Ayodhyākāṇḍa Song 85: Kauśalyā Lives with Separation

हौं तो समुझि रही अपनो सो। राम-लखन-सियको सुख मो कहँ भयो, सखी! सपनो सो॥ १ ॥ जिनके बिरह-बिषाद बँटावन खग-मृग जीव दुखारी। मोहि कहा सजनी समझावति, हौं तिन्हकी महतारी॥ २ ॥ भरत-दसा सुनि, सुमिरि भूपति, देखि दीन पुरबासी। तुलसी ‘राम’ कहति हौं सकुचति, हँसे जग उपहासी॥ ३ ॥

I had understood that happiness as truly my own, but, friend, the joy of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā became for me no more than a dream. (1) Birds, beasts, and every living being suffer as they share the grief of separation from them. Friend, why do you console me? I am their mother. (2) Hearing Bharata’s condition, remembering the king, and seeing the afflicted people of the city, I hesitate even to utter ‘Rāma,’ says Tulsī, lest the mocking world laugh. (3)