-as when a father and mother delight to hear the lisping prattle of their little one; but those who are hard-hearted, mischievous and perverse and cherish others’ faults as ornaments, will laugh.

Who does not like his own verses, be they delightful or exceedingly insipid? Those good people who are pleased when they hear others’ composition are rare in the world.

The world abounds in men, my friend, who are like ponds or rivers which overflow their banks on getting a rainfall, but very few are those good men who resemble the generous ocean, which swells on beholding the moon at full.

Humble is my lot and my ambition high; but I am confident of one thing, that the good will be gratified to hear my verses, though evil men will laugh.

Yet even the mockery of the wicked will be beneficial to me; crows call the note of the koel harsh; the cranes ridicule the swan, and frogs the cuckoo; so the low and the vile laugh at pure discourse.

Those who have no taste for poetry nor any love for Rama’s feet will find pleasure in jeering at my verses. If my homely speech and poor wit are fit subjects for ridicule, let them laugh; they cannot be blamed for their laughter.

To those who cherish no love for the feet of the Lord and have no sound reason either, this story will seem insipid when they hear it. But to those who are devoted to the feet of Hari and Hara, and who are not perversely critical, the story of Raghunatha will be sweet as honey.