मेरे बालक कैसे धौं मग निबहहिंगे? भूख, पियास, सीत, श्रम सकुचनि क्यों कोसिकहि कहहिंगे॥ १ ॥ को भोर ही उबटि अन्हवैहै, काढ़ि कलेऊ दैहै? को भूषन पहिराइ निछावरि करि लोचन-सुख लैहै?॥ २ ॥ नयन निमेषनि ज्यों जोगवैं नित पितु-परिजन-महतारी। ते पठए ऋषि साथ निसाचर मारन, मख रखवारी॥ ३ ॥ सुंदर सुठि सुकुमार सुकोमल काकपच्छ-धर दोऊ। तुलसी निरखि हरषि उर लैहौं बिधि ह्वैहै दिन सोऊ?॥ ४ ॥
How will my children manage upon the road? Too shy to speak, how will they tell Kauśika of hunger, thirst, cold, or weariness? (1) Who at dawn will rub them with fragrant paste and bathe them, and bring out their morning meal? Who will adorn them, ward off evil, and take the delight of seeing them? (2) Father, family, and mothers always guarded them as eyelids guard the eyes— yet the king sent them with the sage to slay night-roamers and protect the sacrifice. (3) Both are so handsome, tender, young, and delicate, with side-locks like crows' wings. Tulsī asks fate: will the day ever come when I see them, rejoice, and clasp them to my heart? (4)