हरत गुनाहा गुप्त मत खूबीलाल छवि उर धरयो॥
सज्जन सरस उदार सन्त सेवक विख्याता।
प्रगट वेष नहि रुचि रसाल अनुपम सुखदाता॥
समै लाख प्रतिपाल विरद भजन मन भावन।
गुप्त देत प्रति घाम आशा नहि जगत जनावन॥
सीताराम स्वरूप लखि मोद पाटलीपुर आयो।
हरत गुनाहा गुप्त मत खूबीलाल छवि उर धरयो॥१६१॥
Khūbīlāla held the beautiful Form within his heart; his hidden teaching removed faults. Refined and generous, he was renowned as a servant of saints. He had no taste for displaying an outer costume; delectable and incomparable, he gave happiness. At the proper time he sustained hundreds of thousands, while bhajana remained dear to his mind. He gave secretly in every place, with no wish to make himself known to the world. Beholding the Forms of Sītā and Rāma, he came joyfully to Pāṭalipura.
वकृतत्व शक्ति हरि यश कथन सुखद विप्र जन विमल मति॥
रामशास्त्र पण्डित प्रवीण श्रीकृष्ण दत्त वर।
लोकनाथ वर विजय सुरखा हरि भक्त सत्य पर॥
न्याय अम्बरी ब्रह्मचर्य वैष्णव सम तारक।
गौतम आश्रम वासदास आशा समता गत॥
एक एक वर षड्भक्ति श्रुतिप्रिय या जल कमल गति।
वकृतत्व शक्ति हरि यश कथन सुखद विप्र जन विमल मति॥१६२॥
These stainless-minded brāhmaṇas possessed eloquence and the power to bring joy by recounting Hari's glory: Śrī Kṛṣṇadatta, eminent and learned in the scriptures of Rāma; noble Lokanātha and Vijaya Surakhā, true devotees of Hari; Nyāya Ambarī, the celibate Vaiṣṇava who carried others across; and Vāsadāsa of Gautama's āśrama, whose hope had become equanimity. Each was eminent in sixfold devotion, dear to revelation, moving like a lotus upon water.
विप्र एक पण्डित विमल टेक भागवत धर्म धर॥
विद्या विनय विवेक भक्ति पथ बोधक पावन।
नवधा मति अनुरक्त चित्त भक्तन मन भावन॥
कष्ट हरण प्राचीन पूर्व थल गङ्गा तट पर।
कथा घोष विद्या विलास कोउ नाहिं पटतर॥
दिनपति राम कृपा लह्यो अन्त समै सदकर्म पर।
विप्र एक पण्डित विमल टेक भागवत धर्म धर॥१६३॥
A pure-minded brāhmaṇa scholar held firmly to the dharma of the Bhāgavata. Learned yet humble and discerning, he was a purifying teacher of the path of devotion. His mind was attached to ninefold bhakti, and his heart delighted devotees. At an ancient place on the bank of the Gaṅgā he removed suffering. No one equalled him in sacred exposition or the play of learning. At the final hour he received Rāma's grace, established in righteous action.
गोदना गङ्गा तट निकट माधवदास पवित्र मति॥
सांख्ययोग मत समुझि भक्ति सिद्धान्त विचार्यो।
सेवा शुद्ध स्वरूप राम सिय छवि उर धार्यो॥
मंदिर नवल पुनीत थापि निज बोध ग्रंथ पर।
प्रगट कियो इतिहास विपुल सतसङ्ग अन्त पर॥
श्रीरामप्रसाद कृपाल के वंश प्रगट सु विचित्र गति।
गोदना गङ्गा तट निकट माधवदास पवित्र मति॥१६४॥
Pure-minded Mādhavadāsa lived at Godanā near the bank of the Gaṅgā. He understood the teachings of Sāṃkhya and Yoga and reflected upon the principles of devotion. His service was pure, and he held the beautiful Forms of Rāma and Sīyā within his heart. He established a new and holy temple and set his understanding into a book. At the conclusion of satsaṅga he revealed an extensive sacred history. In the lineage of gracious Śrī Rāmaprasāda, a wondrous way thus became manifest.
