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Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §33

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 33 of 268.

Source (Persian)

در اين مقام بنظر امد فی الجمله از امور گذشته ذکر شود شايد سبب ظهور عدل و انصاف گردد * اين مظلوم در ايّاميکه حضرت سلطان ايّده اللّه ربّه الرّحمن عزم توجّه باصفهان نموده اذن حاصل کرده قصد زيارت بقاع مقدّسه منوّره ائمّه صلوات اللّه عليهم نموده و بعد از رجوع نظر بگرمی هواء دار الخلافه و شدّت ان بلواسان رفتيم و بعد از توجّه حکايت حضرت سلطان ايّده اللّه تبارک و تعالی واقع و در ان ايّام امور منقلب و نار غضب مشتعل * جمعی را اخذ نمودند از جمله اين مظلوم را * لعمر اللّه ابدا داخل ان امر منکر نبوديم و در مجالس تحقيق هم عدم تقصير ثابت مع ذلک ما را اخذ نمودند و از نياوران که در ان ايّام مقرّ سلطنت بوده سر برهنه و پای برهنه پياده با زنجير بسجن طهران بردند چه که يک ظالمی سواره همراه کلاه از سر برداشت و بسرعت تمام با جمعی از ميرغضبان و فرّاشان ما را بردند و چهار شهر در مقاميکه شبه و مثل نداشت مقرّ معيّن نمودند * امّا سجن که محلّ مظلوم و مظلومان بوده فی الحقيقه دخمه تنگ تاريک از ان افضل بوده * و چون وارد حبس شديم بعد از ورود ما را داخل دالانی ظلمانی نمودند از ان جا از سه پلهء سراشيب گذشتيم و بمقرّيکه معيّن نموده بودند رسيديم * امّا محلّ تاريک و معاشر قريب صد و پنجاه نفس از سارقين اموال و قاتلين نفوس و قاطعين طرق بوده مع اين جمعيّت محلّ منفذ نداشت جز طريقی که وارد شديم اقلام از وصفش عاجز و روائح منتنه‌اش خارج از بيان و ان جمع اکثری بی لباس و فراش * اللّه يعلم ما ورد علينا فی ذاک المقام الانتن الاظلم *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

We deem it advisable, in this connection, to recount briefly some past events, that perchance they may be the means of vindicating the cause of equity and justice. At the time when His Majesty the Sháh, may God, his Lord, the Most Merciful, aid him through His strengthening grace, was planning a journey to Iṣfahán, this Wronged One, having obtained his permission, visited the holy and luminous resting-places of the Imams, may the blessings of God be upon them! Upon Our return, We proceeded to Lavasan on account of the excessive heat prevailing in the capital. Following Our departure, there occurred the attempt upon the life of His Majesty, may God, exalted and glorified be He, assist him. Those days were troublous days, and the fires of hatred burned high. Many were arrested, among them this Wronged One. By the righteousness of God! We were in no wise connected with that evil deed, and Our innocence was indisputably established by the tribunals. Nevertheless, they apprehended Us, and from Niyavaran, which was then the residence of His Majesty, conducted Us, on foot and in chains, with bared head and bare feet, to the dungeon of Ṭihrán. A brutal man, accompanying Us on horseback, snatched off Our hat, whilst We were being hurried along by a troop of executioners and officials. We were consigned for four months to a place foul beyond comparison. As to the dungeon in which this Wronged One and others similarly wronged were confined, a dark and narrow pit were preferable. Upon Our arrival We were first conducted along a pitch-black corridor, from whence We descended three steep flights of stairs to the place of confinement assigned to Us. The dungeon was wrapped in thick darkness, and Our fellow-prisoners numbered nearly a hundred and fifty souls: thieves, assassins and highwaymen. Though crowded, it had no other outlet than the passage by which We entered. No pen can depict that place, nor any tongue describe its loathsome smell. Most of these men had neither clothes nor bedding to lie on. God alone knoweth what befell Us in that most foul-smelling and gloomy place!

Translation Notes

کرده
krdh krdn

literal: do; to do; do/make

SE rendered باصفهان (báṣfhán), نموده (nmúdh), اذن (idhn), حاصل (ḥáṣl), کرده (krdh), قصد (qṣd), زيارت (zíárt), بقاع (bqáʿ) as “Iṣfahán, they, permission, having obtained, the holy and luminous resting-places”

hath 37% made 16% have 11% summoned 5% hast 5% take 5% do 5% waxed 5% show 5% attempted 5%
قصد
qṣd q-ṣ-d

literal: purpose

SE rendered باصفهان (báṣfhán), نموده (nmúdh), اذن (idhn), حاصل (ḥáṣl), کرده (krdh), قصد (qṣd), زيارت (zíárt), بقاع (bqáʿ), مقدّسه (mqddsh), منوّره (mnúnrh), ائمّه (iʾmmh) as “Iṣfahán, they, permission, having obtained, the holy and luminous resting-places, the Imams”

