राम-नामके जपे जाइ जियकी जरनि। कलिकाल अपर उपाय ते अपाय भये, जैसे तम नासिबेको चित्रके तरनि॥ १॥ करम-कलाप परिताप पाप-साने सब, ज्यों सुफूल फूले तरू फोकट फरनि। दंभ, लोभ, लालच, उपासना बिनासि नीके, सुगति साधन भई उदर भरनि॥ २॥ जोग न समाधि निरुपाधि न बिराग-ग्यान, बचन बिशेष बेष, कहूँ न करनि। कपट कुपथ कोटि, कहनि-रहनि खोटि, सकल सराह निज निज आचरनि॥ ३॥ मरत महेस उपदेस हैं कहा करत, सुरसरि-तीर कासी धरम-धरनि। राम-नामको प्रताप हर कहैं, जपैं आप, जुग जुग जानें जग, बेदहूँ बरनि॥ ४॥ मति राम-नाम ही सों, रति राम-नाम ही सों, गति राम-नाम ही की बिपति-हरनि। राम-नामसों प्रतीति प्रीति राखे कबहुँक, तुलसी ढरैंगे राम आपनी ढरनि॥ ५॥
By repeating Rama’s name, the burning of the heart departs. In the age of Kali other remedies have become calamities, like a painted sun used to destroy darkness. (1) The whole array of rites is steeped in anguish and sin, like a tree blooming with lovely flowers yet bearing fruit in vain. Hypocrisy, greed, and craving have thoroughly ruined worship, and the means to the highest path has become a means of filling the belly. (2) There is neither yoga nor unencumbered samadhi, neither detachment nor knowledge—only elaborate words and costumes, nowhere any practice. There are millions of deceitful wrong paths; speech and conduct are corrupt, and all praise their own behavior. (3) What teaching does Mahesha give the dying in Kashi, sacred ground on the Ganga’s bank? Hara declares the power of Rama’s name and repeats it himself; age after age the world has known it, and the Veda too describes it. (4) Let understanding be fixed only on Rama’s name, love only Rama’s name, and take as refuge only Rama’s name, remover of calamity. If Tulsi keeps trust and love in Rama’s name, one day Rama will incline toward him in his own way. (5)