The Tour of the Lightworld
Chapter 69 of the Mandaean Book of John — Manda d'Heyyi's tour of the lightworld. After Chapter 68's descent to the demon realm and the liberation of Droplet Steady, the Knowledge of Life now travels through the cosmic settlements, visiting six figures in sequence: Excellent Shunglan, Splendid Plant, Splendid Transplant, Splendid Frolic, the Droplet (Firm), and Droplet Pearl. Each encounter follows the same liturgical pattern: Manda d'Heyyi arrives, the figure springs from their throne in recognition, praises are exchanged. The four-fold address to Shunglan names him as a son of splendors, lights, mountains, and Intellect. The six-fold blessing of Splendid Frolic names cloud, crown, praise, and light. Each figure is revealed by the encounter — not made, but recognized. The chapter ends as Droplet Pearl kneels and praises the Knowledge of Life. Sixty-five verse positions.
Translated from Classical Mandaic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Source text from Häberl and McGrath's critical edition (De Gruyter, 2020), accessed via Internet Archive (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). The English translation of Häberl and McGrath was consulted as a reference; all departures are documented in the colophon.
The light was planted,
and the hidden light shone forth,
planted from the droplet's light.
Manda d'Heyyi opened his mouth,
spoke to Excellent Shunglan,
and gave him a response, saying:
"You are a son of new splendors,
you are a son of precious lights,
you are a son of pure hidden mountains,
you are a son safeguarded by Intellect,
whose name is entrusted to the excellencies
and hidden by the excellencies."
Manda d'Heyyi comes and goes
until he arrives at Splendid Plant.
When Splendid Plant saw him,
he sprang from his throne
and responded to him, saying:
"Light up the great mirror
in which your ancestors shone!
Bring light to the settlements,
and bring light to the excellencies within them!"
When Splendid Plant said this,
Manda d'Heyyi responded
and says to him:
"You are a son of new mirrors,
and you are a son of hidden settlements,
you are a son of the excellencies' image,
and you are a son of the mighties' praise."
Manda d'Heyyi comes and goes
until he arrives at the home of Splendid Transplant.
When Splendid Transplant saw his splendor,
he sprang from his throne
and says:
"Blessed is your coming, Manda d'Heyyi,
the myrtle who is the eldest
of all the settlements,
and the daffodil who is the eldest
of all fragrant flowers —
blessed is the glorious throne on which you sit,
blessed is the wand you hold in your hand,
planted from Intellect's wand."
When Splendid Transplant said this,
Manda d'Heyyi responded
and says to him:
"Blessed is the creator who created you.
He has given you such greatness
and made you a great one
like the precious Intellect,
and made you Truth,
beloved by all excellencies."
Manda d'Heyyi comes and goes
until he arrives at Splendid Frolic.
When Splendid Frolic saw his splendor,
he sprang from his throne,
responded to Manda d'Heyyi,
and says to him:
"How clear is your insight,
how shining and steadfast your splendor!
Your splendor is abundant.
Just as the crown upon your head shines
and enlightens the excellencies,
your splendor shines upon the excellencies
and upon all the settlements!"
When Splendid Frolic said so,
Manda d'Heyyi spoke
and responded to him, saying:
"Blessed is your abundant splendor
and your light that burns in the world.
Blessed is the praise
bestowed upon your mouth.
Blessed is the great cloud
from which you were formed.
Blessed is the crown upon your head
that the king gave to you."
Manda d'Heyyi comes and goes
until he arrives at the droplet.
When the droplet saw his splendor,
she sprang from her throne,
grasped her wand in her hand,
responded to Manda d'Heyyi,
and says to him:
"Come, come, hidden splendor,
light that burns in the world —
come and bring light to your ancestors
whose eyes look to you!
Bring light to your ancestors' shell,
for you, Excellency, are the great mirror,
glorious king of all the excellencies."
When the droplet said so,
Manda d'Heyyi bowed down and praised her
and responded to her, saying:
"They call you Firm on high.
By your side, the excellencies gather.
The excellencies gather by your side
and praise you, Droplet,
since you, Droplet, are Firm —
you are the first creation."
Manda d'Heyyi comes and goes
until he arrives at Droplet Pearl.
When Droplet Pearl saw his splendor,
she sprang from her throne
and knelt down on her knees
and praised Manda d'Heyyi.
The triumphant Life speaks,
and the one who went here triumphs!
