M2:2756 — وان دو عالم را غرضشان کور کرد / علمشان را علت اندر گور کرد

This couplet is spoken by the deputy to the newly appointed judge, who is lamenting his ignorance in the face of two knowledgeable litigants. The deputy reassures the judge by explaining that the litigants' 'knowledge' is tainted. The phrase 'وان دو عالم را غرضشان کور کرد' (Their self-interest blinded those two learned men) refers to the two disputing parties. While they might be 'learned' (عالم) in the details of their case or even in general knowledge, their غرض (selfish motive, personal interest, or greed) acts as a veil, preventing them from seeing justice or truth clearly. This self-interest 'blinds' them.

The second hemistich, 'علمشان را علت اندر گور کرد' (Their motives buried their knowledge in a grave), further elaborates on this corruption. علت here can mean 'cause,' 'reason,' but in this context, it carries the connotation of a 'defect,' 'flaw,' or 'ulterior motive.' This 'defect' effectively 'buries' their knowledge, rendering it inert and useless for discerning justice. Their learning, however vast, becomes dead and ineffective because it is driven by personal gain rather than a pure search for truth. This sets up the deputy's central argument: the judge's 'ignorance' (or rather, his lack of personal stake) is actually a virtue compared to the litigants' biased 'knowledge.'