राम-लषन उर लाय लये हैं। भरे नीर राजीव-नयन सब अँग परिताप तए हैं॥ १ ॥ कहत ससोक बिलोकि बंधु-मुख बचन प्रीति गुथए हैं। सेवक-सखा भगति-भायप-गुन चाहत अब अथए हैं॥ २ ॥ निज कीरति-करतूति तात! तुम सुकृती सकल जए हैं। मैं तुम्ह बिनु तनु राखि लोक अपने अपलोक लए हैं॥ ३ ॥ मेरे पनकी लाज इहाँलौं हठि प्रिय प्रान दए हैं। लागति साँगि बिभीषन ही पर, सीपर आपु भए हैं॥ ४ ॥ सुनि प्रभु-बचन भालु-कपि-गन, सुर सोच सुखाइ गए हैं। तुलसी आइ पवनसुत-बिधि मानो फिरि निरमये नए हैं॥ ५ ॥
Rāma lifted Lakṣmaṇa and clasped him to his heart. His lotus eyes filled with water, and all his limbs burned with anguish. (1) Looking upon his brother’s face, he spoke sorrowfully in words woven with love: “Now the virtues of servant, friend, devotion, and brotherhood seem ready to come to an end. (2) Dear one, through your fame and deeds you have surpassed every meritorious soul. If I preserve this body without you, I shall earn only infamy in my own world. (3) To uphold my vow you have stubbornly surrendered your beloved life; the spear was meant for Vibhīṣaṇa, but you placed yourself before him as a shield.” (4) Hearing the Lord’s words, bears, monkeys, and gods withered in grief. Tulsī says that when the son of the Wind arrived, fate seemed to create them all anew. (5)