M5:3633 — که ز لطف یار تلخیهای مات / گشت بر جان خوشتر از شکرنبات

This couplet is spoken by Ayaz, the loyal servant of Sultan Mahmud, as he explains the true nature of his inner state to the king. The king, puzzled by Ayaz's apparent indifference to worldly possessions and his continued attachment to his old, humble garments, asks him to reveal the secret of his contentment. Ayaz's response, of which this beyt is a part, is a testament to the transformative power of divine love.

The 'bitterness of death' (تلخیهای مات) refers not only to physical demise but also to all forms of suffering, loss, and hardship that life presents. In a conventional sense, these are the most unpleasant experiences. However, for a soul immersed in the 'grace of the Beloved' (لطف یار), these very 'bitternesses' are transmuted. They become 'sweeter than sugared candy' (خوشتر از شکرنبات), implying that the presence and favor of the divine Beloved infuse even the most painful experiences with a profound spiritual joy that transcends any worldly pleasure.

This highlights a central Sufi theme: the lover of God finds solace and even delight in whatever the Beloved sends, be it joy or sorrow. The external circumstances lose their sting when the inner connection to the divine is strong. Ayaz's humility and detachment are not a sign of deprivation but of an inner richness derived from this spiritual grace, making his 'poverty' far more valuable than any king's wealth.