Inscription

Persian inscriptions throughout, in nasta‘liq script: Top left: The celebrated lover Ranjha; Top right, above awning: The notable ladies of the city falling into a swoon having caught sight of Joseph’s beauteous countenance; Top center, on pillar beneath canopy: The celebrated lover Vamiq; On another pillar, behind the woman’s head: The celebrated beloved ‘Azra; Upper left, on pillar: King Nala, the lover; Central figure with halo: The coming from the prison and sitting [in state] of the Lord Joseph the Prophet, with the women of the town cutting the palms of their hands and falling down unconscious; Left of center: [. . . cutting palms . . . wine cups fell from their hands . . . state of wonderment . . .]; Central pavilion at left: Sassi, the beloved the lover [Punnun]; Below central figure of Joseph: The stream of milk Shirin the beloved, weeping The death of Farhad, the lover; Lower right, in front of bearded man: Hafiz of Shiraz; Below his decanter: The stick of candy [referring to the woman with whom, according to popular lore, Hafiz was supposed to have fallen in love as a youth]; Behind the pavilion at right: Bride descending into a grave . . .; On the white railing to the left: Khwaja Bu Ali . . .; Bottom left: Queen Padmavati, the beloved, King Ratnasena, the lover; Bottom right: Majnun, the lover; On page held by Majnun: Say, “He is Allah, who is One, Allah the eternal refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” [Qur'an, chapter 112]