सब संत प्रशंसत विमल मति ठाकुर मोहन गुरु उदित॥
कनक भवन ह्वै वास साधु सेवी गुण आगर।
मधुकर वृत्ति प्रधान अनूपम भाव प्रभाकर॥
रसिक एकान्तिन पाइ जाइ वर अशन पवावत।
साधु रूप गुण लखि अभाव रंचक नहिं लावत॥
नित रैनि दिवस शृंगार की नवल भावना रति मुदित।
सब संत प्रशंसत विमल मति ठाकुर मोहन गुरु उदित॥८१॥
All the saints praised pure-minded Ṭhākuradāsa, who arose under Guru Mohanadāsa. Dwelling at Kanaka Bhavana, he served sādhus and became a treasury of virtue. The mendicant's way was foremost in him, and his incomparable feeling shone like the sun. Whenever he met a solitary rasika, he brought and offered excellent food. Seeing a sādhu's form and virtues, he never entertained even the least thought of deficiency. Day and night he rejoiced in fresh contemplations of the divine adornment.
श्रीरामप्रसाद कृपाल के प्रवर पुजारी छाप सहि॥
कथा श्रवण रोमांच प्रबल श्रोता हृद नेमी।
जानकि वल्लभ रूप युगल पथ पावन प्रेमी॥
सदा प्रवाही नैन बैन गद गद प्रिय बोलनि।
माला कर मुख नाम अवध वर वीथी डोलनि॥
भले अवध पथ लहि सुखद रूप प्राप्ति वर जाय लहि।
श्रीरामप्रसाद कृपाल के प्रवर पुजारी छाप सहि॥८२॥
Śrī Rāmaprasāda bore the mark of Kṛpāla's eminent priest. Hearing sacred stories raised powerful horripilation in him; as a listener, his heart kept its discipline. He loved the form of Jānakī's beloved and the sacred path of the divine pair. His eyes flowed continually, his voice choked with feeling, and his speech was dear. Rosary in hand and the Name upon his lips, he wandered Ayodhyā's blessed lanes. Having followed Ayodhyā's noble path, he went on to attain the joy-giving form.
रसिक जानकी लाल के पूजा पर एकै सुजन॥
श्रीपदयुत जैरामदास जानकी घाट वर।
नितहि लड़ाये विविध वस्तु लै प्रेम हाट कर॥
अंसुवा झरि झरि जात नाम जब लेत जानकी।
पूजा मघि मुख चूमि उपज वात्सल्य ध्यान की॥
बालानन्द महंत गुरु कृपा अवध अनुराग घन।
रसिक जानकी लाल के पूजा पर एकै सुजन॥८३॥
Jairāmadāsa was a singular good soul devoted to the worship of rasika Jānakī and Lāla. Bearing the honorific Śrī, he served at Jānakī Ghāṭ and continually brought many offerings from the marketplace of love. Tears streamed whenever he uttered Jānakī's name. In the midst of worship he kissed the divine face, and meditation in the parental mood arose. Through the grace of Guru Mahant Bālānanda, his love for Ayodhyā became dense and full.
महासखी मिथिला अवनि जन्म दिव्य शुचि भाव लहि॥
जनककिशोरी कृपा भक्ति रागी अनुरागी।
पुरुष भाव आवेश नहीं तिय तन शुचि पागी॥
श्रीसरयू तट कुंज कुटी बसि रसिकन माहीं।
नापित अंग न छुओ पोड़शी बालक चाही॥
चित्र भाव की अबलता आशे गूढ़ उपाय कहि।
महासखी मिथिला अवनि जन्म दिव्य शुचि भाव लहि॥८४॥
Mahāsakhī was born in the land of Mithilā and received a divine, pure disposition. By Janakakiśorī's grace, she became passionately attached to devotion. No masculine identification entered her; she remained absorbed in a pure feminine embodiment. She lived among rasikas in a grove-hut beside Śrī Sarayū. She did not allow a barber to touch her body and cherished the form of a sixteen-year-old child. Through subtle means she expressed the wondrous strength of this devotional feeling.
