जानकी-बर सुंदर, माई। इन्द्रनील-मनि-स्याम सुभग, अँग-अंग मनोजनि बहु छबि छाई॥ १ ॥ अरुन चरन, अंगुली मनोहर, नख दुतिवंत, कछुक अरुनाई। कंजदलनिपर मनहु भौम दस बैठे अचल सुसदसि बनाई॥ २ ॥ पीन जानु, उर चारु, जटित मनि नूपुर पद कल मुखर सोहाई। पीत पराग भरे अलिगन जनु जुगल जलज लखि रहे लोभाई॥ ३ ॥ किंकिनि कनक कंज अवली मृदु मरकत सिखर मध्य जनु जाई। गई न उपर, सभीत नमित मुख, बिकसि चहूँ दिसि रही लोनाई॥ ४ ॥ नाभि गँभीर, उदर रेखा बर, उर भृगु-चरन-चिह्न सुखदाई। भुज प्रलंब भूषन अनेक जुत, बसन पीत सोभा अधिकाई॥ ५ ॥ जग्योपबीत बिचित्र हेममय, मुक्तमाल उरसि मोहि भाई। कंद-तड़ित बिच जनु सुरपति धनु रुचिर बलाक पाँति चलि आई॥ ६ ॥ कंबु कंठ चिबुकाधर सुंदर, क्यों कहौं दसनन की रुचिराई। पदुमकोस महँ बसे बज्र मनो निज सँग तड़ित-अरुन-रुचि लाई॥ ७ ॥ नासिक चारु, ललित लोचन, भ्रकुटिल, कचनि अनुपम छबि पाई। रहे घेरि राजीव उभय मनो चंचरीक कछु हृदय डेराई॥ ८ ॥ भाल तिलक, कंचन किरीट सिर, कुंडल लोल कपोलनि झाँई। निरखहिं नारि-निकर बिदेहपुर निमि नृपकी मरजाद मिटाई॥ ९ ॥ सारद-सेस-संभु निसि-बासर चिंतत रूप, न हृदय समाई। तुलसिदास सठ क्यों करि बरनै यह छबि निगम नेति कह गाई॥ १० ॥
Jānakī's groom is beautiful, mother! His handsome body is dark as sapphire, and every limb bears the beauty of many Loves. (1) His feet are red, his toes enchanting, his nails radiant with a slight crimson hue— as though ten auspicious Mars-planets sat motionless in fair assembly upon lotus petals. (2) His knees are full, his chest lovely, and gem-set anklets ring sweetly upon his feet. They seem like bees, dusted with yellow pollen, lingering enchanted over twin lotuses. (3) The soft golden girdle is like a row of golden lotuses growing midway upon an emerald mountain. Afraid, it did not climb higher but bowed its face; its beauty blossoms through every direction. (4) His navel is deep, his abdominal lines fine, and Bhṛgu's footprint upon his breast gives joy. His long arms bear many ornaments, and his yellow garment shines exceedingly. (5) I delight in the wondrous golden sacred thread and pearl garland upon his breast— as though amid cloud and lightning appeared Indra's lovely bow and a moving line of cranes. (6) His neck is conch-like, chin and lips beautiful; how can I tell the loveliness of his teeth? They are like diamonds dwelling in a lotus bud, bringing with them lightning and the young sun's red radiance. (7) His nose is fine, his eyes lovely, his brows curved, and his hair has matchless beauty— as though bees, somewhat fearful at heart, encircled two lotuses. (8) A tilaka graces his brow, a golden crown his head; swaying earrings cast shadows upon his cheeks. The women of Videha's city gaze at him, abolishing King Nimi's custom of blinking. (9) Śāradā, Śeṣa, and Śambhu contemplate his form night and day, yet it cannot fit within their hearts. How then can foolish Tulsīdāsa describe the beauty of which the Vedas sing only ‘not this, not this’? (10)