याहि ते मैं हरि ग्यान गँवायो। परिहरि हृदय-कमल रघुनाथहि, बाहर फिरत बिकल भयो धायो॥ १॥ ज्यों कुरंग निज अंग रुचिर मद अति मतिहीन मरम नहिं पायो। खोजत गिरि, तरु, लता, भूमि, बिल परम सुगंध कहाँ तें आयो॥ २॥ ज्यों सर बिमल बारि परिपूरन, ऊपर कछु सिवार तृन छायो। जारत हियो ताहि तजि हौं सठ, चाहत यहि बिधि तृषा बुझायो॥ ३॥ ब्यापत त्रिबिध ताप तनु दारुन, तापर दुसह दरिद्र सतायो। अपनेहि धाम नाम-सुरतरु तजि बिषय-बबूर-बाग मन लायो॥ ४॥ तुम-सम ग्यान-निधान, मोहि सम मूढ़ न आन पुराननि गायो। तुलसिदास प्रभु! यह बिचारि जिय कीजै नाथ उचित मन भायो॥ ५॥
This is how I lost wisdom, O Hari: abandoning Raghunātha in the lotus of my heart, I became distraught and ran about outside. (1) Like a witless musk deer that does not discover the secret of the lovely musk within its own body, I search mountain, tree, vine, earth, and cave, asking where the supreme fragrance comes from. (2) It is like a lake brimful of clear water, with only a little algae and grass spread over its surface. Abandoning that water, fool that I am, I scorch my heart and seek to quench thirst in this way. (3) The dreadful threefold torments pervade the body, and unbearable poverty afflicts me besides. Abandoning the wish-fulfilling tree of the Name in my own abode, I set my mind upon a garden of thorn-trees made of sense objects. (4) The Purāṇas sing that there is no treasury of wisdom like you and no fool like me. Reflecting on this, Lord, do with Tulsidas whatever seems fitting and pleases your heart. (5)