New Insights into the Fifteenth Verse of the Shahnameh's Preface (az in parde bartar)

Document Type : Research article

Author

Associate Professor, Department of Ancient Culture and Languages, University of Tabriz. Tabriz. Iran

Abstract

Despite numerous efforts to correct Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, many issues remain that require further research and revision, and in order to get closer to what was written by Ferdowsi, it is necessary that researchers in various related fields proceed with this work by referring to the recordings of the manuscripts and measuring and comparing the existing corrections. Sometimes the original form is altered or removed by the correctors, and sometimes the differences in different corrections confuse the non-expert as well as expert reader. In the first case, the accurate form should be restored with sufficient evidence and reasons. In the second case, efforts should be made to clarify the meaning of words, stanzas, or verses, so that the correctors in the revisions and subsequent editions can, considering such works, provide a more precise form of the text. This article focuses on the fifteenth verse of the preface of Shahnameh, and by taking advantage of the recordings of manuscripts and reflecting on the meaning of the word "hasti" and the comparative adjective "bar" in the texts of the early Islamic centuries and their background in Middle Persian texts, a new reading and meaning, but more appropriate to the content of the preface, has been presented. . Finally, it is suggested that the said verse be corrected as follows:

Az in parde bartar saxon râh nist / ze hasti bar, andiše âgâh nist

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 20 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 07 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 13 January 2025

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