खेलत बसंत राजाधिराज। देखत नभ कौतुक सुर-समाज॥ १ ॥ सोहैं सखा-अनुज रघुनाथ साथ। झोलिन्ह अबीर, पिचकारि हाथ॥ २ ॥ बाजहिं मृदंग, डफ, ताल, बेनु। छिरकैं सुगंध भरे मलय-रेनु॥ ३ ॥ उत जुबति-जूथ जानकी संग। पहिरे पट भूषन सरस रंग॥ ४ ॥ लिये छरी बेत सोंधैं बिभाग। चाँचरि झूमक कहैं सरसराग॥ ५ ॥ नूपुर-किंकिनि-धुनि अति सोहाइ। ललना-गन जब जेहि धरहूँ धाइ॥ ६ ॥ लोचन आँजहिं फगुआ मनाइ। छाड़हिं नचाइ, हाहा कराइ॥ ७ ॥ चढ़े खरनि बिदूषक स्वाँग साजि। करैं कूति, निपट गई लाज भाजि॥ ८ ॥ नर-नारि परसपर गारि देत। सुनि हँसत राम भाइन समेत॥ ९ ॥ बरषत प्रसून बर-बिबुध-बृंद। जय-जय दिनकर-कुल-कुमुदचंद॥ १० ॥ ब्रह्मादि प्रसंसत अवध बास। गावत कलकीरति तुलसिदास॥ ११ ॥
The King of Kings plays the spring festival while the assembly of gods watches the marvel from the sky. (1) Friends and younger brothers shine beside Raghunātha, with abīra in their bags and water syringes in their hands. (2) Mṛdaṅgas, frame-drums, cymbals, and flutes resound as fragrant water mixed with sandal dust is sprayed. (3) On the other side, companies of young women stand with Jānakī, wearing richly colored garments and ornaments. (4) Carrying cane switches, they search the lanes and sing lively Cāñcarī and Jhūmaka melodies. (5) The music of anklets and waist-bells is exceedingly lovely whenever the women run and seize someone. (6) They blacken the captive's eyes, demand a Holī gift, make him dance, and release him only after he cries out and pleads. (7) Buffoons in costume ride upon donkeys and utter every kind of jest, their shame having fled completely. (8) Women and men exchange playful abuse, and Rāma laughs to hear it together with his brothers. (9) Excellent hosts of gods shower flowers, crying, “Victory to the moon that opens the lotus of the solar race!” (10) Brahmā and the others praise residence in Ayodhyā, while Tulsīdāsa sings the Lord's holy fame. (11)