श्रीमोहन वर दास के शिष्य वैष्णवदास भला॥
आचारज मत समुझि विशिष्टाद्वैत सुजाना।
रामचरन गुरुमंत्र ध्यान देसी मनमाना॥
नगर बास थल महत उजागर नागर प्रेमी।
सील छिमा सन्तोष विरति उत्तम दृढ़ नेमी॥
सुचि सेवा रस रास उर विमल बोध ताहि आस फल।
श्रीमोहन वर दास के शिष्य वैष्णवदास भला॥२२१॥
Noble Vaiṣṇavadāsa was a disciple of eminent Śrī Mohanadāsa. Understanding the ācārya's teaching, he became learned in Viśiṣṭādvaita. Rāmacaraṇa gave him the guru-mantra, whose meditation delighted his mind. A mahant dwelling in the city, he shone as a refined lover of God. Character, forgiveness, contentment, renunciation, excellence, and firm discipline adorned him. Pure service and rāsa-rasa filled his heart, and stainless understanding became the fruit of his hope.
श्रीचित्रसिंधु गुरु कृपा ते मैहरगादी महत वर॥
जानकीशरण उदार सील गुन भूषित भारी।
जनककिसोरी चरण कञ्ज मकरन्द आहारी॥
अली रसिक निज रूप सुखद सम्बन्ध लये हैं।
शरण रघूत्तम रसिक सुभट रुचि सफल भये हैं॥
उज्जल मति रस रास उर ऋतु बसन्त लखि चढ़त ज्वर।
श्रीचित्रसिंधु गुरु कृपा ते मैहरगादी महत वर॥२२२॥
Through Guru Śrī Citrasindhu's grace, Jānakīśaraṇa became eminent mahant of the Maihara seat. Generous and deeply adorned with character and virtue, he drank the nectar of Janaka's daughter's lotus feet. As her companion and rasika, he received the joy-giving relationship proper to his own inner form. Taking refuge in the supreme Raghūttama, his valiant rasika taste bore fruit. His understanding was radiant and his heart filled with rāsa-rasa; when spring appeared, the fever of love rose within him.
जगत विदित उत्तम कथा विश्वनाथ नृपराज को॥
सीताराम चरित्र ग्रंथ अवलोकत निसि दिन।
जुगल नाम अरु जुगल रूप सुधि लेत छिनहि छिन॥
उत्तम पथ श्रृंगार भक्ति दशधा के भेदी।
पण्डित कला प्रवीण रसिक रसग्रंथ निवेदी॥
श्रीरामचरण सतगुरु कृपा क्रिया मानसी साज की।
जगत विदित उत्तम कथा विश्वनाथ नृपराज को॥२२३॥
The excellent story of King Viśvanātha was known throughout the world. Day and night he read books on the sacred lives of Sītā and Rāma, remembering at every moment the divine pair's Name and paired form. He penetrated the noble path of śṛṅgāra, the mysteries of bhakti in its tenfold fullness. A learned man accomplished in the arts and a rasika, he offered books filled with rasa. By the grace of Satguru Śrī Rāmacaraṇa he adorned the practice of inward, mental service.
गुरु गदित गङ्ग गुरु रूप ज्यों जनकलडेतीशरण भल॥
राजभला चिरगाँउ रसिक जन सुखद उजागर।
काव्य कला रस रीति पदन रचना में नागर॥
रसिक सजाती जाति जाति की नाहि न बाधा।
रसिक गुरु निज कृपासिंधु अनुराग अगाधा॥
रसिक जानकी भक्ति जग तारण जुग चरण बल।
गुरु गदित गङ्ग गुरु रूप ज्यों जनकलडेतीशरण भल॥२२४॥
Noble Jānakīlaḍaitīśaraṇa, praised by his guru, was like the Gaṅgā in the very form of the guru. This eminent rasika of Ciragā̃va, Rājabhalā, brought joy to people. Refined in poetry, art, the ways of rasa, and the composition of songs, he knew that rasika kinship suffers no barrier of caste or community. His rasika guru was an ocean of grace and fathomless love. By the power of the divine pair's feet, his rasika devotion to Jānakī carried the world across.
सब रसिक चातकन घन विमल वानी परवतदास की॥
सीताराम अनन्य भक्ति दशधा निरवाही।
श्याम गौर छवि सुधा माधुरी सिन्धु विगाही॥
शम दम दया निधान सदा सतसङ्ग निरत मन।
मधुर भाव सम्मिलित ललित लीला बरनी जिन॥
मिथिलेस लली करुणा विसद रति पाई रस रास की।
सब रसिक चातकन घन विमल वानी परवतदास की॥२२५॥
Parvatadāsa's stainless speech was a raincloud for all rasikas, who thirsted for it like cātaka birds. He sustained single-hearted devotion to Sītā and Rāma in its tenfold fullness and entered the ocean of nectar and sweetness in their dark and fair beauty. A treasury of calm, self-restraint, and compassion, his mind remained absorbed in satsaṅga. He narrated their lovely play, suffused with sweet sacred feeling. Through the compassion of Mithilā's cherished daughter he attained stainless love and the abundance of rasa.
