Tablet to Jinab-i Khalil “the Friend” 1 страница

The Ode of the Dove                                                                                               CHAPTER ONE Divisions 1-35   A large poem revealed in Arabic in 1856, (with 127 lines that are now renumbered), the Ode is one of the earliest early writings of Baha-ullah set forth as prophetic teaching. The translation of poetry is always tricky, thus some lines might be questionable. See Bahá'ulláh's notes following the tablet. ODE OF THE DOVE 1. The Ode of the Dove     2. In praise of the Beloved, secretly, in private. 3. He is the Exalted, the All-Glorious.   127 lines 4. I was enthralled by light rays from a face Whose advent dimmed and darkened every star, As though the sunbeams of Her beauty's glow appeared and dazzled planets from afar. 6. Her joy diffused the musk of the unseen, Her stature raised the Spirit up above. The End-Time's Trump resounded when She blew; Her breath caused shadows of the clouds to move. 8. Her gleam reveals Mount Sinai's deathlessness; Baha's bright light is kindled when She glows. Then to Her west the sun of splendor dawned, and to Her east, the moon of moons arose. 10. The mistral's fragrance wafted from Her hair, and Beauty's eyes were solaced by Her gaze. Her shining face gave Guidance sage advice, and Moses' soul was cleansed by Her form's blaze. 12. The heart of hearts embraced Her eyelid's dart. For Her locks' lasso, Being's head was bent. Her footprints constitute My highest aim, the earth She trod, the most high Throne's advent. 14. To win Her I have wept in every eye; in exile, I have burned in every fire. I spread myself out so that Her foot might tread on My heart, and I win My desire. 16. I sought to gain Our union everywhere; I scrawled letters of nearness on all earth. And if I rush to oneness with Her light, Then I am cast back, losing closeness' berth. 18. And if I plead for union, hands upraised, She answers with a sword: "My lovers' prize!" The firmness of our bond was My sole care; Her goal is our relationship's demise. 20. I said, "To meet, I'd offer Thee My all. Have mercy, do not publish My disgrace. Since I love Thee too well, then make us one-- That we might for eternity embrace."   22. By revelation's secret! Everything appeared from Her unveiling. She raised Me! By Husayn's sorrow! Emulating Me, the world-gyre is weighed down with agony. 24. "Thou art My breast's desire, My soul's sole hope, My spirit's master and My light, My heart. And after My hard journey, let's unite, be intimates after My pain apart." 26. My incandescence kindled every fuel, the Seen world was illumined by My sigh. God's sea was dried up by My thirst, which the wide stream of glory cannot satisfy. 28. And all the gore that I saw on the earth bespoke the tears of blood that My eyes shed. The ocean's but a drop before My tear, The Friend's blaze was, before mine, underfed. 30. For My grief froze the great sea of delight; the spring of sorrow flowed at My despair My grandeur fainted and My brilliance swooned; their gloating vanity snuffed out My flare. 32. My bones were whittled down, My body worn; The fever of My heat burned up My soul. Love for Thee felled Me, passion ground Me down. To leave Thee melts Me; union is My goal. 34. The secret of My sorrow cleft the sky, My anguish sundered the earth of the breast. The tears in My eyes spoke of My heart's fire, My face paled at the sighing of My chest.     The Ode of the Dove                                                                                                CHAPTER TWO Divisions 36-65   ODE OF THE DOVE 36. My critics' gloating makes Me wail all night. I plead all day since My support is gone. For I have reached dishonor's lowest rung, so that tongues stutter when they speak thereon. 38. The houris in their castles clothed themselves in mourning black at My soul's deep despair. I've fallen into anguish in all hearts; I feel constricted in the open air. 40. Then from behind Me She cried out, "Be still! and hold Thy tongue from all that it hath told. How many Husayns like Thee wanted Me; there love Me, just like Thee, `Alis untold. 42. How many intimates I had who were thy peers--and loves, superior to Thee Who always wail but cannot reach My gaze one instant, by the light of unity. 44. My dawn makes revelation's sun a star, My brilliance makes pure light only a glint; My soul's gleam renders Being's secret naught, Of My love's flames all bonfires only hint. 46. My nature molded the creation's rite; the White Palm was withdrawn before My hand. The stern injunction came from a clear Cause; My wisdom's fairness shaped the just Command. 48. The wave within Me stilled the ocean's surf; the Holy Ghost stirred at My rapture's lights. Immortal Moses swooned before My gaze; My gleam destroyed the Sinai of all heights. 