अवध नगर अति सुंदर बर सरिताके तीर। नीति-निपुन नर-तिय सबहिं धरम-धुरंधर, धीर॥ १ ॥ सकल रितुन्ह सुखदायक, तामहँ अधिक बसंत। भूप-मौलि-मनि जहँ बस नृपति जानकीकंत॥ २ ॥ बन उपबन नव किसलय, कुसुमित नाना रंग। बोलत मधुर मुखर खग पिकबर, गुंजत भृंग॥ ३ ॥ समय बिचारि कृपानिधि, देखि द्वार अति भीर। खेलहु मुदित नारि-नर, बिहँस कहेउ रघुबीर॥ ४ ॥ नगर-नारि-नर हरषित सब चले खेलन फागु। देखि राम छबि अतुलित उमगत उर अनुरागु॥ ५ ॥ स्याम-तमाल-जलदतनु निरमल पीत दुकूल। अरुन-कंज-दल-लोचन सदा दास अनुकूल॥ ६ ॥ सिर किरीट श्रुति कुंडल, तिलक मनोहर भाल। कुंचित केस, कुटिल भ्रू, चितवनि भगत-कृपाल॥ ७ ॥ कल कपोल, सुक नासिक, ललित अधर द्विज जोति। अरुन कंज महँ जनु जुग पाँति रुचिर गज-मोति॥ ८ ॥ बर दर-ग्रीव, अमितबल बाहु सुपीन बिसाल। कंकन-हार मनोहर, उरसि लसति बनमाल॥ ९ ॥ उर भृगु-चरन बिराजत, द्विज-प्रिय चरित पुनीत। भगत हेतु नर बिग्रह सुरबर गुन-गोतीत॥ १० ॥ उदर त्रिरेख मनोहर, सुंदर नाभि गँभीर। हाटक-घटित, जटित मनि कटितट रट मंजीर॥ ११ ॥ उरु अरु जानु पीन, मृदु, मरकत खंभ समान। नूपुर मुनि-मन मोहत, करत सुकोमल गान॥ १२ ॥ अरुनबरन पदपंकज, नखदुति इंदु-प्रकास। जनक-सुता-करपल्लव-लालित बिपुल बिलास॥ १३ ॥ कंज-कुलिस-धुज-अंकुस-रेख चरन सुभ चारि। जन-मन-मीन हरन कहँ बंसी रची सँवारि॥ १४ ॥ अंग अंग प्रति अतुलित सुषमा बरनि न जाइ। एहि सुख मगन होइ मन फिरि नहि अनत लोभाइ॥ १५ ॥ खेलत फागु, अवधपति, अनुज-सखा सब संग। बरषि सुमन सुर निरखहिं सोभा अमित अनंग॥ १६ ॥ ताल, मृदंग, झाँझ, डफ बाजहिं पनव-निसान। सुघर सरस सहनाइन्ह गावहिं समय समान॥ १७ ॥ बीना-बेनु-मधुर-धुनि सुनि किनर-गंधर्ब। निज-गुन गरुअ हरुअ अति मानहिं मन तजि गर्ब॥ १८ ॥ निज-निज अटनि मनोहर गान करहिं पिकबैनि। मनहुँ हिमालय-सिखरनि लसहिं अमर-मृगनैनि॥ १९ ॥ धवल धामतें निकसहिं जहँ तहँ नारि-बरूथ। मानहुँ मथत पयोनिधि बिपुल अपसरा-जूथ॥ २० ॥ किंसुकबरन सुअंसुक सुषमा सुखनि समेत। जनु बिधु-निबह रहे करि दामिनि-निकर निकेत॥ २१ ॥ कुंकुम सुरस अबीरनि भरहिं चतुर बर नारि। रितु सुभाय सुठि सोभित देहिं बिबिध बिधि गारि॥ २२ ॥ जो सुख जोग, जाग, जप, अरु तीरथतें दूरि। राम-कृपातें सोइ सुख अवध गलिन्ह रह्यो पूरि॥ २३ ॥ खेलि बसंत कियो प्रभु मज्जन सरजूनीर। बिबिध भाँति जाचक जन पाए भूषन चीर॥ २४ ॥ तुलसिदास तेहि अवसर माँगी भगति अनूप। मृदु मुसुकाइ दीन्हि तब कृपादृष्टि रघुभूप॥ २५ ॥
Ayodhyā is exceedingly beautiful upon the bank of the excellent river; all its women and men are skilled in conduct, stalwart in dharma, and steadfast. (1) It brings joy in every season, but spring surpasses them all, for Jānakīkānta, crown jewel of kings, dwells there as sovereign. (2) Fresh shoots fill forests and groves, flowers open in many colors, sweet-voiced birds and splendid cuckoos call, and bees hum. (3) Seeing the favorable time and the great crowd at his gate, Raghubīra, treasure of compassion, smiled and said, “Women and men, rejoice and play Holī.” (4) All the city's women and men joyfully set out to play; beholding Rāma's incomparable beauty, love surged within their hearts. (5) His body is dark as tamāla or raincloud, clothed in spotless yellow silk; his eyes are petals of crimson