ज्यों ज्यों निकट भयो चहौं कृपालु! त्यों त्यों दूरि परयो हौं। तुम चहुँ जुग रस एक राम! हौं हूँ रावरो, जदपि अघ अवगुननि भरयो हौं॥ १॥ बीच पाइ एहि नीच बीच ही छरनि छरयो हौं। हौं सुबरन कुबरन कियो, नृपतें भिखारि करि, सुमतितें कुमति करयो हौं॥ २॥ अगनित गिरि-कानन फिरयो, बिनु आगि जरयो हौं। चित्रकूट गये हौं लखि कलिकी कुचालि सब, अब अपडरनि डरयो हौं॥ ३॥ माथ नाइ नाथ सों कहौं, हाथ जोरि खरयो हौं। चीन्हों चोर जिय मारिहै तुलसी सों कथा सुनि प्रभुसों गुदरि निबरयो हौं॥ ४॥
Compassionate Lord, the more I seek to draw near you, the farther away I fall. Rāma, you remain of one essence through all four ages, and I too am yours, though filled with sin and faults. (1) Finding an interval between us, this lowly Kali age deceived me midway with its tricks. I was gold, but it made me base-colored; it turned a king into a beggar and good understanding into evil judgment. (2) I wandered through countless mountains and forests and burned without a fire. When I went to Citrakūṭ I recognized all the Kali age's crooked schemes; now I am frightened by fear of my own self. (3) Bowing my head, I stand with joined hands and speak to the Lord. Hearing it said that a recognized thief will kill the life, Tulsi petitioned the Lord and thereby freed himself from worry. (4)