50. The spread of My Cause quickened all the souls; old bones were wakened by My spirit's breath. The soul of this Cause circled round its House; My visage raised that House's soul from death. 52. The B of "speak the secret" swooned before My Point! The B hides the realm of high lore. All guidance shines forth from My dawning Cause; the news of My descent, all the heights bore. 54. My bounties lent birdsongs their melody, from My tune comes the humming of the bee. I rendered Thee a suspect by My Law: Thou didst another's love quaff, wrongfully. 56. Thou didst bring forth depictions and kinships and crave names, thus departing from My way. Thou didst describe a self and say it's mine-- the gravest sin, for therein limits lay. 58. Thou didst desire a hopeless union, the condition for which Thou must satisfy: Thou must drain every cup of fate's ordeals; thy heart must spew the blood of tyranny. 60. Thou must cut off all hope of comfort's touch; Thou must renounce every necessity. Thy duty is to shed blood in love's faith; a love-scorched soul is fealty to Me. 62. Nights spent awake at slanderer's attacks, a constant stream of insults all the days; In My faith poison's as a healing drink; in My Path, fate's wrath is a tender grace. 64. Cease claiming to love, or accept all this, For thus was it ordained in My Law's scroll."   In private I called out to Her, "My love, My ultimate hope, and My heart's sole goal!   The Ode of the Dove                                                                                            CHAPTER THREE Divisions 66-95   ODE OF THE DOVE 66. I stand here in the presence of Thy might, aspiring to all that Thou dost relate. Here I am asking for all Thou dost love, then here I stand, prepared for thy mandate. 68. My breast yearns for the shafts of thine assault; My body craves the swords of cruelty. Thy fire's My light, thy harshness is My wish; My rest is thy wrath, My goal thy decree. 70. Look on the tears of My eyes, how they flow; gaze on My inmost heart, how it doth fade. Each day the spears of all have struck Me down, and each night I died by rejection's blade. 72. I read each line of atheism's book; each second I heard everyone's rude jeers, And faced false charges of idolatry. Each day I was transfixed by exile's spears-- 74. As though fate's woes descended just for Me, and fury's blades were sharpened for My neck: The grief of Jacob, Joseph's prison cell; the Friend's white hot flames, and Job's tragic check; 76. And Adam's brooding, Jonah's urgent flight; the sad lament of David, Noah's cry; Eve's separation, Mary's agony; Isaiah's trials, Zachariah's sigh. 78. My rain of grief hath sealed the fate of all, My flood of woes gave rise to all distress. See how I roamed the lands without a friend save for the beast within the wilderness. 80. At My heart's breaking, springs broke through the earth; My open eyes caused heaven's eye to flow. My spirit's grief cut short the endless Soul; the Most High Throne shook at My suffering's glow. 82. Red everywhere was reddened by My blood, and from My tears there grew up this world's bower. For bitter hurt in thy love's path is sweet; From any but Thee heaven's mead is sour. 84. And iron's scars can be seen on My neck, on My legs marks of fetters yet remain; For not a day passed save that I was scorched by clear prose and the hints verses contain. 86. My spirit disappeared, My heart dissolved; My soul boiled from the pain of misery. I was left with no spirit, heart or soul; that I existed at all startled Me. 88. My secret's loftiness convicted Me; I wish that My creation never rose. For thus have difficulties wiped Me out, and thus was I encompassed by My woes.   90. Then I ascended and withdrew alone; I reached the real Encounter in My heart. I saw Thy traits in My eyes' portraiture, through Thine eye's glance, which is sharp as a dart. 92. If I had limits, they appeared from Thee; If I had traits then they derived from Thee. Night's darkness was fulfilled when I was roiled; My joy refined the daylight's clarity. 94. No matter if I am today cast out; I saw, when sent forth, the exalted light. I knew Jerusalem by the Friend's glow; I journeyed in Tihran when taking flight.     The Ode of the Dove                                                                                              CHAPTER FOUR Divisions 96-130   ODE OF THE DOVE 96. My inner light gave Me faith in the Light; I rose up, by the spirit, in My soul." I call on thee, life-spirit, to depart; within Me, no part is left of the whole. 98. Transcendent spirit, climb down from thy throne; for thee, My stigma is no source of blame. I waken thee, My heart: thou must depart; thou hast no honor in this realm of shame. 100. My patience: Bear all that which Thou hast seen, of hardship and of ease in thy Love's way. In spirit, She told Me to persevere: "I knew of all the proofs Thou dost display. 