कहा न कियो, कहाँ न गयो, सीस काहि न नायो? राम रावरे बिन भये जन जनमि-जनमि जग दुख दसहू दिसि पायो॥ १॥ आस-बिबस खास दास ह्वै नीच प्रभुनि जनायो। हा हा करि दीनता कही द्वार-द्वार बार-बार, परी न छार, मुह बायो॥ २॥ असन-बसन बिनु बावरो जहँ-तहँ उठि धायो। महिमा मान प्रिय प्रानते तजि खोलि खलनि आगे, खिनु-खिनु पेट खलायो॥ ३॥ नाथ! हाथ कछु नाहि लग्यो, लालच ललचायो। साँच कहौं, नाच कौन सो जो, न मोहि लोभ लघु हौं निरलज्ज नचायो॥ ४॥ श्रवन-नयन-मग मन लगे, सब थल पतितायो। मूड़ मारि, हिय हारिकै, हित हेरि हहरि अब चरन-सरन तकि आयो॥ ५॥ दसरथके! समरथ तुहीं, त्रिभुवन जसु गायो। तुलसी नमत अवलोकिये, बाँह-बोल बलि दै बिरुदावली बुलायो॥ ६॥
What have I not done, where have I not gone, and before whom have I not bowed my head? Without becoming yours, Rāma, this servant was born again and again and found sorrow in all ten directions of the world. (1) Enslaved by hope, I became the special servant of low masters and made myself known to them. Crying ‘alas’ and repeatedly telling my poverty from door to door, I opened my mouth, yet not even ash fell into it. (2) Without food or clothing, I ran here and there like a madman. Abandoning glory and honor dearer than life, I exposed my belly before the wicked moment after moment. (3) Lord, nothing came into my hand, though craving made me greedier still. I speak the truth: what dance is there that base greed did not make shameless me perform? (4) My ears, eyes, and mind each followed their own path, yet everywhere I fell lower. Beating my head and losing heart, I saw where my good lay and, trembling, have now come seeking the refuge of your feet. (5) Son of Daśaratha, you alone are mighty; your fame is sung through the three worlds. Look upon Tulsi as he bows. Your celebrated vows gave me an arm and a word of assurance and called me here. (6)