A padshah asked a hermit: ‘How spendest thou thy precious time?’ He replied: ‘I am all night engaged in prayer, during the morning in supplications and the rest of the day in restricting my expenses.’ Then the king ordered a sufficient allowance to be allotted to him so as to relieve him of the cares of his family.
O thou who art encumbered with a family, Think no more of ever enjoying freedom. Cares for children, raiment and food Restrain thee from the heavenly kingdom. Every day I renew my determination To wait upon God until the night. In the night, while tying the knot of prayer, I think what my children will eat on the morrow.
