सीयराम सेवक महंत भये महत गुणाकर।
राम चरण रसिकेन्द्र कृपा दशधा के आकर॥
यथा भाव गुण दरश सरस रसिक भावहीं।
सर्वसु महाप्रसाद नाम रसना लड़ावहीं॥
सजल नैन विरही विमल छके निकुंज चरित्रहीं।
विरति क्षमा सतसंग प्रिय सुदृढ़ नेम रति निबहीं॥६१॥
Sīyārāma Sevaka became a mahant and a treasury of lofty virtues. By the grace of Guru Rāmacaraṇa, sovereign among rasikas, he became a repository of tenfold devotion. He perceived virtue according to each disposition and delighted rasikas in their devotional moods. He regarded everything he had as mahāprasāda and kept the Name dancing upon his tongue. Pure and moist-eyed in separation, he was intoxicated by accounts of the divine grove. He faithfully maintained detachment, forgiveness, beloved saintly company, firm discipline, and love.
जनककिशोरीशरण भये ह्वै सन्तदास नै।
वृन्दावन में बसे प्रथम वन अवध वास ह्वै॥
गोला गोलंक अन्न लहे सन्तन सुख देही।
रसिक अनन्यन मिले खिले तब निज सुख लेही॥
राम चरण रसिकेन्द्र के पूरण कृपा लहे दरश।
युगलप्रिया गुरु बंधु गुण रटे लटे निज सुख सरस॥६२॥
Santadāsa took the name Janakakiśorīśaraṇa. He first lived in Vṛndāvana and then came to dwell in Ayodhyā's forest. At Golā-Golaṅka he obtained food and brought happiness to saints. Meeting single-hearted rasikas, he blossomed and tasted his own spiritual joy. Through Rāmacaraṇa, sovereign among rasikas, he received complete grace and sacred sight. As Yugalapriyā's brother-disciple, he recited the divine virtues and became absorbed in his own delectable bliss.
श्रीजानकीप्रपन्न उग्र गुण सागर नागर।
रसिकाई के गद्य पद्य सुति काव्य उजागर॥
लली लाल रस छके जके रसिकन की रीति।
रसिकराज गुरु रामचरण पद प्रीति प्रतीती॥
पुरी लक्ष्मणा जन्म भू लक्ष भई रसराज के।
लखी जवाहिर मणिन की भूमि परखि रुचि वास के॥६३॥
Śrī Jānakīprapanna was a cultivated ocean of formidable virtues. His prose, verse, and poetry made rasika devotion shine. Immersed in the rasa of Lālī and Lāla, he embraced the rasikas' way. He possessed loving faith in the feet of Guru Rāmacaraṇa, king of rasikas. Lakṣmaṇapurī was his birthplace, but the land of Rasarāja became his goal. Recognizing it as a land of jewels and gems, he examined it and joyfully chose it for his home.
श्रीजानकी सरोज चरण के रसिक भृंग हैं।
रसिक सन्त संग सरस दरश दशधा उमंग हैं॥
वन प्रमोद में वास अवध वासिन में प्रीती।
श्री सरयू तट भाँति रीति मानसी प्रतीती॥
पूर्व कृपा जिन लहि सरस दरश सुखद मधु हासहीं।
मधुकरिया लखि सुख भयो रामचरण सुख रासहीं॥६४॥
Śrī Jānakīdāsa was a rasika bee at Jānakī's lotus feet. The company and sacred sight of rasika saints awakened tenfold joy in him. He lived in Pramodavana, loved Ayodhyā's residents, and practised the inner service in its many forms beside Śrī Sarayū. Having received grace before, he bore a sweet, joy-giving smile at that delightful sight. Rāmacaraṇa, a treasury of bliss, rejoiced when he beheld this mendicant known as Madhukariyā.
