upon them. Deep within the recesses of the craggy mountains, he sealed away immense hoards of gold coins and precious gems. So thoroughly were these treasures hidden in the heart of the rock that no human eye ever beheld the spot again, nor could any mortal discover the boundless wealth left behind, save for the few memorable tokens the King carried with him as he journeyed onward.
#1
ازان پس بفرمود کان جام زرد
✦
بیارند پر کرده از آب سرد
“Thereafter he commanded that golden goblet to be brought, filled full with cold water.”
#2
همی خورد زان جام زر هرکس آب
✦
ز شبگیر تا بود هنگام خواب
“Everyone drank water from that golden cup, from early morning until the time of sleep.”
#3
بخوردند آب از پی خرمی
✦
ز خوردن نیامد بدو در کمی
“They drank the water in full delight, yet no decrease ever came upon its measure.”
#4
بدان فیلسوف آن زمان شاه گفت
✦
که این دانش از من نباید نهفت
“The King then addressed the philosopher: 'You must not hide this secret knowledge from me.'”
#5
که افزایش آب این جام چیست
✦
نجومیست گر آلت هندویست
“'What is the cause of this cup's water increasing? Is it astrological, or an Indian mechanical art?'”
#6
چنین داد پاسخ که ای شهریار
✦
تو این جام را خوارمایه مدار
“He answered: 'O Sovereign, do not hold this goblet as a thing of small worth.'”
#7
که این در بسی سالیان کرده‌اند
✦
بدین در بسی رنجها برده‌اند
“'For over many years was this fashioned, and immense toil was spent upon this door of mystery.'”
#8
ز اختر شناسان هر کشوری
✦
به جایی که بد نامور مهتری
“'The astrologers of every land gathered in that place where renowned masters dwelt.'”
#9
بر کید بودند کین جام کرد
✦
به روز سپید و شب لاژورد
“'They stood in service to Kaid to construct this cup, through bright daylight and azure night.'”
#10
همی طبع اختر نگه داشتند
✦
فراوان درین روز بگذاشتند
“'They observed the cosmic nature of the stars, and devoted countless days to this art.'”
#11
تو از مغنیاطیس گیر این نشان
✦
که او را کسی کرد ز آهن‌کشان
“'Take your sign from the magnet, which draws iron to itself by natural power.'”
#12
به طبع این چنین هم شدست آب‌کش
✦
ز گردون پذیره همی آب خوش
“'By such natural inclination does this vessel draw sweet water directly from the heavens.'”
#13
همی آب یابد چو گیرد کمی
✦
نبیند به روشن دو چشم آدمی
“'Whenever it drops in measure it draws water anew, unseen by the clear eyes of mortals.'”
#14
چو گفتار دانا پسند آمدش
✦
سخنهای او سودمند آمدش
“When the sage's words pleased the King, he found his speech most profitable.”
#15
چنین گفت پیران میلاد را
✦
که من عهد کید از پی داد را
“Thus he spoke to Piran son of Milad: 'Out of justice, I shall uphold the covenant of Kaid.'”
#16
همی نشکنم تا بماند به جای
✦
همی پیش او بود باید به پای
“'I shall not break it while it stands; one must remain faithful to his promise before him.'”
#17
که من یافتم زو چنین چار چیز
✦
بروبر فزونی نجوییم نیز
“'Since I gained these four miraculous things from him, I shall seek no further conquest over him.'”
#18
دو صد بارکش خواسته بر نهاد
✦
صد افسر ز گوهر بران سر نهاد
“He loaded two hundred beasts of burden with riches, and placed a hundred jeweled crowns upon them.”
#19
به کوه اندر آگند چیزی که بود
✦
ز دینار وز گوهر نابسود
“In the mountain he concealed all that remained of uncounted gold coins and gems.”
#20
چو در کوه شد گنجها ناپدید
✦
کسی چهرهٔ آگننده ندید
“When the treasures vanished within the mountain, no one saw the face of the one who stowed them away.”
#21
همه گنج با آنک کردش نهان
✦
ندیدند زان پس کس اندر جهان
“Though he hid all that treasure there, no one in the world ever beheld it again.”
#22
ز گنج نهان کرده بر کوهسار
✦
بیاورد با خویشتن یادگار
“From the wealth concealed upon the mountain height, he took only a memorable token with himself.”