कलियुग कराल भ्रम जाल तजि भद्रवती निबही भली॥
राजवंश में जन्म परश मायिक पति नाहीं।
त्रिगुण पार श्रीरामलाल पति मुख छवि चाही॥
जनक लडैती शरण लई भागि खिरकी के मग।
प्रबल तीव्र अनुराग बसी प्रमोद रसिकन संग॥
श्रीसरयू तट कुंज रचि फिरि नाही तेहि दिशि चली।
कलियुग कराल भ्रम जाल तजि भद्रवती निबही भली॥८५॥
Abandoning Kali's terrible net of delusion, Bhadravatī lived nobly and well. Born into a royal lineage, she did not accept a worldly husband. Beyond the three qualities, she desired the sight of Śrī Rāmalāla's face as her Lord. She took refuge in Janaka's beloved daughter and fled by way of a window. Filled with powerful, intense love, she lived in Pramodavana among rasikas. She established a grove beside Śrī Sarayū and never again turned toward the world she had left.
श्रीगंगाबाई गंग सम उज्ज्वल रस यश जल भरी॥
जनक लली सहचरी भरी तरंग रस लीला।
दर्शन ते अघ दूरी पुरी पावन सम लीला॥
रंग महल जे खास जासु श्रुति ध्यान धरे हैं।
कनक भवन संज्ञा प्रत्यक्ष रस रंग भरे हैं॥
पिय जानकि वल्लभ लाल ढिग एकटक करजोरे खरी।
श्रीगंगाबाई गंग सम उज्ज्वल रस यश जल भरी॥८६॥
Śrī Gaṅgābāī was bright as the Gaṅgā, filled with the waters of rasa and glory. As a companion of Janaka's daughter, she overflowed with waves of divine play. Her sight drove sin away, and her līlā was purifying like the holy city. The inner Raṅgamahala upon which scripture fixes its meditation became directly manifest to her as Kanaka Bhavana, filled with the colour of rasa. She stood one-pointedly beside beloved Jānakīvallabha Lāla, hands joined in prayer.
श्रीसरयू कुञ्ज सुवास थल एवाई दशधा रंगी॥
श्रीकौशल्यादासि जानकीदासि महा तप।
राम जिवा लघुरूप भट्ट युग मंत्र महाजप॥
युगल नाम अरु युगल रूप नैना अनुरागी।
श्रीसरयू तट हेरि हेरि गावति बड़भागी॥
अति धन्य उदय सम्बन्ध पद तिय तन सिय दून पगी।
सरयू कुञ्ज सुवास थल एवाई दशधा रंगी॥८७॥
At the fragrant dwelling in a grove by Śrī Sarayū, they arrived steeped in the colours of tenfold devotion. Śrī Kauśalyādāsī and Jānakīdāsī practised great austerity. Rāmajīvā, slight in form, undertook the great repetition of Bhaṭṭa's paired mantra. Her eyes loved both the divine pair's Name and their Form, and the greatly blessed woman gazed upon Sarayū's bank and sang. A most blessed relationship arose: embodied as a woman, she became doubly rooted at Sīyā's feet.
सियरामशरण कीरति कथा श्रवण सुखद रसिकन सुमति॥
अनुरागी मति सरस कला बिंद काव्य रसीले।
विविध छन्द के वृंद पदावलि चटक रंगीले॥
मानस भजन प्रधान लली लालन रंग राचे।
कठिन काल गति त्यागि तीव्र विरही सुठि सांचे॥
श्रीराजराघौदास प्रिय जानकिवल्लभशरण गति।
सियरामशरण कीरति कथा श्रवण सुखद रसिकन सुमति॥८८॥
The story of Sīyārāmaśaraṇa's glory delights rasikas of discerning mind who hear it. His loving intelligence was rich in art, and his poetry was full of rasa. He composed vivid, brightly coloured garlands of verses in many metres. Inner worship was foremost for him, and he was steeped in the colour of Lallī and Lālana. Turning from the course of this hard age, he became a deeply intense and wholly true lover in separation. Dear to Śrī Rājarāghodāsa, he attained the way of Jānakīvallabhaśaraṇa.
