The article represents the comparative analysis of the works of lyrics translated by a famous Ossetian poet K.L. Khetagurov. This analysis helped to reveal the level of semantic equivalency of the original lexical units. On the basis of the texts in the two languages, the authors determine the adequate reflection of formal features of the original (rhythmic organization of the poem), ways to recreate the pragmatic meaning of the translated text, its stylistic features. The article deals with the ways to adapt the original text to the new receiving culture, cases of the use of national images.