सुकसों गहवर हिये कहै सारो। बीर कीर! सिय-राम-लखन बिनु लागत जग अँधियारो॥ १ ॥ पापिनि चेरि, अयानि रानि, नृप हित-अनहित न बिचारो। कुलगुर-सचिव-साधु सोचतु, बिधि को न बसाइ उजारो?॥ २ ॥ अवलोके न चलत भरि लोचन, नगर कोलाहल भारो। सुने न बचन करुनाकरके, जब पुर-परिवार सँभारो॥ ३ ॥ भैया भरत भावतेके, सँग बन सब लोग सिधारो। हम पाँख पाइ पींजरनि तरसत अधिक अभाग हमारो॥ ४ ॥ सुनि खग कहत अंब! मौंगी रहि समुझि प्रेमपथ न्यारो। गए ते प्रभुहि पहुँचाइ फिरे पुनि करत करम-गुन गारो॥ ५ ॥ जीवन जग जानकी-लखनको, मरन महीप सँवारो। तुलसी और प्रीतिकी चरचा करत, कहा कछु चारो॥ ६ ॥
With a heart laden with grief, a myna says to a parrot, ‘Brother parrot, without Sītā, Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa the world seems dark. (1) The maid is sinful, the queen foolish, and the king did not consider benefit and harm. The family preceptor, ministers, and holy people wonder: whom has fate settled without later laying waste? (2) As they departed we could not gaze upon them to our eyes’ content; when the Compassionate One entrusted the city and family to others, the city’s great tumult kept us from hearing his words. (3) All the people are setting out for the forest with dear brother Bharata, while we, though given wings, languish in cages—how great is our misfortune! (4) Hearing her, the parrot says, “Mother, be silent and understand that love’s path is unlike any other. Those who went with the Lord returned after escorting him there, reviling the ways of fate.” (5) In this world, true life belongs to Jānakī and Lakṣmaṇa, and the king alone perfected his death. Tulsī says the rest merely speak of love—what other recourse do they have?’ (6)