Manbodh Jha is remembered above all for his Haribans (Krishna-charit) — a long narrative poem retelling the life and play of Krishna in flowing Maithili verse. Composed for recitation and song rather than for the scholar’s shelf, it carried the devotional story into village courtyards and made him one of the best-loved poets of the post-Vidyapati age.
He is part of the line of Maithili poets — Vidyapati, Govindadas, Chanda Jha, Manbodh — who, century by century, kept the language alive as a vehicle of devotion and storytelling for ordinary people.