---
title: "Bal Kand Doha 4"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/ramcharitmanas/bal-kand/doha-4"
lang: "en"
---

# Bal Kand · Doha 4

Contrast between saints and the evil-minded

**चौ०** 
> बहुरि बंदि खल गन सतिभाएँ। जे बिनु काज दाहिनेहु बाएँ॥  
> पर हित हानि लाभ जिन्ह केरें। उजरें हरष बिषाद बसेरें॥१॥

**चौ०** 
> हरि हर जस राकेस राहु से। पर अकाज भट सहसबाहु से॥  
> जे पर दोष लखहिं सहसाखी। पर हित घृत जिन्ह के मन माखी॥२॥

**चौ०** 
> तेज कृसानु रोष महिषेसा। अघ अवगुन धन धनी धनेसा॥  
> उदय केत सम हित सब ही के। कुंभकरन सम सोवत नीके॥३॥

**चौ०** 
> पर अकाजु लगि तनु परिहरहीं। जिमि हिम उपल कृषी दलि गरहीं॥  
> बंदउँ खल जस सेष सरोषा। सहस बदन बरनइ पर दोषा॥४॥

**चौ०** 
> पुनि प्रनवउँ पृथुराज समाना। पर अघ सुनइ सहस दस काना॥  
> बहुरि सक्र सम बिनवउँ तेही। संतत सुरानीक हित जेही॥५॥

**चौ०** 
> बचन बज्र जेहि सदा पिआरा। सहस नयन पर दोष निहारा॥६॥

Meaning: Again, I greet with a sincere heart the malevolent class, who are hostile without purpose even to the friendly, to whom others’ loss is their own gain, and who delight in others’ desolation and wail over their prosperity. (1)

They try to eclipse the glory of Viṣṇu and Śiva even as the demon Rāhu intercepts the light of the full moon (during what is known as the lunar eclipse); and they are valiant like the reputed king Sahasrabāhu* (so-called because of his possessing a thousand arms) in working others’ woe. They detect others’ faults as if with a thousand eyes and their (designing) mind mars others’ interests even as a fly spoils clarified butter. (2)

* Sahasrabāhu was a mighty warrior and a contemporary of Rāvaṇa, who was once captured and held captive by him. He was slain by Paraśurāma.

In fierceness they are like fire and in anger they vie with the god of death, who rides a buffalo. They are rich in crime and vice as Kubera, the god of riches, is in gold. Like the rise of a comet their advancement augurs ill for others’ interests; like the slumber of Kumbhakarṇa† their decline alone is propitious for the world. (3)

† Kumbhakarṇa was a younger brother of Rāvana, the demon-king of Laṅkā. He was a voracious eater and consumed a large number of goats and buffaloes at every meal. He kept awake for a day, followed by sleep for six months. Living beings thus obtained a fresh lease of life during the period of his slumber.

They lay down their very life in order to be able to harm others, even as hail-stones dissolve after destroying the crop. I reverence the wicked as the fiery (thousand-tongued) serpent-god Śeṣa, insofar as they eagerly expatiate on others’ faults with a thousand tongues, as it were. (4)

Again, I bow to them as the celebrated king Pṛthu (who prayed for ten thousand ears in order to be able to hear the glories of the Lord to his heart’s content) inasmuch as they hear of others’ faults with a thousand ears, as it were. Once more do I supplicate to them as Indra (the lord of celestials) insofar as wine appears charming and beneficial to them (even as the army of gods is beneficent to Indra).* (5)

* There is a pun on the expression ‘Surānīka’ in the original, ‘Surānīka’ (Sura+Anīka) is a compound word in Saṁskṛta, meaning the army of the gods. In Hindi it can as well be treated as two separate words ‘Surā’ (wine) and ‘Nīka’ (charming). Hence it has been interpreted both ways in the above rendering.

Harsh language is dear to them even as the thunderbolt is fondly cherished by Indra; and they detect others’ faults with a thousand eyes, as it were. (6)

**दो०** 
> उदासीन अरि मीत हित सुनत जरहिं खल रीति।  
> जानि पानि जुग जोरि जन बिनती करइ सप्रीति॥४॥

Meaning: The wicked burn with jealousy as they hear of others’ welfare, be they his friends, foes or neutrals—such is their wont. Knowing thus, this humble servant makes loving entreaties to them with folded hands. (4)

Previous: https://ramayana.com/ramcharitmanas/bal-kand/doha-3b  
Kand: https://ramayana.com/ramcharitmanas/bal-kand  
Next: https://ramayana.com/ramcharitmanas/bal-kand/doha-5

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Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. Buy the book: https://gitapress.org/product/sri-ramcharitmanas-special-edition

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