ऋषि नृप-सीस ठगौरी-सी डारी। कुलगुर, सचिव, निपुन नेवनि अवरेब न समुझि सुधारी॥ १ ॥ सिरिस-सुमन-सुकुमार कुँवर दोउ, सूर सरोष सुरारी। पठए बिनहि सहाय पयादेहि केलि-बान-धनुधारी॥ २ ॥ अति सनेह-कातरि माता कहै, सुनि सखि! बचन दुखारी। बादि बीर-जननी-जीवन जग, छत्रि-जाति-गति भारी॥ ३ ॥ जो कहिहै फिरे राम-लखन घर करि मुनिमख-रखवारी। सो तुलसी प्रिय मोहिं लागिहै ज्यौं सुभाय सुत चारी॥ ४ ॥
The sage has cast something like a spell upon the king's head. Neither the family guru, the counselors, nor the skillful leaders understood and corrected this wrong. (1) The two princes are tender as śirīṣa flowers, while the demon foes are fierce and wrathful. Yet he sent them on foot without assistance, carrying only their playthings—bow and arrows. (2) Overwhelmed by love, the mother spoke her sorrow: ‘Friend, listen! In this world a hero's mother's life is futile; hard indeed is the warrior caste's lot. (3) Whoever tells me, “Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa have protected the sage's sacrifice and returned home,” will, says Tulsī, be naturally as dear to me as all four sons.’ (4)