Gleanings — §674
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 674 of 729.
Source (Arabic)
ای بلبلان فانی در گلزار باقی گلی شکفته که همهٴ گلها نزدش چون خار و جوهر جمال نزدش بیمقدار پس از جان بخروشید و از دل بسروشید و از روان بنوشید و از تن بکوشید که شاید ببوستان وصال درآئید و از گل بیمثال ببوئید و از لقای بیزوال حصّه برید و از این نسیم خوش صبای معنوی غافل نشوید و از این رائحهٴ قدس روحانی بینصیب نمانید این پند بندها را بگسلد و سلسلهٴ جنون عشق را بجنباند دلها را بدلدار رساند و جانها را بجانان سپارد قفس بشکند و چون طیر روحی قصد آشیان قدس
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Hear Me, ye mortal birds! In the Rose Garden of changeless splendor a Flower hath begun to bloom, compared to which every other flower is but a thorn, and before the brightness of Whose glory the very essence of beauty must pale and wither. Arise, therefore, and, with the whole enthusiasm of your hearts, with all the eagerness of your souls, the full fervor of your will, and the concentrated efforts of your entire being, strive to attain the paradise of His presence, and endeavor to inhale the fragrance of the incorruptible Flower, to breathe the sweet savors of holiness, and to obtain a portion of this perfume of celestial glory. Whoso followeth this counsel will break his chains asunder, will taste the abandonment of enraptured love, will attain unto his heart’s desire, and will surrender his soul into the hands of his Beloved. Bursting through his cage, he will, even as the bird of the spirit, wing his flight to his holy and everlasting nest.
Translation Notes
شکفته
literal: bloomed; opened; blossomed; to blossom; to bloom; to open
شاید
literal: perhaps, perchance, haply, maybe, possibly; to become; to be; to happen; to occur
