Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Abandoning all ritual acts of injunction and prohibition, they remain forever immersed in Raghupati’s beauty.
Elsewhere they embody the women themselves, nourish the love between Rati and her Lord, and give the Lord immense satisfaction.
Elsewhere they wrap the women in their own rasa and arrange a rāsa that steals the Lord’s heart.

Sometimes they place an arm about Raghupati and dance with him within the pleasure palace.
Whatever play Sita performs with the Lord—kissing, union, and every other colour of love—
The Lord and they drink one another’s beauty, forever submerged within the well of rasa.

If someone attains this happiness anywhere, that person is one among millions in the world.
Only after practising Vaishnava dharma through many births does one become fit to follow this path.

A tulsi garland hangs upon the neck, marking the exclusive swan-like form of devotion.
Upon the body they apply a tilak of stainless sandal paste and a yellow dot of turmeric honoured by the world.
From the inner brows to the crown of the head they draw fine, beautiful lines.

Compassionate, sweet in speech, renouncing, and endowed with discrimination,
They absorb the mind into their own consciousness and observe the single vow of Rama’s rāsa.

The world remains absorbed in children, spouse, forest, kingdom, and pleasure; its understanding is dull.
Beholding Rama’s rāsa, the rasika devotee attains supreme bliss.

Upon one couch beside Raghava rests the dearly beloved royal companion.
Even there, beholding the tender form, love for union with Raghunath increases.

Intoxicated with the rasa of Pramodavana’s rāsa, they compose verses saturated with rasa.
The jīva attains its own divine form and eternally receives and offers intimate counsel.

The Lord, otherwise unseen like water hidden in a well, manifests close at hand for their sake.
Crown of all rasikas, Hari’s impossible body appears openly as Rama of Raghu’s line, says Ramsakhe.

O madman, why will you not listen? False learning has deluded you.
You speak of brotherhood and the thread of love, yet never enter or recognise the divine gate.
Failing to know Rama, you worship Satan; you return again and again and never reach the farther shore.
Seduced by love, you think you know something, yet possess no true resting place, O godless one.

Śrī Sītāyana

Sri Rampriyasharan Premkali

Two kāṇḍas survive from the Sītāyana written by Swami Rampriyasharan Ji “Premkali”: the Bāla-kāṇḍa and the Madhura-māla-kāṇḍa. Chhotelal Lakshmichand of Bombay had the first printed at the Lucknow Printing Press in September 1897 and the second in October of the same year.