अति प्रबल उपासक शुद्ध मति राज राघवीदास प्रिय॥
मधुर भाव सम्मिलित ललित महली अधिकारी।
गति अनन्यता छाप भाव आवेस खुमारी॥
श्रीरामचरण सदगुरु सुजान प्रिय आज्ञाकारी।
विपुल द्रव्य को वारि निछावरि तन मन वारी॥
करुणा सिन्धु जू पवन सुत जपत जानकी रसिक हिय।
अति प्रबल उपासक शुद्ध मति राज राघवीदास प्रिय॥६५॥
Beloved Rājarāghavīdāsa was an intensely devoted worshipper of pure mind. United with the sweet disposition, he was qualified for the lovely palace service. His path bore the stamp of single-heartedness, devotional absorption, and holy intoxication. He was the dear, obedient disciple of the wise true guru Śrī Rāmacaraṇa. Pouring out abundant wealth, he offered body and mind as well. In his Jānakī-rasika heart he repeated the names of Karuṇāsindhu and the Son of the Wind.
सब भाँति भलाई प्रिय कथा जनककिशोरीशरण की॥
सब रसिकन सुख देन भलो सिद्धांत विचार्यो।
महल अटारी झुकी नैन प्रत्यक्ष निहार्यो॥
रची उपाय अनेक यथा गति ताहि सुधारी।
कहुँ मिथिला कहुँ अवध महल कुंजन के चारी॥
रसराज कथा कहुँ ग्रन्थ रति जिज्ञासु दृढ़ करण की।
सब भाँति भलाई प्रिय कथा जनककिशोरीशरण की॥६६॥
Dear is the story of Janakakiśorīśaraṇa, beneficial in every way. He formulated sound principles that brought happiness to all rasikas and beheld the palace and its high chambers directly with his own eyes. He devised many remedies, improving each person according to that person's condition. Sometimes in Mithilā and sometimes in Ayodhyā, he moved among the palace groves. At times he related the deeds of Rasarāja; at others he used books to make a seeker's love and inquiry firm.
श्रीरामहजूरी गुरु कृपा लसे हजूर निकुंजही॥
दयाराम भये दया रूप मिथिलेश लली के।
बसी बुंदेल सु खण्ड मंडि यश अग्र अली के॥
सियादास सुख रासि रसिक रस रंग महल की।
दई कृपा जिन लई भई सुख चहल पहल की॥
विरति सुरति रस रीति मति गति रसिकन रस पुंजही।
श्रीरामहजूरी गुरु कृपा लसे हजूर निकुंजही॥६७॥
Through the guru's grace, Śrī Rāmahajūrī shone in the immediate presence of the divine grove. Dayārāma became compassion embodied toward Mithileśa's daughter. He dwelt in fair Bundelkhaṇḍ, adorning it with the glory of the foremost companion. Sīyādāsa, a treasury of joy, was a rasika of the palace's rasa and colour. Those who received his grace entered a lively happiness. His detachment, remembrance, rasa-discipline, understanding, and way made him a treasury of rasika rasa.
श्रीरामचरण प्रिय नाम शुचि रसिक पुजारी छाप वर॥
गान कला अति निपुण सरस प्रेमी बड़भागी।
काष्ठ पात्र लौ वित्त आश तृण इव जग त्यागी॥
जानकि वल्लभ कुंज केलि रागिनी सोहाई।
पूरबाचार्य रसिकवर्य वानी सुखदाई॥
श्रीमोहनदास महंत गुरु कृपा लख्यो रस रास घर।
श्रीरामचरण प्रिय नाम शुचि रसिक पुजारी छाप वर॥६८॥
Rāmacaraṇa, dear by name, was a pure rasika priest bearing an excellent devotional seal. Supremely skilled in the art of song, he was a refined lover and greatly blessed. Desiring no possession beyond a wooden bowl, he cast the world aside like straw. He sang pleasing rāginīs of the grove-pastimes of Jānakī's beloved and the comforting words of the earlier, eminent rasika teachers. Through the grace of Guru Mahant Mohanadāsa, he beheld the abode overflowing with rasa.
