Gandharvas are celestial songsters and are specially noted for their handsome appearance, while the kinnaras are credited with the head of a horse. The RŒkƒasas are monstrous in appearance and are said to roam at night and feed on the human flesh. The NŒgas are another class of semi-divine beings, who, though resembling serpents in shape, can take the human form at will. 14 * ÝR” RMACARITAMNASA* karana cahau¡ raghupati guna gŒhŒ, laghu mati mori carita avagŒhŒ. sµujha na ekau a¯ga upŒµu, mana mati ra¯ka manoratha rŒµu.3. mati ati n¶ca µu ¡ ci ruci Œch¶, cahia amia jaga jurai na chŒch¶. chamihahiò sajjana mori ˛hi¢hŒ¶, sunihahi ò bŒlabacana mana lŒ¶.4. jau¡ bŒlaka kaha totari b ŒtŒ, sunahiò mudita mana pitu aru mŒtŒ. ha¡ sihahiò kµµura ku¢ila kubicŒr¶, je para dµuƒana bhµuƒanadhŒr¶.5. nija kabitta kehi lŒga na n¶kŒ, sarasa hou athavŒ ati ph¶kŒ. je para bhaniti sunata haraƒŒh¶¡ , te bara puruƒa bahuta jaga nŒh¶ ¡.6. jaga bahu nara sara sari sama bhŒ¶, je nija bŒRhi baRhahi ò jala pŒ¶. sajjana sak¾ta si¯dhu sama ko¶, dekhi pµura bidhu bŒRhai jo¶.7. Eight million and four hundred thousand* species of living beings, classified under four broad divisions, inhabit land, water and the air. Recognizing the entire creation as full of S¶tŒ and RŒma, I make obeisance to them with joined palms. Knowing me as your servant, be genuinely gracious to me all of you, O mines of compassion. I have no confidence in my intellectual power, hence I supplicate you all. I would recount the virtues of the Lord of Raghus, † Ýr¶ RŒma; but my wits are poor, whereas the exploits of Ýr¶ RŒma are unfathomable. For this I find not the least resources, while I am bankrupt of mind and intellect, my ambition is right royal. Even though my intellect is exceedingly mean, my aspiration is pitched too high; while I crave for nectar, I have no means in this world to procure even butter-milk. The virtuous will forgive my presumption and listen to my childish babbling with interest. When a child prattles in lisping accents, the parents hear it with a mind full of delight. Those, however, who are hard-hearted, mischievous and perverse and cherish others’ faults as an ornament, will feel amused. Who does not like one’s own poetry, be it delightful or exceedingly insipid? Such good people as delight to hear others’ composition are rare in this world. The world abounds in men who resemble lakes and rivers, that get swollen with their own rise when waters are added to them. There is some rare good soul like the ocean, which swells at the sight of the full moon. (1—7)