जनम गयो बादिहिं बर बीति। परमारथ पाले न परयो कछु, अनुदिन अधिक अनीति॥ १॥ खेलत खात लरिकपन गो चलि, जौबन जुवतिन लियो जीति। रोग-बियोग-सोग-श्रम-संकुल बड़ि बय बृथहि अतीति॥ २॥ राग-रोष-इरिषा-बिमोह-बस रुची न साधु-समीति। कहे न सुने गुनगन रघुबरके, भइ न रामपद-प्रीति॥ ३॥ हृदय दहत पछिताय-अनल अब, सुनत दुसह भवभीति। तुलसी प्रभु तें होइ सो कीजिय समुझि बिरदकी रीति॥ ४॥
This fine life has passed in vain. Nothing of the highest good has come into my possession, while injustice has increased day by day. (1) Childhood went by in playing and eating; young women conquered my youth. Old age, filled with disease, separation, grief, and toil, passed uselessly. (2) Under the sway of attachment, anger, envy, and delusion, I found no pleasure in the assembly of saints. I neither spoke nor heard Raghubara’s host of virtues, and no love for Rama’s feet arose. (3) Now my heart burns in the fire of regret on hearing of the unbearable fear of worldly existence. Lord, do whatever can be done for Tulsi, considering the way of your renowned vow. (4)