By their own wisdom they comprehend all time, past, present and future, plain to them as a plum placed on one’s palm; and others too there are, enlightened votaries of Hari, who recite, hear and understand the stories in various ways.

Then I heard the same story from my guru at Shukaraksheta (the modern Soron of Uttar Pradesh); but at that time I was quite an unintelligent child and I did not understand it fully well.

The story of Rama is mysterious and he who hears it and he who tells it must be repositories of wisdom; how could I, a stupid creature, grasp its meaning – an ignorant dolt, in the toils of the sin of the Kaliyuga?

Nevertheless, when my guru (the preceptor) had repeated the story over and over again, I began partially to understand it as well as I could. That same story I shall versify in the popular tongue, to enlighten myself.

Equipped with what little understanding and judgement I possess I shall write with a heart inspired by Hari. The story I am going to tell is such as well dispel my own doubts, ignorance and error and will serve as a boat for crossing the stream of mundane existence.

The story of Rama brings peace to the learned and is a source of delight to all men, and wipes out the impurities of the Kaliyuga. Rama’s story is a powerful spell to subdue the serpent of the Kaliyuga and a wooden stick for kindling the sacred fire of wisdom.

The story of Rama is the cow of plenty in this age of Kali; it is a beautiful life-giving herb to the virtuous; a veritable river of nectar on earth; it shatters the fear of birth and death and is a virtual snake to swallow the frogs of delusion.