direct 21% goal 14% seeking 14% hastened 7% seek 7% directed 7% directeth 7% entered 7% haste 7% wing 7%
زيارت
zíárt z-w-r

literal: visit; visitation; visited

SE rendered باصفهان (báṣfhán), نموده (nmúdh), اذن (idhn), حاصل (ḥáṣl), کرده (krdh), قصد (qṣd), زيارت (zíárt), بقاع (bqáʿ), مقدّسه (mqddsh), منوّره (mnúnrh), ائمّه (iʾmmh) as “Iṣfahán, they, permission, having obtained, the holy and luminous resting-places, the Imams”

مقدّسه
mqddsh q-d-s

literal: holiness; holy; sanctified

SE rendered اذن (idhn), حاصل (ḥáṣl), کرده (krdh), قصد (qṣd), زيارت (zíárt), بقاع (bqáʿ), مقدّسه (mqddsh), منوّره (mnúnrh), ائمّه (iʾmmh), صلوات (ṣlúát), اللّه (al-lh) as “permission, having obtained, the holy and luminous resting-places, the Imams, may the blessings, God”

منوّره
mnúnrh n-w-r

literal: luminous

SE rendered بقاع (bqáʿ), مقدّسه (mqddsh), منوّره (mnúnrh), ائمّه (iʾmmh), صلوات (ṣlúát), اللّه (al-lh), عليهم (ʿlíhm), نموده (nmúdh) as “the holy and luminous resting-places, the Imams, may the blessings, God, be upon them, they”

بگرمی
bgrmí bgrmí

literal: heat

SE rendered عليهم (ʿlíhm), نموده (nmúdh), از (iz), رجوع (rjúʿ), نظر (nẓr), بگرمی (bgrmí), هواء (húáʾ), دار (dár), الخلافه (al-khláfh), شدّت (shddt) as “be upon them, they, return, heat, hurried”

1 occurrence in corpus

الخلافه
al-khláfh kh-l-f

literal: different; behind; difference

SE rendered رجوع (rjúʿ), نظر (nẓr), بگرمی (bgrmí), هواء (húáʾ), دار (dár), الخلافه (al-khláfh), شدّت (shddt), بلواسان (blúásán), رفتيم (rftím) as “return, heat, hurried, Lavasan”

contrary 63% capital 13% away 13% caliphs.” 13%
شدّت
shddt sh-d-d

literal: intensity; severe; hardship

SE rendered هواء (húáʾ), دار (dár), الخلافه (al-khláfh), شدّت (shddt), بلواسان (blúásán), رفتيم (rftím) as “heat, hurried, Lavasan”

excessive 25% plight 25% assiduous 25% wilful 25%
رفتيم
rftím rftn

literal: go; to go; gone

SE rendered دار (dár), الخلافه (al-khláfh), شدّت (shddt), بلواسان (blúásán), رفتيم (rftím), از (iz), توجّه (tújjh), حکايت (ḥkáyt), حضرت (ḥḍrt) as “hurried, Lavasan, departure, attempt upon the life, His Majesty”

go 37% hath 21% fled 5% hast 5% delivered 5% repaired 5% joined 5% went 5% addressed 5% visited 5%
تعالی
tʿálí ʿ-l-w

literal: highest; exalted; high

SE rendered ايّده (iyydh), اللّه (al-lh), تبارک (tbárk), تعالی (tʿálí), واقع (wáqʿ), ايّام (iyyám), امور (imúr), منقلب (mnqlb) as “assist him, God, exalted and glorified be He, occurred, Those days, cause, troublous”

exalted 44% glorified 26% how 9% magnified 7% immeasurably 4% all 4% far 2% which 2% high 2% glorious 2%
مشتعل
mshtʿl sh-ʿ-l

literal: burning; kindled

SE rendered ايّام (iyyám), امور (imúr), منقلب (mnqlb), نار (nár), غضب (ghḍb), مشتعل (mshtʿl), جمعی (jmʿí), اخذ (ikhdh), نمودند (nmúdnd) as “Those days, cause, troublous, the fires, hatred burned high, Many, were arrested, had”

burned 20% kindled 20% burneth 13% blazed 7% set 7% afire 7% enkindled 7% ablaze 7% shineth 7% glow 7%
ابدا
ibdá ʾ-b-d

literal: ever; never

SE rendered مظلوم (mẓlúm), لعمر (lʿmr), اللّه (al-lh), ابدا (ibdá), داخل (dákhl), امر (imr), منکر (mnkr), نبوديم (nbúdím) as “darkness, By the righteousness, God, in no wise connected, evil deed, was”

