लली मोहनी की कृपा मोहन मोहनि गुण लहबों॥
मोहनि रसिक समाज रंग मणि महल मोहनी।
वन प्रमोद अति कुञ्ज मोहनी भूमि सोहनी॥
जब जहाँ होत समाज तहां मोहनी बरसाई।
ममता रति निज ठौर कनक मणि महल सदाई॥
जग नाच्यो तेहि कृपा लखि नटनि मोद सब जन चहबों।
लली मोहनी की कृपा मोहन मोहनि गुण लहबों॥१०१॥
By enchanting Lallī's grace, I long to receive Mohana's enchanting qualities. The rasika assembly was enchanting in colour, and the jewelled palace was enchanting; Pramodavana, its many groves, and its lovely ground were all enchanting. Wherever an assembly gathered, that enchantment showered down. His loving attachment found its eternal home in Kanaka Bhavana's jewelled palace. Seeing that grace, the world danced; all desired the delight of the dancer's art.
सदाव्रती एकादशी हरिनारायण की बनी॥
बंगला अवध निवास मनोहर मङ्गल करणो।
परकर्मा मज्जन सरयू तट उत्तम धरणी॥
क्षत्री शूद्र बच्यो ब्राह्मण घर कुल सोइ पायो।
पुत्र कलत्र सुसङ्ग रङ्ग भींज्यो मन भायो॥
अनुरागी मति एक रस ब्यालिस बरषा अवधि सनी।
सदाव्रती एकादशी हरिनारायण की बनी॥१०२॥
Harinarāyaṇa became a lifelong observer of the Ekādaśī vow. From Bengal he made his home in lovely, auspicious Ayodhyā. He performed the circuit and bathed upon Sarayū's excellent bank. Kṣatriya and śūdra were protected, and he obtained the same good in a brāhmaṇa household and lineage. In the good company of son and wife, his delighted heart became steeped in devotional colour. For forty-two years his loving mind remained single in rasa.
गौड़ेश्वर भाऊ दई अवध भूमि मणि कांकरी॥
उत्तम श्रीगोपालदास वृन्दावन वासी।
दरश चहयो नहिं लह्यो भयो स्वपनो सुखरासी॥
श्रीप्रमोद वन भूमि अवध सरयू की कुञ्जें।
युगल नाम धुनि बैन भृंग छवि चारिहि सु गुञ्जें॥
सो चाल्यो सु तरयो भलो एक युगल सीमा भरी।
गौड़ेश्वर भाऊ दई अवध भूमि मणि कांकरी॥१०३॥
Gauḍeśvara awakened the feeling that even a pebble from Ayodhyā's ground was a gem. Eminent Śrī Gopāladāsa lived in Vṛndāvana. He longed for sacred sight but did not obtain it; then a treasury of joy appeared in a dream. The dream showed Ayodhyā's Śrī Pramodavana and Sarayū's groves, where the sound of the divine pair's Name and bee-like voices echoed beautifully in all directions. He set out, crossed safely, and entered a land filled entirely by the divine pair.
रस उज्ज्वल दशधा रति विशद कृपासखी मति गति सरस॥
कृपा सरस लहि अग्रस्वामि गुरु कृपा निधाना।
मिथिला अवनि मुदित जानकी नगर ठेकाना॥
विरह अंग दर्शन कांक्षी आये तेहि ठामा।
लता लपटि नव द्रुम रसाल सर अति सुख धामा॥
श्रीमिथिलेंद्र लली कृपा युगल चरण अम्बुज परस।
रस उज्ज्वल दशधा रति विशद कृपासखी मति गति सरस॥१०४॥
Kṛpāsakhī's understanding and way were full of rasa; his clear tenfold love shone with radiant rasa. He received the grace of Agra Svāmī, the guru who was a treasury of grace. Rejoicing in Mithilā's land, he made Jānakī Nagara his home. Desiring sacred sight in the limb of separation, he came to that place, an abode of great happiness where creepers embraced young mango trees beside the lake. By the grace of Mithileśa's daughter, he touched the lotus feet of the divine pair.
