O Iqbal, where did you learn this ascetic detachment from, that even great kings and rulers speak of your utter indifference to worldly power?

In this couplet, Iqbal addresses himself with a warm touch of wonder, asking where he mastered such supreme detachment from worldly desires. By setting the humble 'dervish' against mighty 'emperors', he reveals a profound truth: when you truly rise above material greed, even rulers of empires look at you with awe and respect. It is a celebration of inner sovereignty, reminding us that genuine majesty lies not in owning the world, but in needing nothing from it.