Sevak sukh chaha man bhjikhari
Chaupai 8, Under Doha 17 · Aranya Kand
Chaupai Text
सेवक सुख चह मान भिखारी। ब्यसनी धन सुभ गति बिभिचारी॥ लोभी जसु चह चार गुमानी। नभ दुहि दूध चहत ए प्रानी॥ ८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sevaka sukha caha māna bhikhārī। byasanī dhana subha gati bibhicārī॥ lobhī jasa caha cāra gumānī। nabha duhi dūdha cahata e prānī॥ 8 ॥
Meaning
A servant seeks comfort, a beggar seeks honor, an addict seeks wealth, and an adulterer seeks a good destiny; the greedy seek fame, and the proud desire all four aims of life. Such people are trying to milk the sky and get milk from it—that is, they pursue the impossible.
Context
This is Chaupai 8, Under Doha 17 from Aranya Kand, in the episode “Dwelling at Panchavati”. The episode describes Rama's profound teaching to Lakshmana on knowledge, detachment, maya, and devotion at Panchavati.