The speaker, abandoning the path of love, seeks both God and the beloved. However, the fundamental question of 'what is God and what is the beloved?' itself constitutes their core affliction.

This beautiful couplet paints a picture of someone deeply confused. They declare they are leaving the path of love, yet they simultaneously seek both God and their beloved. The poet then reveals the core of their struggle: "What is God? What is the beloved? His illness is precisely this." It highlights a profound internal conflict. The person is so entangled in their own desires and uncertainties that they cannot distinguish between spiritual devotion and worldly affection. Their inability to find clarity, to understand the true nature of what they seek, is their real affliction. It's a poignant reflection on the human tendency to get lost in duality.