तन मन वचन सुसन्त की रामदास सेवा करी॥
बसे बदनपुर ग्राम नाम अवलम्ब लये हैं।
राम रूप घनश्याम हेतु भक्तन विनये हैं॥
प्रति संवत सतसङ्ग मकर मज्जन जन आवे।
गाँव गाँव ते मोट चले सीधो पहुँचावे॥
विनै करत गदगद गिरा भाव सु मेघा घरी।
तन मन वचन सुसन्त की रामदास सेवा करी॥२२६॥
Rāmadāsa served true saints with body, mind, and speech. Dwelling in the village of Badanapura, he made the Name his support and entreated devotees for the vision of Rāma's raincloud-dark form. Each year people came for satsaṅga and the Makara bathing festival; from village after village he carried provisions and delivered them directly. When he offered prayer, his voice choked with feeling and his heart became heavy like a rain-filled cloud.
हरिसेवा सुमिरन कथा सन्त दरस इन नित चही॥
ख्याती मंसाराम तपस्वी राम उपासी।
पुरी लक्षना विदित गोमती तट के वासी॥
सेवा सन्त अनूप गोमती दास बढ़ाई।
राम भजन सतसङ्ग कथा नित लगत सुहाई॥
दरियाई श्रीलालदास सन्त कृपा सुभगति लही।
हरिसेवा सुमिरन कथा सन्त दरस इन नित चही॥२२७॥
Famed ascetic Maṃsārāma, a worshipper of Rāma, lived in the renowned town of Lakhanā on the bank of the Gomatī. Gomatīdāsa magnified incomparable service to saints and daily delighted in Rāma-bhajana, satsaṅga, and sacred narrative. Dariyāī and Śrī Lāladāsa gained the blessed way through the grace of saints. Each of them continually desired service to Hari, remembrance, sacred story, and the sight of saints.
श्रीपैहारी के वंश में पैहारी एकै भये॥
सर्वज्ञ सीताराम उपासक पर उपकारी।
तीव्र त्याग अनुराग भक्ति दशधा दृढ़धारी॥
सरजूपारी विप्र कठिन कोमल दरसायो।
रामचरित बहुग्रंथ श्रवन दै दै छवि छायो॥
सन्त मण्डली नित बसत पूजा विधि सज सुख दये।
श्रीपैहारी के वंश में पैहारी एकै भये॥२२८॥
In Śrī Paihārī's lineage there was only one who truly equalled Paihārī. An all-knowing worshipper of Sītā and Rāma and a benefactor of others, he held fast to intense renunciation, love, and tenfold devotion. This brāhmaṇa of the Sarayū region revealed a nature at once stern and tender. By repeatedly giving listeners the many books of Rāma's sacred life, he covered them in divine beauty. A company of saints always lived with him, and his carefully prepared worship brought them happiness.
छपरा उत्तर वाटिका परशुराम ज्यों परशुधर॥
जोगी जोग सुजान तपस्वी तेज निधाना।
अधिक सन्त अनुराग जसकरी जै अस्थाना॥
प्रचुर महन्त सन्त पोषक रवि कंठे।
सेवानंद नरेस भक्त दूषक लखि गंजे॥
विपुल साज सन्तन सुखद सदा सरस सुख बरस घर।
छपरा उत्तर वाटिका परशुराम ज्यों परशुधर॥२२९॥
In Chhaprā's northern garden lived Paraśurāma, worthy of the name of the axe-bearer. A yogī learned in yoga, an ascetic and treasury of spiritual radiance, he possessed extraordinary love for saints, and his dwelling won renown. He nourished many mahants and saints. Sevānanda honoured devotees like a king and rebuked anyone he saw maligning them. Richly provisioned and ever bringing saints delight, that house continually poured forth sweet happiness.
सिद्ध प्रचुर मिथिला अवनि जगन्नाथ विमला निकट॥
सुखद पताही वास जगत आसा नहिं राख्यो।
जनकनंदिनी सुता भाव भाविक अभिलाष्यो॥
राम श्याम जामात जथा किशोर सुख पाये।
मनीराम जो रामदास रस रसिक सोहाये॥
जुगल रसिक श्रृंगार मति एक सिद्ध साधक प्रगट।
सिद्ध प्रचुर मिथिला अवनि जगन्नाथ विमला निकट॥२३०॥
The accomplished Jagannātha lived at joy-giving Patāhī in the land of Mithilā near Vimalā, keeping no worldly hope. With a devotee's longing he regarded Janaka's daughter as his own daughter, and found the joy of dark Rāma as the youthful bridegroom of his house. Manirāma and Rāmadāsa shone as rasikas of rasa. Thus appeared a singular accomplished practitioner whose understanding rested in the divine pair's śṛṅgāra.