गुरु निष्ठ नहीं कोउ तीव्रतम राम जानकीशरण सम॥
गुरु आज्ञा जो ऊंच नीच कछु नाहि बिचारत।
रैनि दिवस नहि गनत सुनत प्रिय काज सुधारत॥
जानकि वल्लभ प्राप्ति साधना दूसर नाही।
माला जप तप नेम सबै आज्ञा के माही॥
सब संत प्रशंसत बिमल मति अवध बिहारिणि कृपा क्षम।
गुरु निष्ठ नहीं कोउ तीव्रतम राम जानकीशरण सम॥८९॥
No one possessed more intense fidelity to the guru than Rāmajānakīśaraṇa. When the guru gave an order, he considered nothing high or low. Counting neither night nor day, he listened and completed the beloved work. For attaining Jānakī's beloved, he recognised no discipline apart from this: rosary, repetition, austerity, and observances were all contained within obedience. Every saint praised his stainless mind, made patient by the grace of the Lady who sports in Ayodhyā.
कान्यकुब्ज वर विप्र कुल प्रगटि रसिक मत उर धरयो।
प्रथम वयक्रम लाग भाग वश गुरु के शरणे।
वारि अपनपौ सब अंग दृढ़ नेम जु धरणे॥
जाल तज्यौ जालवन गवन सरयू तट कीनो।
श्रीप्रमोदवन वास रास रस सुमिरन लीनो॥
मातृ बंधु सब सङ्ग लै वर्यो अयोध्यापुर बस्यो।
कान्यकुब्ज वर विप्र कुल प्रगटि रसिक मत उर धरयो॥९०॥
Appearing in an eminent Kānyakubja brāhmaṇa family, Ayodhyāprasāda held the rasika teaching in his heart. At the outset of life, good fortune brought him to the guru's refuge. Surrendering his whole self, he embraced firm discipline in every limb of practice. He left the net behind, journeyed from Jālavana, and reached Sarayū's bank. Living in Śrī Pramodavana, he became absorbed in remembering the rasa of the rāsa. Taking his mother and all his kinsfolk with him, he chose Ayodhyāpurī as his home.
बिप्र सनाढ्य सुवन वर रसिक जनकजा शरण गुरु॥
गुरु शराप घर तज्यो भज्यो कोशलपुर आयो।
परम उपासक राम रास रस रसिक सोहायो॥
संग नारि सुकुमारि लली की चतुर अली वर।
जानकी वल्लभ कनक भवन छवि पली भली पर॥
जनकदुलारी शरण सुचि रसिक सन्त रज चरण उर।
बिप्र सनाढ्य सुवन वर रसिक जनकजा शरण गुरु॥९१॥
The noble son of a Sanāḍhya brāhmaṇa became a rasika guru sheltered by Janaka's daughter. At his guru's curse he left home, took up worship, and came to Kośalapura. A supreme worshipper, he shone as a rasika in the rasa of Rāma's rāsa. His young wife accompanied him and became a skilful, eminent companion of Lallī. She was beautifully nurtured by the vision of Jānakī's beloved in Kanaka Bhavana. Pure Janakadulārīśaraṇa held the dust of rasika saints' feet in his heart.
रामानुज के दास युग अवध मध्य गुरु धाम लहि॥
श्री अच्युत वर शिष्य दुतिय श्री रत्नसिंहासन।
पण्डित कला प्रवीण उपासक रीवा शासन॥
गङ्गाबाई बंधु राम पर रामदास हैं।
दुतिय कृपावत रामदास अति महल वास हैं॥
वसे बसत पदरज धरो शीश सुमिरि गुण ग्राम कहि।
रामानुज के दास युग अवध मध्य गुरु धाम लहि॥९२॥
Two servants of Rāmānuja found their gurus' abodes in Ayodhyā. One was an eminent disciple of Śrī Acyuta; the second belonged to Śrī Ratnasiṃhāsana, a learned worshipper accomplished in the arts and associated with the ruler of Rīwā. Rāmadāsa, Gaṅgābāī's kinsman, was wholly devoted to Rāma; a second, Kṛpāvata Rāmadāsa, dwelt deeply within the palace. Remembering and recounting their multitude of virtues, I place upon my head the dust of the places where they lived.
