What follows is my provisional translation (in other words, not official or authorized; see here for more) of a Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the original text of which has been published in Yárán-i-Pársí, pp. 86–87 (selection no. 38). According to p. 491 of that book, this Tablet was written for Mullá Bahrám (Akhtarkhávarí), who was in Bombay at the time.
O Bahrám[1] of the heaven of the love of the Lord! The dawn of hope hath broken and the world-illumining Orb of the Concourse on high shone resplendent. The splendor of God hath caused both East and West to gleam with radiance, and certain stars have caught the rays of the luminous moon; even as the ruby of Badakhshán[2] have they become brilliant, and made like unto the flowers of a garden.
Since thou, bearing the name Bahrám, art a luminary in the heaven of knowledge, shine forth as a bright moon and become a blooming hundred-petaled rose, beaming in the garden of wisdom and understanding. Be thou a light-giving lamp in the path of God; be thou, in the meadows of the righteous, a graceful cypress—an adornment fit for the rose-garden. Obtain thou the radiance of the virtuous and adopt the manner of the legendary kings of Persia. Be thou a guide like Firaydún,[3] a Jamshíd[4] in the realm of the love of the peerless Lord. Become a fair-faced Manúchihr[5] among the noble, a Kayúmars[6] in the city of the righteous. Be thou a Húshang[7] seated upon the throne of knowledge and understanding, and hearken to the divine call that cometh from heaven. Raise thou a clamor and lift up a cry. Begin thou to sing, plucking the harp and the lute, becoming a bird of the rosy bower—an embellishment of the orchard. Become thou an eloquent tongue and a seeing eye. Cast off thy veil and break the bonds of thy fetters. Be thou a fierce lion and seek out the Shabdíz[8] of the arena. Call out for the ball and mallet,[9] and rush forth upon thy steed, crossing the plains and deserts of this world. Shake off the dust of the trappings, the defilements, and the comforts of the earth from thy sleeve, and set thy sights upon the celestial sphere.
Become thou even as an instructor in a school, a physician in the realm of the Beloved. Illumine thou the chamber of knowledge and proffer the wine that imparteth consciousness. Teach the children of the world the way of God, and raise up those who have fallen into the pit of ignorance unto the palace of the wise.
Such is the chain-sundering counsel of thy loving friend, O Bahrám!
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[1] This is a double entendre; although Bahrám is the name of the person to whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote this Tablet, it is also a name for Mars. A celebrated name in Persian tradition, it is most notably associated with Bahrám Gúr (Bahrám V, r. 420–438 CE), the Sasanian king famed for his valor, justice, and cultural accomplishments.
[2] A historic region in Central Asia (in present-day northeastern Afghanistan and southeastern Tajikistan) renowned since ancient times for its precious ruby mines, producing gems of exceptional quality and brilliance.
[3] A legendary king in the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi, celebrated as a model of justice, wisdom, and righteousness who overthrew the tyrannical Zahhak and established a golden age of peace and prosperity.
[4] An ancient legendary king of Persia in the Shahnameh, credited with bringing civilization, the arts, and sciences to humanity. He is associated with the Persian New Year (Naw-Rúz) celebration.
[5] A legendary king of Persia in the Shahnameh, renowned for his justice and virtue, and noted for his nobility and fair governance during a period of peace and prosperity.
[6] In Persian mythology, the first king and the progenitor of humanity according to the Shahnameh, who established the foundations of civilization and ruled with wisdom and justice.
[7] An early legendary king in the Shahnameh, grandson of Kayúmars, credited with discovering fire and advancing human civilization through the development of metallurgy and tools.
[8] The legendary black steed of Khusraw Parvíz (Chosroes II, r. 590–628 CE), the Sasanian king. Shabdíz was celebrated in Persian literature for its speed, strength, and beauty, and became a symbol of royal power and martial prowess.
[9] Commonly found in Persian literature, these are allusions to the game of polo, which is believed to have originated in Persia.
A typescript of the original Persian text of this Tablet appears below (all punctuation and short vowel marks mine).
Adib Masumian 