मुझहु न मिटैगो मेरो मानसिक पछिताउ। नारिबस न बिचारि कीन्हौं काज, सोचत रहउ॥ १ ॥ तिलकको बोल्यौं, दियें बन, चौं गुनों चित चाह। हृदय दारिम ज्यों न बिदरयौ समुझि सील-सुभाउ॥ २ ॥ सीय-रघुबर-लखन बिनु भय भाँति भाँति न आउ। मोहिं बृद्धि न परत, यातें कौन कठिन कुआउ॥ ३ ॥ सुनि सुमंत! कि आनि सुंदर सुतन सहित जिआउ। दास तुलसी नतरु मोको मरन अमिय पिआउ॥ ४ ॥
My inward remorse will never be erased. Swayed by a woman, I acted without reflection; I shall remain consumed by it. (1) I summoned him for coronation yet sent him to the forest—what fourfold crookedness possessed my heart? Knowing his character and nature, why did my heart not split like a pomegranate? (2) Without Sītā, Raghubara, and Lakṣmaṇa, fears of every kind assail me. If old age does not overwhelm me now, what more terrible fate could there be? (3) ‘Hear me, Sumantra: either bring my lovely sons and restore my life, or else,’ says Tulsī’s servant, ‘give me death’s nectar to drink.’ (4)