प्रिय भूमि अवधमणि कांचनी अनुरागी ए जन भये॥
मधुर छाप लहि रामदास प्रिय मनीराम वर।
लछिमनदास उदार जानकीदास प्रेम घर॥
श्रीसुरारि वक्ता प्रधान तुलसी कृत नागर।
प्रेमदास चौबीस सहस कण्ठस्थ उजागर॥
ये प्रबल उपासक एक ते एक अनूपम रस लये।
प्रिय भूमि अवध मणि कांचनी अनुरागी ए जन भये॥९३॥
These devotees loved the precious, golden land of Ayodhyā. Rāmadāsa bore a sweet devotional stamp, and noble Manīrāma was dear. Generous Lachimanadāsa and Jānakīdāsa were abodes of love. Śrī Surāri was an eminent speaker, urbane in Tulasī's composition. Premadāsa had all twenty-four thousand verses manifest in his memory. Each was a powerful worshipper, and each carried an incomparable rasa.
मणि भूमि सरस छवि कोशला आस्वादक ए जन सुखद॥
रसिक अयोध्याशरण चुटकिया लछिमन शरणा।
रघुनन्दन के शरण प्रीति गुण जाइ न बरना॥
राघवशरण पुनीत रामनिधि चित्रसिंधु प्रिय।
प्रेमसिंधु प्रिय अवध रंग सम्बन्ध सख्य हिय॥
रामानुज के प्रिय शरण रामचरण साधक विशद।
मणि भूमि सरस छवि कोशला आस्वादक ए जन सुखद॥९४॥
These joy-giving devotees savoured the beautiful rasa of Kośalā, the jewelled land: rasika Ayodhyāśaraṇa, Cuṭakiyā, and Lachimanaśaraṇa; the love and virtues of Raghunandana's servant cannot be described. There were pure Rāghavaśaraṇa, Rāmanidhi, and dear Citrasindhu; dear Premasindhu and Avadharaṅga, whose hearts held the relationship of divine friendship; and Rāmacaraṇa, the lucid practitioner dear to Rāmānuja's servant.
श्रीप्रमोदवन माधुरी आस्वादक ए जन छक्के॥
श्री पद युत सियरामशरण प्रेमी वर नामा।
रामद्याल सिय रामरतन अरु श्रीबलरामा॥
कृपाराम हितवंश अशंसित अलि जैरामा।
जैसे अलि भगवान पलटि आये यहि धामा॥
मोहनदास पवित्र मन वन तजि यहि बन छवि थके।
श्रीप्रमोदवन माधुरी आस्वादक ए जन छक्के॥९५॥
These devotees became intoxicated while savouring Śrī Pramodavana's sweetness: the eminent Sīyārāmaśaraṇa Premī, honoured with the title Śrī; Rāmadayāla, Sīyārāmaratana, and Śrī Balarāma; Kṛpārāma, Hitavaṃśa, and the celebrated companion Jairāma; and Bhagavāna, who turned back and came to this Abode. Pure-minded Mohanadāsa left the other forest and remained here, arrested by this forest's beauty.
अति नेम प्रेम सत्या अवनि ए जन दशधा रंग रसे॥
रामबिहारीदास राम किङ्कर सुख रासी।
सरयूदास अति प्रीति मत्त सरयू तट वासी॥
ज्ञानदास वर वृत्ति सन्त सेवी जु उपासक।
सरयू कुञ्ज सु ओक घोष बसि खल गण त्रासक॥
पुरबासी परिजन सुखद नित अवध भूमि धनि जे बसे।
अति नेम प्रेम सत्या अवनि ए जन दशधा रंग रसे॥९६॥
With great discipline and love, these devotees tasted the tenfold colour in the true land: Rāmabihārīdāsa and Rāmakiṅkara, a treasury of joy; Sarayūdāsa, intoxicated with intense love and dwelling on Sarayū's bank; and Jñānadāsa, a worshipper of excellent conduct who served the saints. Living at Okaghoṣa near Sarayū's groves, he struck fear into bands of the wicked. Blessed were those city-dwellers who lived in Ayodhyā's land, continually bringing joy to their devotional family.