श्री पद युत जानकीचरण भाविक आवेशी।
रसिक प्रशंसित विरति गूदरी कुंज सुदेशी॥
छके छकावत भाव दरश देखे बनि आवे।
पद रचना अति चित्र सुनत रसिकन मन भावे॥
क्रिया मानसी भजन वर बहिरंगा लहि आश भल।
दयाराम वर कृपा लहि सरयू कुंज सुवास थल॥६९॥
Śrī Jānakīcaraṇa was a devotional soul filled with sacred absorption. Rasikas praised his renunciation, his patched cloak, and his citizenship in the divine grove. Intoxicated with rasa, he intoxicated others; in seeing him, devotional feeling and sacred sight came vividly alive. His wonderfully fashioned songs delighted the rasikas who heard them. Through inner mental service, excellent bhajana, and outward observance, he found blessed refuge. Having received Dayārāma's noble grace, he dwelt in a fragrant grove beside Sarayū.
अवध धाम वासी महत सदा कृतारथ रूप सब॥
गैबीराम पवित्र कथा पुनि राम गुलेला।
भृतुयज्ञ को नेम लख्यो बनरा अलबेला॥
अमरदास वर शिष्य पौत्र हरिदास उपासी।
मंगलदास महंत टिला सुग्रीव खवासी॥
रिद्धि राम हनुमत कृपा लहिहौं अमल अनूप कव।
अवध धाम वासी महत सदा कृतारथ रूप सब॥७०॥
All these great souls who dwelt in holy Ayodhyā were forever fulfilled: Gaibīrāma, teller of sacred narratives, and then Rāmagulelā; Bhṛtuyajña, steadfast in his discipline, and singular Banarā; Amaradāsa, the noble disciple, and his descendant Haridāsa the worshipper; Mahant Maṅgaladāsa and Sugrīva Khavāsī of the hill. By recounting them, the poet hopes to receive Rāma as his treasure and Hanumān's stainless, incomparable grace.
सदा चरण रज सिर धरौं जे महंत विमला अवनि॥
जन्म स्थान महंत भले श्रीजगन्नाथ वर।
निर्वेदी बलिरामदास कामदा रास घर॥
आचारी अस्थान पूर्व पीताम्बर दासा।
रघुवरदास अनूप भक्ति पथ अमल प्रकाशा॥
श्रीनृसिंह हरि भजन वर मोहन यश वरणे कवनि।
सदा चरण रज सिर धरौं जे महंत विमला अवनि॥७१॥
May I always bear upon my head the foot-dust of the mahants of this stainless land: noble Śrī Jagannātha, mahant of the Janmasthāna; the detached Balirāmadāsa, an abode of wish-fulfilling rasa; Pītāmbaradāsa of the eastern Ācārī establishment; and incomparable Raghuvaradāsa, who illumined the pure path of devotion. What poet could describe the glory of Śrī Nṛsiṃha, excellent in Hari-bhajana, and Mohana?
अति धन्य महंती पद अटल भाग्य अवध रसिकन सुखद॥
प्यारे राम गोपाल पुजारी महंत खवासी।
जानकि वल्लभ टहल अमल रस रीति प्रकाशी॥
धन्य वैष्णवदास रसिक जन सुख उपजावत।
रसिकन की वाणी अलापि मन मोद बढ़ावत॥
प्रेमी जन गावत नटत रसिक सभा जय जयति वद।
अति धन्य महंती पद अटल भाग्य अवध रसिकन सुखद॥७२॥
Most blessed was the steadfast good fortune of the mahant's office, a source of joy to Ayodhyā's rasikas. Dear Rāmagopāla was priest, mahant, and intimate attendant. His stainless service to Jānakī's beloved illumined the way of rasa. Blessed Vaiṣṇavadāsa awakened happiness in rasika hearts; singing the rasikas' words, he increased the mind's delight. Lovers sang and danced while the rasika assembly cried victory.
