abhivyaktā - manifested; mattaḥ - from me; prakṛti - by nature; laghu-rūpāt - situated in a lower position; api - although; budhāḥ - O learned devotees; vidhātrī - which may bring about; siddha-arthān - all the objects of perfection; hari-guṇa-mayī - whose subject matter is the attributes of Kṛṣṇa; vaḥ - of you; kṛtiḥ - the poetic play known as Vidagdha-mādhava; iyam - this; pulindena - by the lowest class of men; api - although; agniḥ - a fire; kim u - whether; samidham - the wood; unmathya - rubbing; janitaḥ - produced; hiraṇya - of gold; śreṇīnām - of quantities; apaharati - vanquishes; na - not; antaḥ - inner; kaluṣatām - dirty things.

“ ‘O learned devotees, I am by nature ignorant and low, yet even though it is from me that the Vidagdha-mādhava has come, it is filled with descriptions of the transcendental attributes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, will not such a literature bring about the attainment of the highest goal of life? Although its wood may be ignited by a low-class man, fire can nevertheless purify gold. Similarly, although I am very low by nature, this book may help cleanse the dirt from within the hearts of the golden devotees.’ ”