जय जय जय गुरुदेव, रास पथ के विस्तारक।
आचारज को रूप धरे, सेवक निस्तारक॥
दसधा-बेधी परा भक्ति को भेद लखायो।
जानकीवल्लभ रसिक रूप लखि नैनन छायो॥
नाम धाम लीला अलख कृपा लखावत भावहीं।
रसिक भक्तजन प्रिय सदा मधुर चरित नित गावहीं॥१॥
Victory, victory, victory to the divine guru, who broadens the path of rasa. Assuming the form of the ācārya, he carries servants safely across. He reveals the distinctions of tenfold devotion and the mystery of supreme bhakti; his eyes are filled by the rasika form of Jānakī’s beloved. Within the devotee’s feeling he makes known the hidden grace of the Name, the sacred Abode, and the divine play. Ever dear to rasika devotees, he continually sings their sweet lives.
ऐसे गुरुहिं मनाय, रसिक भक्तनि जस गाऊँ।
नाभाजू के चरण बन्दि, मति मोरि बढ़ाऊँ॥
भक्तनि के शुभ चरित, अमित महिमा सुखकारी।
किमि कहिहौं मैं, लोह चुम्बकत बुधि सुधारी॥
पूर्वाचारज सहचरी, नित्य धाम बसि हेरिये।
जनक लडैती के प्रिये, मोहि भरोसो तेरिये॥२॥
Having honoured such a guru, I sing the glory of the rasika devotees. Bowing at Nābhājū’s feet, I strengthen my understanding. How could I adequately tell the devotees’ blessed lives, whose boundless greatness brings such joy? May my mind be refined as iron is drawn and shaped by a magnet. Look upon the earlier ācāryas and companions dwelling forever in the eternal Abode. Beloved ones of Janaka’s cherished daughter, my trust rests in you.
मिथिलापति भ्राता चतुर, उग्र प्रतापी भक्ति रति।
सीरध्वज कुशकेतु, जयध्वज वीरध्वज वर॥
कैकयीध्वज निमिध्वज, सकल दसधा रति धर धर।
रानि सुनेना सुखदर्शना, शुभचित्रा करि॥
सुत बधिनि अष्ट, चन्द्रकान्ति बानी सुषमा भरि।
उन्मत्त प्रीति वात्सल्य पथ, नहि व्यापी कछु जगत गति॥
मिथिलापति भ्राता चतुर, उग्र प्रतापी भक्ति रति॥३॥
The four brothers who ruled Mithilā were formidable in splendour and wholly given to devotion: Sīradhvaja, Kuśaketu, Jayadhvaja, and noble Vīradhvaja. Kaikayīdhvaja and Nimidhvaja, and every household, bore tenfold love. Their queens—Sunainā, Sukhadarśanā, Śubhacitrā and the others—and their eight sons and daughters-in-law, Candra-kānti and Vāṇī among them, were filled with beauty. Maddened by love upon the path of parental tenderness, no current of the world could touch these four brothers of Mithilā.
कृपा दृष्टि मोपर करो, भ्राता कोशलराज के।
वीर सिंह विख्यात प्रतापी, सूर सिंह वर॥
विजय सिंह जयशील भये, तैसे चन्द्रशेखर।
महाबाहु अरु धर्मशील, श्रीरामभ्रातु हैं॥
रति वात्सल्य उदार आदि जुत नीतिवान हैं।
रघुवंश बन्धु मण्डन, सब ध्यान धरौ प्रिय काज के॥
सब कृपा दृष्टि मोपै करो, भ्राता कोशलराज के॥४॥
Brothers of the king of Kośala, turn your gracious glance upon me: renowned Vīra Siṃha, mighty Śūra Siṃha, Vijaya Siṃha, Jayaśīla, Candraśekhara, Mahābāhu, and Dharmaśīla, brothers of Śrī Rāma. Generous, principled, and joined to parental love, you are ornaments among the kinsmen of Raghu’s line. Keep my cherished purpose in mind, and all of you grant me your gracious glance.
