धरणी पर धरणी कथा महराई वाणी भली॥
मानसा सरयू निकट भजन अनुभवो महाराय।
द्वादश गादी सुमट शिष्य जग विदित पराशय॥
तिनहीं के करुणा निधान जन केवल रामा।
श्री परसादी राम भये परसा सुख धामा॥
राम प्रेम मूरति प्रगट राम सेवक दानी वली।
धरणी पर धरणी कथा महराई वाणी भली॥१४१॥
Upon the earth, Dharaṇī's noble voice magnified sacred narrative. At Mānasā near Sarayū, Mahārāya experienced bhajana. His twelve seats and worthy disciples became known throughout the world. Among them were Karuṇānidhāna, Kevalarāma, and Śrī Parasādīrāma, who became an abode of happiness through that touch. Generous Rāmasevaka appeared as an embodiment of love for Rāma.
पदकञ्ज इन्द बन्दौं सदा जे नियता दशधा भक्ति के॥
श्यामदास एक प्रवर शिष्य श्रीअग्रस्वामि के।
पै हारी जेहि दरश परा मति पलटि नाम के॥
भूतप्रेत गति लही किया मानसी लखाई।
नातो मिथिला धाम अवध की रीति हृदाई॥
उन्मत दशा विचरत अवनि बसि चित सञ्जि सम्पति के।
पदकञ्ज इन्द बन्दौं सदा जे नियता दशधा भक्ति के॥१४२॥
I forever bow to the moonlike lotus feet of those established in tenfold devotion. Śyāmadāsa was an eminent disciple of Śrī Agra Svāmī. At the sight of Payahārī, his mind turned completely toward the Name. Even spirits and ghosts found release as he made inner mental service visible. He held in his heart the relationship between Mithilā's Abode and Ayodhyā's devotional way. Wandering the earth in divine intoxication, he settled his mind in the true treasure.
श्यामदास गुरु कृपा लहि शिष्य उजागर भये प्रबल॥
चिन्तामणि सुख राशि मनोहरदास गुणाकर।
बन्धु प्रीति निर्दोष युगल दशधा के आकर॥
बाहर पूजा नाहि मानसी ध्यान समाधी।
गुफा बसे दोष बन्धु मुरति महती निरुपाधी॥
रसिक जानकी वल्लभी प्रबल काल कीनो अचल।
श्यामदास गुरु कृपा लहि शिष्य उजागर भये प्रबल॥१४३॥
Receiving Guru Śyāmadāsa's grace, powerful disciples became renowned: Cintāmaṇi, a treasury of happiness; Manoharadāsa, a repository of virtues; and Bandhu, whose faultless love was a repository of tenfold devotion to the pair. They did not perform outward worship but entered inner meditation and samādhi. Living in caves, these faultless companions were great, unconditioned embodiments. As rasikas of Jānakīvallabha, they became unmoving even before the power of time.
कलि में अन्न सु दान है नाम जानकी रमन के॥
देन नाम रसाल सुफल देना अन्न दाता।
ऐनीराम प्रताप सन्त जन करहिं बखाता॥
वाणी को जेहि टेक जानकी वल्लभ नामा।
लीन्हे वरन प्रकार आदि सुन्दर दृढ़ धामा॥
सदावर्त थाप्यो अघट मूढ़ जीव सुख भवन के।
कलि में अन्न सु दान है नाम जानकी रमन के॥१४४॥
In Kali's age, the finest gifts are food and the Name of Jānakī's beloved. To give the delectable Name bears noble fruit, as does becoming a giver of food. Saints proclaimed the glory of Ainīrāma. His speech rested upon the Name of Jānakīvallabha, and he received its many excellent forms and a firm, beautiful Abode. He established perpetual feeding, an inexhaustible house of happiness even for deluded souls.
शिष्य सु ऐनीराम के युगल प्रबल समता कथा॥
मगनी रामप्रताप सन्त सेवा रति लीनी।
आरति करि भगवानदास गंगा चर्चा कीनी॥
कृपाराम प्रिय लाड नाम तेहि शिष्य प्रतापी।
बहिड़ा प्रिय भक्ति प्रगट पूजा जिन थापी॥
मौजी रामकृपाल से भक्ति मौज तारिह तथा।
शिष्य सु ऐनीराम के युगल प्रबल समता कथा॥१४५॥
Ainīrāma's worthy disciples told the powerful story of the correspondence between the two divine pairs. Maganī Rāmapratāpa embraced love for serving saints. Bhagavānadāsa performed ārati and discoursed beside the Gaṅgā. Kṛpārāma was a powerful disciple dear by the name Lāḍa. Beloved Bahiḍā manifested devotion and established worship. Maujī and Rāmakṛpāla crossed through devotion's joyous current.
