To understand me; do not try. -- Makes sense to me :-)
Eg: To wash between my toes; do not I try.

It doesn't mean: "In order to understand me: do not try." As that would imply by not trying to understand, my understanding would be fullfilled in the absence of. Total nonsense absent a deeper meaning that I try not to understand.

It means: "To be understanding of me; do not you try." The way I understand it, it's simply a matter of English trying to overload sentances to be understood in multiple contexts.

( Sorry couldn't resist... )