देखत चित्रकूट-बन मन अति होत हुलास। सीता-राम-लषन-प्रिय, तापस-बृंद-निवास॥ १ ॥ सरित सोहावनि पावनि, पापहरनि पय नाम। सिद्ध-साधु-सुर-सेवित देति सकल मन-काम॥ २ ॥ बिटप-बेलि नव किसलय, कुसुमित सघन सुजाति। कंदमूल, जल-थलरुह अगनित अनबन भाँति॥ ३ ॥ बंजुल मंजु, बकुलकुल, सुरतरु, ताल तमाल। कदलि, कदंब, सुचंपक, पाटल, पनस, रसाल॥ ४ ॥ भूरुह भूरि भरे जनु छबि-अनुराग-सभाग। बन बिलोकि लघु लागहिं बिपुल बिबुध-बन-बाग॥ ५ ॥ जाइ न बरनि राम-बन, चितवत चित हरि लेत। ललित-लता-द्रुम-संकुल मनहु मनोज निकेत॥ ६ ॥ सरित-सरनि सरसीरुह फूले नाना रंग। गुंजत मंजु मधुपबन, कूजत बिबिध बिहंग॥ ७ ॥ लषन कहेउ रघुनंदन देखिय बिपिन-समाज। मानहु चयन मयन-पुर आयउ प्रिय ऋतुराज॥ ८ ॥ चित्रकूटपर राउर जानि अधिक अनुरागु। सखासहित जनु रतिपति आयउ खेलन फागु॥ ९ ॥ झिल्लि झाँझि, झरना डफ नव मृदंग निसान। भेरि उपंग भृंग रव, ताल कीर, कलगान॥ १० ॥ हंस कपोत कबूतर बोलत चक्र चकोर। गावत मनहु नारि-नर मुदित नगर चहुँ ओर॥ ११ ॥ चित्र-बिचित्र बिबिध मृग डोलत डोंगर डाँग। जनु पुरबीथिन बिहरत छैल सँवारे स्वाँग॥ १२ ॥ नाचहिं मोर, पिक गावहिं, सुर बर राग बँधान। निलज तरुन-तरुनी जनु खेलहिं समय समान॥ १३ ॥ भरि भरि सुंड करिनि-करि जहँ तहँ डारहिं बारि। भरत परसपर पिचकरिनि मनहु मुदित नर-नारि॥ १४ ॥ पीठि चढ़ाइ सिसुन्हु कपि कूदत डारहिं डार। जनु मुँह लाइ गेरु-मसि भए खरनि असवार॥ १५ ॥ लिए पराग सुमनरस डोलत मलय-समीर। मनहु अरगजा छिरकत, भरत गुलाल-अबीर॥ १६ ॥ काम कौतुकी यहि बिधि प्रभुहित कौतुक कीन्ह। रीझि राम रतिनाथहि जग-बिजयी बर दीन्ह॥ १७ ॥ दुखवहु मोरे दास जनि, मानहु मोरि रजाइ। ‘भलोहि नाथ’ माथे धरि आयसु चलेउ बजाइ॥ १८ ॥ मुदित किरात-किरातिनि रघुबर-रूप निहारि। प्रभुगुन गावत नाचत चले जोहारि जोहारि॥ १९ ॥ देहिं असीस, प्रसंसहिं मुनि सुर बरषहिं फूल। गवने भवन राखि उर मूरति मंगलमूल॥ २० ॥ चित्रकूट-कानन-छबि को कबि बरनै पार। जहँ सिय-लषनसहित नित रघुबर करहिं बिहार॥ २१ ॥ तुलसिदास चाँचरि मिस कहे राम-गुनग्राम। गावहिं, सुनहिं नारि-नर, पावहिं सब अभिराम॥ २२ ॥
The heart overflows with joy at the sight of Citrakūṭa’s forest, Dear to Sītā, Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa and home to hosts of ascetics. (1) The lovely, purifying, sin-destroying river is named Payasvinī; Served by siddhas, saints, and gods, she grants every desire of the heart. (2) Trees and vines are dense with fresh shoots and flowers of noble kinds; Countless roots and plants of water and land appear in many forms. (3) Lovely reeds and groves of bakula, wish-fulfilling trees, palms, and tamālas, Plantains, kadambas, splendid campakas, pāṭalas, jackfruit, and mangoes abound. (4) The many trees seem filled with beauty, love, and good fortune; Beholding this forest, even the vast celestial groves and gardens seem small. (5) Rāma’s forest cannot be described; at a glance it steals the heart, Thronged with graceful vines and trees, as though it were Kāma’s own dwelling. (6) Lotuses of many colors bloom in rivers and ponds; Swarms of bees hum sweetly and many birds call. (7) Lakṣmaṇa said, ‘Raghunandana, behold the whole array of the forest— It seems beloved Spring has come to the city of Kāma after choosing it for himself. (8) Knowing your deep affection for Citrakūṭa, It seems the Lord of Love has come with his companion to play Holī. (9) Cicadas are cymbals and waterfalls frame-drums amid new mṛdaṅgas and kettledrums; The bees’ hum is horn and lute, while parrots keep the beat in melodious song. (10) Swans, doves, pigeons, cakravākas, and cakoras call, As though joyful women and men were singing throughout the city. (11) Many wondrously patterned deer roam the wooded heights, Like stylish performers in costume strolling the city streets. (12) Peacocks dance and cuckoos sing, setting excellent melodies; It seems shameless young men and women are playing as the season bids. (13) Elephants fill their trunks and spray water here and there, Like delighted women and men filling water-squirters against one another. (14) Monkeys carry their young on their backs and leap from branch to branch, Like performers with ocher- and ink-painted faces riding donkeys. (15) The Malaya breeze roams laden with pollen and flower nectar, As though sprinkling perfume and filling the air with gulāl and abīr. (16) Thus playful Kāma made this revel for the Lord’s delight; Pleased, Rāma granted the Lord of Rati victory over the world. (17) ‘Do not afflict my servant; obey my command.’ ‘Very well, Lord,’ Kāma answered, placed the order upon his head, and departed proclaiming it. (18) Kirāta men and women rejoice on beholding Raghubara’s form; They sing the Lord’s virtues, dance, and leave offering salutation after salutation. (19) Sages give blessings and praise him while the gods shower flowers; Then they go home carrying in their hearts the form that is the root of all auspiciousness. (20) What poet could reach the end of describing Citrakūṭa’s forest beauty, Where Raghubara forever sports with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa? (21) Tulsīdāsa has used the guise of a Holī song to proclaim a host of Rāma’s virtues; Women and men who sing or hear them shall obtain every delight. (22)