By ascending millions of steps heaven is reached.

My poem has also a staircase; these tasteless verses are the steps.

If you can't climb these few steps, how will you ascend the heavenly ladder ?" The _Malini_ then, in fear of losing heaven through the Brahmin's curse, listened to the _Megha Duta_ from beginning to end.

She admired the poem; and next day, binding a wreath of flowers in the name of Cupid, she crowned the poet's temples therewith.
This ordinary poem of mine is not heaven; neither has it a staircase of a million steps.

Its flavour is faint and the steps are few.