The Hidden Words — §152

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 152 of 160.

Source (Arabic)

(٧٥) ﴿ ای ابنآء غفلت ﴾ بپادشاهی فانی دل مبنديد و مسرور مشويد * مثل شما مثل طير غافلی است که بر شاخه باغی در کمال اطمينان بسرايد و بغتةً صيّاد اجل او را بخاک اندازد ديگر از نغمه و هيکل و رنگ او اثری باقی نماند * پس پند گيريد ای بندگان هوی *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

(75) O CHILDREN OF NEGLIGENCE! Set not your affections on mortal sovereignty and rejoice not therein. Ye are even as the unwary bird that with full confidence warbleth upon the bough; till of a sudden the fowler Death throws it upon the dust, and the melody, the form and the color are gone, leaving not a trace. Wherefore take heed, O bondslaves of desire!

Translation Notes

ای

ʾ-y-y → “O”

literal: O; vocative particle; oh (vocative particle)

ابنآء

b-n-y → “CHILDREN”

literal: son; foundation; sons

غفلت

gh-f-l → “NEGLIGENCE”

literal: heedlessness; negligence; inattention

بپادشاهی

p-d-sh → “Sháh of Persia” Distinctive

literal: sovereign; monarch; king

فانی

f-n-y → “mortal” Distinctive

literal: annihilation; perishing; extinction; cessation; the threshold

دل

d-l → “heart”

literal: to argue; to demonstrate; proof

مبنديد

b-n-d → “Set not”

literal: servants; bondsmen; slaves

مسرور

s-r-r → “rejoice” Distinctive

literal: throne; couch; seat of authority

مشويد

sh-d-n → “hath been” Distinctive

literal: become; to become; became

مثل

m-th-l → “as”

literal: like; example; parable; similitude

شما

sh-m-ʾ → “Ye”

literal: you (plural); your

طير

ṭ-y-r → “bird”

literal: bird; birds; flying creature; flying; flight

است

b-w-d → “are even”

literal: to be; are (third person plural present copula)

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

بر

b-r-r → “upon”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

شاخه

sh-ʾ-kh → “branch”

literal: king; sovereign; ruler; majesty

باغی

literal: to seek; to desire; to rebel; to transgress

در

d-r-r → “upon”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

کمال

k-m-l → “utmost”

literal: perfection; completeness; fully; with full; in complete; to complete, perfect, fulfill

اطمينان

ṭ-m-n → “confidence”

literal: to be at peace; to be reassured; to settle down

بسرايد

s-r-y → “wafted” Distinctive

literal: flow, pass; moved; flowing/permeating

بغتةً

b-gh-t → “all of a sudden”

literal: suddenly; unexpectedly

صيّاد

ṣ-y-d → “fisherman”

literal: hunter; fowler

اجل

ʾ-j-l → “to”

literal: majesty; glory; exaltation; magnificence

او

h-w-w → “it” Distinctive

literal: he; it (third person pronoun); refuge; shelter; dwelling place; abode; lamentation, cry, woe; melody, song

را

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

بخاک

kh-ʾ-k → “dust”

literal: dust; earth; soil; ground

اندازد

ʾ-n-d-ʾ-z → “cause”

literal: throws; casts; hurls; measurement; proportion

ديگر

literal: home; place; land; abode

از

literal: from

نغمه

n-gh-m → “melody”

literal: melody; tone; note

هيکل

h-y-k-l → “form”

literal: temple; structure; form; body

رنگ

r-n-g → “color”

literal: hardship, toil, suffering, trouble

اثری

ʾ-th-r → “trace”

literal: effect; trace; influence; imprint; sign; mark; vestige

باقی

b-q-y → “eternal”

literal: remaining; everlasting; eternal; immortal

نماند

m-ʾ-n → “leaving not”

literal: to remain; to stay; to be left

پس

p-s → “From”

literal: then; then, therefore; therefore

پند

p-n-d → “admonished”

literal: counsel; admonition; advice

گيريد

literal: to take; to seize; to grasp; to hold; to seek

هوی

h-w-y → “desire”

literal: desire; vain desire; inclination; passion; whim; realm; region

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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