Understanding the Krishna Bhakti Branch Saints

The Bhakti movement in India saw various saints who devoted themselves to different forms of God. Two prominent branches were the Rama Bhakti branch, focused on Lord Rama, and the Krishna Bhakti branch, focused on Lord Krishna.

Let's examine the saints listed in the question:

• Tulsidas: He is a renowned poet and saint known primarily for his epic work, the Ramcharitmanas, which is dedicated to Lord Rama. Therefore, Tulsidas is associated with the Rama Bhakti branch.
• Surdas: A celebrated blind poet and musician, Surdas dedicated his life and work to the devotion of Lord Krishna. His poems, compiled in works like Sur Sagar, Sur Saravali, and Sahitya Lahari, primarily describe the childhood exploits and divine love of Krishna. He is a key figure in the Krishna Bhakti movement.
• Kabir: Kabir Das was a mystic poet and saint whose verses are found in Sikhism's holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. He belonged to the Nirguna (formless God) school of Bhakti and was critical of idol worship and religious rituals, advocating for a universal path to God. He is not specifically associated with either Rama or Krishna Bhakti branches in the Saguna tradition.
• Mira Bai: A Rajput princess, Mira Bai was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. Her devotional songs (bhajans) expressing intense love for Krishna are popular across India. She is a major figure of the Krishna Bhakti movement.

Based on the associations of these saints with different branches of the Bhakti movement:

• Tulsidas → Rama Bhakti
• Surdas → Krishna Bhakti
• Kabir → Nirguna Bhakti
• Mira Bai → Krishna Bhakti

The saints who were part of the Krishna Bhakti branch among the given options are Surdas and Mira Bai.

Thus, the correct combination is 2 (Surdas) and 4 (Mira Bai).