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Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §234

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 234 of 268.

Source (Persian)

و در مقام ديگر ميفرمايد [ ان يا شموس المرآيا انتم الی شمس الحقيقة تنظرون فانّ قيامکم بها لو انتم تتبصّرون * کلّکم کحيتان بالماء فی البحر تتحرّکون و تحتجبون عن الماء و تسألون عمّا انتم به قائمون ] و همچنين ميفرمايد [ لاشکونّ اليک ان يا مرآة جودی عن کلّ المرايا کلٌّ بالوانهم إِلَیَّ لينظرون ] انتهی * اين خطاب از مصدر امر حضرت وهّاب بجناب سيّد جواد مشهور بکربلائی نازل حقّ شاهد و عالم گواه که ان سيّد با اين مظلوم بوده و در ردّ معرضين هم شرحی مبسوط نوشته و دو لوح هم که در ان از ظهور حقّ گواهی داده و از دونش اشارات اعراض ظاهر و هويدا نزد جناب حيدر قبل عَلِیّ فرستاديم و خطّ او نزد کلّ معلوم و واضحست * و مقصود از اين عمل انکه شايد منکرين بفرات اقرار فائز شوند و معرضين بنور اقبال منوّر گردند * حقّ شاهد که اين مظلوم مقصودی جز القای کلمه الهی نداشته طوبی للمنصفين و ويل للمعرضين * معرضين تدبيرها نموده‌اند و بحيلها تمسّک جسته‌اند * از جمله صورت اين سيّد را گرفته‌اند و همچنين صور بعضی را بعد هر کدام را در ورقی چسبانده‌اند و فوق اينها صورت ميرزا يحيی را * باری بهر اسبابی از برای انکار حقّ تمسّک جسته‌اند * قل \[ حق عيان چون مهر رخشان امده           حيف کاندر شهر کوران امده ] و سيّد مذکور منکرين را نصيحت نموده و بافق اعلی دعوت کرده و لکن در احجار ملساء تاثيری ننمود و در باره‌اش گفته‌اند انچه را که او از ان بحقّ جلّ جلاله پناه برده * و حال عرائضی که بساحت اقدس ارسال داشته موجود است طوبی للمنصفين *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

In another connection He saith: "O Sun-like Mirrors! Look ye upon the Sun of Truth. Ye, verily, depend upon it, were ye to perceive it. Ye are all as fishes, moving in the waters of the sea, veiling yourselves therefrom, and yet asking what it is on which ye depend." And likewise, He saith: "I complain unto thee, O Mirror of My generosity, against all the other Mirrors. All look upon Me through their own colors." These words were sent down from the Source of the Revelation of the All-Bounteous, and were addressed to Siyyid Javád, known as Karbilá'i. God testifieth, and the world beareth Me witness that this Siyyid stood by this Wronged One, and even wrote a detailed refutation against them that turned aside from Me. Two communications, moreover, in which he hath borne witness unto the Revelation of the True One, and in which the evidences of his turning away from all else but Him, are clear and manifest, have been sent by Us to Ḥaydar-‘Alí. The handwriting of the Siyyid is unmistakable, and is known unto everyone. Our purpose in doing this was that perchance they that have denied Us might attain unto the living waters of acknowledgment, and such as have turned aside be illumined with the light of conversion. God is My witness that this Wronged One hath had no purpose except to convey the Word of God. Blessed are the fair-minded, and woe betide them that have turned aside. They that have turned away from Me have schemed many a time, and acted deceitfully in divers ways. They have, on one occasion, secured a picture of this Siyyid, and pasted it on a sheet with that of others, surmounted by the portrait of Mírzá Yaḥyá. Briefly, they have seized upon every means in order to repudiate the True One. Say: "The True One is come evident as the shining sun; O pity that He should have come into the city of the blind!" The afore-mentioned Siyyid admonished the deniers, and summoned them unto the Most Sublime Horizon, but failed to impress these stones that can take no imprint. Concerning him they have said things against which he sought refuge with God - exalted be His glory. The supplications which he hath sent to this Holy Court are now in Our possession. Happy are the fair-minded.

Translation Notes

تنظرون
tnẓrún n-ẓ-r

literal: look; looking

SE rendered المرآيا (al-mráyá), شمس (shms), الحقيقة (al-ḥqíqh), تنظرون (tnẓrún), قيامکم (qíámkm), لو (lú) as “! Look, Sun of Truth, depend, were”

ye 25% look 13% see 13% examine 13% observe 13% meditate 13% would 13%
جودی
júdí j-w-d

literal: generosity; generosity, bounty

SE rendered لاشکونّ (láshkúnn), اليک (al-yk), مرآة (mráh), جودی (júdí), المرايا (al-mráyá), بالوانهم (bálúánhm) as “complain, unto thee, Mirror of My generosity, look”

انتهی
inthí n-h-y

literal: end; ended

SE rendered بالوانهم (bálúánhm), لينظرون (línẓrún), انتهی (inthí), خطاب (khṭáb), از (iz), مصدر (mṣdr), امر (imr) as “look, addressed, Source, the Revelation”

