Contemplation on One of the Tarikh-e Beyhaqi’s Terms: ‘Qafa Daridan’

One of the issues raised in the study of ancient texts is the problem of distortion, and perhaps this is one of the important factors in creating ambiguity in these texts. Detecting and correcting these distortions can provide readers a more readable text and make it easier to access the information or knowledge presented in these works. One of the famous Persian works is Tarikh-e Beyhaqi (history of Bayaqi) that, despite the publication of valuable corrections, the exact meaning of some of its terms and expressions is not yet clear. One of these expressions is ‘qafa daridan’, which both the commentators and expositors of this work, as well as those who who have already discussed this issue, have accepted it in the same way and all have defined it as a metaphor for ‘discredit and disgrace’. The question of this article is whether this term could have the correct meaning in the same way or is its original form somewhat different and distorted? Based on this, it has been shown with the help of evidence and reasons that the present form of the term and the interpretations that the distinguished commentators have made cannot be correct. Then, with the help of the text of the Tarikh-e Beyhaqi as well as evidence from other ancient Persian manuscripts, the correct form is presented.