रंग-भूमि भोरे ही जाइकै। राम-लषन लखि लोग लूटिहैं लोचन-लाभ अघाइकै॥ १ ॥ भूप-भवन, घर घर, पुर बाहर, इहै चरचा रही छाइकै। मगन मनोरथ-मोद नारि-नर, प्रेम-बिबस उठैं गाइकै॥ २ ॥ सोचत बिधि-गति समुझि, परसपर कहत बचन बिलखाइकै। कुँवर किसोर, कठोर सरासन, असमंजस भयो आइकै॥ ३ ॥ सुकृत सँभारि, मनाइ पितर-सुर, सीस ईसपद नाइकै। रघुबर-करधनु-भंग चहत सब अपनो सो हितु चितु लाइकै॥ ४ ॥ लेत फिरत कनसुई सगुन सुभ, बूझत गनक बोलाइकै। सुनि अनुकूल, मुदित मन मानहु धरत धीरजहि धाइकै॥ ५ ॥ कौसिक-कथा एक एकनिसों कहत प्रभाउ जनाइकै। सीय-राम संजोग जानियत, रच्यो बिरंचि बनाइकै॥ ६ ॥ एक सराहि सुबाहु-मथन बर बाहू, उछाह बढ़ाइकै। सानुज राज-समाज बिराजिहैं राम पिनाक चढ़ाइकै॥ ७ ॥ बड़ी सभा बड़ो लाभ, बड़ो जस, बड़ी बड़ाई पाइकै। को सोहिहै, और को लायक रघुनायकहि बिहाइकै?॥ ८ ॥ गवनिहैं गँवहिं गवाँइ गरब गृह नृपकुल बलहि लजाइकै। भलीभाँति साहब तुलसीके चलिहैं ब्याहि बजाइकै॥ ९ ॥
At daybreak they will go to the arena. Seeing Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the people will plunder the profit of their eyes to their hearts' content. (1) In the king's palace, in every house, within and outside the city, this one discussion has spread. Men and women, immersed in the joy of fulfilled desires, rise and sing under love's sway. (2) Reflecting anxiously upon Fate's course, they speak grieving words to one another: ‘The princes are young, the bow is hard—what a dilemma has arisen!’ (3) Remembering their merit, entreating ancestors and gods, and bowing their heads at the Lord's feet, everyone longs for the bow to break in Raghubara's hand, taking it as a personal good. (4) Women go about taking omens with the kanasuī, while men summon astrologers to ask the signs. Hearing favorable answers, their delighted minds seem to run and take hold of courage. (5) They tell Kauśika's story from one person to another, making his power known. One can see that Brahmā has deliberately fashioned the union of Sītā and Rāma. (6) One person praises the excellent arms that crushed Subāhu and raises everyone's enthusiasm: ‘Rāma will string Pināka and sit in the royal assembly with his younger brother.’ (7) In this great assembly, who else will shine, or who else is worthy to gain such reward, fame, and honor by wedding Sītā to Raghunāyaka? (8) The royal houses will go home, losing their pride and ashamed of their strength. Tulsī's Lord will marry in full splendor and depart to the sound of music. (9)