Delhi Persian 1141 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

India Office Library

Muḥīṭ-i maʻrifat by Kirpāl Dās

Summary of Contents: A treatise on Hindu gnosticism, by Kirpāl Dās, son of Rām Kiran, also known as ʻĀrif, an inhabitant of Shahjahanabad and a member of the Dhūsar (دهوسر) sect. His work is a Persian translation from the Sanskrit Puthī Surūdī (پوتهی سرودی) by Srī Sadā Shīv Jīv (f. 2r). It is divided into 16 chapters (faṣl) and was completed in 1167/1754 (f. 69v), as suggested by the chronogram Muḥīṭ-i maʻrifat rabb al-ʻibād (f. 70r).

Author: Kirpāl Dās, known as ʻĀrif کرپالداس متخلص به عارف

Title: Muḥīṭ-i maʻrifat

Title: محیط معرفت

Incipit: بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم. عجز بسیار و نیاز بی شمار بارگاه جمیلی که دیده والانگهان را بر جمال باجلالش یارای دیدن محال است.

Explicit: ازان جرعه از خویش بیهوش کن/ دلم را ز خواهش فراموش کن

Colophon: تمت الکتاب بعون الملک الوهاب روز شنبه غره ربیع الثانی سنه ۱۱۸۳ در قصبه کمهیر بخط فقیر مسکین مستکین المرجو الی رحمة الله تعالی محمد صلاح جعفری حسب الاشاره مکرم الفقرا و محسنهم لاله کربالداس سلمه الله حتی بقاء الخضر و الالیاس امید که از نظر قبول تلقی شود. رباعیات الخ.

Colophon: Completed on Saturday 1st of Rabīʻ al-S̲ānī 1183 (4 Aug 1769) in Kumher, by Muḥammad Ṣalāḥ Jaʻfarī, at the request of Kirpāl Dās the author.

Language(s): Persian

Physical Description

Form: codex

Extent: ff. ix+74+x

Dimensions (leaf): 224 × 121 mm.

Dimensions (written): 145 × 60 mm.

Foliation:

India Office stamped foliation. Persian foliation.

Collation

Catchwords.

Condition

Detached binding and loose leaves.

Layout

19 lines per page.

Hand(s)

Nastaʻlīq; copied in black ink, with headings, overlinings and punctuation marks in red.

Additions:

Some marginal additions.

Binding

Leather binding dating from the 18th century, embossed with gilt paper central medallion and two pendants on a vertical axis, 4 corners, and cartouches around the edge. Marbled pastedown.

Seal(s):

Black Government of India Delhi MSS oval stamp (ff. 1r, 72v).

History

Origin: 1 Rabīʻ II 1183 AH (4 Aug 1769); Kumher, Rajasthan

Provenance and Acquisition

Purchased by the Government of India at sale organised by Delhi Prize Agents, 1859.

Acquired by the India Office Library as an administrative deposit in 1876.

Record Sources

Based onR. Levy's description in Drafts for Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the India Office Library, vol. III, Mss Eur E207/13, f. 88r. Revised bySheida Heydarishovir

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact British Library, Registering for a Reader Pass. For information on catalogues and ordering manuscripts see Finding and ordering Persian manuscripts in the British Library.

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