The cloak of knowledge and art is a special grace, otherwise, in your gaze, my form was displeasing.

This couplet by Allama Iqbal is a profound meditation on self-worth. The poet suggests that mere physical beauty or charm is insufficient. He argues that the true grace—the 'cloak'—that saves him from rejection is the gift of knowledge and skill. If he lacked this intellectual depth, his flawed appearance would have been enough for the beloved's gaze to turn away. It speaks volumes about the power of intellect over superficiality.