Panj Kanz (The Five Treasures) - an oral discourse given by Baháʼuʼlláh in Baghdád to a group of expatriate Persian princes, transcribed by Nabíl-i-Zarandí, who was present.

-- provisional translation by Adib Masumian

[An authorized version of Nabíl-i-Zarandí’s transcription of the Panj Kanz, prepared by the Research Department at the Baháʼí World Centre]

[More contextual information on the Panj Kanz, is also provided by Adib Taherzadeh in ‘The Revelation of Baháʼuʼlláh’, vol. 2, pp. 140–143]

[Please note: Baha’u’llah’s utterances are in quotes.]

The First Treasure

One day, the Beauty of the All-Knowing [Baha’u’llah] was walking in the bírúní [1] of the Most Great House in Baghdád when some of the princes of Persia, who were residing in that land, entered His presence. With the utmost solicitude, the Ancient Beauty [Baha’u’llah] inquired after them and asked about the current affairs of that land. One of them made this remark, “How is it that You discuss spiritual matters with Your friends when they attain Your presence, but with us You ask only of the town and the market? It seems You do not consider us worthy,” by which he intended to ask, “Why should these people—bereft of exquisite clothing, wealth, knowledge, and insight—take precedence over us, with our riches and sagacity?”

The Blessed Beauty responded:

“Dost thou know what sort of person is worthy of hearing My words and is fit to enter My presence? I will say it that thou shalt know. Suppose one should find himself in a limitless space, unbounded in every direction. To the right, there existeth every pomp and glory, pleasure and comfort, and sovereignty eternal and stainless; and to the left is prepared every calamity and hardship, vengeance and poverty, and vicissitude unyielding and perpetual. Suppose then that the Faithful Spirit should call out, from the precincts of the Lord of the Worlds, to that one, saying, ‘Shouldst thou choose the right—with its eternal pleasures and all that is therein—over the left, thou wouldst not, in the estimation of God, be abased in the least; and shouldst thou choose the left—with its perpetual hardships and all that is therein—over the right, it would not add an ounce to thy worth in the sight of the Almighty, the Unconstrained.’ Should that one choose, at that moment, the left over the right—afire with ardor and zeal, and filled with rapture and ecstasy—then would he be fit to enter My presence and worthy of hearing My magnificent words.”