[3] Lit. “bone”; used metaphorically in the sense of “a truth.”
[4] One of the kings of Persia in whose reign Sadi flourished. His full name was Atābak Muzaffar-ud-Din Ābū Bakr-hin-Sa’d-hin-zangī.
[5] I.e. Abu Bakr.
[6] Naushīravān the Just was the twentieth king of the fourth dynasty of Persia, and contemporary with the Roman Emperor Justinian. The Prophet Muhammad was born in his reign.
[7] A title of the kings of Persia. It was originally applied to Naushīravān.
[8] Lit. “silver.”
[9] Darius Codomanus was the last king of Persia. He waged many wars with Alexander the Great, who finally defeated him at Arbela. The unfortunate king was afterwards killed by one Bessus, governor of Bactriana, 331 B.C.
[10] One of the kings of Persia. He was called Qazal because of the redness of his hair. Arsalān means “a lion.”
[11] Name of a lofty mountain situated in Hamdān, north-west of Isfahan.
[12] I.e. shows one thing and sells another of inferior quality. The expression is commonly used to denote a hypocrite.