परम धर्म पोषक सुभट विप्र भागवत जन सुखद॥
रामभक्ता श्रीभाणनाथ भल राम नारायण।
विष्णुदत्त हरिनाथ रोहिणी कृष्ण नारायण॥
ठाकुर पण्डित पुर प्रधान विश्वेश्वर नीको।
छिति ईश्वर अंभोज चरण मुकुन्द सरसो को॥
माधवराम उपासना दिव्य ध्यान गति मन विशद।
परम धर्म पोषक सुभट विप्र भागवत जन सुखद॥१६५॥
These valiant brāhmaṇa devotees sustained the supreme dharma and brought joy to the people of the Bhāgavata: the Rāma devotee Śrī Bhāṇanātha; noble Rāmanārāyaṇa; Viṣṇudatta, Harinātha, Rohiṇī, and Kṛṣṇanārāyaṇa; Ṭhākura Paṇḍita, foremost in the town; and worthy Viśveśvara. Chiti Īśvara, Ambhojacaraṇa, Mukunda, and Sarasoko also belonged to this company. Mādhavarāma's worship was divine; his mind was lucid and moved in meditation.
परम धर्म रुचि राम यश संन्यासी ये भक्ति मति॥
प्रिय सुखराम गिरि सन्तत गिरि के शिर इच्छा।
सन्तन ते अति प्रीति निरंतर मणि गिरि सिच्छा॥
पयहारी प्रिय पौत्र शिष्य वर हर्ष भारथी।
कस्तूरी गुरु वंश प्रबल वक्ता यथारथी॥
एक एक भागवत जन मति विवेक नहि जगत रति।
परम धर्म रुचि राम यश संन्यासी ये भक्ति मति॥१६६॥
These renunciants delighted in supreme dharma, possessed devotional minds, and sang Rāma's glory. Beloved Sukharāmagiri and Santatagiri carried their aspiration foremost; Maṇigiri loved saints exceedingly and continually taught devotion among them. Harṣabhāratī was the dear spiritual grandson of Payahārī and an eminent disciple. Kastūrīgiri came from a powerful guru-lineage and spoke things as they truly were. Each was a discerning Bhāgavata devotee without attachment to the world.
श्रीरामगुलेला गुरु कृपा आत्माराम पवित्र जन॥
कायथ कुल में जन्म भक्ति उत्तम पथ रांचे।
परम धरम आरूढ़ सन्त सेवा सुठि सांचे॥
रामायण की कथा नेम अरु प्रेम विशेषी।
राम जनम अङ्कित फुलेल युत पुस्तक देखी॥
सीताराम स्वरूप हिय सीताराम चरित्र धन।
श्रीरामगुलेला गुरु कृपा आत्माराम पवित्र जन॥१६७॥
Through Guru Śrī Rāmagulelā's grace, Ātmārāma became a pure devotee. Born in a Kāyastha family, he was formed by devotion upon its highest path. Established in supreme dharma, he served saints with complete sincerity. He observed a loving discipline of listening to the Rāmāyaṇa. He beheld a book marked with Rāma's footprints and fragrant with phulel. Holding the Forms of Sītā and Rāma within his heart, he made their sacred deeds his treasure.
श्री गुरु कृपा प्रताप ते रामशरण लहि गूढ़ गति॥
नाम रूप लीला प्रताप श्रृंगार उपासी।
मिथिला अवध पुनीत भूमि कांचनी प्रकाशी॥
रति अनन्य रस राशि मानसी अङ्ग सँवारी।
नित नव चाह विवाह आदि लीला विस्तारी॥
विपुल कला नय निपुणता विचरत महि जन विमल मति।
श्री गुरु कृपा प्रताप ते रामशरण लहि गूढ़ गति॥१६८॥
By the power of Śrī Guru's grace, Rāmaśaraṇa attained the hidden way. He worshipped the Name, Form, līlā, glory, and divine adornment. In the holy lands of Mithilā and Avadha, the golden ground shone before him. Absorbed in the treasury of exclusive love, he adorned every limb of mental service. With ever-new longing he expanded contemplation of the wedding and other līlās. Pure-minded as he travelled the earth, he possessed abundant skill in art and sacred method.
