द्वार हौं भोर ही को आजु। रटत रिरिहा आरि और न, कौर ही तें काजु॥ १॥ कलि कराल दुकाल दारुन, सब कुभाँति कुसाजु। नीच जन, मन ऊँच, जैसी कोढ़मेंकी खाजु॥ २॥ हहरि हियमें सदय बूझ्यो जाइ साधु-समाजु। मोहुसे कहुँ कतहुँ कोउ, तिन्ह कह्यो कोसलराजु॥ ३॥ दीनता-दारिद दलै को कृपाबारिधि बाजु। दानि दसरथरायके, तू बानइत सिरताजु॥ ४॥ जनमको भूखो भिखारी हौं गरीबनिवाजु। पेट भरि तुलसिहि जेंवाइय भगति-सुधा सुनाजु॥ ५॥
I have been at your door since dawn today, ceaselessly crying and pleading; I have no other aim—one morsel is all I need. (1) In terrible Kali there is a cruel famine, and every arrangement is corrupt. People are low while their minds aspire high, like the itch within leprosy. (2) Trembling in my heart, I went and asked the compassionate assembly of saints, ‘Is there anyone anywhere even for one like me?’ They named the King of Kosala. (3) Other than the ocean of compassion, who can crush lowliness and poverty? O generous son of Daśaratha, you are the crown among those who uphold the giver’s pledge. (4) I am a beggar hungry from birth, O benefactor of the poor. Feed Tulsi his fill of the fine food that is the nectar of devotion. (5)