5 verses · 160 of 361
"Very well, master," said the king, accepting the order; he tied his horse to a tree and sat down. Then he said sweetly: taking you for a father, Lord, I dare to ask; know me as your son and servant, and tell me your name. The king did not know him, but he knew the king. The king was guileless; the other was cunning and full of deceit. He was an enemy, a kshatriya and a king besides, and wanted to gain his ends by trickery and force. His heart smouldered like a potter's kiln. Hearing the king's simple words, he recalled his enmity and rejoiced. Wrapping deceit in soft speech, he said cleverly: my name now is Bhikhari, without wealth or home.
भलेहिं नाथ आयसु धरि सीसा । बाँधि तुरग तरु बैठ महीसा ॥
नृप बहु भाँति प्रसंसेउ ताही । चरन बन्दि निज-भाग्य सराही ॥
bhalehiṃ nātha āyasu dhari sīsā | bām̐dhi turaga taru baiṭha mahīsā ||
nṛpa bahu bhām̐ti prasaṃseu tāhī | carana bandi nija-bhāgya sarāhī ||
पुनि बोले मृदु गिरा सुहाई । जानि पिता प्रभु करउँ ढिठाई ॥
मोहि मुनीस सुत सेवक जानी । नाथ नाम निज कहहु बखानी ॥
puni bole mṛdu girā suhāī | jāni pitā prabhu karaum̐ ḍhiṭhāī ||
mohi munīsa suta sevaka jānī | nātha nāma nija kahahu bakhānī ||
तेहि न जान नृप नृपहि सो जाना । भूप सुह्रद से कपट सयाना ॥
बैरी पुनि छत्री पुनि राजा । छल बल कीन्ह चहइ निज काजा ॥
tehi na jāna nṛpa nṛpahi so jānā | bhūpa suhrada se kapaṭa sayānā ||
bairī puni chatrī puni rājā | chala bala kīnha cahai nija kājā ||
समुझि राजसुख दुखित अराती । अवाँ अनल इव सुलगइ छाती ॥
सरल बचन नृप कै सुनि काना । बयर सँभारि हृदयँ हरषाना ॥
samujhi rājasukha dukhita arātī | avām̐ anala iva sulagai chātī ||
sarala bacana nṛpa kai suni kānā | bayara sam̐bhāri hṛdayam̐ haraṣānā ||
कपट बोरि बानी मृदुल, बोलेउ जुगुति समेत ।
नाम हमार भिखारि अब, निर्धन रहित निकेत ॥
kapaṭa bori bānī mṛdula, boleu juguti sameta |
nāma hamāra bhikhāri aba, nirdhana rahita niketa ||
Text source: Wikisource · Public domain (Tulsidas, 16th c.; 1925 edition, Wikisource PD-1996 tag); transcription CC BY-SA 4.0
