Story 33

  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.