Wisdom dawns not without association with the saints and such communion cannot be easily enjoyed without the grace of Rama. Fellowship with the saints is the root of all joy and fortune; its flowers are good works and its fruit perfection.

The wicked are reformed by association with the good as iron is made gold by the touch of the philosopher’s stone. If by chance good men fall into evil company, like the gem in a serpent’s head, they still pursue their virtuous courses.

Even Brahma, Vishnu, Mahadeva, poets and scholars, all shrink from describing the influence of the good; for me to tell it is, as it were, for a vegetable-seller to describe all the merits of a gem.

I reverence the saints who are even-minded towards all and have no friend or foe, just as a gracious flower, clasped in both hands, sheds equal fragrance on the two (the one which plucked it and the other that held and preserved it).

Realizing thus the noble disposition and loving nature of the saints, who are innocent at heart and desirous of the welfare of the world, I make this humble submission to them. Listening to my child-like prayer, O you saints, be gracious to me and inspire me with devotion towards the feet of Rama.

Next, in all sincerity I do homage to those wretches who without cause delight to vex the righteous; for whom another’s loss is gain; who delight in another’s ruin and wail over his prosperity.

They are as an eclipse to the full-moon glory of Vishnu and Shankara; who become as the valiant Sahasrabahu in doing evil to others. They have a thousand eyes to detect a neighbour’s faults and their (designing) mind mars others’ interests even as a fly spoils clarified butter.