Page 26 - Rasikananda - Eng

10 The Story of Rasikänanda

from his eyes. He was fully conversant with all the scriptures and
widely renowned as an expert musician.
I worship Çré Kåñëa Bhaïja-deva Mahäräja, who was highly
determined in serving the lotus feet of Çyämänanda. He was
known as kula-dépta-candra (the brightly shining moon of his
dynasty) and was Çyämänanda’s favorite disciple. He organized
great blissful festivals in his kingdom to worship Lord Kåñëa. The
king was famous as an unflinching devotee and continuously
chanted the holy names of Lord Hari. The sixty-four limbs of
bhakti resided in his heart. All the people considered him a great
*
pious soul who favored brahminical culture. He was compared to
Parékñit, Ambaréña, and the four Kumäras, who perfected their
lives by devoting themselves to Lord Kåñëa. By the strength of his
piety, he was a formidable ruler and the best of kings. His rivals
came to serve his lotus feet. Let this illustrious king and devotee of
Lord Kåñëa bestow his favor upon me. I will sit down motionless
†
and simply sing the glories of Rasika.
I devotedly worship Kåñëänanda Däsa, who did not know anything
but Çyämänanda. I worship the pious daughter of Rasika, Våndävaté,
who was famous for her politeness and perseverance. I happily
worship the pure-hearted Kåñëa-gati, the world-famous middle son
of Rasika. He was so intoxicated with love of Kåñëa that he could
not differentiate between day and night. His name was Kåñëa-gati
(one whose refuge is Kåñëa), and indeed, Lord Kåñëa was his very
life. I worship the lotus feet of Rasika’s youngest son, Rädhä-Kåñëa

* Sixty-four limbs of bhakti—prescriptive and proscriptive practices,
described by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé in his Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu.
† At that time in India, king could mean a landlord of a few or even one
village. Subordinate kings were under more powerful kings, who again
were under kings of large areas. With this plethora of kings constantly
vying with each other for power and influence, many areas lacked stability
or security for the citizens.