केवलझूवा शिष्य वर एक एक दृढ़ भजन रति।
द्वादश वर कल्यान छाप बाई तुलसा हैं॥
आदि ये जगन्नाथदास जाड़ा हुलसा हैं।
प्रेमहिं के पय सरस अहारी पय हारी हैं॥
रस उज्ज्वल अधिकार दरश दिय सिय प्यारी हैं।
प्रेम पुष्ट वर प्रेम पठा खेम दमोदर सुजन मति।
केवलझूवा शिष्य वर एक एक दृढ़ भजन रति॥२१॥
Kevalajhūvā’s excellent disciples were each firmly absorbed in worship: the twelve noble Kalyānas, Chāpa, Bāī Tulasā, Jagannāthadāsa Jāṛā and Hulasā. Some lived on the nourishing milk of love and some renounced even milk. Beloved Sītā granted them vision and qualification for the radiant rasa. Among these wise devotees, nourished by love, were noble Premapaṭhā, Khemadāsa, and Dāmodara.
मणि भूमि अनादि उपास्य थल मिथिला प्रगट कियो महत।
भाविक सूर किशोर लली लालन मन भाये॥
अटल भक्ति अबिरल सु योग रस रीति लखाये।
रघुनन्दन या मात लली पुत्री भई जाके॥
कील स्वामि के पौत्र शिष्य का कहिये ताके।
काल कठिन मानस विमल कलि उपमा कवि को लहत।
मणि भूमि अनादि उपास्य थल मिथिला प्रगट कियो महत॥२२॥
The great devotee made Maṇibhūmi manifest in Mithilā as an eternal place of worship. The devotional hero Sūrakiśora delighted Lalī and Lāla’s hearts, revealing unwavering bhakti, ceaseless spiritual union, and the way of rasa. Lalī, the Mother of Raghunandana, became his daughter. He is said to have been a grand-disciple of Kīla Svāmī. In the harsh age of Kali his mind remained stainless—what poet could find a comparison for him?
भाविक सूर किशोर के प्रागदास साधक विशद।
प्रिय संबंध उदार सख्य पद निमि बंशी हैं॥
नीम तरे नव खाट बिछी करवा बिलसी हैं॥
तीव्र त्याग अनुराग अवधि पनहीं सिरधारी॥
पंचवटी वन कुंज गली भेटे पिय प्यारी।
वचन भाव युत कहि सरस पहिराई पनहीं सुखद।
भाविक सूर किशोर के प्रागदास साधक विशद॥२३॥
Sūrakiśora’s Prāgadāsa was a pure practitioner, generous in his loving relationship and established in friendship with the line of Nimi. Beneath a neem tree stood his new cot and shining water-pot. His renunciation and love were intense; he carried the beloveds’ sandals upon his head. In a lane of Pancavaṭī’s forest groves, he met the beloved pair. Speaking to him with affection, they joyfully placed the sandals upon his feet.
श्री गोसाईं तुलसी कृपा टोडर की पूरी परी।
मीत पुनीत सु छाय दाय कलि की नहिं लागी॥
सती शिरोमणि नारि संत सेवा अनुरागी।
लहि उपाय अति गुप्त गंग तस्मई खवाई॥
जानि परी तब कही नारि अति हो दुखदाई।
सुखदाई दंपति कथा जासु विरह नहिं धीर धरी॥
श्री गोसाईं तुलसी कृपा टोडर की पूरी परी॥२४॥
By Śrī Gosāīṃ Tulasī’s grace, Ṭoḍara’s fulfilment became complete. A holy influence sheltered him so that Kali’s stain did not cling to him. His wife, foremost among faithful women, lovingly served the saints. She found a deeply hidden remedy and made an offering to Gaṅgā for that purpose. When she understood what had occurred, she spoke of a wife’s profound sorrow; yet this couple’s story gives joy. When she departed, Ṭoḍara could not hold firm against the pain of separation.
कथा युगुल उत्तम सुजन मेघा गंगाराम की।
रामाज्ञा जेहि प्रीति प्रगट जिन पर अति ममता॥
मुखिया साधक श्रवण कथा श्री मुख की समता।
राम चरित मानस प्रगटी मेघा उर धारी॥
नेमी प्रेमी छाय आय कहि विरद प्रचारी॥
अवध गली विरही लख्यो धनुष लह्यो सुख धाम की।
कथा युगुल उत्तम सुजन मेघा गंगाराम की॥२५॥
This is the paired story of the noble Meghā and Gaṅgārāma. Rāmājñā’s love became manifest in them, and he held them in deep affection. Foremost among practitioners, they heard the sacred story as though from the Lord’s own mouth. Meghā bore the revealed Rāmacaritamānasa in his heart. A disciplined lover, he came beneath its shelter and proclaimed its glory. In an Ayodhyā lane the lover in separation received a vision and was given the bow from the abode of bliss.
