जबतें सिधारे एहि मारग लखन-राम जानकी सहित, तबतें न सुधि लही हैं। अवध गए धौं फिरि, कैधौं चढ़े बिंध्यगिरि, कैधौं कहाँ रहे, सो कछु, न काहु कही हैं॥ १ ॥ एक कहै, चित्रकूट निकट नदीके तीर, परनकुटीर करि बसे, बात सही हैं। सुनियत, भरत मनाइबेको आवत हैं, होइगी पै सोई, जो बिधाता चित चही हैं॥ २ ॥ सत्यसंध, धरम-धुरीन रघुनाथजूको, आपनी निबाहिबे, नृपकी निरबही हैं। दस-चारि बरिस बिहार बन पदचार, करिबे पुनीत सैल, सर-सरि, मही हैं॥ ३ ॥ मुनि-सुर-सुजन-समाजके सुधारि काज, बिगारि बिगारि जहाँ जहाँ जाकी रही हैं। पुर पाँव धारिहैं, उधारिहैं तुलसीहू से जन, जिन जानि कै गरीबी गाढ़ी गही हैं॥ ४ ॥
Since Lakṣmaṇa and Rāma passed along this road with Jānakī, No news of them has reached us. Did they return to Ayodhyā, climb the Vindhya mountain, or remain somewhere else? No one has said anything at all. (1) One woman says, ‘Near Citrakūṭa, on a riverbank, They have built a leaf-hut and settled there—this report is true. It is said that Bharata is coming to persuade them to return, Yet only what the Creator has willed in his heart will happen.’ (2) Truth-bound Raghunātha, bearer of the burden of dharma, Must fulfill his own vow now that the king has fulfilled his. For fourteen years he will roam the forests on foot, Making mountains, lakes, rivers, and the earth holy. (3) Having repaired the affairs of sages, gods, and good people Wherever each one’s condition has fallen into ruin, He will set foot in the capital and deliver even servants like Tulsī, Who have knowingly clung tightly to their poverty of spirit. (4)