कपिके सुनि कल कोमल बैन। प्रेमपुलकि सब गात सिथिल भए, भरे सलिल सरसीरुह-नैन॥ १ ॥ सिय-बियोग-सागर नागर-मनु बूड़न लग्यो सहित चित-चैन। लही नाव पवनज-प्रसन्नता, बरबस तहाँ गह्यो गुन-मैन॥ २ ॥ सकत न बूझि कुसल, बूझे बिन गिरा बिपुल ब्याकुल उर-ऐन। ज्यों कुलीन सुचि सुमति ब्रियोगिनि सनमुख सहै बिरह-सर पैन॥ ३ ॥ धरि-धरि धीर बीर कोसलपति किए जतन, सके उत्तरु दै न। तुलसिदास प्रभु सखा अनुजसों सैनहिं कह्यौ चलहु सजि सैन॥ ४ ॥
Hearing the monkey’s sweet and tender words, all Rāma’s limbs thrilled with love and grew weak, while his lotus eyes filled with water. (1) The skillful swimmer that was his mind began to sink, together with the peace of his heart, into the ocean of separation from Sītā. It found the boat of gladness brought by the Son of the Wind, but Love seized that boat’s rope by force. (2) He could not ask after her welfare, while the words left unasked surged in anguish through the dwelling of his heart, like a noble, pure-minded woman in separation who faces the sharp arrows of longing. (3) Again and again the heroic lord of Kosala gathered courage and tried, yet could offer no reply. Tulsīdāsa says that at last the Lord told his friend and younger brother, “Have the army arrayed; let us march.” (4)