حضرت
ḥḍrt ḥ-ḍ-r

literal: presence/holiness

SE rendered خطاب (khṭáb), از (iz), مصدر (mṣdr), امر (imr), حضرت (ḥḍrt), وهّاب (whháb), بجناب (bjnáb), سيّد (sísd), جواد (júád), مشهور (mshhúr) as “addressed, Source, the Revelation, All-Bounteous, Siyyid Javád, known as Karbilá'i”

majesty 44% honor 10% great 10% holiness 10% commander 7% who 5% excellency 3% unto 3% imam 3% embodiments 3%
بجناب
bjnáb j-n-b

literal: excellency

SE rendered خطاب (khṭáb), از (iz), مصدر (mṣdr), امر (imr), حضرت (ḥḍrt), وهّاب (whháb), بجناب (bjnáb), سيّد (sísd), جواد (júád), مشهور (mshhúr), بکربلائی (bkrbláʾí), نازل (názl) as “addressed, Source, the Revelation, All-Bounteous, Siyyid Javád, known as Karbilá'i, sent down”

thee 41% thou 38% one 3% thyself 3% wert 3% shaykh 3% excellency 3% mullá 3% honour 3%
بکربلائی
bkrbláʾí k-r-b

literal: distress; cherubim; distressed

SE rendered وهّاب (whháb), بجناب (bjnáb), سيّد (sísd), جواد (júád), مشهور (mshhúr), بکربلائی (bkrbláʾí), نازل (názl), حقّ (ḥqq), شاهد (sháhd), عالم (ʿálm), گواه (gúáh) as “All-Bounteous, Siyyid Javád, known as Karbilá'i, sent down, God, testifieth, the world, witness”

مبسوط
mbsúṭ b-s-ṭ

literal: carpet; extended; carpet, expanse

SE rendered ردّ (rdd), معرضين (mʿrḍín), شرحی (shrḥí), مبسوط (mbsúṭ), نوشته (núshth), دو (dú), لوح (lúḥ) as “refutation, turned aside, a detailed, wrote, Two communications, , moreover,”

داده
dádh dádn

literal: give; to give; given

SE rendered از (iz), ظهور (ẓhúr), حقّ (ḥqq), گواهی (gúáhí), داده (dádh), از (iz), دونش (dúnsh), اشارات (ishárát), اعراض (iʿráḍ), ظاهر (ẓáhr) as “the Revelation, the True One, borne witness, but Him, evidences of, turning away, clear and manifest”

hath 33% have 13% laid 7% yielded 7% equity 7% broke 7% brought 7% imputest 7% made 7% justice 7%
هويدا
húydá h-w-y

literal: desire; passion; air

SE rendered از (iz), دونش (dúnsh), اشارات (ishárát), اعراض (iʿráḍ), ظاهر (ẓáhr), هويدا (húydá), نزد (nzd) as “but Him, evidences of, turning away, clear and manifest, unto”

واضحست
wáḍḥst w-ḍ-ḥ

literal: clear; clear, evident; clear/evident

SE rendered خطّ (khṭṭ), نزد (nzd), معلوم (mʿlúm), واضحست (wáḍḥst), مقصود (mqṣúd), از (iz), عمل (ʿml), انکه (inkh) as “handwriting, unto everyone, unmistakable, and is known, purpose, He”

عمل
ʿml ʿ-m-l

literal: deed; deeds; work

SE rendered معلوم (mʿlúm), واضحست (wáḍḥst), مقصود (mqṣúd), از (iz), عمل (ʿml), انکه (inkh), شايد (sháyd), منکرين (mnkrín), بفرات (bfrát) as “unmistakable, and is known, purpose, He, perchance, that have denied, living waters of acknowledgment”

act 23% work 17% deeds 13% conduct 10% committed 7% acted 7% observe 7% deed 7% hath 7% which 3%
اقرار
iqrár q-r-r

literal: abode; place; established

SE rendered انکه (inkh), شايد (sháyd), منکرين (mnkrín), بفرات (bfrát), اقرار (iqrár), فائز (fáʾz), شوند (shúnd), معرضين (mʿrḍín), بنور (bnúr) as “He, perchance, that have denied, living waters of acknowledgment, attain unto, turned aside, with the light”

شوند
shúnd shdn

literal: become; to become

SE rendered شايد (sháyd), منکرين (mnkrín), بفرات (bfrát), اقرار (iqrár), فائز (fáʾz), شوند (shúnd), معرضين (mʿrḍín), بنور (bnúr), اقبال (iqbál), منوّر (mnúnr) as “perchance, that have denied, living waters of acknowledgment, attain unto, turned aside, with the light, illumined”

may 25% will 15% would 10% should 10% made 10% must 10% mayest 5% might 5% again 5% commissioned 5%
اقبال
iqbál q-b-l

literal: acceptance

SE rendered فائز (fáʾz), شوند (shúnd), معرضين (mʿrḍín), بنور (bnúr), اقبال (iqbál), منوّر (mnúnr), گردند (grdnd), حقّ (ḥqq), شاهد (sháhd) as “attain unto, turned aside, with the light, illumined, were, God, witness”

