The Role of Arabic Poetry in the Stories of "Sandbadnameh"

"Sandbadnameh" by Ẓahīr al-Din Samarqandī is one of the most famous literary works from the 6th century AH. This book is a prime example of ornate prose, which holds significant importance in stylistic studies of elaborate prose. The work is adorned with literary devices, verses from the Quran, Hadiths, and Arabic and Persian poetry. It comprises 33 narrative sections, with Arabic poetry found in 26 of them. Some of the stories include: "The Village Chief with His Wife and the Parrot," "The Farmer's Wife with the Grocer," "The Merchant's Wife and Her Husband," "The King of Kashmir's Story," "The Story of the Male and Female Partridge," "The Farmer's Wife with the Grocer," "The Prince's Story with the Minister and the Ogres," "The Soldier and the Child with the Cat and the Snake," "The Bear, the Monkey, and the Fig Tree," "The Prince with the Bathhouse Attendant and the Woman," "The Tale of Love, the Old Man, and the Crying Dog," and "The Hunter, the Dog, the Honey, and the Grocer."
This article examines the authenticity of the Arabic verses in "Sandbadnameh," their translations, and traces the poets. It also analyzes the emphasis, descriptive and metaphorical purposes of the verses within the narrative's thematic and rhetorical contexts.