Mahsati

The most accurate interpretation is likely Mahsati,[1] seemingly a combination of māh (moon) and the early Indian loanword satī (virtuous lady).

[1] The modern historian Francois de Blois considers her to be a semi-legendary figure, adding that "we have no information whatsoever about the historical person who (apparently) lurks behind the legend.

[3] Mahsati was quickly presented as the heroine of romantic tales, the earliest one being the Ilahi-nama of the Sufi poet Attar of Nishapur (died 1221).

[3] An akin story is reported in the late 13th century by Abd Allah Jawhari in his commentary of qasida-yi hawliyya, a poem about alchemy.

[6] There Mahsati is listed amongst Sanjar's panegyric poets, in addition to other figures such as Adib Sabir, Rashid Vatvat, ‘Abd al-Vasih Jabali, and Anvari.

[8] Mahsati notably appears in the tazkera (collection of biographies) Riaz al-sho'ara, composed by Valeh Daghestani (died 1756) in c. 1747 in Delhi.

The latter admired her physical attractiveness, but was even more enthusiastic about her poetic ability, as demonstrated in the following excerpt from Valeh;[11] One of her quatrains is equal to a thousand divans.