मनोरथ मनको एकै भाँति। चाहत मुनि-मन-अगम सुकृत-फल, मनसा अघ न अघाति॥ १॥ करमभूमि कलि जनम, कुसंगति, मति बिमोह-मद-माति। करत कुजोग कोटि, क्यों पैयत परमारथ-पद सांति॥ २॥ सेइ साधु-गुरु, सुनि पुरान-श्रुति बूझ्यो राग बाजी ताँति। तुलसी प्रभु सुभाउ सुरतरु-सो, ज्यों दरपन मुख-कांति॥ ३॥
The mind’s desire is strange indeed: it wants the fruit of merit inaccessible even to sages’ minds, yet its intention is never sated with sin. (1) Birth in Kali in the land of action, bad company, an understanding intoxicated by delusion and pride, and the commission of millions of evil conjunctions—how can the supreme goal and peace be obtained? (2) By serving saints and the guru and hearing the Purāṇas and the Veda, I recognized the melody when the string was played. Tulsi, the Lord’s nature is like a wish-tree, and like the reflection of a face in a mirror. (3)