छँगन मँगन अँगना खेलत चारु चार्यो भाई। सानुज भरत लाल लषन राम लोने लोने लरिका लखि मुदित मातु समुदाई॥ १ ॥ बाल बसन भूषन धरे, नख-सिख छबि छाई। नील पीत मनसिज-सरसिज मंजुल मालनि मानो है देहनितें दुति पाई॥ २ ॥ ठुमुक ठुमुक पग धरनि, नटनि, लरखरनि सुहाई। भजनि, मिलनि, रूठनि, तूठनि, किलकनि, अवलोकनि, बोलनि बरनि न जाई॥ ३ ॥ जननि सकल चहुँ ओर आलबाल मनि-अँगनाई। दसरथ-सुकृत बिबुध-बिरवा बिलसत बिलोकि जनु बिधि बर बारि बनाई॥ ४ ॥ हरि बिरंचि हर हेरि राम प्रेम-परबसताई। सुख-समाज रघुराजके बरनत बिसुद्ध मन सुरनि सुमन झरि लाई॥ ५ ॥ सुमिरत श्रीरघुबरनिकी लीला लरिकाई। तुलसिदास अनुराग अवध आनंद अनुभवत तब को सो अजहुँ अघाई॥ ६ ॥
The four lovely brothers play merrily in the courtyard. Bharata with Śatrughna, dear Lakṣmaṇa, and Rāma— seeing the charming boys, the company of mothers rejoices. (1) They wear childhood clothes and ornaments; beauty covers them from nail to crown. The lovely garlands of Love's blue and yellow lotuses seem to have gained their radiance from the boys' own bodies. (2) Step by little step they set down their feet; their dancing and charming staggering, running away and meeting, sulking and making peace, crowing, looking and speaking—none of it can be described. (3) All the mothers surround them on every side, like jeweled garden-beds in the courtyard. Seeing the celestial saplings of Daśaratha's merit flourish, it is as though the Creator has fashioned an excellent surrounding wall. (4) Hari, Brahmā, and Hara behold how Rāma has come under love's sway. As the gods of purified mind describe the blessed company of Raghu's king, they bring down a shower of celestial flowers. (5) Remembering Śrī Raghubara's childhood play, Tulsīdāsa asks: who among those who then tasted the loving joy of Ayodhyā has even now had his fill? (6)