आश्रम निरखि भूले, द्रुम न फले न फूले, अलि-खग-मृग मानो कबहुँ न हे। मुनि न मुनिबधूटी, उजरी परनकुटी, पंचबटी पहिचानि ठाढ़ेइ रहे॥ १ ॥ उठी न सलिल लिए, प्रेम प्रमुदित हिए, प्रिया न पुलकि प्रिय बचन कहे। पल्लव-सालन हेरी, प्रानबल्लभा न टेरी, बिरह बिथकि लखि लषन गहे॥ २ ॥ देखे रघुपति-गति निबुध विकल अति, तुलसी गहन बिनु दहन दहे। अनुज दियो भरोसो, तौलों है सोचु खरो सो, सिय-समाचार प्रभु जौलों न लहे॥ ३ ॥
Looking upon the hermitage, he was bewildered: the trees neither fruited nor flowered, and bees, birds, and beasts seemed never to have been there. There were no sages or sages’ wives, and the leaf-hut stood desolate. Recognizing Pañcavaṭī, he simply remained standing. (1) His beloved did not rise with water in hand and a heart delighted by love, nor thrill and speak affectionate words. He searched the openings among the leaves, but the beloved of his life did not call. Seeing him exhausted by separation, Lakṣmaṇa held him up. (2) Seeing Raghupati’s condition, the gods became utterly distraught; says Tulsīdāsa, the forest burned without a fire. His younger brother reassured him: this terrible grief would stand only until the Lord learned news of Sītā. (3)