प्रियाशरण की प्रिय कथा दशधा रति श्रृंगार रस॥
श्रीमिथिलेंद्रकुमारि कुञ्ज कांचन वन माहीं।
मिथिलापुर चहुँ ओर कांचनी भूमि सोहाही॥
भाव जन्म निमि वंश माहिं मान्यो निज नाता।
प्रगट भाँवरी माहिं ताँवरी गति विख्याता॥
कवितावलि अनेक पद सरयू कुञ्ज अपार यश।
प्रियाशरण की प्रिय कथा दशधा रति श्रृंगार रस॥१६९॥
Priyāśaraṇa's beloved account was filled with tenfold love and the rasa of divine adornment. He contemplated the daughter of Mithilā's king within a grove in the golden forest. All around Mithilāpura, the golden ground shone beautifully. By sacred feeling he accepted his own kinship within Nimi's lineage. During the wedding rounds, his renowned devotional state became manifest. His many Kavitāvalī verses and songs brought immeasurable glory to the groves of Sarayū.
सान्त प्रगट श्रृंगार रति भव भामिनी सहाय भल॥
सेवा सन्त प्रधान कन्हौली गुन गन पावन।
धोय चरण रज पियत रसिक भक्तन मन भावन॥
नेम प्रेम अति अघट सुभट सेवक सुत जायो।
विप्र भागवत सन्त प्रशंसत जग यश छायो॥
परम उदार विवेक निधि ब्रज मानी समुदाय फल।
सान्त प्रगट श्रृंगार रति भव भामिनी सहाय भल॥१७०॥
In serene Bhavānīsahāya, love's divine adornment became manifest. At Kanhaulī he made service to saints foremost, and his host of virtues was purifying. Washing their feet, he drank the water bearing the dust of their feet and delighted rasika devotees. Resolute in discipline and love, he arose as a valiant son and servant. Brāhmaṇas, Bhāgavatas, and saints praised him, and his fame spread through the world. Supremely generous and a treasury of discernment, he was the fruit of Mother Brajamānī's community.
विप्र एक भागवत मति विष्णुपुरा नंदलाल वर॥
सेवक मानस विमल सन्त जन पद आराधक।
वृत्ति पुरोधा रसिक भक्ति दशधा के साधक॥
प्रति संवत सरयू प्रमोद वन दरशन जाही।
कनक भवन मणि कुञ्ज भवन छवि वारि हरषाही॥
बालगोविन्द प्रभृति नूहरी रैवा सारस रह्याल वर।
विप्र एक भागवत मति विष्णुपुरा नंदलाल वर॥१७१॥
Nandalāla of Viṣṇupurā was an eminent brāhmaṇa of Bhāgavata mind. A servant with a stainless inner life, he worshipped the feet of saints. Serving as a family priest, he was a rasika practitioner of tenfold devotion. Every year he went for darśana of Sarayū and Pramodavana. He rejoiced again and again in the beauty of Kanaka Bhavana and the jeweled grove. Bālagovinda and the eminent devotees Nūharī, Raivā, Sārasa, and Rahyāla were remembered among this noble circle.
राधावल्लभ प्रेम पथ रामदयाल अनुपम लह्यो॥
हित कुञ्ज वंशीलाल रसिक गुरु लहि संस्कारी।
बोध यथारथ भक्ति भेद रस रीति अपारी॥
भक्तन ते अति प्रेम नेम गुण गान प्रवीना।
उत्सव साज समाज सदा दशधा रस लीना॥
जमिरा भोज्य सुदेश में कृपा पात्र सब जन चह्यो।
राधावल्लभ प्रेम पथ रामदयाल अनुपम लह्यो॥१७२॥
Rāmadayāla attained the incomparable Rādhāvallabha path of love. In the beneficent grove he received formation from rasika Guru Vaṃśīlāla. He understood devotion as it truly was—its distinctions and its boundless ways of rasa. He loved devotees deeply and was skilled in discipline and the singing of divine virtues. Amid festivals, sacred arrangements, and the assembled community, he remained absorbed in tenfold rasa. In Jamirā, in the good land of Bhoja, everyone cherished him as a recipient of grace.
