ताँबे सो पीठि मनहुँ तन पायो। नीच, मीच जानत न सीस पर, ईस निपट बिसरायो॥ १॥ अवनि-रवनि, धन-धाम, सुहद-सुत, को न इन्हहिं अपनायो? काके भये, गये सँग काके, सब सनेह छल-छायो॥ २॥ जिन्ह भूपनि जग-जीति, बाँधि जम, अपनी बाँह बसायो। तेऊ काल कलेऊ कीन्हे, तू गिनती कब आयो॥ ३॥ देखु बिचारि, सार का साँचो, कहा निगम निजु गायो। भजहिं न अजहुँ समुझि तुलसी तेहि, जेहि महेस मन लायो॥ ४॥
As though you had received a body plated in copper! Lowly one, you do not know that death is over your head, and you have utterly forgotten the Lord. (1) Land, wife, wealth, dwelling, friends, and sons—who has not claimed them? Whose did they become, and with whom did they depart? All such affection is shadowed by deceit. (2) Even those kings who conquered the world, bound Yama, and brought him under the power of their arms—Time made a meal of them. When did you ever enter the reckoning? (3) Look and reflect: what is the true essence, and what has the Veda itself sung? Tulsi, understanding this, even now you do not worship him upon whom Mahesha fixed his mind. (4)