"Prem ke Dās āṅg" (प्रेम के दास अंग) — this phrase can be interpreted in multiple beautiful, poetic, and devotional ways, especially in the context of Bhakti literature and saint poetry from traditions like that of Tulsidas, Kabir, Meera, or Surdas.
Prem (प्रेम): Divine love — the love that is selfless, pure, and unconditional, often directed toward God.
ke (के): Of, belonging to.
Dās (दास): Servant, devotee, one who is surrendered.
Āṅg (अंग): Limb, part, or essence.
"Prem ke Dās āṅg" means:
“The limbs/essence of one who is a servant of love.”
“That which constitutes the being of a devotee of divine love.”
In Bhakti traditions, saints often describe the body, mind, and soul of a devotee as being made up of "prem" (divine love). Every "aṅg" (limb) of a true bhakta (dās) should vibrate with love for the Lord — whether it is:
the eyes, which long to see God,
the ears, eager to hear His name,
the tongue, constantly chanting,
the hands, engaged in seva (service),
or the heart, burning with love.
It reflects complete surrender — where love for the Divine is not just an emotion, but a total transformation of one's being.
Short Poetic Line (Inspired by Bhakti Saints):
> "Prem ke Dās ke aṅg-aṅg mein Hari vāse,
jise dekho, vāhī Rām samān lāge."
(In every limb of the servant of love, the Lord dwells; whoever looks upon them sees the Lord alone.)
This is a beautiful and poetic story from the bhakti traditions surrounding Lord Jagannāth of Puri, and highlights the deep emotional connection between the Lord, His devotees, and especially Śrī Rādhā.
When Lord Jagannātha Began to Melt Hearing His Own Glories
Once, Nārada Muni, the divine sage who roams the three worlds singing the glories of the Lord, arrived in Śrī Vaikuṇṭha. There he saw Lord Nārāyaṇa in an unusual state — the Lord was not seated regally, but rather trembling, eyes moist, and His body glowing with intense bhāva (emotion).
Curious, Nārada asked,
“Prabhu! What is it that moves You so deeply today?”
The Lord smiled gently and said,
“O Nārada, I am listening to My own description — not in pride, but in the voice of the one who knows Me best — Śrī Rādhā. She is describing Me not with words, but with her anubhava (deep inner experience). Her love is so intense, so pure, that every word melts Me.”
As the Lord said this, His form began to soften, swell, and melt like molten gold. His arms seemed to draw inward, His eyes stretched wide in ecstatic absorption, His limbs were becoming round and undefined — it was as though He would soon become a stream of divine emotion and flow away.
Alarmed, Nārada cried,
“O Lord! If You keep listening, there will be no Lord left — You will dissolve into love itself! Let me go to Rādhā and plead with her to pause her glorification.”
At once, Nārada flew to Goloka Vṛndāvana, where Śrī Rādhā sat with her sakhīs, lost in sweet remembrance of Kṛṣṇa. Her voice, like the softest veena, was pouring out His names, His form, His playful leelās. She was describing Kṛṣṇa's smile, the curl of His hair, the beauty of His lotus eyes — and each word was weighing on the heart of the cosmos, bending even Nārada's own breath.
Falling at her feet, Nārada begged,
"O Devi! Please, stop! The Lord is melting… your love is so intense, He cannot hold His form. He will become a river of prema and flow away from this world!”
Rādhā smiled through her tears and replied,
“Then let Him flow — for He is made of rasa. If He melts, He only returns to His truest form — love itself.
The Murti of Jagannātha
This story is often connected to Jagannātha’s form in Puri — with big round eyes, no defined hands or feet, and a rounded body — as the "Melted Form of the Lord" when overwhelmed by the love of Rādhā and the Vrajavāsīs.
Jagannātha’s form is not a sculpture of wood — it is premamay swarupa (a form made of divine love).
Thus, every year during Ratha Yātrā, Jagannātha comes out with Balabhadra and Subhadrā, leaving the temple, symbolizing His desire to visit Vṛndāvana again — to reunite with Rādhā and the gopīs who melted Him with their devotion.
राधा की बानी में रस की धार,
溶け गए श्याम, न रहीं आकार।
नारद ने रोकर किया पुकार,
ठहरो राधे, प्रभु हो गए पार।
"In Rādhā’s voice, a stream of rasa flowed,
Shyām melted, lost His very form.
Nārada cried out in sacred alarm,
‘Hold, Rādhā! The Lord has become a storm.’"
now invoking Rukmiṇī, the foremost queen of Śrī Krishna in Dvārakā — a divine personality filled with deep devotion, quiet strength, and royal dignity. Here’s a beautiful story, full of bhakti and emotion, that also connects her to the Jagannātha Leelā and Rādhā’s love.
When Rukmiṇī Saw Jagannātha’s Form Melted by Rādhā’s Love
One day in Dvārakā, Rukmiṇī Devi entered Krishna’s private chamber and found Him sitting silently, staring at nothing — His eyes were wide, and His body shivering. He looked overwhelmed by an emotion beyond words.
Rukmiṇī gently placed her hand on His shoulder and asked,
“My Lord, are You in pain? What troubles You?”
Krishna looked at her with soft eyes and whispered,
“I was remembering Vṛndāvana… and Rādhā.”
Though Rukmiṇī was His queen, she felt a quiet pang in her heart — not of jealousy, but of deep wonder. Who was this Rādhā, whose remembrance could steal away even the great Krishna’s senses?
Later, Nārada Muni came to Dvārakā. Rukmiṇī asked him,
“You travel the three worlds — tell me truly, who is Rādhā?”
Nārada smiled and said,
“Devi, only when you see her bhakti, you will understand.”
He then took Rukmiṇī to Nilachala, where Lord Jagannātha resided. She stood before the Lord in His unusual form — big eyes, hands drawn inward, a round body, no clear limbs.
She asked Nārada,
“Why does He look like this?”
Nārada replied:
“This is Krishna melted by Rādhā’s love. When He heard Rādhā describing Him with such bhāva, His form could not hold itself. His limbs merged into His heart. That melted form is what the world worships as Jagannātha.”
Tears welled in Rukmiṇī’s eyes. She bowed her head and said,
“Now I understand. My love serves Him in royalty — but Rādhā’s love rules Him completely.”
Rukmiṇī represents Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune. She is Krishna’s queen in Dvārakā — composed, wise, and devoted. But Rādhā is the personification of prema-bhakti — love that is raw, unending, and selfless. Where Rukmiṇī serves Krishna as her Lord, Rādhā loses herself in Krishna, and Krishna loses Himself in her.
That is why Jagannātha's form is said to be Krishna in the remembrance of Rādhā — His heart overflowing, His body melting in love.
Rukmiṇī’s Realization
राजमहल की रानी थी मैं,
पर मन में एक सवाल रहा।
जब देखा रूप जगन्नाथ का,
तब जाना – प्रेम ही असली राह।
"I was queen of a royal throne,
Yet a question stirred unknown.
When I saw Jagannātha’s face,
I knew — pure love is the highest grace."