lotus, forever gracious to his servants. (6) A crown rests on his head, earrings at his ears, and a lovely tilaka on his brow; his hair curls, his brows curve, and his glance bestows compassion on devotees. (7) His cheeks are graceful, his nose parrot-like, his lips lovely, and the light of his teeth shines between them like two rows of fine elephant pearls within a crimson lotus. (8) His conch-like neck is excellent and his long, full arms possess measureless strength. Lovely bracelets and necklaces adorn him, and a forest garland shines upon his chest. (9) Bhṛgu's footprint rests upon his breast; he loves brahmins and his conduct is pure. The supreme god beyond qualities and senses assumes human form for his devotees. (10) Three lovely lines cross his abdomen and his deep navel is beautiful; a gold-fashioned, gem-set girdle rings at his waist. (11) His thighs and knees are full and smooth like emerald pillars; anklets singing delicately enchant the minds of sages. (12) His lotus feet are crimson and his nails shine like the moon, lovingly caressed in abundant play by the tender hands of Janaka's daughter. (13) The four auspicious marks—lotus, thunderbolt, banner, and goad—upon his feet are like a carefully fashioned hook for catching the fish of his servants' minds. (14) The incomparable beauty of every limb cannot be described. Once the mind is immersed in this joy, no other place can entice it. (15) The Lord of Ayodhyā plays Holī with his younger brothers and friends, while gods shower flowers and behold his beauty, equal to countless Loves. (16) Cymbals, mṛdaṅgas, large cymbals, frame-drums, small drums, and kettledrums resound, while graceful, melodious shawms sing in keeping with the season. (17) Hearing the sweet sound of vīṇā and flute, kinnaras and gandharvas abandon pride and regard even their own great gifts as very slight. (18) Cuckoo-voiced women sing beautifully upon their several terraces, like doe-eyed heavenly women shining upon Himalayan peaks. (19) Companies of women emerge here and there from their white mansions, like throngs of apsarases rising as the ocean is churned. (20) Wearing beautiful safflower-colored garments and filled with delight, they seem like hosts of moons dwelling within companies of lightning. (21) The clever, excellent women fill water syringes with fragrant abīra and kuṅkuma and, in the lovely custom of the season, trade many kinds of playful ritual abuse. (22) The bliss beyond yoga, sacrifice, recitation, and pilgrimage fills Ayodhyā's lanes through Rāma's grace. (23) After playing spring Holī, the Lord bathed in Sarayū's waters, and supplicants received many kinds of garments and ornaments. (24) At that moment Tulsīdāsa asked for incomparable devotion; Raghunātha smiled gently and granted it with a compassionate glance. (25)