भ्राता अष्ट सुराष्ट्र के, रानी भाव प्रभाव बढ़।
रत्नकला अरु रत्नप्रभा, रूपावति मदवति।
भ्रमरकेसि मदशिला, सुचित्रा सुखद चन्द्रवति॥
पुरवासिनि अनेक संग, उत्सव रङ्गराशी।
जनक लली मुख निरखि, प्रीति अति मीता माची॥
सब मिलिकै करिये कृपा, बिनै करौं हिय जड़।
भ्राता अष्ट सुराष्ट्र के, रानी भाव प्रभाव बढ़॥५॥
The eight brothers of Surāṣṭra and their queens possess a powerful devotional feeling: Ratnakalā and Ratnaprabhā, Rūpavatī and Madavatī, Bhramarakeśī, Madaśīlā, fair Citrā, and Candravatī. Together with many women of the city, they are a treasury of festival joy. As they gaze upon the face of Janaka’s cherished daughter, an intense love swells within them. May all of you show grace together; this dull heart makes its plea.
अनुराग लता फूली फली, महाराज प्रिय कारिणी।
कैकयी सुकुमारी, प्रिय प्रिय नाम सुमित्रा॥
कौसिल्या सौसील्य, कौन तिय कथा पवित्रा।
रानी विपुल सुजान, भक्ति रत महल भरी हैं॥
लालन पालन लली लाल के, प्रीति अरी हैं।
रघुवंश वधू उत्तम कथा, सकल धर्म धुर धारिणी॥
अनुराग लता फूली फली, महाराज प्रिय कारिणी॥६॥
The vine of love flowered and fruited in the queens dear to the great king: tender Kaikeyī; Sumitrā, beloved in name and in truth; and Kauśalyā, whose gracious and sacred story no one could fully tell. The palaces are filled with wise queens absorbed in bhakti. Nurturing Lalī and Lāl, they are enemies of everything opposed to love. These excellent daughters-in-law of Raghu’s line bear the full weight of dharma; in the king’s beloved queens the vine of love flowered and fruited.
श्री कोशलराज कुमार के सखा रंगीले प्रिय सवे।
विजै सुकंठ सुवीरमनी, विद्याधर सुन्दर॥
सुक अरु विद्युद्वर्ण, कलावदन रसमन्दिर।
मालाधर अरु चन्द्रवदन, श्रीचन्द्रदास हैं॥
पुष्पमाल अरु प्रभासिंधु, श्रीनिधि खास हैं।
लक्ष्मीनिधि श्रीचित्रशील, करुणा करि हेरिय अम्बे॥
श्री कोशलराज कुमार के सखा रंगीले प्रिय सवे॥७॥
These are all the colourful, beloved companions of the prince of Kośala: Vijaya, Sukaṇṭha, Suvīramaṇi, Vidyādhara, and Sundara; Śuka, Vidyudvarṇa, Kalāvadana, and Rasamandira; Māladhara, Candravadana, and Śrīcandrādāsa; Puṣpamāla, Prabhāsindhu, and the special Śrīnidhi; Lakṣmīnidhi and Śrīcitraśīla. Mother, look upon me with compassion. These are the prince’s beloved and many-coloured friends.
वन प्रमोद महली प्रिया, मिथिला कुञ्ज उपासिनी।
श्रीविमला अरु चन्द्रकला, श्रीचारुशिला अलि॥
चन्द्रवती चन्द्रादि और सीता सुसील भलि।
कमला कमलमुखी अनूप, किशोरा सुखदानी॥
पद्मा पद्मिनी चम्पकली, रति वर्द्धिनि मानी।
प्रिय केलि कलाविद पण्डिता, जनक कुँअरि सहचारिनी॥
श्री वन प्रमोद महली प्रिया, मिथिला कुञ्ज उपासिनी॥८॥
The dear palace companions of Pramoda Forest worship within Mithilā’s groves: Śrī Vimalā, Candrakalā, and the companion Cāruśīlā; Candravatī, Candrā and the others, Sītā, gentle and good; Kamalā, lotus-faced, and incomparable Kiśorā, giver of joy; Padmā, Padminī, and Campakalī, honoured as one who increases love. Learned and skilled in the arts of their beloved’s play, they are the companions of Janaka’s princess.
