Kirati bhaniti bhuti bhali soi

Chaupai 5, Under Doha 14 · Bal Kand

Chaupai Text

कीरति भनिति भूति भलि सोई। सुरसरि सम सब कहँ हित होई॥ राम सुकीरति भनिति भदेसा। असमंजस अस मोहि अँदेसा॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

kīrati bhaniti bhūti bhali soī। surasari sama saba kahaṃ hita hoī॥ rāma sukīrati bhaniti bhadesā। asamañjasa asa mohi aṃdesā॥ 5 ॥

Meaning

Fame, poetry, and wealth are truly good only when they are beneficial to all, like the Ganga. Lord Ram's fame is indeed beautiful and wholly auspicious for everyone, but my poetry is crude. There is a mismatch between the two; that is my concern.

Context

This is Chaupai 5, Under Doha 14 from Bal Kand, in the episode “Salutation to Poets”. The episode describes Tulsidas humbly honoring great past poets and resolving to compose Raghupati's story.