गान करत गद गद गिरा बालकृष्ण यश युगुल पद॥
अग्रस्वामि वाणी रसाल पद बालअली के।
मधुराचार्य हरी आदि रस रसिकबली के॥
प्रेमसखी अरु कृपासखी परिकर की वानी।
प्रेम नेम नित रसिक सभा तिन और न जानी॥
अवध वास थल महत पद शुद्ध भाव सुख विमल मद।
गान करत गद गद गिरा बालकृष्ण यश युगुल पद॥७३॥
Bālakṛṣṇa's voice choked with emotion as he sang the glory of the divine pair's feet. He sang the nectar-filled words of Agrasvāmī, the songs of Bāla-alī, and the rasa of Madhurācārya, Hari, and other powerful rasikas. He also sang the words of Premasakhī, Kṛpāsakhī, and their circle. Maintaining the discipline of love in the daily rasika assembly, he knew nothing apart from them. Dwelling in Ayodhyā as a mahant, he possessed pure feeling, joy, and stainless devotional intoxication.
अवध बिहारी लाल छवि सदा रहत भीज्यो हियो॥
कोशलेश राजाधिराज के महल अंतरी।
रंगमहल प्रतिरूप निहित हित भाँति यन्तरी॥
बहुत काल ते गुप्त रह्यो तेहि प्रगट करे हैं।
सरयूदास महंत रास रस रंग भरे हैं॥
कूबा प्रताप श्रीअवध में रसिकन को बहु सुख दियो।
अवध बिहारी लाल छवि सदा रहत भीज्यो हियो॥७४॥
His heart remained forever steeped in the lovely form of Avadhavihārī Lāla. Within the inner palace of the sovereign Lord of Kosala, the Raṅgamahala stood as its corresponding image, established through a loving inner design. Long concealed, it was revealed by Mahant Sarayūdāsa, who was filled with the colour and rasa of the rāsa. Through Kūbā's spiritual influence, he brought great happiness to the rasikas of holy Ayodhyā.
रसराज उपासक भक्त यश कथन निपुण हरिदास भये॥
अर्थ सुबाचा शक्ति भक्ति दशधा रंग भीने।
जानकी वल्लभ कुंज केलि गुण गान प्रवीने॥
श्रोता चातक विपुल रहे आशा स्वाती लहि।
विपुल बिंदु इमि देत भाव में उक्ति युक्ति कहि॥
अवध धाम वासी सबै संत सभा आदर दये।
रसराज उपासक भक्त यश कथन निपुण हरिदास भये॥७५॥
Haridāsa became a worshipper of Rasarāja, skilled in recounting the glory of devotees. Gifted with clear exposition and powerful devotion, he was steeped in the colours of tenfold bhakti. He excelled in singing the virtues of the grove-pastimes of Jānakī's beloved. His many listeners waited like cātaka birds for the drop of Svātī rain; through expressive and well-reasoned words, he gave them that rain abundantly. Every saint dwelling in holy Ayodhyā honoured him in the assembly.
उमादत्त पंडित विमल अवध कुंज वनवास लिय॥
नाम रूप लीला प्रताप अरु धाम विशेषी।
श्रीसरयू तट पुलिन कुंजन की लीला पेखी॥
मानस उज्ज्वल रीति प्रीति रसिकन में प्रीती।
अति उदार शांत निश्चल चित अद्भुत रीती॥
संस्कृत भाषा काव्य रचि सन्तन को सुखराशि दिय।
उमादत्त पंडित विमल अवध कुंज वनवास लिय॥७६॥
The stainless Paṇḍita Umādatta made his forest dwelling in Ayodhyā's groves. He was distinguished in the Name, Form, deeds, glory, and Abode, and he beheld the play of the groves along Śrī Sarayū's sandy bank. His mind was bright, his path loving, and he was beloved among rasikas. Generous, peaceful, and unwavering in heart, his way was wondrous. Composing poetry in Sanskrit, he gave the saints a treasury of joy.
