Shatakatraya 1.6

1.6

vyālaṃ bāla-mṛṇāla-tantubhir asau roddhuṃ samujjṛmbhate
chettuṃ vajra-maṇiṃ śirīṣa-kusuma-prāntena sannahyati |
mādhuryaṃ madhu-bindunā racayituṃ kṣārāmudher īhate
netuṃ vāñchanti yaḥ khalān pathi satāṃ sūktaiḥ sudhā-syandibhiḥ ||

He strives to bind a rogue elephant with fibers of a tender lotus stalk;
he prepares to slice a diamond with the edge of a śirīṣa blossom;
he attempts to make the salty ocean sweet with a single drop of honey—
he who desires to lead the wicked onto the path of the virtuous with verses dripping nectar.