12 F. S, Growse — The Prologue to the Ramdymia of Tulsi Das. [No. 1 



universal soul, the supreme spirit, the all-pervading, whose shadow is the world • 

 who has become incarnate and done many things, only for the love that he 

 bears to his faithful people ; all-gracious and compassionate to the humble • 

 who in his mercy has refrained from anger even against the selfish and fro- 

 ward ; restorer of the past ; protector of the poor ; # all good, all-powerful 

 the Lord Eaghuraj. In this belief the wise sing the glory of Hari • and 

 their song thus becomes holy and meritorious. I, too, bowing my head to 

 Rama's feet, am emboldened to sing his fame, following a path which has 

 been made easy by the divine bards who have trodden it before me : 



Doha 18. 



As when a king has prepared a bridge over a broad stream, an ant, 

 insignificant as it is, is able to cross without difficulty. 



Chaupdi. 



In this manner reassuring myself, I undertake to recount Kama's 

 charming adventures, as they have been reverently told by Vyasa and the 

 other great poets, whose lotus-feet I adore, praying, Fulfil ye my desire • 

 both the Sanskrit poets of these latter days who have sung of Eaghupati, and 

 also those of high intelligence who have written in Prakrit and the vulgar 

 tongue. All who have been in time past, or who now are, or who hereafter 

 shall be, I bow to all in the utmost good faith and sincerity. Be propitious 

 and grant this boon that in assemblies of good men my song may be honoured ! 

 If the good and wise will not honour it, the silly poet has had all his labour 

 in vain. The only fame, or poetry, or power, that is of any worth, is that which 

 like Ganges water is good for all. The incongruity between Eama's glory 

 and my rude speech makes me doubt ; but by your favour all will turn out 

 well ; for good sewing can be shown on coarse cloth no less than on silk. 

 Be kind enough to think of this, and my style will then match the excel- 

 lence of my theme. 



Doha 19. 

 A clear style and an exalted theme are both commendable ; and when 

 they are combined, an enemy even, forgetting his natural hostility, will 

 repeat the strain. But such a combination is not to be acquired without 

 genius, and genius I have none ; so again and again I beg of you to bear 

 with me while I sing the glory of Hari. The great poets are like the swans 

 sporting in the Manasa lake of Hari's deeds ; look on me as a well-meaning 

 child and make allowances, f 



* Gharib-nawdz. This is the first Persian word that has occurred in the poem. 



f In Hindi poetry it is considered a beauty if a phrase is so worded as to be capable 

 of two or more different interpretations. Thus the line rendered as above may be 

 literally translated : Hearing my childish supplication, seeing my good desire, be com- 

 passionate towards me— which is the meaning I have expressed. But it might with 



