O king! I was but a man like others, asleep upon my couch, when

Hear, O seekers of truth and lovers of the Eternal, the exalted words of Baha’u’llah, who declared: “O king! I was but a man like others, asleep upon my couch, when lo, the breezes of the All-Glorious were wafted over me, and taught me the knowledge of all that hath been. This thing is not from me, but from One Who is Almighty and All-Knowing.” In this utterance shines both humility and majesty, for Baha’u’llah confesses his own humanity even as he proclaims the divine origin of his mission.

The meaning of this quote is deep as the ocean. Baha’u’llah presents himself not as a man seeking power, nor as one exalting himself, but as a vessel chosen by the Almighty. He was, like all men, asleep—symbol of the human state, veiled from higher truth—until awakened by the breath of the All-Glorious. This awakening was not of his own making; it was revelation, knowledge descending like light into darkness. Thus he declares that the wisdom he bears does not spring from his own mind, but from the inexhaustible fountain of the All-Knowing.

The origin of these words lies in the time of Baha’u’llah’s imprisonment and exile. He wrote to kings and rulers of the world, calling them to justice, compassion, and recognition of the unity of humanity. In addressing them, he spoke not as a courtier seeking favor, but as a Messenger, delivering a call greater than thrones or crowns. His words to the king remind all who rule that the source of true authority is not earthly power but divine truth.

Consider the tale of Moses on Mount Sinai. He, too, was but a shepherd, a man like others, until the fire of revelation shone before him. Trembling, he confessed his own weakness, but the voice of the Almighty gave him words that would lead a nation out of bondage. The staff in his hand was ordinary wood until God’s command turned it into a serpent of power. So it is with Baha’u’llah’s testimony: the human is transfigured when chosen by the All-Glorious.

And recall Muhammad, the Prophet of Arabia, who declared to his people that he was “but a man like you,” yet who spoke by inspiration of the All-Knowing. Unlettered, without schooling, yet he recited verses of majesty that shook empires. His humility was his strength, for it revealed that the message was not of human craft, but of divine origin. In like manner, Baha’u’llah’s words echo the eternal pattern: the messenger is ordinary, but the message is from eternity.

The wisdom here is luminous: greatness does not lie in self-exaltation, but in surrender to the Almighty. To be chosen is not to be proud, but to be humbled, knowing that all power flows from the All-Glorious. Baha’u’llah reminds us that every soul, however lowly, may be awakened by the divine breeze, lifted from sleep into the radiance of knowledge. For revelation is not bound by station or status—it descends where the Almighty wills.

The lesson, O listener, is this: be humble in your strength, and know that wisdom is a trust, not a possession. Do not boast of your gifts, for they are not from you, but through you. When insight dawns in your heart, give thanks to the Source. And when called to serve, do not shrink from weakness, for even prophets were “but men like others” until the breath of the All-Glorious passed over them.

Practical action lies before you: cultivate humility, seek truth with sincerity, and open your heart to the divine breezes that blow through life—in moments of prayer, in acts of justice, in the call to serve others. In doing so, you too may awaken from the sleep of heedlessness and rise to bear light in a darkened world.

Thus remember the words of Baha’u’llah: though we are but men and women, the knowledge of the All-Knowing may be breathed into us. Let us walk with reverence, speak with truth, and live with humility, so that we may become instruments of a wisdom greater than ourselves.