अग्र स्वामि वर कृपा विनोदी शिष्य विनोद की।
रंग महल बिच कनक भवन मानसी मोद की॥
आज्ञा स्वामि भजन भूमि में भजन फलती हैं।
परम अनुग्रह दरस दिये मिथिलेश लली हैं॥
भजन काज में तजि कृपा कहि नाभा प्रति भाईके।
संमत करि स्वामि सरस गादी दई बुलाईके॥२६॥
By noble Agra Svāmī’s grace, Vinodī became a disciple devoted to divine play. Within the pleasure palace, his mental service delighted in the Golden Palace. Obeying the master’s command, his worship bore fruit upon the sacred ground: the Daughter of Mithilā’s king granted him the supreme grace of her vision. He abandoned self-interest in the work of worship and regarded Nābhā as a brother. With the assembly’s assent, the master summoned him and placed him upon the honoured seat.
ध्यान दास अति प्रबल ध्यान गति सरस दरश हैं।
परम गुरु श्री अग्रस्वामि की रीति परस हैं॥
सुख सागर श्रीचरणदास रसिकन के प्रेमी।
बिबिध भाँति सुख दये सरस दशधा के नेमी॥
किये बहुत उत्सव प्रगट मानस रति शृंगार रस।
भनन श्रवन जस रास के जानकि वल्लभ प्रेम बस॥२७॥
Dhyānadāsa was powerful in meditation; his contemplative way offered a beautiful vision. He touched the tradition of the supreme guru, Śrī Agra Svāmī. Śrī Caraṇadāsa, an ocean of joy, loved the rasikas and gave them delight in many ways. He faithfully observed the sweet tenfold devotion, celebrated many festivals, and revealed mental love and the rasa of śṛṅgāra. Under the sway of love for Jānakī’s beloved, he spoke and heard the glory of the rāsa.
बाल कृष्ण प्रिय महत नाम धुनि बालअली जू।
सदाचार ते पलटि रसिक मति भई भली जू॥
कृपा प्रगट जेहि अग्रस्वामिजू दीनों सपना।
जनक किशोरी शरण सुखद अपनायो अपना॥
अद्भुत रसिक विचित्र मति नेही नेह प्रकाश किये।
ध्यान मंजरी विस्तरे बिपुल ग्रंथ रचि सुख दिये॥२८॥
The great devotee dearly loved Bāla Kṛṣṇa and was known by the name Bāla-alī. Turning from merely formal good conduct, his understanding became beautifully rasika. Agra Svāmī appeared in a dream and openly bestowed his grace; the shelter of Janaka’s young daughter joyfully accepted him as her own. A wondrous rasika of distinctive understanding, this lover revealed divine love. He expanded the Dhyāna-mañjarī and brought joy by composing many books.
रूप सखी श्री रूपलाल जुग रूप लुभाने।
दिल्लीपति दीवान सरस रस रसिकन जाने॥
बालअली की कृपा लहे मानसी प्रधानी।
शीश महल प्रतिविम्ब छाप दिल्लीपति जानी॥
दुतिय देह कलियुग प्रवल करी अवल सब जानहीं।
हो हो होरी हैं रही रसिक संप्रदा मानहीं॥२९॥
Rūpasakhī Śrī Rūpalāla was captivated by the beauty of the divine pair. He served as the ruler of Delhi’s minister, while rasikas knew the sweetness of his rasa. Receiving Bāla-alī’s grace, he became foremost in mental service. The ruler of Delhi recognized the mark made by the reflections in the mirror palace. In powerful Kali he manifested as though in a second body, a wonder known by all. His “Ho! Ho! Holī!” remains honoured in the rasika tradition.
मधुराचारय मधुर सरस शृंगार उपासी।
रंग महल रस केलि कुंज मानसी खवासी॥
निमि कुल जन्म उदार सुभद्र सम्बन्ध प्रतापी।
पैहारी रसिकेन्द्र कृपा माधुर्य प्रतापी॥
द्वादश वार्षिक रास रस लीला करि बहु सुख दिये।
बिपुल ग्रंथ रचि रसिकता राम रास पद्धति किये॥३०॥
Madhurācārya was a sweet and graceful worshipper of śṛṅgāra. In mental service he attended the groves of rasa-play within the pleasure palace. Born in Nimi’s line, he was noble, auspiciously connected, and spiritually powerful. By the grace of Payahārī, lord among rasikas, he became powerful in sweetness. For twelve years he enacted the play of rāsa-rasa and gave abundant joy. He composed many books on rasika devotion, including a Rāma-rāsa-paddhati.
