20 THE MODERN LITERARY HISTORY OF HINDUSTAN. [§ 35. 
everywhere. He finished his first tour (technically called his Digbijm, 
or conquest of the world) in Sambat 1554 (A.D. 1497) at the age of 
nineteen. 1 He then made Braj his head-quarters and established an 
image of Shrl Nath at Gobardhan. From this as his head-quarters he 
made his second missionary tour throughout India. He died in 
Bandras in Sambat 1587 (A.D. 1530) at the age of fifty-two years, 
leaving two sons —Gopi Nath and Bitthal Nath. He was a volumin¬ 
ous author. His most admired works are a commentary on the 
Bhagauata Purana entitled Subodhan 7, 2 the Anubhasya, and the 
J aim inly a Sutra Bhasya. The two latter are in Sanskrit. Harish¬ 
chandr’ (l.c.) gives a complete list of his works. The authorship 
of a vernacular work of considerable authority, the Bishnu Pad, or 
stanzas in honour of Visnu, is also attributed to him. Many verses 
by him are included in the anthology entitled Rag-Sagarodbhab of 
• Krishnanand Byas Deb . For further particulars see No. 35. 
35 . ff ^ the holy master Bitthal Nath, 
of Braj . FL 1550 A.D. 
Ptag. Ballabhaehdrj was succeeded as leader of the Radha - 
ballabhl sect by his son Bitthal Nath , of Braj (FI. 1550). Bitthal Nath 
had seven sons, all of whom became Gostils, or leaders of the sect. 
The descendants of two of these {Gir’dhar and Jadunath) 3 still 
exist in Gohul , 4 Many of his verses are included in the Rag- 
Sagarodbhab, and he is possibly the same as a Bitthal Kabi mentioned 
in the Sib Siygh Saroj as an erotic poet. 
Ballabhachar’j had four famous pupils, viz. Krish’n Das Pay 
Ahari (No. 36), Sur Das (No. 37), Par’manand Das (No. 38), Kumbhan 
Das (No. 39) ; and Bitthal Nath had also four pupils, named Chatur'- 
bhuj Das (No. 40), Chhlt Scudmi (No. 41), Nand Das (No. 42), Gobind 
Das (No. 43). The first four may be considered as flourishing in the year 
1550, and the second four as flourishing about 1567 A.D. These eight 
all lived in Braj and wrote in Braj Bhakha, and are named the Ashta 
Chhap, or eight acknowledged masters of the literature of that dialect. 
Wilson and others speak of a work entitled the Ashta Clihap, giving 
the lives of these poets; and I once believed in the existence of such 
1 This is the date quoted by Harishchandr . 
2 According to Wilson, Subodhini. 
3 See Harishchandr’ (l.c.), ii, 36. 
4 For further information cf. Wilson, Religious Sects of the Hindus , i, 125, 
where he is wrongly called Vitala Nath. 
