तात! तोहूँसों कहत होति हिये गलानि। मनको प्रथम पन समुझि अछत तनु, लखि नई गति भई मति मलानि॥ १ ॥ पियको बचन परिहर्यो जियके भरोसे, संग चली बन बड़ो लाभ जानि। पीतम-बिरह तौ सनेह सरबसु, सुत! औसरको चुकिबो सरिस न हानि॥ २ ॥ आरज-सुवनके ते दया दुबनहूपर, मोहि सोच, मोतें सब बिधि नसानि। आपनी भलाई भलो कियो नाथ सबहीको, मेरे ही दिन सब बिसरी बानि॥ ३ ॥ नेम तो पपीहाहीके, प्रेम प्यारो मीनहीके, तुलसी कही है नीके हृदय आनि। इतनी कही सो कही सीय, ज्योंकी त्योंही रही, प्रीति परी सही, बिधिसों न बसानि॥ ४ ॥
Son, even in speaking to you my heart feels ashamed. I remember my mind’s first resolve, yet this body remains; seeing what has now come to pass, my understanding is stained with grief. (1) Trusting my own heart, I set aside my beloved’s word and went with him to the forest, deeming that a great gain. Separation from one’s beloved is indeed love’s whole treasure, son, but no loss equals missing the proper moment. (2) The noble prince shows compassion even toward enemies; my sorrow is that through me everything has gone awry. By his own goodness my Lord has done good to everyone, but when my days came he forgot all his accustomed ways. (3) The pied cuckoo alone keeps its vow, and the fish alone cherishes true love—Tulsī says, take this well to heart. Having said only this, Sītā became still just as she was: her love stood proven true, but fate would not be mastered. (4)