हरियाचारय नील पीतरंग हरित ध्यान लहि।
शैन कुंज रासान्त सुरति वर ग्रंथ मान कहि॥
गुरु आज्ञा श्री चित्रकूट ते पालन कीनी।
राम रास लीला रसाल रसिकन सुख दीनी॥
मधुराचारय शिष्य वर कलियुग में त्रेता कियो।
षट्ऋतु नित्य विहार युत उत्सव करि बहु सुख दियो॥३१॥
Hariyācārya received the meditation in which blue and yellow mingle as green. He described the sleeping-grove, the close of the rāsa, and sacred recollection in an honoured book. Obeying the guru’s command from holy Citrakūṭa, he offered rasikas the sweet play of Rāma’s rāsa. This excellent disciple of Madhurācārya made Tretā present within Kali: through festivals of the eternal pastimes across all six seasons, he gave abundant joy.
श्री राम रास पद्धति प्रचुर राम सखे बानी मधुर।
सरस काव्य गुण ललित बलित दंपति रस लीने॥
पढ़त सुनत मन मोद प्रेम पथ रसिक रंगीले।
ब्रह्म संप्रदा सुनि अगस्ति परिमाण लहे हैं॥
मत अभेद खंडन समर्थ बहु ग्रंथ कहे हैं।
गोलोक अवधि अवतार महि वन प्रमोद रस रास उर।
श्री राम रास पद्धति प्रचुर राम सखे बानी मधुर॥३२॥
Rāmasakhe’s sweet voice abounds in the method of Śrī Rāma’s rāsa. His graceful and powerful poetry is immersed in the rasa of the divine couple; reading or hearing it gladdens the mind and colours rasikas upon love’s path. He received the Brahmā tradition with Agastya as its authority. Capable of refuting the doctrine of absolute non-difference, he composed many works. From Goloka and Ayodhyā to the descent upon earth, his heart held the rasa and rāsa of Pramoda Forest.
प्रिय काव्य सरस अनुरागमय कृपानिवास प्रसाद गुन।
रास उपासक प्रवर जानकी वल्लभ नाता॥
रति अनन्य गति धन्य रसिक रसिकन सुख दाता॥
लक्षावधि माधुर्य चरित बहु ग्रंथ महा रस।
सुनत श्रवण मन मोद होत प्रेमा परमावस॥
हनुमन्त कृपा लहि परम गुरु श्रीप्रसाद अलिअग्र उन।
प्रिय काव्य सरस अनुरागमय कृपानिवास प्रसाद गुन॥३३॥
Kṛpānivāsa’s beloved poetry is graceful and filled with love, a gift born of grace. Foremost among worshippers of the rāsa, he lived in relationship with Jānakī’s beloved. Blessed in exclusive love, he brought joy to rasikas. His many rasa-filled books included the Lakṣāvadhi-mādhurya-carita; hearing them delights the mind and leaves it wholly overcome by divine love. He received the grace of Hanumān, the supreme guru Śrī Prasāda, and Alī Agra.
श्री रामदास गूदर प्रवर रसिक रास वर ध्यान पर॥
चित्रकूट वन कुंज वास अति उत्तम धरनी।
दिव्य दृष्टि ते दरश कांचनी श्रुति वर वरनी॥
प्रिय मिथिला सम्बन्ध जन्म मानसी लखे हैं।
रंग महल सरयू सुकुंज छवि सुधा चखे हैं॥
कृपाराम से शिष्य जेहि सन्त सभा सनमान वर।
राम दास गूदर प्रवर रसिक रास वर ध्यान पर॥३४॥
Śrī Rāmadāsa Gūdara was a foremost rasika intent upon sublime meditation of the rāsa. He dwelt in Citrakūṭa’s forest groves, that excellent land. Through divine sight he beheld the golden vision praised by the finest revelation. In mental service he perceived his dear relationship with Mithilā and his spiritual birth; in the pleasure palace and Sarayū’s lovely groves he tasted the nectar of beauty. A disciple of Kṛpārāma, he received high honour in the assembly of saints.
प्रेमसखी रस रहसि प्रवर वर द्विज तन धारी।
शृंगवेरपुर निकट वास विरदावलि भारी॥
चित्रकूट श्रीरामदास गूदर सतगुरु लहि।
रसिकाई निधि भये गये मिथिला दंडोतहि॥
जनकललीजू प्रगट हैं अली खास अपनाय कै।
प्रेम कथा प्रगटी सरस विविध ग्रन्थ छवि गायके॥३५॥
Premasakhī, foremost in the mystery of rasa, took birth in an excellent brahmin body. He lived near Śṛṅgaverapura and possessed a great renown. At Citrakūṭa he received Śrī Rāmadāsa Gūdara as his true guru. Becoming a treasury of rasika devotion, he went to Mithilā and offered full prostration. Janaka’s cherished daughter appeared and adopted him as her special companion. He revealed the story of love and sang its beauty in many graceful books.
