Upon hearing the mysterious whispers of the cosmos, Iskandar departed alone, ascending the razor-sharp peak of a towering mountain without his retinue. There, upon the high crags, he beheld the archangel Israfil, holding the dread Trumpet of Doom in his hands. Towering toward the heavens, the angel sat with breath-swollen lips and moisture-filled eyes, awaiting with agonizing vigilance the supreme command of Yazdan to sound the end of days. As Israfil caught sight of Iskandar upon the peak, he released a roar that echoed like thunder across the heavens, crying: 'O thrall of greed! Strive not so relentlessly for worldly crowns and thrones, for a day shall surely come when a single fateful cry shall summon thee away. Prepare thy soul and bind fast thy luggage for departure!' Iskandar answered mournfully that such was the unrelenting path apportioned to him by Destiny, for in this shifting mortal realm he saw nothing save endless movement and the turn of fate. With tears and lamentation, the king descended the mountain, offering praises to the Almighty Giver of Good.
Setting his face toward the shrouded Land of Darkness, Iskandar marshaled his troops behind skilled guides. As the mighty army plunged into the pitch-black gloom, a supernatural voice echoed from the face of a black mountain, proclaiming: 'Whosoever takes up a stone from this mountain shall repent, and whosoever takes up none shall likewise repent!' The soldiers halted in awe, debating the enigmatic warning. Some declared that burdening oneself with stones was a senseless toil born of sin, while others urged gathering a modest handful lest they regret their omission. Others still, bound by sloth, refused to lift a single pebble. When they finally crossed beyond the region of the Water of Life and emerged from the suffocating gloom into the sunlit plain, each man searched his robes and sleeves. To their utter astonishment, the pebbles they had gathered were radiant rubies and glowing chrysolites of priceless worth! Great was the remorse of those who had gathered but a few, cursing themselves for treating gems like common thorns; but immeasurably greater was the grief of those who had gathered nothing at all. Iskandar rested his army in that plain for two full weeks before driving his victorious host onward.
#1
سکندر چو بشنید شد سوی کوه
✦
به دیدار بر تیغ شد بی‌گروه
“When Iskandar heard the divine lore, he journeyed toward the mountain, ascending its sharp peak alone without his retinue.”
#2
سرافیل را دید صوری به دست
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برافراخته سر ز جای نشست
“There he beheld Israfil with the Trumpet in hand, towering high and seated upon his celestial place.”
#3
پر از باد لب دیدگان پرزنم
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که فرمان یزدان کی آید که دم
“His lips were inflated with breath and his eyes full of moisture, waiting constantly for Yazdan's command to blow the horn.”
#4
چو بر کوه روی سکندر بدید
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چو رعد خروشان فغان برکشید
“As Israfil beheld the face of Iskandar upon the peak, he let out a roar like thunderous roaring.”
#5
که ای بندهٔ آز چندین مکوش
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که روزی به گوش آیدت یک خروش
“'O thrall of greed! Strive not so relentlessly, for a day shall come when a single cry shall ring in thy ear!'”
#6
که چندین مرنج از پی تاج و تخت
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به رفتن بیارای و بربند رخت
“'Toil no more for crown and throne; prepare rather for thy departure and bind fast thy luggage.'”
#7
چنین داد پاسخ بدو شهریار
✦
که بهر من این آمد از روزگار
“The king answered him, saying: 'Such was the destiny apportioned to me by Time and Fate.'”
#8
که جز جنبش و گردش اندر جهان
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نبینم همی آشکار و نهان
“'For I see naught in this world, both open and hidden, save ceaseless motion and the turn of fortune.'”
#9
ازان کوه با ناله آمد فرود
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همی داد نیکی دهش را درود
“From that mountain he descended weeping and lamenting, sending praises unto the Almighty Giver of Good.”
#10
بران راه تاریک بنهاد روی
✦
به پیش اندرون مردم راه‌جوی
“He then set his face toward the dark path, with skilled guides leading the way before him.”
#11
چو آمد به تاریکی اندر سپاه
✦
خروشی برآمد ز کوه سیاه
“When the host entered deep into the Darkness, a clamorous voice echoed from the black mountain.”
#12
که هرکس که بردارد از کوه سنگ
✦
پشیمان شود ز آنک دارد به چنگ
“Proclaiming: 'Whosoever gathers pebbles from this mountain shall repent of what he holds in his grasp!'”
#13
وگر برندارد پشیمان شود
✦
به هر درد دل سوی درمان شود
“'And whosoever gathers none shall likewise repent, seeking remedy for every heartache!'”
#14
سپه سوی آواز بنهاد گوش
✦
پراندیشه شد هرکسی زان خروش
“The army gave ear unto the voice, and every man grew deep in thought over that mysterious clamor.”
#15
که بردارد آن سنگ اگر بگذرد
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پی رنج ناآمده نشمرد
“Wondering whether one should pick up the stone as he passes, or pay no heed to an unbefallen toil.”
#16
یکی گفت کین رنج هست از گناه
✦
پشیمانی و سنگ بردن به راه
“One said: 'This toil stems from sin; carrying stones upon the path leads only to remorse.'”
#17
دگر گفت لختی بباید کشید
✦
مگر درد و رنجش نباید چشید
“Another said: 'We should carry a small burden, perchance we might escape its pain and grief.'”
#18
یکی برد زان سنگ و دیگر نبرد
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یکی دیگر از کاهلی داشت خرد
“So one took of the stones while another took none, and yet another was hindered by indolence of mind.”
#19
چو از آب حیوان به هامون شدند
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ز تاریکی راه بیرون شدند
“When they passed beyond the Water of Life into the open plain, they emerged from the darkness of the path.”
#20
بجستند هرکس بر و آستی
✦
پدیدار شد کژی و کاستی
“Every man searched his bosom and sleeve, and truth, flaw, and shortcoming were brought to light.”
#21
کنار یکی پر ز یاقوت بود
✦
یکی را پر از گوهر نابسود
“One man's lap was filled with radiant rubies, while another held precious gems beyond measure.”
#22
پشیمان شد آنکس که کم داشت اوی
✦
زبرجد چنان خار بگذاشت اوی
“Remorseful was he who had gathered little, having cast aside chrysolite as though it were mere thorn.”
#23
پشیمان‌تر آنکس که خود برنداشت
✦
ازان گوهر پربها سر بگاشت
“Yet more remorseful was he who had gathered nothing at all, turning his head away from those priceless jewels.”
#24
دو هفته بر آن جایگه بر بماند
✦
چو آسوده‌تر گشت لشکر براند
“Iskandar abode in that place for two weeks; then, when his army was rested, he marched onward.”