wise 27% never 18% ever 14% all 9% evermore 9% everlasting 5% any 5% pause 5% time 5% forbear 5%
منکر
mnkr n-k-r

literal: denial; denier

SE rendered لعمر (lʿmr), اللّه (al-lh), ابدا (ibdá), داخل (dákhl), امر (imr), منکر (mnkr), نبوديم (nbúdím), مجالس (mjáls) as “By the righteousness, God, in no wise connected, evil deed, was, by the tribunals”

denier 60% evil 20% what 20%
تحقيق
tḥqíq ḥ-q-q

literal: truth; true; right

SE rendered امر (imr), منکر (mnkr), نبوديم (nbúdím), مجالس (mjáls), تحقيق (tḥqíq), عدم (ʿdm), تقصير (tqṣír), ثابت (thábt) as “evil deed, was, by the tribunals, innocence, indisputably established”

تقصير
tqṣír q-ṣ-r

literal: palace; deficient; fault

SE rendered نبوديم (nbúdím), مجالس (mjáls), تحقيق (tḥqíq), عدم (ʿdm), تقصير (tqṣír), ثابت (thábt), اخذ (ikhdh), نمودند (nmúdnd) as “was, by the tribunals, innocence, indisputably established, apprehended, had”

پياده
píádh píádh → “foot”

literal: on foot

1 occurrence in corpus

زنجير

literal: chain

1 occurrence in corpus

همراه
hmráh h-m-r-ʾ-h

literal: companion

SE rendered يک (yk), ظالمی (ẓálmí), سواره (súárh), همراه (hmráh), کلاه (kláh), از (iz), سر (sr), برداشت (brdásht) as “A brutal man, accompanying Us on horseback, hat, snatched off Our”

1 occurrence in corpus

کلاه
kláh k-l-h → “hat”

literal: hat

1 occurrence in corpus

بسرعت
bsrʿt s-r-ʿ

literal: hasten; hastened; hasten/hurry

SE rendered کلاه (kláh), از (iz), سر (sr), برداشت (brdásht), بسرعت (bsrʿt), تمام (tmám), جمعی (jmʿí), از (iz), ميرغضبان (mírghḍbán) as “hat, snatched off Our, a troop, executioners”

have 33% hastened 33% hurried 17% hath 17%
تمام
tmám t-m-m

literal: complete; all; completed

SE rendered کلاه (kláh), از (iz), سر (sr), برداشت (brdásht), بسرعت (bsrʿt), تمام (tmám), جمعی (jmʿí), از (iz), ميرغضبان (mírghḍbán) as “hat, snatched off Our, a troop, executioners”

چهار
chhár chhár → “four”

literal: four

1 occurrence in corpus

مثل
mthl m-th-l

literal: like; likeness; example

SE rendered چهار (chhár), شهر (shhr), مقاميکه (mqámíkh), شبه (shbh), مثل (mthl), نداشت (ndásht), مقرّ (mqrr), معيّن (mʿíʿn), نمودند (nmúdnd), امّا (immá) as “for four months, to a place, place, foul beyond comparison, As to”

instance 18% like 14% even 12% consider 12% such 10% same 10% equal 8% what 8% one 6% peerless 2%
نداشت
ndásht dáshtn

literal: have; to have; had

SE rendered چهار (chhár), شهر (shhr), مقاميکه (mqámíkh), شبه (shbh), مثل (mthl), نداشت (ndásht), مقرّ (mqrr), معيّن (mʿíʿn), نمودند (nmúdnd), امّا (immá), سجن (sjn) as “for four months, to a place, place, foul beyond comparison, As to, the dungeon”

hath 30% have 20% beyond 15% without 5% ignorance 5% had 5% neither 5% washed 5% disinclined 5% none 5%
دخمه
dkhmh d-kh-m → “pit”

literal: pit

1 occurrence in corpus

تنگ
tng tng

literal: narrow

SE rendered مظلومان (mẓlúmán), الحقيقه (al-ḥqíqh), دخمه (dkhmh), تنگ (tng), تاريک (tárík), از (iz), افضل (ifḍl) as “others similarly wronged, a dark and narrow pit, preferable”

1 occurrence in corpus

تاريک
tárík tárík

literal: dark; darkness

SE rendered الحقيقه (al-ḥqíqh), دخمه (dkhmh), تنگ (tng), تاريک (tárík), از (iz), افضل (ifḍl) as “a dark and narrow pit, preferable”

darkness 33% darkened 33% dark 17% wrapped 17%
حبس
ḥbs ḥ-b-s

literal: imprison; prison; imprisoned

SE rendered افضل (ifḍl), چون (chún), وارد (wárd), حبس (ḥbs), شديم (shdím), از (iz), ورود (wrúd), داخل (dákhl) as “preferable, arrival, conducted along”

