In this tale from Attar's Elahi Nameh, a dervish boldly subverts the traditional hierarchy of power by accusing Sultan Mahmud of being the true 'beggar.' When the Sultan arrogantly criticizes the dervish's pride, the ascetic responds by highlighting the king's oppressive taxation and tyranny. The dervish observes that the king systematically extracts wealth from every household and causes suffering in every market to maintain his empire. Through this paradox, Attar illustrates a core Sufi theme: worldly monarchs, despite their armies and outward majesty, are driven by insatiable greed and depend entirely on the exploitation of their subjects. This reliance renders the king spiritually impoverished and the ultimate 'beggar,' standing in stark contrast to the self-sufficient and contented dervish.