Navoi’s personality and chapters of “Saddi Iskandariy”

In Chapter XXXIX Iskandar reaches Kashmir; the sorcerer-ruler Mallu has trapped fire and wind in a talisman fortress and thrown the land into distress, and the sage Aflotun opens the talisman and overcomes the fortress. Mallu surrenders and admits his guilt; Iskandar tells him he meant him no enmity, but that same night Mallu dies. Iskandar then makes his son Feruz king in his father’s place and advises him to follow the way of justice and kindness. Chapter XL urges not to waste youth: young adulthood is the time for work and virtue, while strength declines in old age. In the tale of Chapter XLI a young man ignores the advice of his neighbour, an experienced elder, and regrets it in old age, although the fate of his own father, who lived to 112 and lost his strength at the end, could have taught him; the conclusion is that one should learn from the experience of others. In Iskandar’s conversation with Arastu, they discuss why young people find it hard to take up work, the link between mind and strength in middle and old age, and the struggle between reason and desire.