अग्र स्वामि पथ सुदृढ़ भये श्रीरामप्रसादा।
रस उमंग शृंगार भक्ति दशधा अनुवादा॥
अवध वास सेवा प्रधान सन्तन सुखकारी।
मोदी को भरि दिये दाम पिय श्री धनुधारी॥
रंग महल झारू स्वकर जनक लली बिन्दी दई।
बिदित भई संसार में दशधा संपति नित नई॥३६॥
Śrī Rāmaprasāda became firmly established upon Agra Svāmī’s path, filled with the exhilaration of rasa, śṛṅgāra devotion, and the tenfold way. Dwelling in Ayodhyā, he made service foremost and brought joy to the saints. His beloved bow-bearing Lord paid a merchant’s account in full. When Rāmaprasāda swept the pleasure palace with his own hand, Janaka’s daughter gave him a bindī. Thus the ever-new wealth of tenfold devotion became known throughout the world.
श्रीरघुनाथ प्रसाद रसिक रस लह्यो अनादी।
ज्यों गूंगे गुड़ खाय सरस रस रास के स्वादी॥
परम धीर गंभीर गुरु की वृत्ति निबाही।
काल करालहिं बचे सचे दशधा प्रिय जाही॥
तापिनी जंत्र सेवा सरस भजन प्रगट बपु अवतरे।
रामचरण से शिष्य जिन हम से विमुखन उद्धरे॥३७॥
Śrī Raghunātha Prasāda attained the beginningless rasika rasa. Like a mute person tasting jaggery, he knew the sweetness of the rasa of the rāsa even when words could not convey it. Supremely steadfast and profound, he maintained the guru’s way. He escaped terrible Time and remained true to the beloved tenfold devotion. Through service with the Tāpinī yantra and graceful worship, the sacred form became manifest. His disciple Rāmacaraṇa rescued those who had turned away.
श्री रामप्रसाद कृपाल के अनुग एक ते एक वर।
छेदादास पुनीत साधु सेवी जग जान्यो॥
बलदुदास माधुर्य कुण्डली ग्रन्थ बखान्यो॥
औरौ शिष प्रति शिष्य भक्ति दशधा के आकर।
श्री जानकीप्रसाद महंत भगवान उजागर।
श्रीजनक किशोरी कृपा लहि वंश बिपुल सेवक सुघर॥
श्री रामप्रसाद कृपाल के अनुग एक ते एक वर॥३८॥
The followers of compassionate Śrī Rāmaprasāda each excelled the next. Sacred Chedādāsa was known throughout the world for serving holy people; Baladudāsa expounded the Mādhurya-kuṇḍalī. Their disciples and disciples’ disciples became mines of tenfold devotion. Among them were the mahant Śrī Jānakīprasāda and the illustrious Bhagavāna. By the grace of Janaka’s young daughter, the lineage grew abundant with skilful servants.
श्री रामचरण सियराम रसिक रसिकन में आगर।
बिबिध ग्रन्थ भरि दये सरस शृंगार उजागर॥
श्री तुलसी शृंगार गुप्त रस दास्य बखानी।
यही चोट रहि गई प्राप्ति में रस बिलगानी॥
सोई आनि रस बपु धर्यो अग्र स्वामि के यश लहे।
टीका रचि निज ग्रन्थ के प्रगट रास रस निर्वहे॥३९॥
Śrī Rāmacaraṇa was foremost among Sītā-Rāma’s rasikas. He filled many books with luminous, graceful śṛṅgāra. Śrī Tulasī described the hidden rasa of śṛṅgāra through the mode of service, yet a wound remained where rasa seemed separated from attainment. Rāmacaraṇa brought that same rasa into embodied form and inherited Agra Svāmī’s renown. By composing a commentary on his own text, he openly sustained the rasa of the rāsa.
श्री राम उपासक छाप दृढ़ परमहंस आनन्द घन।
राम प्रसाद प्रशंस वेद कंठस्थ जु तीनो।
परम धरम पय सार भाग छवि हिय धरि लीनो॥
जानकी वल्लभ कुंज केलि मनसा मद माती।
बिपुल उपासक जुरे संग प्रिय रसिक सजाती॥
जफराबाद निवास तजि वास जानकी घाट वन।
श्रीराम उपासक छाप दृढ़ परमहंस आनन्द घन॥४०॥
The steadfast paramahaṃsa Ānandaghana bore the seal of a worshipper of Śrī Rāma. Praised by Rāmaprasāda, he held three Vedas in memory. He took into his heart the beautiful, essential portion—the very milk—of the highest dharma. His mind was intoxicated by the grove-play of Jānakī’s beloved, and many worshippers and dear rasikas of the same spiritual family gathered around him. Leaving his residence in Jafarabad, he made his home in the grove at Jānakī Ghāṭ.