मिथिला गौतमकुण्ड ढिग शास्त्री राम उपासना॥
मंत्र लियो निज रुचि विचार गुरु कासी वासी।
राज पुत्र श्रीराम श्याम छवि शम्भु उपासी॥
ब्राह्मण को नहि चहें अहें अद्वैती भाष्यो।
कर परास्त गुरु कृपा बगर मिथिला छवि चाल्यो॥
षट् शास्त्री रामहिं रख्यो ठठ्यो कुञ्ज जग आसना।
मिथिला गौतमकुण्ड ढिग शास्त्री राम उपासना॥२३१॥
Near Gautamakuṇḍa in Mithilā, Rāma Śāstrī practised worship. Having reflected upon his own sacred inclination, he received the mantra from a guru who lived in Kāśī. He worshipped the dark beauty of Prince Śrī Rāma, whom Śambhu himself adores. An Advaitin spoke dismissively of the brāhmaṇa, but was defeated; by the guru's grace the splendour of Mithilā spread. A master of the six śāstras, Rāma Śāstrī established a grove-seat for Rāma in the world.
दामोदर गुरु कृपा ते हृदयराम हिय में बसे॥
ध्यान जनकजा सहित रहित कामादिक नामी।
कृपाराम वर सिस्य रतन वर अन्तरजामी॥
नृपति रामबल्लभ भजन भूमि गति भव्य बखानी।
वृत्त ते मंत्र सुनाय कारण शङ्कर गति जानी॥
पाण्डलेस पूर्वहि कहे राम नाम अमृत रसे।
दामोदर गुरु कृपा ते हृदयराम हिय में बसे॥२३२॥
Through Guru Dāmodara's grace, Hṛdayarāma came to dwell within the heart. He meditated upon Rāma together with Janaka's daughter, free of lust and the other afflictions. Noble Kṛpārāma, a jewel among disciples and knower of the heart, proclaimed the majestic way of King Rāmavallabha's land of bhajana. From the sacred account he taught the mantra, knowing its cause and Śaṅkara's way. Pāṇḍelesa had taught earlier, savouring the nectar of Rāma's Name.
श्रीशंकर गुरु भगत भये कृपावंत ध्यानी।
जानराय श्रीरामचन्द्र प्रगटे पथ ज्ञानी॥
कंटक बहु पद गम्यो भूमि मारग अकुलाने।
छैल सिकारी गह्यो पानि तब पथ दरसाने॥
विकल दसा पूछी तिनहि कही सो निज जन जाने।
रामनाम के मात्र रचि गंगा प्रगट चिरानदी॥२३३॥
Śrī Śaṅkara became the guru's devotee, compassionate and contemplative. Jānarāya and Śrī Rāmacandra appeared as knowers of the path. Travelling on foot through a land thick with thorns, he grew distressed and lost the way. A handsome hunter took his hand and showed him the road. Seeing his agitated condition, the hunter asked what had happened; he answered, knowing him to be one of the Lord's own. Composed wholly from Rāma's Name, the Gaṅgā then appeared as the ancient river.
सीड़ धर्म गुरुदेव भेष सब रस की जाने।
रामनाम के रसिक रूप हिय में मंडराने॥
ध्यानमंजरी दई देखि बहुमत चित सानी।
आश्रस्वामि पथ रुचै तोहि जस कहि मुदुवानी॥
दुतिय सु विग्रह पथ अवध आश्रस्वामि सुख धामही।
रामचरण सतगुरु मिले कृपा करी सिस्य रामही॥२३४॥
Firm in dharma, Gurudeva knew the rasa contained in every holy guise, while the rasika form of Rāma's Name hovered within his heart. He gave the Dhyānamañjarī, and those who saw it steeped their minds in its many-sided teaching. Āśrasvāmī delighted in this path and proclaimed its glory in joyful speech. The second embodied guide upon Avadha's path was Āśrasvāmī, an abode of bliss. When he met Satguru Rāmacaraṇa, the guru showed grace to this servant of Rāma.
आश्रस्वामी पद कंज के रसिक भृंग पद उर धरौं॥
बालअली श्रीरूपसखी पूजि मधुराचारज।
हरिप्यारीजु रामसखे निवास रस आरज॥
रामदास गूदर कृपाल श्रीरामप्रसादा।
प्रेमसखी श्रीपरमहंस कृति पथ अनुवादा॥
चित्रसिन्धु आरतिक दया रघुवरसरण निभत सरौं।
आश्रस्वामी पद कंज के रसिक भृंग पद उर धरौं॥२३५॥
I hold within my heart the feet of the rasika bees who hover at Āśrasvāmī's lotus feet: Bālaalī, Śrī Rūpasakhī, the revered Madhurācārya, Haripyārījū, Rāmasakhe, and those who dwelt in rasa's noble way; Rāmadāsa, Gūdara, Kṛpāla, Śrī Rāmaprasāda, Premasakhī, Śrī Paramahaṃsa, and the transmitters of their works and path; Citrasindhu, Āratika, Dayā, and Raghuvaraśaraṇa, who faithfully reached the goal.