सहज सनेही रामसों तैं कियो न सहज सनेह। ताते भव-भाजन भयो, सुनु अजहुँ सिखावन एह॥ १॥ ज्यों मुख मुकुर बिलोकिये अरु चित न रहै अनुहारि। त्यों सेवतहुँ न आपने, ये मातु-पिता, सुत-नारि॥ २॥ दै दै सुमन तिल बासिकै, अरु खरि परिहरि रस लेत। स्वारथ हित भूतल भरे, मन मेचक, तन सेत॥ ३॥ करि बीत्यो, अब करतु है करिबे हित मीत अपार। कबहुँ न कोउ रघुबीर सो नेह निबाहनिहार॥ ४॥ जासों सब नातों फुरै, तासों न करी पहिचानि। ताते कछू समुझयो नहीं, कहा लाभ कह हानि॥ ५॥ साँचो जान्यो झूठको, झूठे कहँ साँचो जानि। को न गयो, को जात है, को न जैहे करि हितहानि॥ ६॥ बेद कह्यो, बुध कहत हैं, अरु हौँहुँ कहत हौं टेरि। तुलसी प्रभु साँचो हितू, तू हियकी आँखिन हेरि॥ ७॥
You did not naturally love Rama, who loves by nature; therefore you became a vessel of becoming. Even now, listen to this instruction. (1) As a face is seen in a mirror yet its likeness does not truly remain there, so even while they serve you, these mother, father, son, and wife are not your own. (2) Flowers are repeatedly placed with sesame to perfume it, but after its oil is taken the dry cake is discarded. The earth is full of friends for selfish ends, their minds black and bodies white. (3) Countless friends have passed, you make them now, and you will make them hereafter; never will anyone sustain love as the Hero of Raghu does. (4) You did not recognize the one through whom every relationship appears real; therefore you understood nothing of what is gain and what is loss. (5) Taking the false as true and the true as false—who has not gone, who is not going, and who will not go after ruining one’s welfare? (6) The Veda has said it, the wise say it, and I too cry it aloud: Tulsi’s Lord is the true friend. Look with the eyes of your heart. (7)