राधावल्लभ भजन मति अभयसिंह भय रहित जन॥
हित कुञ्ज गुरु संस्कार लह्यो सेवा पथ जानी।
वृन्दावन घन कुञ्ज ध्यान गति रति ठहरानी॥
भक्तन के सेवा प्रधान उपदेश नरनि को।
दशधा सम्पति जोरि दियो दुर्लभ अमरनि को॥
गयो ठौर निज भाव थल रसिकन विरह प्रयोग मन।
राधावल्लभ भजन मति अभयसिंह भय रहित जन॥१७३॥
Fearless Abhayasiṃha possessed a mind devoted to Rādhāvallabha bhajana. In the beneficent grove he received the guru's formation and learned the path of service. His meditation settled into love for Vṛndāvana's dense groves. He made service to devotees foremost and instructed rulers in it. Having gathered the treasure of tenfold devotion, he gave what is rare even for the immortals. He departed for the realm of his own sacred feeling, leaving the minds of rasikas to undergo separation.
श्रीरामदास गुरु कृपा ते कृपा लह्यो दशधा अमल॥
श्याम गौर युग रूप अनुपम नित हिय माही।
ध्यानदास गुरु बन्धु सु छवि आशक्त सदाही॥
सीताराम उपास्य दास्य सख्यत्व रसालय।
श्रीरामायण गान सुहृद सुठि शील सुचालय॥
रामानन्द अमल हियो रामदयाल लघु बन्धु भल।
श्रीरामदास गुरु कृपा ते कृपा लह्यो दशधा अमल॥१७४॥
Through Guru Śrī Rāmadāsa, he received the grace of stainless tenfold devotion. He kept the incomparable dark and fair Forms of the divine pair always within his heart. Dhyānadāsa was his elder brother in the guru, ever attached to their beautiful Forms. Worshipping Sītā and Rāma, he became an abode of the rasas of servitude and friendship. A warm-hearted singer of the Śrī Rāmāyaṇa, he possessed excellent character and conduct. Rāmānanda had a stainless heart, and noble Rāmadayāla was his younger brother.
चैन राम गुरु कृपा ते जगन्नाथ उत्तम रहनि॥
छत्री कुल अनुराग प्रथम गुण गान कला की।
साध्य भई जो सफल रसिक वाणी अमला की॥
चित्रकूट में रमत लह्यो सतसङ्ग प्रवीना।
राम रास के ग्रंथ पदावलि गान जु लीना॥
महन्त पाल महदास या रसिक रीति सूक्ष्म लहनि।
चैन राम गुरु कृपा ते जगन्नाथ उत्तम रहनि॥१७५॥
Through Guru Chainarāma's grace, Jagannātha attained an excellent way of life. Born in a Kṣatriya family, his first love was the art of singing divine virtues. When that art reached fulfilment, the stainless speech of a rasika bore fruit. Roaming in Citrakūṭa, he received the company of accomplished saints. He became absorbed in books about Rāma's rasa and in singing their collections of songs. Mahant Pālamahadāsa received this subtle current of the rasika way.
बगसर विश्वामित्र थल विपिन चरित्र सुजान जन॥
ताताचारी राम उपासक सरस सधावे।
रति वात्सल्य उदार बाललीला के ध्याने॥
नृपति स्वरूप रस ध्यान माधव मतराम उपासी।
रामतापनी यंत्र पीठ पूजा सुखरासी॥
श्रीगोपालशरण सुवन उदित विनैटीकाजु तन।
बगसर विश्वामित्र थल विपिन चरित्र सुजान जन॥१७६॥
At Buxar, Viśvāmitra's sacred place, Tātācārī understood the deeds of the forest. A worshipper of Rāma, he followed a sweet and excellent discipline. Generous in parental love, he meditated upon the childhood līlās. In contemplation he worshipped the royal Form and its rasa, following Mādhava and Matarāma. His worship of the Rāmatāpanī yantra and sacred seat was a treasury of joy. Śrī Gopālaśaraṇa's son Udita embodied this inheritance and composed a commentary upon the Vinaya Patrikā.