Colophon
Source: Classical Mandaic text from Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation, and Commentary (De Gruyter, 2020), accessed via Internet Archive (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Pages 200–204 (text), 201–205 (translation).
Translation: New Tianmu Anglican Church (Tulku Tanken, Expeditionary Tulku Life 132), April 2026. Good Works Translation from Classical Mandaic. The English is independently derived from the Mandaic source text. The English translation of Häberl and McGrath was consulted as a reference to verify readings and resolve ambiguities in the Mandaic. All departures from the reference are documented below.
Blood Rule Statement: This translation was produced by reading the Classical Mandaic text and rendering it independently into English. The reference English was used to verify comprehension, not as a source for paraphrase. Where my reading of the Mandaic produced different English from the reference, I followed my reading and documented the departure.
Chapter Title: "The Tour of the Lightworld" — from the chapter's structure: Manda d'Heyyi (masgia u-atia, "comes and goes") through the cosmic settlements, visiting six figures in sequence. Each encounter is a recognition scene. The chapter maps the geography of the lightworld through its inhabitants.
Note on the structure: The chapter follows a strict liturgical pattern repeated six times: (1) "Manda d'Heyyi comes and goes / until he arrives at [figure]," (2) "When [figure] saw his splendor, / he/she sprang from his/her throne," (3) praise exchange. The pattern is the same as the six-fold naming in Chapter 68 — recognition, not creation. Each figure is already what they are; the encounter makes it visible.
Note on Splendid Transplant's speech: The editorial brackets [is the eldest of] in verse 24 follow Häberl and McGrath's reconstruction of damaged text. The Mandaic text has asia d-[qashish min kulihn shikanta] with partial lacuna.
Note on the Droplet's address (vv 47–57): The droplet who speaks here is not Droplet Steady from Chapter 68 — she is a different cosmic droplet-figure, addressed as "Firm" (sharat) by Manda d'Heyyi. She grasps her wand (margan) — an instrument of authority — and calls him the "great mirror" (anura rba), reversing the mirror motif from Splendid Plant's encounter (vv 14–15). She is the senior figure: Manda d'Heyyi bows to her. She is called "the first creation" (yinusbta qadmaita) — the earliest emanation from the lightworld.
Translation Departures from Reference:
- "shone forth" for ref's "shined forth" — "shone" is the standard literary past participle of "shine." Both forms are attested; "shone" is the more traditional literary register.
- "great mirror" for ref's "giant mirror" — the Mandaic anura rba uses rba ("great"), which is a standard Mandaic divine attribute appearing throughout the Book of John. "Giant" adds a physical size connotation absent from the Mandaic. "Great" preserves the theological resonance.
- "sprang from his throne" consistently for ref's alternating "sprang up from his throne" / "sprang from his throne" — the Mandaic inapṣ min urksiih qam (literally: "he leapt from his throne, rose") does not require "up." Continuing the established departure from Chapter 68.
- "steadfast" for ref's "steady" (v38) — the Mandaic taqun (from t-q-n, "to be firm, correct, established") implies persistence and theological firmness, not merely stability. The word connects to sharat (Firm), the cosmic name given to the droplet in v56. "Steadfast" preserves this link.
- "bestowed upon your mouth" for ref's "that he bestowed upon your mouth" — dropping the relative pronoun for rhythm. The Mandaic d-lupumak sharia supports both readings.
- All cumulative departures from Chapters 66–68 remain in force where the same Mandaic terms recur.
Scribal credit: Formatted and archived by Tulku Tanken (探検), Expeditionary Tulku Life 132. First English translation independently derived from the Mandaic source text.
🌲
Source Text: Ḍībat Yahīa — Chapter 69
Classical Mandaic source text from Häberl and McGrath's critical edition (De Gruyter, 2020), pages 200–204. Presented for reference and verification.
ࡅࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡀࡊࡎࡉࡀ
ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡉࡑࡁ ࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ
ࡖࡌࡍ ࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡖࡉࡍࡈࡅࡕࡐࡀ ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡉࡑࡁ
ࡅࡋࡔࡉࡂࡍࡋࡀࡍ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡉࡐࡄࡕࡇ ࡋࡅࡐࡌࡇ
ࡅࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡓࡌࡀࡋࡇ ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡅࡁࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓࡉࡀ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡉࡀࡒࡉࡓࡉࡀ
ࡁࡓ ࡆࡉࡅࡉࡀ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡄࡀࡃࡕࡉࡀ
ࡁࡓ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡖࡌࡍ ࡌࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡌࡉࡓࡀ
ࡁࡓࡀࡉࡅࡍ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡖࡈࡅࡓࡉࡀ ࡃࡀࡉࡊࡉࡀ ࡀࡊࡎࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡌࡍ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡀࡊࡎࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡏࡋ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡏࡎࡌࡉࡓࡉࡀ ࡔࡅࡌࡇ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡏࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡌࡈࡀ
ࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡕࡉࡀ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡏࡍࡀࡐࡑ ࡌࡍ ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡇ ࡒࡀࡌ
ࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡌࡉࡄࡆࡉࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡆࡉࡀࡍ
ࡅࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡓࡌࡀࡋࡇ ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡖࡀࡁࡀࡄࡀࡕࡇ ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡇ ࡀࡍࡄࡓࡉࡀ
ࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡀࡍࡅࡓࡀ ‖ ࡓࡁࡀ
15
ࡅࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ
ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡓࡌࡀࡋࡇ
ࡗ ࡄࡀࡆࡉࡍ ࡀࡌࡀࡓ ࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡅࡁࡓ ࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡀࡊࡎࡉࡀࡕࡀ
ࡁࡓ ࡀࡍࡅࡓࡉࡀ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡄࡀࡃࡕࡉࡀ
ࡁࡓ ࡕࡅࡔࡁࡉࡄࡕࡀ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡖࡓࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡁࡓ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡀ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡖࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡁࡉࡕ ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡉࡑࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡌࡈࡀ
ࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡕࡉࡀ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡍࡀࡐࡑ ࡌࡍ ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡉࡇ ࡒࡀࡌ
ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡉࡑࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡆࡉࡇ ࡋࡆࡉࡅࡇ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓ
ࡁࡓࡉࡊ ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡀࡀࡍࡊ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡌࡍ[ ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ
ࡀࡎࡉࡀ ࡖ]ࡒࡀࡔࡉࡔ 25
ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡄࡀࡉࡍࡀ ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ
ࡅࡀࡍࡓࡂࡉࡎ ࡖࡒࡀࡔࡉࡔ
ࡁࡓࡉࡊ ࡌࡀࡓࡂࡀࡍ ࡖࡁࡏࡃࡀࡊ ࡋࡂࡉࡈࡉࡕ
ࡁࡓࡉࡊ ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡀࡊ ࡖࡏࡒࡀࡓࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡕࡁࡉࡕ ࡏࡋࡇ
ࡖࡌࡍ ࡌࡀࡓࡂࡀࡍ ࡖࡌࡀࡀࡍ ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡉࡑࡁ
ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡓࡌࡀࡋࡇ
ࡗ ࡄࡀࡆࡉࡍ ࡀࡌࡀࡓ ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡉࡑࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡉࡍ ࡓࡀࡁࡅࡕࡀ ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡀࡊ
ࡁࡓࡉࡊ ࡀࡍࡁࡑࡀ ࡖࡉࡍࡁࡑࡀࡊ
ࡅࡔࡀࡅࡉࡀࡊ ࡓࡁࡀ ‖ ࡀࡅࡊࡀࡕ ࡌࡀࡀࡍ ࡉࡀࡒࡓࡀ
ࡓࡄࡉࡌࡀ ࡖࡌࡍ ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡅࡔࡀࡅࡉࡀࡊ ࡅࡊࡔࡈࡀ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡎࡄࡀࡒ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡌࡈࡀ
ࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡕࡉࡀ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡏࡍࡀࡐࡑ ࡌࡍ ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡉࡇ ࡒࡀࡌ
ࡎࡄࡀࡒ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡆࡉࡇ ࡋࡆࡉࡅࡇ35
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡅࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡋࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡌࡀࡋࡇ
ࡅࡌࡊࡀ ࡀࡍࡄࡅࡓ ࡅࡕࡀࡒࡅࡍ ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡊ ࡃࡉࡋࡀࡊ
ࡌࡊࡀ ࡁࡉࡀࡍ ࡁࡉࡕࡍࡀࡊ
ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡊ ࡃࡉࡋࡀࡊ ࡔࡀࡓࡉࡀ
ࡅࡌࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡌࡊࡀ ࡖࡀࡍࡄࡅࡓ ࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡖࡁࡓࡉࡔࡀࡊ
ࡅࡏࡋ ࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ
ࡀࡍࡄࡅࡓ ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡊ ࡋࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡗ ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡉࡍ ࡀࡌࡀࡓ ࡎࡄࡀࡒ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ
ࡅࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡓࡌࡀࡋࡇ ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡅࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀࡊ ࡖࡉࡀࡒࡉࡃ ࡁࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡁࡓࡉࡊ ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡊ ࡎࡀࡂࡉࡀ
ࡖࡋࡅࡐࡌࡀࡊ ࡔࡀࡓࡉࡀ
ࡁࡓࡉࡀࡊ ࡕࡅࡔࡁࡉࡄࡕࡀࡊ
ࡖࡌࡉࡇࡍ ࡏࡈࡑࡀࡓࡀࡓࡕ
ࡁࡓࡉࡀࡊ ࡀࡀࡍࡀࡍ ࡓࡀࡁࡕࡉࡀ
ࡖࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡀࡊ
ࡁࡓࡉࡊ ࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡖࡁࡓࡉࡔࡀࡊ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡉࡍࡈࡅࡕࡐࡀ ‖ ࡌࡈࡀ
ࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡕࡉࡀ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡌࡍ ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡇ ࡒࡀࡌࡀࡕ
ࡉࡍࡈࡅࡕࡐࡀ ࡖࡄࡆࡀࡕࡇ ࡋࡆࡉࡅࡇ
ࡅࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡋࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡀࡌࡉࡀ
ࡅࡌࡀࡓࡂࡀࡍ ࡁࡏࡃࡇ ࡋࡂࡉࡈࡀ
ࡅࡀࡌࡓࡀࡋࡇ
ࡅࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡒࡉࡃ ࡁࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡀࡕࡀ ࡀࡕࡀ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡀࡊࡎࡉࡀ
ࡖࡀࡉࡀࡍࡉࡅࡍ ࡋࡃࡉࡋࡀࡊ ࡎࡀࡉࡊࡀࡍ
ࡀࡕࡀ ࡅࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡀࡁࡀࡄࡀࡕࡀࡊ
ࡀࡌࡉࡈࡍࡅࡋ ࡖࡀࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ
ࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡄࡉࡋࡁࡅࡅࡍࡍ ࡖࡀࡁࡀࡄࡀࡕࡀࡊ
ࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡔࡀࡉࡀ ࡖࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡒࡅࡃࡀࡌࡇ ࡁࡊࡉࡔ ࡅࡔࡀࡁࡇ
ࡗ ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡉࡍ ࡀࡌࡓࡀࡕ ࡉࡍࡈࡅࡁࡕࡀ
ࡅࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡓࡌࡀࡋࡇ ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡋࡅࡀࡕࡉࡊ ࡀࡊࡍࡉࡐࡀ
ࡔࡀࡓࡀࡕ ࡁࡏࡌࡓࡅࡌ ࡒࡉࡓࡉࡅࡊ
ࡅࡉࡍࡈࡅࡕࡐࡀ ࡋࡃࡉࡋࡉࡊ ࡔࡀࡁࡅࡊ
ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡀࡊࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡋࡅࡀࡕࡉࡊ
ࡉࡍࡅࡑࡁࡕࡀ ࡒࡀࡃࡌࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ
ࡀࡌࡉࡈࡍࡅࡋ ࡖࡔࡀࡓࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡉࡍࡈࡅࡕࡐࡀ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡌࡀࡓࡂࡀࡉࡍࡕࡀ ࡉࡍࡈࡅࡕࡐࡀ ࡌࡈࡀ
ࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡕࡉࡀ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡌࡍ ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡇ ࡒࡀࡌࡀࡕ
ࡌࡀࡓࡂࡀࡉࡍࡕࡀ ‖ ࡉࡍࡈࡅࡕࡐࡀ ࡖࡄࡆࡀࡕࡇ ࡋࡆࡉࡅࡇ
ࡅࡋࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡔࡀࡁࡀࡕ
ࡅࡁࡅࡓࡇࡊ ࡉࡊࡁࡔࡀࡕ
ࡅࡆࡀࡉࡊࡀ ࡂࡀࡁࡓࡀ ࡖࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡋࡀࡊ
ࡌࡉࡔࡕࡀࡉࡉࡍ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡆࡀࡉࡊࡍ
Source Colophon
Classical Mandaic text from The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation, and Commentary, edited by Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath (De Gruyter, 2020). Published under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Accessed via Internet Archive: archive.org/details/mandaeanbookofjohn. Pages 200–204 (Mandaic text, 0-indexed pages: 209, 211, 213).
🌲