Delhi Persian 619 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

The ‘first’ Persian translation prepared by Mīr Abū Ṭālib al-Ḥusaynī al-ʿArīz̤ī (fl. 1060/1650) from the original Chaghatāy Turkic of the pseudo-autobiographical of the founder of the Timurid or Gurkanid dynasty (also known as Mughal), Amīr Taymūr Bayg Gūrkān posthumously entitled Ṣāḥib Qirān(d. 807/1405), known in Europe as Tamerlane.

The work was apparently re-discovered by the translator in the library at the house of Jaʿfar Pāshā, the ruler of Yemen, located in the Ḥaramayn-i sharīfayn. According to the official regnal chronicle, the Pādshāh'nāmah, the volume then passed from the translator, Mīr Abū Ṭālib Turbatī, and was presented by the Timurid (Mughal) Prince Awrangzīb (later Emperor ʿĀlamgīr I) to his father, the Emperor Shāh Jahān I, who authenticated it and ordered in RY 10 (1047/1637) from a certain Muḥammad Afz̤al Bukhārīa ‘second’ rigorously critical translation into Persian, with corrections checked against the Ẓafar'nāmahof Sharaf al-Dīn Yazdīand other sources. This was given the title Vāqiʿāt-i Ḥaz̤rat Ṣāḥibqirānī.

The translated work was intended to provide a dastūr al-ʿamal or manual for kings.

Although, the work is conventionally entitled Tūzuk-i Tīmūrīand Malfūẓāt-i Tīmūrī, these appear to be spurious in origin and date.

Portions of the work have been translated by Major William Davyand Major Charles Stewart.

Dated colophon (f. 269r): completed in the city of Lakhnaʾū (Avadh), Tuesday, 24 Rabīʿ al-Avval in RY 38 of Emperor Shāh ʿĀlam, 1211/27 September 1796.

Bold nastaʿlīq tending toward taʿlīq.

Persian foliation.

Lacking original binding.

Binding damaged (green decorated paper on paste board edged with brown leather; boards detached).

Folios mostly unbound; cropped, stained, wormholes, later repairs.

Condition fragile.