Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Without awakening, one does not become a servant—by seeing whom could such service arise?
Without seeing there is no affection, and without affection how could one taste love?
Seeking devotion without love is like a fool churning water to obtain clarified butter.
Without holy company, an uncultivated person cannot become truly wise in this world.

Where desire remains absent, there is the servant; the servant is where no demand exists.
Sri Ramcharan asks: how could sun and night arise together in the same place?

Seal the incomparable inner sound and break open the adamantine passage.
As water, wind, and flame are each gathered and stilled, join the mind in that same way.

There lies a single lake of nectar with a thousand-petalled lotus filled with the rasa of love.
The person whose heart-bee drinks from it brings the enslaving world itself under control.

Method of Eight-Period Worship

Composed by Sri Ramcharan

This is a verse commentary upon the original Sanskrit verses of the Agastya Saṃhitā. It contains songs for the full daily cycle, from the auspicious morning ārati to the Lord’s repose. Chhote Lal Lakshmichand of Bombay published it after having it printed by the Lucknow Printing Press in 1901.

The companions adorn Sita and Rama

One companion applies golden-red mahāvar to the lover’s feet,
as though writing Sita’s glory upon leaves of emerald.
She paints wavering designs of jāvaka upon the feet of Janaka’s daughter,
as though writing upon golden leaves that Rama’s mind has been purchased.

A white jewel shines near the heel of Sita’s foot;
the toes seem like young swans enclosing the cups of lotuses.
Moving anklets of gems and gold adorn Sita’s feet,
like strange celestial bees settled upon red lotuses.
Three rows of golden anklets adorn Rama’s feet,
like bees heavy with pollen upon blue lotuses.
Beneath Sita’s anklets lie two excellent golden ornaments,
and above them a delicate foot-chain becomes an abode of beauty.