दास चित्त चिन्ता शमन चिन्तामणि गुरु ध्यान धरि॥
तेजराम सुतेज सकल मारुतल में व्यापी।
अष्टयामि के वंश अमित गुण भजन प्रतापी॥
सूरदास प्रिय शिष्य भजन बल कालहि टारे।
बहुत काल वपु राखि जानकी वल्लभ प्यारे॥
चरणदास पालक भये सन्त सभा सम्मान करि।
दास चित्त चिन्ता शमन चिन्तामणि गुरु ध्यान धरि॥१४७॥
Holding Guru Cintāmaṇi in meditation, the servant calmed every anxiety of the heart. Tejarāma's excellent splendour spread throughout the land. In the lineage of eightfold daily service, he was powerful in bhajana and rich in countless virtues. His beloved disciple Sūradāsa held time at bay by the strength of bhajana and, dear to Jānakīvallabha, retained his body for many years. Caraṇadāsa became the guardian and honoured the assembly of saints.
श्रीचरणदास के शिष्य वर ब्रजमोहन मोहन भये॥
सीताराम उपास्य सुदृढ़ सेवक रति लीने।
करि रघुपुरा निवास सन्त सेवन भल कीने॥
देवादास अद्भुत शिष्य वर ब्रजमोहन जू के।
त्यागि बसे अस्थान चिरान कथा ज्यों ध्रू के॥
कृपा जनकजा कर दिये चूड़ा अति रंजत रहे।
श्रीचरणदास के शिष्य वर ब्रजमोहन मोहन भये॥१४८॥
Eminent Brajamohana became an enchanting disciple of Śrī Caraṇadāsa. Firm in worship of Sītā and Rāma, he embraced the love of service. Living at Raghupurā, he served saints well. Devādāsa was Brajamohana's wondrous and eminent disciple. Renouncing the world, he lived at the ancient place; his story became steadfast like Dhruva's. By Janakajā's grace he received the ceremonial crest and remained deeply delighted.
कृपा सु मौजीराम गुरु रामगुलेला दयानिधि॥
परम अनुभव रूप सुदृढ़ सुन्दर मूढ़ बोलनि।
भूखे जन को देखि द्रवे तेहि देत अतोलनि॥
वाणी रामगोपाल सरस रसना अनुरागी।
कथा कीर्तन भीर सन्त सेवन बड़भागी॥
परम उदार सुकल्पतरु सरस अन्न उपमान विधि।
कृपा सु मौजीराम गुरु रामगुलेला दयानिधि॥१४९॥
Maujīrāma received grace from Guru Rāmagulelā, a treasury of compassion. Firm in supreme experience and beautiful in form, his speech was artlessly simple. Seeing a hungry person, he melted and gave without measure. The speech of Rāmagopāla was full of rasa, and his tongue was filled with love. Greatly blessed, he gathered crowds for sacred narrative and kīrtana and served saints. Supremely generous, he was like a good wish-fulfilling tree whose incomparable gift was delectable food.
कलियुग काल कराल में भजन नेम निबह्यो सुगम॥
गङ्गादास अद्भुत सुयश रामायण गावत।
सीताराम उपास्य नाम रसना जु लड़ावत॥
सर्वकाल चैतन्य भजन सिद्धान्त विचार्यो।
सेवा आलस रहित गुरुदेवा उर धार्यो॥
अष्टयामि के वंश गुण कथा अमित गुण गति अगम।
कलियुग काल कराल में भजन नेम निबह्यो सुगम॥१५०॥
In the terrible time of Kali's age, Gaṅgādāsa maintained the discipline of bhajana with ease. Singing the Rāmāyaṇa, he acquired wondrous renown. He worshipped Sītā and Rāma and kept their Name playing upon his tongue. At all times spiritually awake, he reflected upon the principles of bhajana. Free from laziness in service, he held Gurudeva within his heart. In the lineage of eightfold daily service, his virtues and stories were countless and his way unfathomable.
श्यामदास रामायणी छाप महन्त सुजान जन॥
डोरीगंज प्रकाश वृत्ति गङ्गा तट वासी।
तुलसी कृत पर नेह देह भरि कथा उपासी॥
रामदास वर शिष्य सुमट रामायण गायो।
नेम प्रेम निर्वाहि राम पद छेम सोहायो॥
भक्ति योग अनुभव करयो धरनेरती अमान मन।
श्यामदास रामायणी छाप महन्त सुजान जन॥१५१॥
Discerning Mahant Śyāmadāsa bore the stamp of a Rāmāyaṇa reciter. His conduct shone at Ḍorīgañja, where he lived beside the Gaṅgā. His whole being loved Tulasī's composition, and he worshipped through its narrative. Eminent disciple Rāmadāsa sang the Rāmāyaṇa well. Maintaining discipline and love, he shone in the security of Rāma's feet. Humble in mind, he experienced the yoga of devotion while living upon the earth.
