मेरो मन हरिजू! हठ न तजै। निसिदिन नाथ देउँ सिख बहु बिधि, करत सुभाउ निजै॥ १॥ ज्यों जुबती अनुभवति प्रसव अति दारुन दुख उपजै। ह्वै अनुकूल बिसारि सूल सठ पुनि खल पतिहिं भजै॥ २॥ लोलुप भ्रम गृहपसु ज्यों जहँ जहँ तहँ सिर पदत्रान बजै। तदपि अधम बिचरत तेहि मारग कबहुँ न मूढ़ लजै॥ ३॥ हौं हार्यो करि जतन बिबिध बिधि अतिसै प्रबल अजै। तुलसिदास बस होइ तबहिं जब प्रेरक प्रभु बरजै॥ ४॥
Hari, my mind will not abandon its stubbornness. Master, night and day I instruct it in many ways, yet it acts according to its own nature. (1) It is like a young woman who experiences the exceedingly terrible pain that arises in childbirth; once well again, the fool forgets the agony and returns to her wretched husband. (2) Like a greedy beast wandering from house to house, wherever it goes footwear strikes its head. Even so, the base fool keeps traveling that road and is never ashamed. (3) I am defeated after making efforts of every kind; this unborn power is exceedingly strong. Tulsidas says it comes under control only when the Lord who moves it restrains it. (4)