आपनी आपनी भाँति सब काहू कही है। मंदोदरी, महोदर, मालवान महामति, राजनीति पहुँच जहाँलौं जाकी रही है॥ १ ॥ महामद-अंध दसकंध न करत कान, मीचु-बस नीच हठि कुगहनि गही है। हँसि कहै, सचिव सयाने मोसों यों कहत, चहै मेरु उड़न, बड़ी बयारि बही है॥ २ ॥ भालु, नर, बानर अहार निसिचरनिको, सोऊ नृप-बालकनि माँगी धारि लही है। देखो कालकोतुक, पिपीलिकनि पंख लागो, भाग मेरे लोगनिके भई चित-चही है॥ ३ ॥ ‘तोसों न तिलोक आजु साहस, समाज-साजु, महाराज-आयसु भो जोई, सोई सही है’। तुलसी प्रनामकै बिभीषन विनती करै, ‘ख्याल बेधे ताल, कपि केलि लंका दही है’॥ ४ ॥
Each spoke in his or her own way. Mandodarī, Mahodara, and the greatly wise Mālyavān offered as much statecraft as each one’s understanding could reach. (1) Blinded by enormous pride, the ten-headed one would not listen. Subject to death, the wretch stubbornly seized the wrong path. Laughing, he said, “My wise ministers speak as though Mount Meru wished to fly because a great wind is blowing.” (2) “Bears, men, and monkeys are naturally food for demons, and even these prince-boys have only obtained a borrowed army. Behold Time’s sport: ants have grown wings. By my good fortune my people’s heart’s desire has been fulfilled.” (3) “There is none in the three worlds today to equal your courage or arrayed forces; whatever the great king commands shall indeed be done.” Bowing, Vibhīṣaṇa then entreated, Tulsī says: “Yet remember—Rāma pierced seven palm trees by mere resolve, and the monkey burned Laṅkā in play.” (4)