Makhzan ol-Asrar

{{short description|Persian poem book from 12th century by Nizami Ganjavi}}

{{Italic title}}{{Infobox poem

|name = Makhzan ol-Asrar

|image = Makhzan-al-Asrar-Nizami-Ganjavi.jpg

|image_size = 250px

|caption = Miniature from an illustrated manuscript of Makhzan ol-Asrar, depicting a visit to a dervish

|subtitle =

|author = Nizami Ganjavi

|original_title = مخزن‌الاسرار

|original_title_lang = fa

|translator = Gholam H. DarabDarab, Gholam Hossein. Treasury of Mysteries, translation of Makhzanol Asrar. (London:. Arthur Probsthain, 1945).

|written =

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|language = Persian

|series =

|subject = {{hlist|self-knowledge|theology|mysticism}}

|genre =

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|rhyme =

|publisher =

|publication_date = 12th century

|media_type =

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File:Nizami's Divan - Nasta'liq calligraphy style.jpg in Nastaliq script.]]

Makhzan ol-Asrar or Makhzan al-Asrar ({{langx|fa|مخزن‌الاسرار|lit=The treasury of mysteries}}) is a famous mathnawi poem by the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi (1141–1209). It is the first of Nizami's five long poems known collectively as the Khamsa. It is a didactic and philosophical work consisting of about 2,250 Persian distichs. It was completed when Nizami was forty years old, and since then it has been considered one of the most important poetic and written works in Persian literature.

{{cite book

|url = https://www.gisoom.com/book/1115771/%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AD%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%DA%AF%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C/

|title = کتاب مخزن الاسرار حکیم نظامی گنجه_ای [چ1] -کتاب گیسوم

|date = 1997

|publisher = قطره،

|isbn = 978-964-5958-38-9

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

Plot

The main purpose of the book Makhzan ol-Asrar is to invite people to self-knowledge, theology and choosing good habits and behavior. The poem begins with the traditional invocation of the name of God (basmala):{{cite book |last1=نظامی |first1=الیاس بن یوسف |author-link1=Nizami Ganjavi |url= |title=مخزن الاسرار |last2=دستگردی |first2=وحید |author-link2= |date= |publisher=قطره |isbn= |location=تهران |page= |language=fa}}

{{verse transliteration-translation

|lang=fa|rtl1=yes|originalHeading = Original Persian

|بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

هست کلید در گنج حکیم

|transliterationHeading = Transliteration

|bi-smi llāhi r-rahmāni r-rahīm

hast kalīd-i dar-i ganj-i hakīm

|translationHeading = English translation

|In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

It (the phrase / the name of God) is the key to the treasury of The Wise.}}

After this, the author points to one of the main principles of mysticism and Sufism: the unity of God's existence and his obligatory existence. Makhzan ol-Asrar is full of mystical points and advice that are presented to the audience in the form of lyrical stories.

According to scholar Hamidreza Shayeganfar, the main themes of the Makhzan ol-Asrar can be categorized as follows: first, about human neglect in the world; second, about the unreliability and instability of the world; third, about man's relationship with God; fourth, about social issues; and finally, about politics and government.

{{cite web |last=Shayeganfar |first=Hamidreza |date=15 September 2010 |title=Ta'ammoli bar Makhzan ol-Asrâr-e Nezâmi |script-title=fa:تاملی بر مخزن الاسرار نظامی |trans-title=Considerations on Nizami's Makhzan ol-Asrar |url=http://www.bookcity.org/detail/487 |access-date=6 May 2021 |website=Old.BookCity.org |language=fa}}

{{cite web

|url = http://www.ibna.ir/fa/report/81369/%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86-%DA%AF%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A

|title = "مخزن الاسرار" نخستين گنجينه نظامي است _ ایبنا

|date = 15 September 2010

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

{{cite web

|url = http://uzbek.irib.ir/persian/%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A8%DB%8C/%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%81%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8/item/38795-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%81%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1

|title = معرفی کتاب مخزن الاسرار

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

Nizami says that when he wanted to compose Makhzan ol-Asrar, the archangel told him "you want to write poetry for people, so you should know what you want to sing. Therefore, refine yourself with your heart and follow your heart so that you can build yourself". Then Nizami says that I followed archangel's words and followed "the heart preceptor". From then on, he talks about the nights when he meditated with his heart. Those verses are very complex and beautiful at the same time. They may be considered the first surrealist texts in world literature. Because it speaks to issues that are similar to surrealist texts. He even goes so far as to say that "I went into my heart and saw his houses".