प्राचीन बस्यो प्राचीन थल धर्मदास गङ्गा निकट॥
सीतामढ़ी महन्त पूर्व मति भजन परायण।
सर्प मिल्यो मग माहिं मंत्र दीन्ह्यो गति दायन॥
राम मंत्र सब यंत्र मंत्र तंत्रन पर जान्यो।
जहाँ श्राद्ध भर लली और दौज मन मान्यो॥
श्रीसरयू गंगा अमल सोनभद्र जहाँ एक तट।
प्राचीन बस्यो प्राचीन थल धर्मदास गङ्गा निकट॥१५२॥
Dharmadāsa lived of old at an ancient place near the Gaṅgā. The earlier mahant of Sītāmaṛhī, his mind was devoted to bhajana. Encountering a serpent on the road, he gave it the liberating mantra. He knew Rāma's mantra to be above every yantra, mantra, and tantra. Where ancestral rites were performed, he honoured Lallī and the second lunar day in his heart. There Śrī Sarayū, the stainless Gaṅgā, and Sonabhadra seemed to share one bank.
युगल भक्त गङ्गा निकट एक पार एक बारही॥
गोपीनाथ हनुमानसिंह सन्तन सुख साजे।
श्रीनरसिंह उदार सन्त मण्डली विराजे॥
मति गति रसिकन सझु भक्ति दशधा अधिकारी।
जनक लली पद कंज भृंग भ्रमरी अति प्यारी॥
निज निज कुल अवतंस दौउ सज्जन गुण आगारही।
युगल भक्त गङ्गा निकट एक पार एक बारही॥१५३॥
Two devotees of the divine pair lived near the Gaṅgā, one at Pāra and one at Bārahī. Gopīnātha and Hanumānasimha arranged happiness for saints, while generous Śrī Narasiṃha adorned the saintly circle. Their understanding and way moved among rasikas, and they were qualified in tenfold devotion. Like bee and female bee, they dearly loved the lotus feet of Janaka's daughter. Both good souls were ornaments of their respective lineages and treasuries of virtue.
श्रीप्रसादी राम गुरु कृपा ते राम सेवक मञ्जुल स्वरूप॥
सीताराम स्वरूप युगल छवि नैन लड़ायो।
बैन श्रवत जल सींचि राम यश मण्डप छायो॥
लहि समस्त पुर निकट गङ्ग सरयू को धारे।
रचि विवाह मण्डप समाज सुख लह्यो अपारे॥
सीय प्रसादी चरण जल सन्त समाजम रवि अनुप।
श्रीप्रसादी राम गुरु कृपा ते राम सेवक मञ्जुल स्वरूप॥१५४॥
Through Guru Śrī Prasādīrāma's grace, Rāmasevaka attained a beautiful form. His eyes joined the paired beauty of Sītā and Rāma's Forms. As he heard the words, he watered the pavilion with tears and spread Rāma's glory through it. Near Samastapura, by a current that was both Gaṅgā and Sarayū, he built the wedding pavilion and the assembly gained boundless happiness. The water of Sīyāprasādī's feet was an incomparable sun within the saintly gathering.
राम कृपा को पर लह्यो रघुवर मन अनुराग घन॥
प्रथम योग अयोग साधि बहु दिवस बिताये।
तब श्रीसीताराम रूप नैनन प्रगटिसाये॥
निज अनुभव के पद अद्भुत श्रृंगार छेम छवि।
गति करत खजरी मनों नव तान प्रेम कवि॥
प्रिय पौत्र प्रसादीराम के शिष्य भवसन्त भाग जन।
श्रीराम कृपा को पर लह्यो रघुवर मन अनुराग घन॥१५५॥
Raghuvara received the farther shore of Rāma's grace, his mind dense with love. At first he spent many days practising yoga and non-yoga; then the Forms of Śrī Sītā and Rāma manifested before his eyes. His songs of personal experience held wondrous adornment, well-being, and beauty. The poet of love moved like a khajarī drum carrying a fresh melody. Dear spiritual grandson of Prasādīrāma, he was a fortunate disciple among saints.
