जबतें लै मुनि संग सिधाए। राम लखनके समाचार, सखि! तबतें कछुअ न पाए॥ १ ॥ बिनु पानही गमन, फल भोजन, भूमि सयन तरुछाहीं। सर-सरिता जलपान, सिसुनके सँग सुसेवक नाहीं॥ २ ॥ कौसिक परम कृपालु परमहित, समरथ, सुखद, सुचाली। बालक सुठि सुकुमार सकोची, समुझि सोच मोहि आली॥ ३ ॥ बचन सप्रेम सुमित्राके सुनि सब सनेह-बस रानी। तुलसी आइ भरत तेहि औसर कही सुमंगल बानी॥ ४ ॥
Since the sage took them and departed with them, friend, I have received no news at all of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. (1) They must walk without sandals, eat fruit, and sleep on the ground beneath trees; they must drink from lakes and rivers, with no good servant beside the children. (2) Kauśika is supremely compassionate, devoted to their good, powerful, gracious, and upright. Yet the boys are so tender and shy—friend, knowing this is what makes me worry. (3) Hearing Sumitrā's loving words, all the queens were overcome by affection. Tulsī says that just then Bharata arrived and spoke auspicious news. (4)