कहहिँ सचिव सठ ठकुरसोहाती । नाथ न पूर आव एहि भाँती ॥
बारिधि नाँघि एक कपि आवा । तासु चरित मन महँ सब गावा ॥
kahahim̐ saciva saṭha ṭhakurasohātī | nātha na pūra āva ehi bhām̐tī ||
bāridhi nām̐ghi eka kapi āvā | tāsu carita mana maham̐ saba gāvā ||
Lanka Kanda
Chapter 9: Prahasta's counsel: send an envoy first
6 verses · 9 of 121
What happens in this chapter
Prahasta's counsel: send an envoy first
Prahasta goes on. These ministers flatter you, father, and that will not carry us through. One monkey leapt the ocean, and everyone still sings of his deeds. Why did none of you eat him while he burned the city? Advice that sounds pleasant brings grief later. He who bound the sea in sport has landed on Suvela with his army; can we eat such a man? Hear me with respect and do not think me a coward. The world is full of those who speak and hear sweet words; few bear harsh words that do real good. Send an envoy first, give back Sita and make peace. If he takes his wife and goes, the quarrel ends; if not, meet him on the battlefield.
छुधा न रही तुम्हहिँ तब काहू । जारत नगर कस न धरि खाहू ॥
सुनत नीक आगें दुख पावा । सचिवन अस मत प्रभुहि सुनावा ॥
chudhā na rahī tumhahim̐ taba kāhū | jārata nagara kasa na dhari khāhū ||
sunata nīka āgeṃ dukha pāvā | sacivana asa mata prabhuhi sunāvā ||
जेहिं बारीस बँधायउ हेला । उतरेउ सेन-समेत सुबेला ॥
सो भनु मनुज खाब हम भाई । बचन कहहिँ सत्र गाल फुलाई ॥
jehiṃ bārīsa bam̐dhāyau helā | utareu sena-sameta subelā ||
so bhanu manuja khāba hama bhāī | bacana kahahim̐ satra gāla phulāī ||
तात बचन मम सुनु अति आदर । जनि मन गुनहु मोहि करि कादर ॥
प्रिय बानी जे सुनहिँ जे कहहीं । ऐसे नर निकाय जग अहहीँ ॥
tāta bacana mama sunu ati ādara | jani mana gunahu mohi kari kādara ||
priya bānī je sunahim̐ je kahahīṃ | aise nara nikāya jaga ahahīm̐ ||
बचन परम-हित सुनत कठोरे । सुनहिँ जे कहहिँ ते नर प्रभु थोरे ॥
प्रथम बसीठ पठउ सुनु नीती । सीता देइ करहु पुनि प्रीती ॥
bacana parama-hita sunata kaṭhore | sunahim̐ je kahahim̐ te nara prabhu thore ||
prathama basīṭha paṭhau sunu nītī | sītā dei karahu puni prītī ||
नारि पाई फिरि जाहिँ जौँ, तो न बढ़ाइअ रारि ।
नाहिँ त सनमुख समर-महि, तात करिय हठि मारि ॥
nāri pāī phiri jāhim̐ jaum̐, to na bar̤hāia rāri |
nāhim̐ ta sanamukha samara-mahi, tāta kariya haṭhi māri ||
Text source: Wikisource · Public domain (Tulsidas, 16th c.; 1925 edition, Wikisource PD-1996 tag); transcription CC BY-SA 4.0