102. Forget all that Thou hast known and adored; idolatry, for Me, is unity; For to Me Sinai's brightest glow is naught; and the sublimest light is gloom to Me. 104. Thy verses' sketch of Me is a child's truth; For My subjects, thy words of praise are sound. I never ceased to dwell in sanctity, and My transcendence hath remained unbound. 106. How many just ones, I deemed mere despots; how many wise ones I saw as untaught; How fleeting were immortals of all kinds; how many learned never will know aught; 108. How many worshippers have disobeyed; how many genuflicting have not kneeled! My Being vindicated heaven's psalms; My scripture hath unveiled scrolls that were sealed. 110. My atom made the cosmic sun revolve, My drop evoked great praise from Being's sea; The songs of all the creatures were to Me the buzzing of a tiny ant or bee. 112. All minds turned unto My soul's ecstasy; all souls were by My spirit's tune revived. My raining Cause made deities divine; all Lords have by My ample order thrived. 114. The Spirit's realm moved in Me by decree; I set My foot down on Mount Sinai's throne; At My light the star's radiance blazed forth; the sun of rapture at My spirit shone. 116. Collected verses, revelation's gleam; the Traces and Day-Stars of sanctity; Thought's essences and contemplation's gems; Light-beams' adornments, wisdom's jewelry. 118. The Alpha of My Cause judged everyone; all wonders came forth from My soul's good will. Thou didst leave Me and reckon thyself near, and waters of whim in myth's spring didst spill. 120. Thou dost forsake the Unseen's light, in what Thou wreakest in thyself--and My works lose! Hold fast to the cord of the outward Cause; to befriend light's concealed face must Thou choose. 122. Rend nearness' veil without a hint! Look on the sacred Beauty secretly, within. Be silent, for earth's Powers are disturbed. Forbear! The Unseen's eyes wept a fountain. 124. In Thee is veiled meaning beyond knowledge that even radiant minds never knew. The holy mystery hides joy and friendship, which Thou must not divulge if Thou be true. 126. Wert Thou to unmask what Thou didst behold, the world would in a trice be lost to sight! For thus the throne of glory hath decreed, and so ordained the mystery of might. 128. They who attain are blessed for they kept faith;  blessed are they who embrace the wondrous Rite; Blessed are the lovers for the blood they shed; blessed are the ones who with My love unite. Blessed are the sincere, who to the shade of My Lordliness made haste from every side."   Translated by J. R. I. Cole Notes to “Ode of the Dove”, revealed in Persian. These notes were revealed by Bahá'ulláh, in Persian, upon his return to Baghdad to supplement the Arabic poem. 4. Shadows of the clouds:   A reference to that which He hath said, Blessed and Exalted may He be, "That God should come down to them overshadowed with clouds."                        Quran 2:210   To move: A reference to the mountains moving, insofar as they will stir even as clouds, as He hath said, "and thou shalt see the mountains, that thou supposest fixed, passing by like clouds" Quran 27:88 All these are signs of the Resurrection Day, and the events associated therewith.     7. Solaced:   Which is to say, illumined. From the fragrance of Her locks the breeze of delight and splendor, and the perfume of compassion and glory, have been wafted from north of the paradise of the divine Essence, which stretcheth to the right of the eternal garden. In this wise, perchance the dusty bones of the substances of all created things shall be honored with life without end and everlasting existence, and bestow honor upon the pride of Being through the agency of those heart-entrancing gales and pleasing, fragrant scents that waft from the wondrous and imperishable chalice that holds a new, incomparable wine. Even so, the eye of true Beauty, of which the sun of the heaven of Being is the least significant sign, did by gazing upon Her face become brilliant, radiant and illumined. Exalted be God, Her Creator, above that of which ye make mention.     8. When Moses cleansed and sanctified the feet of the divine Self, Who had been consigned to human form, from the sandals of contingent fancies and drew forth the hand of divine Power from the fold of grandeur in the cloak of splendor, He arrived in the holy, good and blessed valley of the heart. This is the base of the throne of everlasting effulgence and the seat of divine and glorious converse. And when He reached that land of Sinai, which lieth outstretched to the right of the illumined Spot, He smelled the perfumed odor of the Spirit from east of eternity, and perceived the undying lights from all directions, without direction. After the darkened glass of self had been removed, the wick of the divine Essence blazed forth in the lamp of his heart, ignited by the passionate scent of godly love and the flaming brand of the fire of divine unity. And after the stations of opposition had been eliminated, He arrived in the valley of eternal sobriety through the wine of the attainment to an incomparable Countenance and the pure nectar of the imperishable.   