चरन कमल बन्दौं कृपाल हरियानंद स्वामी।
सर्व सु सीताराम रहसि दशधा अनुगामी॥
बालमीक बर शुद्ध सत्व माधुर्य रसालय।
दरसी रहसि अनादि पूर्व रसिकन की चालय॥
नित सदाचारमय रसिकता अति अद्भुत गति जानिये।
जानकि बल्लभ कृपा लहि शिष प्रति शिष्य बखानिये॥९॥
I bow to the lotus feet of compassionate Svāmī Hariyānanda, wholly devoted to the mystery of Sītā-Rāma and a follower of tenfold devotion. Noble as Vālmīki, pure in being and an abode of sweetness, he beheld the beginningless mystery and the way of the earlier rasikas. Know his wondrous path of rasika devotion, always embodied in right conduct. Having received Jānakīvallabha’s grace, he transmitted it from disciple to disciple.
रसिक राघवानन्द बसे काशी अस्थाना।
गुरु रूप शिव लये दये रसिकाई ध्याना॥
काल करालहि जीति शिष्य किय रामानन्दा।
प्रगटी भक्ति अनादि अवध गोपुर स्वच्छन्दा॥
जो आचारज को रूप धरि जगत उधारण जतन किय।
महिमा महा प्रसाद की प्रगटि रसिक जन सुरुख दिय॥१०॥
Rasika Rāghavānanda made Kāśī his seat. Śiva assumed the guru’s form and gave him the meditation of rasika devotion. Conquering terrible Time, he made Rāmānanda his disciple, and the beginningless devotion of Ayodhyā’s gateway shone forth freely. Assuming the form of an ācārya, he laboured to raise up the world. He revealed the greatness of mahāprasāda and gave the rasika devotees a gracious path.
द्वादश शिष्य प्रधान एकादश चतुर प्रधानी।
बड़े अनंतानंद कंद शृंगार लखानी॥
रसिक समाधी प्रवल कृपा उर दाह लहे हैं।
जनकलली के कृपा रास रस पूरि रहे हैं॥
आंसू चलत समाधि में अद्भुत गति विरही लहे।
शिष्य किये बहु विरति रति तिनके गुन गन को कहे॥११॥
Of the twelve principal disciples, eleven held the leading rank; great Anantānanda is known as a fountain of devotional adornment. In powerful rasika samādhi he underwent the fire of grace within his heart; by the grace of Janaka’s cherished daughter he remained filled with the rasa of the rāsa. Tears flowed in samādhi, and the lover in separation entered a wondrous state. He made many disciples established in renunciation and love—who could recount the host of their virtues?
कृपा अनंतानंद रसिक पूरन पय अहारी।
कृष्णदास रस रीति उपासक सिय ब्रतधारी॥
पुष्कर छाया भजन भूमि प्रगटी सिय प्यारी।
पूर्व सूचिका धरी कथा प्रिय लेहु सुधारी॥
जिमि उलूक अरु काग रति नित्य रास रस रूप गति।
आचरज शृंगार पथ शिष्य अग्र से विमल मति॥१२॥
By Anantānanda’s grace, the accomplished rasika Kṛṣṇadāsa lived only on milk. A practitioner of love’s way, he kept Sītā’s vow. At Puṣkara, in a shaded place of worship, beloved Sītā appeared to him. Bearing the old testimony, he refined the cherished account. Like the owl and the crow absorbed in love, he entered the eternal movement of rāsa, rasa, and divine form. Wondrous upon the path of śṛṅgāra, he gave his foremost disciple a stainless understanding.