मणि भूमि निरखि मिथिला बसे अनुरागी शुचि विमल मति॥
भजनानन्द विचित्र साधु सेवी जग जानी।
रतनाकर मिथिला नरेन्द्रपुर कोश बखानी॥
तहाँ बसे रघुनाथदास अति धन्य धन्यतर।
शाली खेत प्रकाश लली दरशी अनन्य वर॥
चले उमगि मूर्छा भर लहि दशधा सेवा सुगति।
मणि भूमि निरखि मिथिला बसे अनुरागी शुचि विमल मति॥१०५॥
Seeing Mithilā as a jewelled land, these loving devotees of pure and stainless mind made their home there. The world knew wondrous Bhajanānanda as a servant of sādhus. Ratnākara proclaimed the treasure of Mithilā's Narendrapura. Greatly blessed Raghunāthadāsa also lived there. In a rice field, Lallī appeared to that eminent, single-hearted seer. He advanced in surging emotion, filled with faintness, and attained the blessed course of tenfold service.
शुचि ममता श्रीमिथिला अवनि रवनि कृपा अविरल जगी॥
सीय प्रसाद महात्म आनि थापी परिकर्मा।
मिथिला भूमि अनादि लहै रसिकन के धर्मा॥
अद्भुत कुञ्ज प्रकाशि रास रस रीति उपासी।
दयाराम की कृपा भये रसिकन सुखरासी॥
रति अनन्य मति गति सरस मिथिला मिथिला रट लगी।
शुचि ममता श्रीमिथिला अवनि रवनि कृपा अविरल जगी॥१०६॥
Pure affection for Śrī Mithilā's land awakened an unbroken current of grace. Mahātmā Sīyāprasāda brought forth and established its sacred circuit, for rasikas receive beginningless Mithilā's ground as part of their dharma. He revealed its wondrous groves and worshipped according to the discipline of rāsa-rasa. By Dayārāma's grace he became a treasury of happiness for rasikas. His love was single, his understanding and way full of rasa, and the repetition of "Mithilā, Mithilā" took hold of him.
मति गति रति अटल अनन्यता मानस विमल सुजान जन॥
रसिक गुरु उपदेश बसे मिथिला सुख रासी।
राम रसिक यह भूमि उपासक लखे उपासी॥
ताते मिथिलादास सब सन्त कहत हैं।
प्रगट्यो कुञ्ज अनादि जहाँ सुख रसिक लहत हैं॥
सिया सेवा सुख अनुपम लह्यो सारी ध्यान अमान मन।
मति गति रति अटल अनन्यता मानस विमल सुजान जन॥१०७॥
This discerning devotee's understanding, way, and love were unwaveringly single, and his mind was stainless. Following the rasika guru's instruction, he lived in Mithilā, a treasury of happiness. Rāma-rasikas recognised him as a worshipper of that land; therefore all the saints called him Mithilādāsa. He manifested the beginningless grove where rasikas obtain bliss. Free from self-regard, he received the incomparable joy of serving Sīyā through Sārī meditation.
सोई धन्य विमल मति सन्त जो मिथिला छवि छाक्यो हियो॥
सियादास सुख मानि भजन मिथिलापुर ठानी।
मटिहानी ऐश्वर्य विरति वर तुच्छ दिखानी॥
गुरु आयसु लै बसे महल श्रीजनकलली के।
रसिक सन्त ते बूझि लहे रस भेद गली के॥
श्रीभरतदास मिथिला बसे संग रसिक जन सुख लियो।
सोई धन्य विमल मति धन्य जो मिथिला छवि छाक्यो हियो॥१०८॥
Blessed is the stainless-minded saint whose heart becomes intoxicated with Mithilā's beauty. Finding happiness there, Sīyādāsa resolved to perform his bhajana in Mithilāpura. At Maṭihānī he regarded power and wealth as trivial beside noble detachment. With the guru's permission, he lived in the palace of Janaka's daughter and learned the subtle pathways of rasa by questioning rasika saints. Śrī Bharatadāsa also lived in Mithilā and found joy in the company of rasikas.
