आली, अब राम-लषन कित ह्वै हैं। चित्रकूट तज्यौ तबतें न लही सुधि, बधू-समेत कुसल सुत द्वै हैं॥ १ ॥ बारि बयारि, बिषम हिम-आतप सहि बिनु बसन भूमितल स्वै हैं। कंद-मूल, फल-फूल असन बन, भोजन समय मिलत कैसे वैहैं॥ २ ॥ जिन्हहि बिलोकि सोचिहैं लता-द्रुम, खग-मृग-मुनि लोचन जल च्वैहैं। तुलसिदास तिन्हकी जननी हौं, मो-सो निठुर-चित औरो कहुँ ह्वैहैं॥ ३ ॥
“Friend, where can Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa be now? Since they left Citrakūṭa, no news has come. Are my two sons well, together with their bride? (1) Enduring rain, wind, fierce cold, and heat, they must sleep without proper coverings upon the ground. Their food in the forest is roots, tubers, fruit, and flowers—but how can even that food reach them at the proper time? (2) Creepers and trees grieve when they see them, and birds, deer, and sages shed tears from their eyes. Tulsīdāsa says: I am their mother—can there be another anywhere whose heart is as pitiless as mine?” (3)