कील कील सिर दई नृपति, तवहूँ नहिं जागे।
प्रबल समाधी रसिक राम सिय छवि अनुरागे॥
गुप्त केलि रस रीति प्रीति ऐश्वर्य छिपाई।
पंच शिष्य प्रति शिष्य रास रस मानस भाई॥
दई कृपा उलहीलता मधुराचारज मधुर रस।
अग्र स्वामि के तुल्यता प्रियता रसिकाई स्ववस॥१३॥
The king drove nail after nail into Kīla Svāmī’s head, yet he did not awake: the rasika remained in powerful samādhi, absorbed in the beauty of Rāma and Sītā. He concealed majesty within the secret play—its rasa, method, and love. Through five disciples and their disciples, minds became intimate with the rasa of the rāsa. He bestowed grace, ardent delight, and sweet rasa upon Madhurācārya. Equal to Agra Svāmī in dearness, his rasika devotion moved freely under love’s command.
रसबोध विपुल आनंदघन अग्र स्वामि बानी बिशद।
अक्षर पद अनुप्रास मधुरता बालमीक सम॥
आशय गूढ़ उपाय प्राप्ति रसिकन की संगम।
रैवासे जानकी वल्लभी रहसि उपासी॥
ललित रसाश्रय रंग महल कल कुंज खवासी।
आचारज रस रासपथ रसिक वज्र रसिकन सुखद॥
रसबोध विपुल आनंदघन अग्र स्वामि बानी बिशद॥१४॥
Agra Svāmī’s lucid speech is an abundant cloud of joyful realization of rasa. Its letters, metrical feet, alliteration, and sweetness are comparable to Vālmīki. Its profound intent, means, and attainment bring rasikas together. At Raivāsā he worshipped the mystery of Jānakī’s beloved. A servant of the artful groves in the pleasure palace, he was an ācārya of the path of rasa and rāsa—a thunderbolt among rasikas who brought the rasikas joy.
अग्र स्वामि श्रीअग्र सहचरी जनकलली की।
पुष्प बाटिका मिलन हेतु प्रिय भाँति भली की॥
चन्द्रकला प्रिय नाम श्याम सिय वस करि राखी।
प्रगटि स्वामि पद लही ध्यान रस मन मन चाखी॥
ग्रंथकार शृंगार रस सागर मंजरि ध्यानहीं।
भेदी अनभेदी पढ़े रसिक रास पथ जानहीं॥१५॥
Agra Svāmī was Śrī Agra, a companion of Janaka’s cherished daughter; in the flower garden she beautifully arranged the meeting of the beloveds. Her dear name was Candrakalā, and she kept Śyāma and Sīyā under love’s sway. Manifesting here as the svāmī, she attained the divine feet and tasted the rasa of meditation within the mind. He authored the Śṛṅgāra-rasa-sāgara and Dhyāna-mañjarī; rasikas, whether initiated into the mystery or not, read them and come to know the path of rāsa.
नाभा नाभी छवि सरसी शुचि भाव कंज हैं।
प्रफुल्लित तहँ सुजान रसिक जन भ्रमर मंजु हैं॥
भये बिलक्षन रसिक संत सेवा के मुखिया।
रसिकराज गुरु कृपा लली पद पेखे सुखिया॥
रली भली नाभा अली ऐसी नहिं भइ कोउ अलि।
अष्ट काल सेवा रची ग्रंथ प्रेम पथ की गलि॥१६॥
Nābhā is the navel of a lovely lake where the pure lotus of devotional feeling blooms and discerning rasikas are its charming bees. He became an extraordinary rasika and a leader in serving the saints. By the grace of the rasikas’ king and guru, he beheld Lalī’s feet and was blessed. No other bee ever drank as deeply and beautifully as the bee Nābhā. He composed the eight-period service—a book that is a lane upon the path of love.