جسته‌اند
jsth‌ánd jstn

literal: seek; sought; to seek

SE rendered نموده‌اند (nmúdh‌ánd), بحيلها (bḥílhá), تمسّک (tmssk), جسته‌اند (jsth‌ánd), از (iz), جمله (jmlh), صورت (ṣúrt), سيّد (sísd) as “have, deceitfully, a picture, Siyyid”

have 38% conceived 13% foolishly 13% cleave 13% cling 13% allow 13%
جمله
jmlh j-m-l

literal: beauty; totality; beautiful

SE rendered بحيلها (bḥílhá), تمسّک (tmssk), جسته‌اند (jsth‌ánd), از (iz), جمله (jmlh), صورت (ṣúrt), سيّد (sísd), گرفته‌اند (grfth‌ánd) as “deceitfully, a picture, Siyyid, take”

among 57% while 7% one 7% partially 7% amongst 4% briefly 4% glimmer 4% came 4% all 4% none 4%
چسبانده‌اند
chsbándh‌ánd chsbándhánd

literal: paste

SE rendered کدام (kdám), ورقی (wrqí), چسبانده‌اند (chsbándh‌ánd), اينها (iynhá), صورت (ṣúrt), ميرزا (mírzá), يحيی (yḥíy) as “which, sheet, the portrait, Mírzá Yaḥyá”

1 occurrence in corpus

مهر
mhr mhr → “sun”

literal: sun

2 occurrences in corpus

رخشان
rkhshán r-kh-sh

literal: shining

SE rendered قل (ql), حق (ḥq), عيان (ʿíán), چون (chún), مهر (mhr), رخشان (rkhshán), امده (imdh), حيف (ḥíf), کاندر (kándr), شهر (shhr) as “Say, True One, evident, the shining, is come, pity, have come into, the city”

1 occurrence in corpus

مذکور
mdhkúr dh-k-r

literal: mention; mentioned

SE rendered شهر (shhr), کوران (kúrán), امده (imdh), سيّد (sísd), مذکور (mdhkúr), منکرين (mnkrín), نصيحت (nṣíḥt), نموده (nmúdh), بافق (báfq) as “the city, blind, !" The, afore-mentioned Siyyid, the deniers, admonished, hath, the Most Sublime Horizon”

اعلی
iʿlí ʿ-l-w

literal: highest; exalted; high

SE rendered منکرين (mnkrín), نصيحت (nṣíḥt), نموده (nmúdh), بافق (báfq), اعلی (iʿlí), دعوت (dʿút), کرده (krdh), لکن (lkn), احجار (iḥjár) as “the deniers, admonished, hath, the Most Sublime Horizon, summoned them unto, but, these stones”

کرده
krdh krdn

literal: do; to do; do/make

SE rendered نصيحت (nṣíḥt), نموده (nmúdh), بافق (báfq), اعلی (iʿlí), دعوت (dʿút), کرده (krdh), لکن (lkn), احجار (iḥjár) as “admonished, hath, the Most Sublime Horizon, summoned them unto, but, these stones”

hath 37% made 16% have 11% summoned 5% hast 5% take 5% do 5% waxed 5% show 5% attempted 5%
ملساء
mlsáʾ m-l-s

literal: smooth

SE rendered دعوت (dʿút), کرده (krdh), لکن (lkn), احجار (iḥjár), ملساء (mlsáʾ), تاثيری (táthírí), ننمود (nnmúd), باره‌اش (bárh‌ásh) as “summoned them unto, but, these stones, Concerning him”

1 occurrence in corpus

تاثيری
táthírí ʾ-th-r

literal: traces; effect; trace

SE rendered لکن (lkn), احجار (iḥjár), ملساء (mlsáʾ), تاثيری (táthírí), ننمود (nnmúd), باره‌اش (bárh‌ásh), گفته‌اند (gfth‌ánd) as “but, these stones, Concerning him, they have said”

پناه
pnáh pnáh

literal: refuge

SE rendered از (iz), بحقّ (bḥqq), جلّ (jll), جلاله (jlálh), پناه (pnáh), برده (brdh), حال (ḥál), عرائضی (ʿráʾḍí), بساحت (bsáḥt) as “refuge with God, exalted be His glory, The supplications, to this Holy Court”

3 occurrences in corpus

برده
brdh b-r-d

literal: take

SE rendered از (iz), بحقّ (bḥqq), جلّ (jll), جلاله (jlálh), پناه (pnáh), برده (brdh), حال (ḥál), عرائضی (ʿráʾḍí), بساحت (bsáḥt) as “refuge with God, exalted be His glory, The supplications, to this Holy Court”

taken 33% escorted 17% sought 17% seek 17% envious 17%
اقدس
iqds q-d-s

literal: holy; sanctified

SE rendered حال (ḥál), عرائضی (ʿráʾḍí), بساحت (bsáḥt), اقدس (iqds), ارسال (irsál), داشته (dáshth), موجود (mújúd), طوبی (ṭúbí), للمنصفين (llmnṣfín) as “The supplications, to this Holy Court, hath sent, have, Our possession, Happy are the fair-minded”

Source: Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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