केसव! कारन कौन गुसाई। जेहि अपराध असाध जानि मोहिं तजेउ अग्यकी नाई॥ १॥ परम पुनीत संत कोमल-चित, तिनहिं तुमहिं बनि आई। तौ कत बिप्र, ब्याध, गनिकहि तारेहु, कछु रही सगाई?॥ २॥ काल, करम, गति अगति जीवकी, सब हरि! हाथ तुम्हारे। सोइ कछु करहु, हरहु ममता प्रभु! फिरौं न तुमहिं बिसारे॥ ३॥ जौ तुम तजहु, भजौं न आन प्रभु, यह प्रमान पन मोरे। मन-बच-करम नरक-सुरपुर जहँ तहँ रघुबीर निहोरे॥ ४॥ जद्यपि नाथ उचित न होत अस, प्रभु सों करौं ढिठाई। तुलसिदास सीदत निसिदिन देखत तुम्हारि निठुराई॥ ५॥
Keshava, Master, for what cause—through what offense did you judge me incurable and abandon me like an unworthy stranger? (1) Supremely pure saints with tender hearts are suited to you. Then why did you deliver the brahmin, hunter, and courtesan—was there some kinship with them? (2) Time, karma, and the soul’s good and bad course are all in your hands, Hari. Do whatever is needed: remove my possessiveness, Lord, so that I do not wander forgetting you again. (3) If you abandon me, I will worship no other Lord—this is my binding vow. In mind, speech, and deed, whether in hell or heaven, I will appeal to Raghubira. (4) Though such boldness toward the Lord is not proper, Master, Tulsidas wastes away night and day as he beholds your hardness. (5)