सुख मानि बसे मिथिला पुरी तिन पदरज हौं शिर धरौं॥
रामगुलेलादास जानकीदास उपासी।
प्रागदास रघुवीरशरण अरु श्री रामदासी॥
कावरिया प्रिय पौत्र शिष्य श्रीरामदास हैं।
दुतिय महन्त श्रीरामदास लहि महल वास हैं॥
जे और बसे स्वाभाविक पुरवासी सुमिरन करौं।
सुख मानि बसे मिथिला पुरी तिन पदरज हौं शिर धरौं॥१०९॥
I place upon my head the foot-dust of those who joyfully made Mithilāpurī their home: Rāmagulelādāsa, Jānakīdāsa the worshipper, Prāgadāsa, Raghuvīraśaraṇa, and Śrī Rāmadāsī; Śrī Rāmadāsa, Kāvariyā's beloved disciple-descendant; and a second Mahant Śrī Rāmadāsa who attained residence in the palace. I also remember the others who lived there as the city's natural inhabitants.
नित सुखद भूमि मिथिलापुरी बसे महन्त अति धन्यतर॥
राम लला वर वंश विदित जैकृष्ण दास वर।
मटिहानी मटिकौड़ सन्त सुख राशि वास कर॥
घनाराम घन बोध बराही श्रीवनवारी।
उग्र रीति वर महत निरन्तर भजन अहारी॥
जहँ आसपास वा बगर के ब्रह्मादिक ते मन्यवर।
नित सुखद भूमि मिथिलापुरी बसे महन्त अति धन्यतर॥११०॥
These greatly blessed mahants lived in Mithilāpurī, the land of perpetual joy: eminent Jaikṛṣṇadāsa, known in the noble lineage of Rāmalalā, who dwelt at Maṭihānī-Maṭikauḍa as a treasury of happiness for saints; Ghanārāma, dense with spiritual understanding; Śrī Banavārī of Barāhī; and an eminent great soul of intense discipline whose constant sustenance was bhajana. Wherever they lived in the surrounding region, they were honoured even by those like Brahmā.
श्रीसूरदास मिथिला अवनि पिपरा सुघर सुजान भल॥
सीताराम पवित्र कथा संहिता मथानी।
भक्ति भेद हर भाव दसा सज्जन सुख मानी॥
मिथिला भूमि प्रताप रूप गुण प्रगट बखान्यो।
सुन्यो सन्त सुख मानि दरश प्रिय लहि सब जान्यो॥
प्रभु भजनानन्द सुबोध घन अमल साधु सेवी प्रबल।
श्रीसूरदास मिथिला अवनि पिपरा सुघर सुजान भल॥१११॥
Śrī Sūradāsa of Piparā in Mithilā's land was accomplished, discerning, and good. He churned the sacred narratives of Sītā and Rāma together as a saṃhitā. Good people delighted in the distinctions of devotion and every condition of sacred feeling that he described. He openly proclaimed Mithilā's splendour, form, and virtues. Saints heard him with joy; obtaining the beloved sight, he came to know it all. He was stainless, powerful in serving sādhus, dense with clear understanding, and joyful in worship of the Lord.
नरघोघी गादी प्रचुर हरिजनदास महन्त वर॥
प्रबल उपासक भजन सुरति महती अनुरागी।
सुमति सञ्चरी जनक लली शुचि रसिक विरागी॥
सेवा सरस उदार भक्ति दशधा अधिकारी।
शास्त्र विहित वर बोध काव्य रस रीति सुधारी॥
नास्तिक पाखण्डी दुखद सुखद भक्त बुधिवंत वर।
नरघोघी गादी प्रचुर हरिजनदास महन्त वर॥११२॥
Eminent Mahant Harijanadāsa occupied the flourishing seat at Naraghoghī. A powerful worshipper, he held bhajana in remembrance and was a great lover. His good understanding flowed toward Janaka's daughter; he was a pure, detached rasika. Generous and full of rasa in service, he was qualified in tenfold devotion. Following scripture, he refined excellent understanding, poetry, rasa, and devotional discipline. He brought sorrow to atheists and hypocrites but happiness to devotees, and he was eminently wise.
