In Attar's 'Tale of the Distraught Soul's Answer Regarding the Affairs of the World', the transient, deceptive, and ultimately meaningless nature of worldly life is illustrated through the metaphor of a chessboard (نطع شطرنج, nata'-e shatranj). The distraught soul observes that worldly positions, fortunes, and powers are constantly shifted, granted, and suddenly taken away by unseen forces, much like pieces being arranged in a line only to be knocked down. This metaphor emphasizes that material attachments and political pursuits are merely an illusion and a child's game (لعب اطفال), encouraging the spiritual seeker—likened to a royal falcon (شهباز)—to spread their wings and escape the worldly snare.