चतुरदास श्रृंगारपथ भेदी रास प्रमोद वन॥
रामरास की कथा सुनी कछु रसिकन संगे।
उर प्रवेश ह्वै गई वचन में उठति उमंगे॥
नैन रसीले राम रास रस के मतवारे।
गुप्त लखत कोउ नाहिं लखत जो जाननि हारे॥
रसिक सङ्ग महिमा प्रबल भयो सुबोध विनोद मन।
चतुरदास श्रृंगारपथ भेदी रास प्रमोद वन॥१७७॥
In Rāsa Pramodavana, Caturadāsa penetrated the path of divine adornment. He heard accounts of Rāma's rāsa in the company of several rasikas. They entered his heart, and waves of joy rose whenever he spoke. His nectarous eyes were intoxicated by the rasa of Rāma's rāsa. Although he kept his inner state hidden, those who knew how to perceive it were not deceived. Through the company of rasikas, their glory became powerful within his clear and joyful mind.
श्यामदास दशधा लही भक्ति विमल अनपायिनी॥
राधाकृष्ण उपास्य रसिक गौड़ेश्वर नीको।
गान कला गंधर्व काव्य रचना भल जीको॥
ग्रंथ प्रबन्ध कवित्त आदि कीर्तन की रीती।
उत्सव साज समाज सन्त पद प्रीति प्रतीती॥
लक्ष्मण संकर्षण भलो जमुना जन सुखदायिनी।
श्यामदास दशधा लही भक्ति विमल अनपायिनी॥१७८॥
Śyāmadāsa attained stainless and unfailing tenfold devotion. Worshipping Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, he was esteemed among the Gauḍīya rasikas. In the art of song he was like a gandharva, and his poetry was finely composed. He fashioned books, extended compositions, kavittas, and forms of kīrtana. He arranged festivals and assemblies, grounded in faith and love for the feet of saints. Noble Lakṣmaṇa Saṅkarṣaṇa and the people of Yamunā shared the happiness his devotion gave.
श्रीरामप्रताप चरित्र वन महिमा लहि थापी धुजा॥
परिक्रमा अनुराग सन्त बहु मेला जोरी।
सब ते विनै असीस लही नवधा मति बोरी॥
भक्त बड़ो ऋतुराज साज वन माहिं विराज्यो।
विप्र भागवत कथा कह्यो बहुतन सुख साज्यो॥
भृगु आश्रम बहु भक्त सुख भूप राम अद्भुत सजा।
श्रीरामप्रताप चरित्र वन महिमा लहि थापी धुजा॥१७९॥
Śrī Rāmapratāpa received the glory of Caritravana and raised its banner. Out of love he gathered many saints into a pilgrimage procession. Bowing to all, he received their blessings and sowed ninefold devotion in his mind. The great devotee Ṛturāja adorned the forest gathering. That brāhmaṇa recounted the Bhāgavata and arranged happiness for many. At Bhṛgu's āśrama, where many devotees rejoiced, Rāmapratāpa made a wondrous royal festival.
शंभुपुरी श्रीराम पर पाठक जो शिवलाल वर॥
श्रुति संहिता प्रमाण माध्व भाष्यादिक देखी।
परत रसद श्रीरामकथा टीका जु विशेषी॥
नित्य जु नृप के अङ्क बङ्क छवि उर में धारी।
मति वात्सल्य रसाल भक्ति रागा अति प्यारी॥
अलरक श्रीगोपाल प्रिय सुमतंत्र लीनो ढाल कर।
शंभुपुरी श्रीराम पर पाठक जो शिवलाल वर॥१८०॥
Eminent Śivalāla Pāṭhaka of Śambhupurī was wholly devoted to Śrī Rāma. He examined the authority of the Śruti and Saṃhitās and the commentaries of Madhva and others. He produced a distinctive, rasa-giving commentary upon the story of Śrī Rāma. He held within his heart the charming child-form of Rāma resting in the king's lap. His mind overflowed with parental rasa, and the melody of devotion was exceedingly dear to him. Alarakasiṃha and Śrī Gopālasiṃha lovingly received his well-formed ritual system as their shield.