In Farid al-Din Attar's 'Conference of the Birds', the tale of the destitute man who falls in love with Ayaz serves as a profound allegory for the spiritual seeker's absolute devotion. In Sufi symbolism, Sultan Mahmud frequently represents the majesty and absolute power of the Divine, while Ayaz represents the perfect manifestation of divine beauty. The destitute man embodies the seeker's soul, completely consumed and physically diminished by its yearning. His frantic chasing of Ayaz's polo ball and his emaciated state—described as curved like a polo stick and thin as straw—illustrate how true spiritual love (Ishq) strips the lover of worldly existence and physical vitality, leaving only pure, desperate devotion.