श्रीहरिजन गुरु कृपा ते अलख राम वर अलख गति॥
प्रबल महन्त उदार योग गुण विस्तर भारी।
भक्ति योग उपयोग सन्त सेवा व्रतधारी॥
टेक सुचातक हंस विवेकी राम भक्त वर।
राम कथा दृढ़ प्रीति रीति नहिं त्रास जगत कर॥
ब्याह समै सुवितान छवि युगल ध्यान वर झलक रति।
श्रीहरिजन गुरु कृपा ते अलख राम वर अलख गति॥११३॥
Through the grace of Guru Śrī Harijana, eminent Alakharāma attained the unseen way. A powerful and generous mahant, his yogic virtues were vast. He applied the yoga of devotion and vowed himself to service of saints. Steadfast as the pure cātaka and discerning as the swan, he was an eminent devotee of Rāma. His way was firm love for Rāma's story, without fear of the world. At the time of the divine wedding, the beauty of the splendid canopy flashed within his noble meditation on the pair and became love.
षड्गदास व्रत षड्ग लहि अमल सन्त सेवन विशद॥
जानकि वल्लभ इष्ट ओर नहिं जान्यो मान्यो।
धर्म सु पुर नव वास नवल मन्दिर छवि आन्यो॥
अधिकारी हरिजन महन्त वर शिष्य सुजाना।
राम प्रसन्न सु बंधु सन्त सेवा मनमाना॥
पौत्र शिष्य हरि भजन भट्ट मति अनन्य रसिकन सुखद।
षड्गदास व्रत षड्ग लहि अमल सन्त सेवन विशद॥११४॥
Ṣaḍgadāsa received the sixfold vow and became stainless and lucid in serving saints. He knew and accepted no chosen Lord apart from Jānakī's beloved. At Dharmasupura he took up a new residence and brought forth the beauty of a new temple. Qualified for service, he was the discerning disciple of eminent Mahant Harijana. Rāmaprasanna, his good brother, served saints to his heart's content. His disciple-descendant Haribhajanabhaṭṭa was single-minded, bringing happiness to rasikas.
भिक्षुक राम प्रताप ते भिक्षा भक्ति लही भली॥
बलहा विमला तीर भीर सन्तन की लागी।
चारि सम्प्रदा एक भाव सेवत छल त्यागी॥
सेवत सीताराम गाय रामायण रिझवत।
जाति पाँति के तर्क ग्रस्यो नहि निज रंग भिजवत॥
रसिक सन्त सङ्ग लहि सरस दरशी दशधा रस गली।
भिक्षुक रामप्रताप ते भिक्षा भक्ति लही भली॥११५॥
By the glory of Bhikṣuka Rāma, the way of mendicancy received noble devotion. At Balahā beside Vimalā's bank, a multitude of saints gathered. Abandoning deception, he served the four traditions with a single feeling. He served Sītā and Rāma and pleased them by singing the Rāmāyaṇa. Arguments over caste and rank did not consume him; he steeped others in his own devotional colour. In the company of rasika saints, this refined seer found the pathways of tenfold rasa.
हरे राम प्रिय पुत्र जेहि शुभ गुण छप्पे नहिं अटी॥
बूँदी राम रसाल मंजरी ध्यान की लागी।
ऋतु बसंत जेहि सदा सन्त सेवन बड़भागी॥
सो फल चाखी बहू सुखद मंदिर पधराई।
मातु सुमित्रा सरिस सकृत राशी जनु पाई॥
मैथिल ब्राह्मण कील पथ अटल रास रस रति ठटी।
हरेराम प्रिय पुत्र जेहि शुभ गुण छप्पे नहि अटी॥११६॥
Harerāma was a beloved son whose auspicious virtues could not be contained in a chappaya. Bū̃dīrāma was absorbed in meditation upon the delectable mañjarī. For him it was always the spring season, and greatly blessed, he continually served saints. Having tasted that fruit, he joyfully brought his daughter-in-law into the temple. Like Mother Sumitrā, she seemed to have received a store of merit all at once. As a Maithila brāhmaṇa he was fixed upon the foundational path, his love established in the rasa of the rāsa.
