We have received a beautiful tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá titled the Tablet of Saboktakeen. Addressed to the youth of Ishqabad, Russia on July 23, 1914, in it ‘Abdu’l-Bahá praises these youth for asking their parents to donate whatever money was to be bequeathed to them towards the construction of the House of Worship in ‘Ishqábád. We are not aware of an English translation. In the tablet, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá retells the youth the story of a king named Saboktakeen and his regrets after a life in pursuit of earthly pleasures and praises the youth for the sacrifices they have made. The following from Star of the West, Volume 9 – Issue 18 details more about Saboktakeen’s fate:
“THE WORLDLY KING’S LAMENT. It is related that Saboktakeen, one of the renowned ancient kings of Persia, lived in the utmost grandeur and splendor. His palace was like unto the delectable paradise, and his table was provided with royal bounty and his life was like unto a stream of milk and honey. His treasuries were full and his riches unlimited. He was in the utmost joy and happiness. Suddenly he was attacked with a malady and was burning away like unto a candle, and with Jeremiads of disappointments he Was singing the most mournful tunes. When he became hopeless of this life, three days before his death, he commanded all his chamberlains, wearing golden girdles, to form a long line, and ordered all the ladies-in-waiting to present themselves before him. His treasures and all his precious jewels were on display before his eyes, and his accumulated Wealth was arrayed in dazzling fashion. Then he invited his ministers, courtiers and statesmen to be present in the throne room on a certain hour, and asked his immense army to be engaged in the maneuvers of victory and triumph in the military square in front of the palace. While sitting on his throne, he looked regretfully, now on this scene, now on another, and again on all this matchless array of grandeur and magnificence and wept most bitterly, crying aloud: “O! Thy must I be deprived of this imperial sovereignty and these royal prerogatives? Why should I not enjoy this life? Why bid farewell to all these things? How can I leave them behind and hasten empty-handed from this world to another World?” He wept and wept till he drew his last breath”
(From Diary of Mirza. Ahmad Sohrab, July 25, 1914.)
In the below recording from August 1, 1991, Amin’s great uncle chants this beautiful tablet in Persian for Amin’s father and in memory of Amin’s grandfather who often chanted this tablet.
And below is the original tablet in Persian and it can also be found here.