सब सन्त सराहत वृत्ति भलि राम गुमानी दास की॥
अवध वास अति प्रीति दृष्टि सरयू तट प्यारी।
लई भ्रमर की वृत्ति सन्त सेवा हृदधारी॥
मधुर भाव गति दास्य रीति निर्वेद बली हैं।
कथा द्रवत अनुराग श्रवत अँखियाँ जु भली हैं॥
प्रबल उपासक अवध पथ लह्यौ भली विधि आश की।
सब सन्त सराहत वृत्ति भलि रामगुमानीदास की॥७७॥
All the saints praised the noble way of Rāmagumānīdāsa. He dearly loved living in Ayodhyā, and the sight of Sarayū's bank was precious to him. He adopted the bee's way, carrying service to saints in his heart. His feeling was sweet, his path one of servitude, and his detachment strong. Hearing sacred narrative, his fine eyes melted and streamed with love. A powerful worshipper, he found blessed refuge upon Ayodhyā's path.
श्रीराम सखे रसिकेंद्र पथ रामानुज शुभगति लहैं॥
सख्य अंग रस रंग ओर सुंदर सदु बोलनि।
रसिक संत संग सरस सुखद प्रमोद वन डोलनि॥
श्रीसरयू के तीर भीर रसिकन की लागी।
कुटी बाँधि तहाँ बसे तिनहिं सेवत बड़भागी॥
कावरिया प्रिय पौत्र की कथा सरस कलिमल दहैं।
श्रीरामसखे रसिकेंद्र पथ रामानुज शुभगति लहैं॥७८॥
Rāmānuja attained the blessed path of Śrī Rāmasakhe, sovereign among rasikas. Beautiful and gentle in speech, he was filled with the colour and rasa of friendship. In rasika saints' company he wandered joyfully through Pramodavana. A crowd of rasikas gathered beside Śrī Sarayū; greatly blessed, he built a hut there, lived among them, and served them. The delightful story of Kāvariyā's beloved spiritual grandson burns away the impurity of Kali.
श्रीपरमहंस वरहंस सम मनन मांक भीज्यो हियो॥
पक्ष सख्य संबंध सरस सारांश सुखद वर।
चलनि माधुरी रीति प्रीति संबंधित मनहर॥
भाव अनूपम क्षीर नीर निर्णय नित भावत।
मानस मोतम रहसि रमत रंग सहज सोहावत॥
प्रबल उपासक मित्र गुण गण सोइ मुक्ताहल कियो।
श्रीपरमहंस वरहंस सम मनन मांक भीज्यो हियो॥७९॥
Śrī Paramahaṃsa's heart was steeped in contemplation like the finest royal swan. He upheld the beautiful, joy-giving essence of the relationship of friendship. His graceful gait, loving manner, and sweetness captivated the heart. His feeling was incomparable; like a swan separating milk from water, he continually exercised discernment. His mind played naturally in the secret colours of devotion. A powerful worshipper, he gathered the virtues of divine friendship and made them into a necklace of pearls.
कनक भवन मणि कुंज बसि क्रिया मानसी सफलता॥
रघुवरदास अनूप वृत्ति रसराज छके हैं।
रेवासा गुरु धाम नाम युग सुधा जके हैं॥
जानकि वल्लभ मधुर रूप आसक्त हियो हैं।
युगल चरित बहु ग्रंथ भजन अवलम्ब लियो हैं॥
अंतर लखि बाहर लखत मधुकरिया मन विमलता।
कनक भवन मणि कुंज बसि क्रिया मानसी सफलता॥८०॥
Living in Kanaka Bhavana's jewelled grove, Raghubaradāsa perfected the inner mental service. His incomparable way was intoxicated with Rasarāja. At the guru's abode in Revāsā, he drank the paired nectar of the Abode and the Name. His heart was attached to the sweet form of Jānakī's beloved. He made many books on the divine pair's deeds the support of his bhajana. Perceiving within and seeing without, this mendicant possessed a stainless mind.