An excerpt

"Makhzan ol-Asrar" has 60 sections, the following poem is from section 15 titled "In describing the night and knowing the heart":

{{cite web

|url = https://ganjoor.net/nezami/5ganj/makhzanolasrar/sh15/

|title = گنجور » نظامی » خمسه » مخزن الاسرار » بخش ۱۵ - در توصیف شب و شناختن دل

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

{{cite web

|url = https://nateghe.ir/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%DB%B1%DB%B5-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B5%DB%8C%D9%81-%D8%B4%D8%A8-%D9%88-%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%84/%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C/%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%87/%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1/

|title = ناطقه _ نظامی _ خمسه _ مخزن الاسرار _ بخش ۱۵ – در توصیف شب و شناختن دل

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

{{cite web

|url = http://www.nosokhan.com/library/Topic/149W

|title = مخزن الاسرار نظامي - مخزن الاسرار - در توصيف شب و شناختن دل

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

{{cite web

|url = https://www.sherfarsi.ir/nezami/%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B5%DB%8C%D9%81-%D8%B4%D8%A8-%D9%88-%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%84

|title = مخزن الاسرار: در توصیف شب و شناختن دل - شعر فارسی

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

{{Verse translation|italicsoff=y|rtl1=y|

{{lang|fa|دور شو از راهزنان حواس{{pad|2em}}راه تو دل داند دل را شناس}}|

Get away from the bandits of your attention

The heart knows your path, get to know [your] heart

}}

{{Verse translation|italicsoff=y|rtl1=y|

{{lang|fa|عرش روانی که ز تن رسته‌اند{{pad|2em}}شهپر جبریل به دل بسته‌اند}}|

Those mystics who escaped their bodies

Bound their hearts with the great wings of Gabriel

}}

{{Verse translation|italicsoff=y|rtl1=y|

{{lang|fa|وانکه عنان از دو جهان تافتست{{pad|2em}}قوت ز دیواره دل یافتست}}|

He who liberates himself from both worlds

Has found [the] strength [to do so] in the walls of his heart

}}

Date of composition

Since the book itself does not directly or indirectly mention the date of composition and also in other authoritative works the exact date of creation of this work is not mentioned, its date can not be determined with certainty; However, considering that Nezami gives other very accurate histories of the works, the age of the child and the material of other histories in his other works, as well as by examining the history of Azerbaijan and Arran, and comparative studies, it can be said that this work was created between 1165 and 1173 (probably close to 1173).

{{cite web

|url = https://www.behanbook.ir/product-15314/%DA%AF%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%AF%D9%87%E2%80%8C%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%86%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1

|title = گزیده‌ی مخزن‌الاسرار - بهان بوک

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

{{cite book

|url = https://ketabnak.com/book/65619/%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1

|title = دانلود کتاب مخزن الاسرار - کتابناک

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

Dedication

Nizami Ganjavi, dedicated the book to Fakhr al-Din Bahramshah, the governor of Erzincan at the time.

{{cite web

|url = https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2056362._

|title = مخزن الاسرار by Nizami Ganjavi

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

{{cite web

|url = http://portal.nlai.ir/EI/Wiki%20Pages/%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%86%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1.aspx

|title = دانشنامه ایران زمین - مخزن الاسرار

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

Translations

The book has been translated into English, German,

{{cite web

|url = https://literaturelib.com/books/5316/%D8%B2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86+%D8%AE%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%84%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%D9%86%DA%AF%DB%8C%D8%B2+%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C+

|title = زبان خیال‌انگیز نظامی - کتابخانه تخصصی ادبیات

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

Turkish,

{{cite book

|url = https://www.gisoom.com/book/11044486/%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1/

|title = کتاب مخزن الاسرار به زبان ترکی [چ1] -کتاب گیسوم

|isbn = 978-600-6646-57-2

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

{{cite web

|url = http://www.drsadigh.ir/%D8%AA%D8%AF%D9%88%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%87%D8%A7/872-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%E2%80%8C%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B1%DA%A9%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84-%D8%AD%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AA

|title = مخزن الاسرار نظامی با ترجمه_ی منظوم ترکی ابوالفضل حسینی (حسرت) - سایت دوستداران دکتر حسین محمد زاده صدیق (دوزگون)

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

Kurdish,

{{cite book

|url = https://www.gisoom.com/book/11247572/%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1/

|title = کتاب مخزن الاسرار به زبان کردی [چ1] -کتاب گیسوم

|isbn = 978-600-249-062-9

|trans-title =

|language = fa

|access-date = 6 May 2021

}}

and Russian.{{Encyclopædia Iranica Online|article=Ḵamsa of Neẓāmi|first=Domenico|last=Parrello|url=https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kamsa-of-nezami|quote=There is a complete translation of the Ḵamsa in Russian verse in 5 volumes published in Moscow in 1985 and reprinted in Baku in 1991.|access-date=28 January 2025|date=1 January 2000}}

References

External links

{{Wikisourcelang-inline|fa|نظامی (مخزن الاسرار)}}
[https://ganjoor.net/nezami/5ganj/makhzanolasrar/ Full Persian text of Makhzan ol-Asrar] on Ganjoor.net

Category:Poetry books

Category:Nizami Ganjavi

Category:Medieval Persian literature

Category:Persian poetry

Category:12th-century Persian books

Category:Poems in Persian

Makhzan ol-Asrar

Plot

An excerpt

Date of composition

Dedication

Translations

See also

References

Further reading

External links