बसि उलाव सन्तन सुखद रामदास लक्ष्मण धनी॥
मिथिला अवनि प्रवेश नगर प्रति विरद प्रकाशी।
कोविद गुण गण गेह नेह रस रीति उपासी॥
वाल्मीकि की कथा सदा गंगा तट भावै।
वक्ता प्रबल प्रधान नाम रटि प्रीति बढ़ावै॥
चिल्का राम पुनीत जन सकरपुरा लहि भक्ति मनी।
बसि उलाव सन्तन सुखद रामदास लक्ष्मण धनी॥११७॥
Rāmadāsa and accomplished Lakṣmaṇadāsa lived at Ulāva and brought happiness to saints. Entering Mithilā's land, their renown shone in every town. Learned and abounding in virtues, they were affectionate worshippers of the discipline of rasa. They continually cherished Vālmīki's narrative on the Gaṅgā's bank. Eminent speakers, they repeated the Name and increased love. Holy Cilkārāma received the jewel of devotion at Sakarapurā.
चतुर्भुजी तुलसी सुजन जै धुनि बाणी प्रेम भल॥
श्रीनारायणदास बीरना मिथिला भूमि।
प्रचुर सन्त सेवा सुजान नवधा रस भूमि॥
राम भजु नूपुरादि पगनि बाँधि लै नाचै।
सन्त आनि घर मांहि भीति किमि कहिये सांचै॥
अच्युत कुल बसोकरन बह्यो यह जन्म फल।
चतुर्भुजी तुलसी सुजन जै धुनि बाणी प्रेम भल॥११८॥
The good four-armed Tulasī possessed noble love in the melody of his voice. Śrī Nārāyaṇadāsa lived at Bīranā in Mithilā's land. Discerning and abundant in service to saints, he was a ground of ninefold devotional rasa. Binding anklets and other ornaments upon his feet, he danced while singing "Worship Rāma." He brought saints into his home; how can the truth of his feeling be described? In the lineage of Acyuta, Basokarana carried forward the fruit of this birth.
विदित पचाढ़ी सन्त घर साहेब साहेब राम जन॥
मिथिला अवनि पुनीत भजन तत्काल सफलता।
नव योगेश्वर भरत तथा तप तेज अमलता॥
ह्वै महिमा प्रगटी अनादि थल की प्रभुताई।
साँच भक्त गुण गण अपार सन्तन सुखदाई॥
रामभद्र से शिष्य वर रामभद्र पद ध्यान मन।
विदित पचाढ़ी सन्त घर साहेब साहेब राम जन॥११९॥
Sāhebarāma was a renowned saint of the household at Pacāṛhī. His pure bhajana in Mithilā's land bore immediate fruit. Like Bharata among the nine lords of yoga, his ascetic splendour was stainless. Through him the glory and sovereignty of the beginningless place became manifest. A true devotee of boundless virtues, he brought happiness to saints. His eminent disciple Rāmabhadra fixed his mind in meditation upon Rāmabhadra's feet.
सुखद सन्त मिथिला अवनि बखरी श्रीहरिनाम के॥
वमन कटोरा भोग मानसी सब जग जानी।
परम उग्र रघुनाथदास मिथिला के ध्यानी॥
अनुभव गम्य अखण्ड भूमि जो वेद बतायो।
भक्ति योग करि कृपा दृष्टि पथ कवित सो गायो॥
सुमट चतुर्भुज वंश वर सेवक सीताराम के।
सुखद सन्त मिथिला अवनि बखरी श्रीहरिनाम के॥१२०॥
Śrī Harināma was a joy-giving saint at Bakharī in Mithilā's land. The whole world came to know the bowl of offering from his inner mental service. Supremely intense Raghunāthadāsa meditated upon Mithilā. He sang in verse of the indivisible land proclaimed by the Veda, accessible through experience, and of the path seen by grace through the yoga of devotion. Sumata, in Caturbhuja's noble lineage, was a servant of Sītā and Rāma.