Through the attractive power of His longing for the divine Meeting, He became aware of the city of everlasting life. "He entered the city at a time when its people were heedless" (Q. 28:15). And behold, He discerned the fire of the timeless godhead, and shone with the light of the Almighty God. He said to His family, "Do ye tarry here. Verily, I observe a fire" (Q. 20:10). When He discovered and perceived the visage of pre-existent, most gracious Guidance in the tree that is neither of the east nor the west (Q. 24:35), the changeable and ephemeral face was honored and glorified by attaining to the ancient, imperishable Countenance. In the blazing fire He discovered the wondrous, inaccessible visage of Guidance which had been concealed in the bosoms of the Unseen. This is that to which He then gave utterance: "or I shall find guidance in this fire." (Q. 20:10).   Even so, perceive ye the intent of the blessed verse, "He who made for ye fire from the green tree." (Q. 36:80). O would that there were a listener to comprehend it, and that one drop from the vast ocean of fire, one spark from the storehouse of flames, could be mentioned. But it is better, after all, that this pearl remain hidden within the shell of pure longing and stored in the vessels of secrecy, that every stranger might be excluded and every intimate friend may be garbed in pilgrim's dress before the Ka`bah of splendor, that he may enter the sanctuary of beauty. How happy is the soul that consumes the cage of the body in the flames of the fire of love, and becomes the familiar of the Spirit, that he may attain unto the exalted mercy of repose, and that the lofty bounty of glory may be bestowed upon him.   All that of which mention hath been made concerning the ranks of guidance and the grades of self-purification in the station of Moses- -may peace be upon Him and our Prophet--hath reference to the manifestation of these effulgences in the world of outward appearances. Otherwise, that Exalted One was always and shall forever be led by the guidance of God. Nay, more, it was from Him that the sun of guidance dawned and the moon of God's grace appeared. It was from His essential being that the flames of the divine Essence were ignited, and from the brilliance of His forehead that the light of eternity became radiant. He Himself resolved such doubts by the words He spoke when questioned by Pharaoh about the man He had killed. He responded, "I did it indeed, and I was one of those who erred. And I fled from you when I feared you; but My Lord hath given Me judgment and hath made Me One of the Apostles." (Q. 26:20-21). The discourse hath come to an end, though in truth this matter is inexhaustible and unending.     17. My all: That is, "All that which hath descended upon Me of the stations of eloquent exposition and hidden meanings, and that which it hath been given to Me to know of the modes of the divine Names and Attributes, and that which God hath bestowed upon Me in the worlds of the unseen and the seen--all this I offer up that I might meet Thee once, and gaze upon Thee a single time."   I beseech Thy forgiveness, O My God, for that which I have presumed to assert in Thy presence. But, by Thy Might, if I were not so, I would wish to be so in Thy precincts, for without this nothing can ever benefit Me, and naught else can grant repose to My heart, even wert Thou to bestow upon Me all who are in heaven and on earth. I ask Thee, O My God, by Him Who witnessed in Thy path what none else hath witnessed, to send down upon Thy Servant the most great signs of Thy love and the evidences of Thy glorious loving-kindness, that My soul may be content in that for which it hopeth. Verily, Thou art powerful over all things.     23. Fuel: Even so, He saith, "the fire, whose fuel is men and stones."                                       Quran 2:24 Flames and intense anxiety are also intended.     28. Gloating: Malicious gloaters greater in number than the atoms of all created things, such as the eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor soul numbered, nor imagination conceived, like unto a downpour. Lo, it is as rainfall descending from the sky of heedlessness! Say: O people of the earth, oppose not Him in Whose heart there is naught save the effulgence of the lights of the celestial morn. Fear ye God and turn not away, for if ye never love, ye will never hate. Once the love of God comes to exist, the loss of all else is of no importance. We praise God that He hath rendered Us unneedful of their love and mention. And He is God, Powerful over all things.

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