भोज्य नृपति के देश में आये श्रीभगवान भक्त॥
दास अनन्य महन्त सन्त सेवा व्रतधारी।
परम धर्म आराध्य राम चरितामृत प्यारी॥
घृति अकाशी अमर सन्धि प्रिय पूज्य गुणाकर।
बालकृष्ण से शिष्य भक्ति नवधा के आकर॥
वैष्णव जाति न हठि जेहि इष्ट समधी ज्ञान बल।
भोज्य नृपति के देश में आये श्रीभगवान भक्त॥१५६॥
Śrī Bhagavānadāsa came to the country of King Bhoja. Single-hearted, he was a mahant vowed to serving saints. His supreme dharma was worship, and the nectar of Rāma's deeds was dear to him. Ghṛti, Ākāśī, Amara, and Sandhi were beloved and venerable repositories of virtue. Disciples of Bālakṛṣṇa, they were repositories of ninefold devotion. He did not insist upon Vaiṣṇava caste, for knowledge of the chosen Lord and samādhi were his strength.
बाहि सुभाव गुरु राम पर खेद सुछन्ददा अभय॥
सीताराम चरित सुधा धारा जनु बरसत।
उत्कट प्रबल अनन्य विमल वाणी मन करत॥
हाव भाव अनुभवी महाराय कविता नागर।
गिरा मेघ अति नेह लह्यो तुलसी कृत सागर॥
श्रीगुरु के साधक प्रचुर नाम माल आत्मा लय।
बाहि सुभाव गुरु राम पर खेद सुछन्ददा अभय॥१५७॥
By nature he poured himself out before Guru Rāma, fearless and free in metre. He seemed to shower a stream of nectar from Sītā and Rāma's deeds. His stainless speech was intensely powerful and single-hearted. Experienced in gesture and feeling, Mahārāya was a cultivated poet. His cloudlike voice received deep love from the ocean of Tulasī's composition. A practitioner of Śrī Guru's way, his being dissolved into abundant garlands of the Name.
शाकद्वीपी दुज कुली श्रीसन्तोष मनी सरस॥
हित कुञ्ज गुरु अनुराग सिंधु श्रीचतुर शिरोमणि।
भक्तन के धन पुरुष नाम पायो भावो गणि॥
वक्ता प्रचुर प्रधान भागवत रस के ज्ञाता।
अमरावत अद्वैत विपुल मत बाद सुनक्ता॥
सुन्दरदेव प्रगट सन्तन कहयो लहयो मगह धरणी दरस।
शाकद्वीपी दुज कुली श्रीसन्तोष मनी सरस॥१५८॥
Śrī Santoṣa, born in a Śākadvīpī brāhmaṇa family, possessed a delectable mind. Śrī Caturaśiromaṇi, an ocean of love, was his guru in the beneficial grove. Counted among those of sacred feeling, he received the name Dhanapuruṣa among devotees. A foremost and prolific speaker, he knew the rasa of the Bhāgavata. At Amarāvata he listened to abundant debate on non-dual teaching. Sundaradeva appeared, was proclaimed among saints, and received sacred sight in the land of Magadha.
रेमपाल रतन ज्यों कुँवर वर भक्ति आत्मा अटल धर॥
पूरण पताका सदन माहिं थापी अति नीकी।
सेवा पथ दूरसाह दूरे सब चिन्ह के जीकी॥
भक्ति योग ग्रह ज्ञान सार वेदांत विचार्यो।
विष्णु सखी जीवन सु बिहारी छवि उर धार्यो॥
लसि कदम पर विरह लहि वृन्दावन थल अगम पर।
रेमपाल रतन ज्यों कुँवर वर भक्ति आत्मा अटल धर॥१५९॥
Remapāla, an eminent prince like a jewel, held devotion unwaveringly in his soul. He raised a splendid banner of completeness in his home. His path of service was difficult to approach and surpassed every outward sign. He reflected upon the yoga of devotion, household knowledge, the essence of Vedānta. As Viṣṇusakhī, he held the beautiful form of Jīvanabihārī in his heart. Shining beside a kadamba, he entered separation in inaccessible Vṛndāvana.
कुञ्जविहारीशरण मति दशधा विमल विनोद लहि॥
जानकि वल्लभ मधुर कथा रसिकन के वानी।
संस्कृत ब्रजभाषा विलास रस रास प्रधानि॥
विपुल ग्रंथ करउ मध्य नेह नित उदित नवीनी।
आत्मा पूरि प्रकाश युगल छवि बहुतन दीनी॥
नायो रसिक नरेश की विपिन अशोक प्रमोद महि।
कुञ्जविहारीशरण मति दशधा विमल विनोद लहि॥१६०॥
Kuñjabihārīśaraṇa's mind received the stainless joy of tenfold devotion. He gave rasikas voice through sweet accounts of Jānakī's beloved. In Sanskrit and Brajabhāṣā he made rasa and the rāsa pre-eminent. Composing many books, he kept love ever newly rising within them. Filling the soul with light, he gave many people the vision of the divine pair. He bowed to the king of rasikas in Pramodavana's Aśoka grove.