भली भाँति पहिचाने-जाने साहिब जहाँ लौं जग, जुड़े होत थोरे, थोरे ही गरम। प्रीति न प्रबीन, नीतिहीन, रीतिके मलीन, मायाधीन सब किये कालहु करम॥ १॥ दानव-दनुज बड़े महामूढ़ मूँड़ चढ़े, जीते लोकनाथ नाथ! बलनि भरम। रीझि-रीझि दिये बर, खीझि-खीझि घाले घर, आपने निवाजेको न काहूको सरम॥ २॥ सेवा-सावधान तू सुजान समरथ साँचो, सदगुन-धाम राम! पावन परम। सुरुख, सुमुख, एकरस, एकरूप, तोहि बिदित बिसेषि घटघटके मरम॥ ३॥ तोसो नतपाल न कृपाल, न कँगाल मो-सो दयामें बसत देव सकल धरम। राम कामतरु-छाँह जाहे रुचि मन माँह, तुलसी बिकल, बलि, कलि-कुधरम॥ ४॥
I have thoroughly known and recognized every master in the world: they grow pleased over a trifle and heated over a trifle. Unskilled in love, devoid of good policy, and stained in conduct, time and action have made them all subject to Māyā. (1) Great demons and titans, utterly deluded by pride in their strength, mounted upon everyone’s head and conquered the guardians of the worlds, Lord. Pleased again and again, their masters gave them boons; enraged again and again, they destroyed their homes. No one felt shame at ruining one he himself had favored. (2) You recognize the servant attentive to service; you are wise, capable, and true, O Rāma, the abode of virtues and supremely pure. Well-disposed, fair-faced, of one essence and one form, you especially know the secret within every heart. (3) There is no protector of the bowed and no compassionate one like you, and no pauper like me. O God, all dharma dwells in compassion. My heart longs for the shade of Rāma, the wish-fulfilling tree; Tulsi is distraught—blessed Lord!—by Kali’s evil dharma. (4)