प्रभु कपि-नायक बोलि कह्यो है। बरषा गई, सरद आई, अब लगि नहि सिय-सोधु लह्यो है॥ १ ॥ जा कारन तजि लोकलाज, तनु राखि बियोग सह्यो है। ताको तौ कपिराज आज लगि, कछु न काज निबह्यो है॥ २ ॥ सुनि सुग्रीव सभीत नमित-मुख, उतरु न देन चल्यो है। आइ गए हरि जूथ, देखि उर पूरि प्रमोद रह्यो है॥ ३ ॥ पठये बदि-बदि अवधि दसहु दिसि, चले बलु सबनि गह्यो है। तुलसी सिय लगि भव-दधिनिधि मनु फिर हरि चहत मह्यो है॥ ४ ॥
The Lord summoned the leader of the monkeys and said: “The rains have passed and autumn has come, yet still no trace of Sītā has been found. (1) For her sake I cast aside worldly regard, preserved this body, and endured separation; yet until today, king of monkeys, none of her work has been accomplished.” (2) Hearing this, Sugrīva lowered his face in fear and could offer no reply. Just then the monkey hosts arrived; seeing them filled every heart with delight. (3) They were sent through all ten directions with fixed deadlines, and each departed taking courage. Tulsīdāsa says it seemed that, for Sītā’s sake, Hari wished to churn the ocean of worldly existence once more. (4)