M2:2092 — من نه گاوم تا که گوسالم خرد / من نه خارم که اشتری از من چرد

This couplet is spoken by the 'truth' itself, or by a perfected spiritual guide (like Rumi himself) who embodies this truth. It follows a series of verses where Rumi establishes the discerning nature of this truth, separating the pure from the impure, the light from the dark. The imagery here is stark: a 'calf' (گوساله) is too immature and ignorant to 'buy' (خرد) a 'cow' (گاو) – meaning, a spiritually undeveloped person cannot comprehend or master the profound, mature spiritual reality. Similarly, the truth is not a common 'thorn' (خار) that any 'camel' (اشتر) can simply graze upon. Camels are known for eating thorns, but this truth is not a mere sustenance for the unrefined appetites of the ignorant. It emphasizes that divine wisdom is not a commodity for sale to just anyone, nor is it a simple, easily digestible fodder for those lacking spiritual discernment. It requires a different kind of seeker, one who is not driven by base desires or superficial understanding, but by a genuine yearning for profound insight.