श्री जंगी गुरु कृपा ते तन तुलसी जन विमल मति।
सीताराम रहस्य कथा संहिता प्रीति बर॥
सन्त सभा मधि श्रवन कथा सु अनन्य रीति पर।
भजन मानसी मत्त सन्त सेवा शुचि नीके॥
जिनके देव मुरारि प्रतापी जानत जी के।
जूथपाल द्वारेश वर मूड़तहीं सीतल सुगति॥
श्रीजंगी गुरुकृपा ते तन तुलसी जन विमल मति॥१७॥
By the grace of Guru Śrī Jaṅgī, his spiritual son Tan Tulasī possessed a stainless understanding. He cherished compendia of stories concerning the mystery of Sītā-Rāma. In assemblies of saints he heard the sacred narratives according to the exclusive way; intoxicated in mental worship, he was purified by devoted service to the saints. The mighty Murāri Deva, known among the people, belonged to his lineage. He was a leader of the community and noble guardian of its doorway, marked by serene blessedness.
तन तुलसी गुरु कृपा ते चतुर्भुजा परस्यो अचल।
पंगति सन्त प्रधान भक्ति पथ प्रेम लखायो॥
निज कर परिचर्या अनूप निष्ठा मन भायो।
तिलक युगुल रेखा ललाट सोहत अति नीके॥
बिलग्यो द्वारा सन्त सुखद सेवक बहु जीके।
सुभट एक ते एक वर परम धर्म पोषक अमल॥
तन तुलसी गुरु कृपा ते चतुर्भुजा परस्यो अचल॥१८॥
By Guru Tan Tulasī’s grace, Caturbhuja became unwavering. Foremost in the line of saints, he showed love upon the path of bhakti. His incomparable personal service and steadfastness delighted the heart, while the twin lines of the tilaka shone beautifully upon his forehead. He established a distinct dvāra that brought joy to saints and gave life to many servants. Its champions, each excelling the last, were pure supporters of the highest dharma.
गुरुदेव मुरारि कृपा लह्यो जन मलूक उत्तम कथा।
वारेहि ते अनुराग कथा सुनि छवि उर आने॥
श्याम वरन धनु धरन छैल नैना मंडराने।
निःनिकंच गृह मातु हेतु सेवा अनुरागी॥
कढ़ी हेतु हिय बढ़ी लखी मोटरि बड़भागी।
विरति लई गुरु के शरण आवत ही छूटी माया॥
गुरुदेव मुरारि कृपा लह्यो जन मलूक उत्तम कथा॥१९॥
By Guru Murāri’s grace, the devotee Malūka gained this excellent story. From childhood he loved the sacred narrative and brought its image into his heart: the dark, bow-bearing Lord, whose lovely eyes hovered before him. Though inwardly without possessions, he remained in the household out of love for serving his mother. His longing swelled around an offering of kaṛhī; the fortunate one beheld the bundle that the Lord had miraculously carried home. He took up renunciation, and as soon as he reached the guru’s refuge, māyā fell away.
भावानंद पद परसि कैं अनभीनंद कथा सुखद।
परम धर्म प्रति पाथ हितू शिव सैन्य विनासी॥
एक एक वर सुभट शिष्य सन्तन सुख रासी।
दृढ़ विश्वास उदार उपासक सीतावर के॥
पर उत्कृष्ट सुबोध चरन वन्दित नर वर के।
धीर वीर मति थीर शुचि प्रबल प्रतापी यश बिसद॥
भावानंद पद परसि कैं अनभीनंद कथा सुखद॥२०॥
Touching Bhāvānanda’s feet, Anabhīnanda’s story became a source of joy. A champion of the supreme dharma, he overcame an opposing Śaiva host. Each of his excellent warrior-disciples was a treasury of joy for the saints. Firm in faith, generous, and a worshipper of Sītā’s Lord, he was outstanding and discerning; noble men bowed at his feet. Steadfast and heroic, steady-minded and pure, he possessed great spiritual force and spotless renown.