1876.] F. S. Growse— The Prologue to the Rdmayana of Tutsi Ms. 21 



Doha 31. 

 As Narsinh was manifested to destroy the enemy of heaven Haranya- 

 kasipu, and protect Prahlad, so is Kama's name for the destruction of the 

 world and the protection of the pious. 



Chaupdi. 

 By repeating this name, whether in joy or in sadness, in action or in 

 repose, bliss is diffused all around. Meditating upon it and bowing my 

 head to Raghunath, I compose these lays in his honour ; he will correct all 

 my defects, whose mercy is mercy inexhaustible. Thou art my good Lord, 

 I thy poor servant ; bear this in mind and graciously protect me. By the 

 experience of the world and the revelation of the Veda, Rama is known as a 

 kind master, hearing prayer and acknowledging affection. Rich or poor, vil- 

 lager or citizen, learned or unlearned, pure or impure, good poet or bad poet, 

 all according to their ability extol him as their king ; and he, good, amiable 

 and gracious, lord of incomparable compassion, hears and accepts their hon- 

 est attempts, recognizing in their words both devotion and a measure of 

 ability. This is the way with earthly kings, and Rama is their crown ; he is 

 satisfied with simple piety though in one who is duller and feebler of intel- 

 lect even than I am. 



Doha 32-33. 

 The merciful Rama will regard the love and zeal of his poor servant, 

 he who made a ship out of a rock and wise ministers out of monkeys and 

 bears ; although I am a bye-word, and every one says Rama is exposed to 

 ridicule in that he, being such a lord, has such a servant as Tulsi Das. 



Chaupdi. 

 My presumption is indeed very sad, as villanous and disgusting as 

 hell ; but seeing me alarmed with these terrors of my own, Rama would not 

 dream of regarding them ; but hearing and with his own eyes perceiving 

 my good faith, the Lord applauded my devout intention. Though my story 

 is spoilt by the telling, Rama is satisfied and accounts it good, since the 

 will is good. The Lord is not mindful of a chance fault, but on every occa- 

 sion he considers the heart. Thus the very crime, for which he, like a hunts- 

 man killed Bali, was in turn the sin of Sugriva and again of Vibhishan ; 

 but in their case Rama did not dream of censure, but honoured them both 

 at the meeting with Bharat and commended them in open court. 



Dohd 34-36. 

 The lord under the tree and the monkey on the bough he accounted all 

 equal to himself : says Tulsi, there is no master so generous as Rama. O 

 Rama, thy goodness is good to all, and if so, then good to Tulsi also. Thus 



