देखु री सखी! पथिक नख-सिख नीके हैं। नीले पीले कमल-से कोमल कलेवरनि, तापस हू बेष किये काम कोटि फीके हैं॥ १ ॥ सुकृत-सनेह-सील-सुषमा-सुख सकेलि, बिरचे बिरंचि किधौं अमिय, अमीके हैं। रूपकी-सी दामिनी सुभामिनी सोहति संग, उमहु रमातें आछे अंग अंग ती के हैं॥ २ ॥ बन-पट कसे कटि, तून-तीर-धनु धरे, धीर, बीर, पालक कृपालु सबहीके हैं। पानही न, चरन-सरोजनि चलत मग, कानन पठाए पितु-मातु कैसे ही के हैं॥ ३ ॥ आली अवलोकि लेहु, नयननिके फल येहु, लाभके सुलाभ, सुखजीवन-से जी के हैं। धन्य नर-नारि जे निहारि बिनु गाहक हू, आपने आपने मन मोल बिनु बीके हैं॥ ४ ॥ बिबुध बरषि फूल हरषि हिये कहत, ग्राम-लोग मगन सनेह सिय-पी के हैं। जोगीजन-अगम दरस पायो पाँवरनि, प्रमुदित मन सुनि सुरप-सची के हैं॥ ५ ॥ प्रीतिके सुबालक-से लालत सुजन मुनि, मग चारु चरित लषन-राम-सी के हैं। जोग न बिराग-जाग, तप न तीरथ-त्याग, एही अनुराग भाग खुले तुलसी के हैं॥ ६ ॥
Look, friend! The travelers are beautiful from head to foot. Their tender bodies resemble blue and yellow lotuses; Even though they wear ascetic garb, millions of Loves appear pale beside them. (1) Perhaps Brahmā gathered merit, affection, virtue, grace, and joy And fashioned these nectars from nectar itself. The radiant woman beside them shines like lightning embodied as beauty; Each of her limbs surpasses even Umā and Ramā. (2) Forest cloth is fastened at their waists, and they bear quivers, arrows, and bows. Steadfast and heroic, they are compassionate protectors of everyone. With no sandals, they walk the road upon lotus feet— What sort of parents could have sent them into the forest? (3) Friend, behold them; this is the fruit of having eyes, The finest of gains, and life itself within a happy life. Blessed are the men and women who look upon them and, though no buyer asks, Freely sell their hearts without a price. (4) The gods shower flowers and rejoice inwardly, saying, ‘The village people are absorbed in love for Sītā and her Lord.’ Simple folk have received a vision inaccessible even to yogis; Hearing of it, Indra and Śacī rejoice in their hearts. (5) Good people and sages cherish the lovely deeds of Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma, and Sītā along the road As though nurturing love’s own tender children. Neither yoga, nor awakened detachment, nor austerity, pilgrimage, or renunciation— Through this love alone has Tulsī’s fortune opened. (6)