Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Worshippers of the Couple serve their feet through mind, action, and speech, gazing upon the abode of beauty.
I shall describe some of their excellent characteristics, all of them true and opposed to falsehood.

Worshippers devoted to Sri Sita-Rama’s Couple are greatly fortunate.
Their minds are coloured by the rasa of contemplation of the Couple, and they do not mistakenly associate with those of an alien disposition.
They read and hear narratives that increase the Couple’s feeling and worship Sita-Raghunath.

They place their single hope in the Couple’s feet and live within the Couple’s abode.
They continually repeat the Name and cause others to repeat it; the Couple removes the terror of worldly existence.

They desire nothing from worldly illusion and taste the nectar-rasa of the Couple’s mysteries.
Freely associating with devotees of the same disposition, they sit in solitude and repeat the one Name.
Abandoning desire, pride, hypocrisy, and every distortion, they worship generous Sita-Rama.

They understand the excellent distinctions among the chosen form, Name, qualities, and abode.
They forever meditate upon the Couple’s nature and sing their virtues, holding knowledge of the Self within the heart.
Filled with delight through all eight watches, they remain sustained by the grace of their chosen Lord.

If someone places a question before such a worshipper, seeking revelation of the Couple’s feeling and relationship,
They teach according to their ability and, recognising one dear to the Lord, conceal no essential truth.

Yellow garment, the Couple’s neck-beads, and an excellent yellow tilak upon the forehead;
The bindu, crescent, sacred seal, and the Name containing the essence of the Couple.

Those who hold a masculine disposition within the heart may still be dear to the Lord as servant, friend, or in another relation,
But they cannot behold the secret recreation; if they stubbornly insist, they remain far away and regret it.
Hanuman, Shiva, and others assume the forms of female companions and behold the incomparable secret mystery.

Understanding this, the clever worshipper abandons obstinacy and holds the disposition of a maidservant within the heart.
Outwardly retaining the attitudes of servant and friend, inwardly one preserves the beautiful feminine disposition.

None is dearer to the Lord than Hanuman, though he bears the dispositions of servant and friend.
Charushila is that same Hanuman, while Shiva assumes the left-hand form of Sushila.
Chandrakala is Sri Bharat, and Lakshman bears the name Lakshmana.

Search all the scriptures, brothers: every jīva is female and Raghurai the husband.
Without that happiness there is no worship; without worship the jīva is not freed from bondage and does not meet Sri Sita’s beloved.

To meet the Lord, hold the noble feminine disposition within the heart and serve Janaka’s darling daughter.
Do not raise arguments and counterarguments here; serve the Couple’s form and receive happiness.
The relation of husband and wife is principal—know it as the essence of śṛṅgāra-rasa.