شديم
shdím shdn

literal: become; to become; became

SE rendered افضل (ifḍl), چون (chún), وارد (wárd), حبس (ḥbs), شديم (shdím), از (iz), ورود (wrúd), داخل (dákhl) as “preferable, arrival, conducted along”

have 34% hath 25% may 7% will 7% can 6% should 5% would 5% thou 4% become 3% mayest 3%
دالانی
dálání d-l-n

literal: corridor

SE rendered از (iz), ورود (wrúd), داخل (dákhl), دالانی (dálání), ظلمانی (ẓlmání), نمودند (nmúdnd), از (iz), جا (já), از (iz), سه (sh) as “arrival, conducted along, a pitch-black corridor, three”

1 occurrence in corpus

جا
já j-y-ʾ

literal: come; came; to come

SE rendered داخل (dákhl), دالانی (dálání), ظلمانی (ẓlmání), نمودند (nmúdnd), از (iz), جا (já), از (iz), سه (sh), پلهء (plhʾ) as “conducted along, a pitch-black corridor, three, steep flights”

came 23% hath 23% come 14% am 11% cometh 9% reached 6% strike 6% have 3% time 3% sent 3%
سه

literal: three

1 occurrence in corpus

پلهء
plhʾ plhʾ → “flights”

literal: stairs

1 occurrence in corpus

سراشيب
sráshíb s-r-sh

literal: created; descent; sing

SE rendered سه (sh), پلهء (plhʾ), سراشيب (sráshíb), گذشتيم (gdhshtím), بمقرّيکه (bmqrríkh), معيّن (mʿíʿn) as “three, steep flights, assigned to Us”

steep 50% moulded 50%
رسيديم
rsídím rsídn

literal: reach; to reach; arrive

SE rendered معيّن (mʿíʿn), نموده (nmúdh), بودند (búdnd), رسيديم (rsídím), امّا (immá), محلّ (mḥll), تاريک (tárík), معاشر (mʿáshr) as “assigned to Us, was, The dungeon, Our fellow-prisoners”

how 27% attain 15% can 12% reached 10% hath 10% cause 7% attaineth 5% every 5% come 5% there 5%
پنجاه
pnjáh pnjáh → “fifty”

literal: fifty

2 occurrences in corpus

اموال
imúál m-w-l

literal: property; property, wealth

SE rendered قريب (qríb), صد (ṣd), پنجاه (pnjáh), نفس (nfs), از (iz), سارقين (sárqín), اموال (imúál), قاتلين (qátlín), نفوس (nfús), قاطعين (qáṭʿín), طرق (ṭrq) as “nearly, hundred, fifty, souls, thieves, assassins, the passage”

قاطعين
qáṭʿín q-ṭ-ʿ

literal: detachment; detached; severed

SE rendered سارقين (sárqín), اموال (imúál), قاتلين (qátlín), نفوس (nfús), قاطعين (qáṭʿín), طرق (ṭrq), جمعيّت (jmʿíʿt), محلّ (mḥll) as “thieves, assassins, the passage, place”

rid 19% detached 17% detachment 16% have 14% renunciation 10% cease 6% detach 5% wholly 5% absolute 4% may 4%
وصفش
wṣfsh w-ṣ-f → “that”

literal: description

SE rendered اقلام (iqlám), از (iz), وصفش (wṣfsh), عاجز (ʿájz), روائح (rúáʾḥ), منتنه‌اش (mntnh‌ásh), خارج (khárj) as “No pen, can depict, that, smell, loathsome, describe”

depict 50% describe 50%
عاجز
ʿájz ʿ-j-z

literal: unable; powerlessness

SE rendered اقلام (iqlám), از (iz), وصفش (wṣfsh), عاجز (ʿájz), روائح (rúáʾḥ), منتنه‌اش (mntnh‌ásh), خارج (khárj), از (iz), بيان (bíán) as “No pen, can depict, that, smell, loathsome, describe, among”

incapable 15% fail 15% impotent 15% powerless 8% how 8% wearied 8% sick 8% unable 8% can 8% mere 8%
بی
bí b-y

literal: without; is

SE rendered خارج (khárj), از (iz), بيان (bíán), جمع (jmʿ), اکثری (ikthrí), بی (bí), لباس (lbás), فراش (frásh), اللّه (al-lh), يعلم (yʿlm) as “describe, among, Most of, clothes, bedding, God, knoweth”

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

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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50 ¶

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729 ¶

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16 ¶

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291 ¶

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Published in 1938, this companion volume to Gleanings contains 184 prayers and meditations selected by Shoghi Effendi from Bahá’u’lláh’s devotional writings revealed across successive exiles from Baghdad to ‘Akká. Shoghi Effendi described it as a volume whose perusal would deepen the spirit of devotion and faith.

858 ¶

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17 ¶

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5 ¶

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57 ¶

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160 ¶

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‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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59 ¶