तुलसीदल प्रतिकुञ्ज में अवध बस्यो बाँटत मुदित॥
नाम राम सम्पन्न सुभग किङ्कर गुण आगर।
प्रियता युत नव नर्म सख्य सम्बन्ध उजागर॥
वाल्मीकि अवलोक छटा अनुभव बल भाषे।
रसिक मण्डलों मध्य प्रतिष्ठित प्रिय रस चाखे॥
सदा प्रसन्न बदन कमल निरखि भानुकुल रवि उदित।
तुलसीदल प्रतिकुञ्ज में अवध बस्यो बाँटत मुदित॥९७॥
Rāmakiṅkara lived joyfully in Ayodhyā, distributing tulasī leaves in every grove. Filled with Rāma's Name, this handsome servant was a treasury of virtues. Endowed with loving intimacy, he revealed the ever-fresh and gentle relationship of friendship. Looking into Vālmīki, he spoke of its beauty with the authority of experience. Esteemed among circles of rasikas, he tasted the beloved rasa. His lotus face was always serene, like the sun of the solar dynasty rising before one's eyes.
श्रुति प्रतिपाद्य अनादि थल वन प्रमोद सज्जन बस्यो॥
श्री सरयू तट रसिक जानकीदास महन्त जन।
करवाधारी वृत्ति कुञ्जरति वरगत सज्जन॥
युगुल नाम अनुराग रटनि प्रिय श्रवनि बोधिकनि।
शील क्षमा सन्तोष विरति सुमिरत प्रिय रसिकनि॥
ते धन्य जन्म जग त्यागिकै वास अवध भू में बस्यो।
श्रुति प्रतिपाद्य अनादि थल वन प्रमोद सज्जन बस्यो॥९८॥
This good devotee lived in Pramodavana, the beginningless place proclaimed by revelation. Rasika Mahant Jānakīdāsa dwelt beside Śrī Sarayū. His way was that of the karvā-bearer; absorbed in the love of the groves, he moved among the noblest good souls. He lovingly repeated the divine pair's Name, heard what was dear, and taught it. Rasikas remembered his character, patience, contentment, and detachment. Blessed was his birth: abandoning the world, he made his dwelling in the land of Ayodhyā.
ते धन्य बसे जग त्यागिकै बन प्रमोद थल अघट घट॥
शिष्य भले बलरामदास के सियादास वर।
कमलदास अति अमल हृदय नित ध्यान रास कर॥
श्रीपुरुषोत्तम दास मानसी अमल दृढ़ाई।
सरयू मज्जत प्रात दुःख धारा जिन पाई॥
मधुकरिया मो मन बस्यो माधौ सरयू तट निकट।
ते धन्य बसे जग त्यागिकै बन प्रमोद थल अघट घट॥९९॥
Blessed were those who abandoned the world and lived in the wondrous place of Pramodavana: Sīyādāsa, the eminent and worthy disciple of Balarāmadāsa; Kamaladāsa, stainless of heart and always engaged in meditation on the rāsa; and Śrī Puruṣottamadāsa, firm and pure in inner mental service. While bathing in Sarayū at dawn, he encountered a stream of sorrow. Mādhau, the mendicant, lived close to Sarayū's bank and took up residence in my heart.
बंगला में रंग लाल की छवि बकसी रोशन लही॥
दम्पति अली सुजान लली मिथिलापति की है।
श्रीप्रमोद बन लता रता मति कीरति की है॥
कृपा दया ज्यों एक टेक रसिकन की संगे।
जानकी वल्लभ कुञ्ज केलि सरि उठत तरंगे॥
भूषत सावन मास की सारी छवि लटक्यौ सही।
बंगला में रंग लाल की छवि बकसी रोशन लही॥१००॥
In Bengal, Baksī Rośana received the radiant vision of Raṅgalāla. He was a discerning companion of the divine couple and a handmaid of the daughter of Mithilā's lord. His celebrated mind was absorbed in the creepers of Śrī Pramodavana. Grace and compassion were his single support in the company of rasikas, while waves rose in the stream of Jānakīvallabha's grove-play. He adorned the complete beauty of the month of Śrāvaṇa and hung it gracefully.