← 2.43 Rāma crosses Kosala’s rivers · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.45 Lakṣmaṇa keeps watch beside the Gaṅgā →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 44: Guha welcomes Rāma at the Gaṅgā

Summary. Rāma declines food and beds, asks for fodder for the horses and sleeps on the ground with Sītā after taking water

Sequence

  1. At Śṛṅgaverapura, Rāma reaches the Gaṅgā and chooses a large iṅgudī tree near the river as their resting place (2.44.1–5)
  2. they get down from the chariot, and Sumantra unhitches the horses (2.44.6–8)
  3. Guha, the local Niṣāda ruler and Rāma's close friend, hears of their arrival and comes with his ministers and relatives (2.44.9–11)
  4. he embraces Rāma and offers him his land, food, comfortable beds, and service as freely as if this were Ayodhyā (2.44.12–15)
  5. Rāma warmly thanks him but explains that his new way of life requires forest food and the discipline of tapas (2.44.16–20)
  6. he asks only that Daśaratha's horses be fed, and Guha immediately arranges it (2.44.20–23)
  7. after evening worship, Rāma takes water and lies on the ground with Sītā → Lakṣmaṇa tends him, then keeps watch with Guha and Sumantra. (2.44.24–27)

Verses 2.44.1–27

2.44.1

viśālān kosalān ramyān yātvā lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ
āsasāda mahābāhuḥ śṛṅgaverapuraṃ prati

Having passed through the broad and lovely Kosala lands, the mighty-armed elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa arrived near Śṛṅgaverapura.

Words: viśālān — broad, extensive; kosalān — the Kosala lands; ramyān — lovely, pleasant; yātvā — having traveled through; lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ — the elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa; āsasāda — reached, arrived at; mahābāhuḥ — the mighty-armed one; śṛṅgaverapuraṃ — Śṛṅgaverapura; prati — toward, near

2.44.2

tatra tripathagāṃ divyāṃ śivatoyām aśaivalām
dadarśa rāghavo gaṅgāṃ puṇyām ṛṣinisevitām

There Rāghava beheld the divine, sacred Gaṅgā, flowing in three streams, with holy waters free of weeds, frequented by seers.

Words: tatra — there; tripathagāṃ — flowing in three paths; divyāṃ — divine; śivatoyām — with holy waters; aśaivalām — free of aquatic weeds; dadarśa — saw, beheld; rāghavo — Rāghava; gaṅgāṃ — the Gaṅgā; puṇyām — holy, sacred; ṛṣinisevitām — frequented by seers

2.44.3

haṃsasārasasaṃghuṣṭāṃ cakravākopakūjitām
śiṃśumaraiś ca nakraiś ca bhujaṃgaiś ca niṣevitām

resounding with geese and cranes, cooed over by cakravāka birds, and frequented by dolphins, crocodiles, and serpents,

Words: haṃsasārasasaṃghuṣṭāṃ — resounding with geese and sārasa cranes; cakravākopakūjitām — cooed over by cakravāka birds; śiṃśumaraiś ca — and by dolphins/gharials; nakraiś ca — and by crocodiles; bhujaṃgaiś ca — and by serpents; niṣevitām — frequented, resorted to

2.44.4

tām ūrmikalilāvartām anvavekṣya mahārathaḥ
sumantram abravīt sūtam ihaivādya vasāmahe

Beholding her, her whirlpools thick with waves, the great chariot-warrior said to Sumantra the charioteer: 'Right here this very day let us halt.'

Words: tām — her; ūrmikalilāvartām — with whirlpools dense with waves; anvavekṣya — having looked upon, beheld; mahārathaḥ — the great chariot-warrior; sumantram — to Sumantra; abravīt — said; sūtam — the charioteer; ihaivādya — right here today; vasāmahe — let us dwell, halt

2.44.5

avidūrād ayaṃ nadyā bahupuṣpapravālavān
sumahān iṅgudīvṛkṣo vasāmo 'traiva sārathe

'Not far from the river stands this very great iṅgudī tree, rich in flowers and shoots; let us dwell right here, O charioteer.'

Words: avidūrād — not far from; ayaṃ — this; nadyā — from the river; bahupuṣpapravālavān — rich in many flowers and shoots; sumahān — very great; iṅgudīvṛkṣo — the iṅgudī tree; vasāmo — let us dwell; 'traiva — right here; sārathe — O charioteer

2.44.6

lakṣaṇaś ca sumantraś ca bāḍham ity eva rāghavam
uktvā tam iṅgudīvṛkṣaṃ tadopayayatur hayaiḥ

Both Lakṣmaṇa and Sumantra, saying 'Very well' to Rāghava, then drove up with the horses to that iṅgudī tree.

Words: lakṣaṇaś ca — and Lakṣmaṇa; sumantraś ca — and Sumantra; bāḍham — 'very well, so be it'; ity eva — thus indeed; rāghavam — to Rāghava; uktvā — having said; tam — that; iṅgudīvṛkṣaṃ — iṅgudī tree; tadopayayatur — then the two drove up; hayaiḥ — with the horses

2.44.7

rāmo 'bhiyāya taṃ ramyaṃ vṛkṣam ikṣvākunandanaḥ
rathād avātarat tasmāt sabhāryaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ

Rāma, delight of the Ikṣvākus, approaching that lovely tree, descended from the chariot together with his wife and with Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: rāmo 'bhiyāya — Rāma, having approached; taṃ — that; ramyaṃ — lovely; vṛkṣam — tree; ikṣvākunandanaḥ — delight of the Ikṣvākus; rathād — from the chariot; avātarat — descended; tasmāt — that; sabhāryaḥ — together with his wife; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa

2.44.8

sumantro 'py avatīryaiva mocayitvā hayottamān
vṛkṣamūlagataṃ rāmam upatasthe kṛtāñjaliḥ

Sumantra too, dismounting and unyoking the excellent horses, stood with joined palms before Rāma, who had gone to the foot of the tree.

Words: sumantro 'py — Sumantra too; avatīryaiva — having dismounted; mocayitvā — having released, unyoked; hayottamān — the excellent horses; vṛkṣamūlagataṃ — gone to the foot of the tree; rāmam — Rāma; upatasthe — stood near, waited upon; kṛtāñjaliḥ — with palms joined

2.44.9

tatra rājā guho nāma rāmasyātmasamaḥ sakhā
niṣādajātyo balavān sthapatiś ceti viśrutaḥ

There was a king named Guha, a friend as dear to Rāma as his own self, of the Niṣāda caste, powerful, and renowned as a chieftain.

Words: tatra — there; rājā — a king; guho nāma — named Guha; rāmasyātmasamaḥ — equal to Rāma's own self; sakhā — friend; niṣādajātyo — of the Niṣāda caste; balavān — powerful, strong; sthapatiś ceti — and as a chieftain, so; viśrutaḥ — renowned, famed

2.44.10

sa śrutvā puruṣavyāghraṃ rāmaṃ viṣayam āgatam
vṛddhaiḥ parivṛto 'mātyair jñātibhiś cāpy upāgataḥ

He, hearing that Rāma the tiger among men had come into his domain, drew near, surrounded by his aged ministers and by his kinsmen too.

Words: sa — he; śrutvā — having heard; puruṣavyāghraṃ — the tiger among men; rāmaṃ — Rāma; viṣayam — the domain, territory; āgatam — come, arrived; vṛddhaiḥ — by the aged, the elders; parivṛto — surrounded; 'mātyair — by ministers; jñātibhiś cāpy — and by kinsmen too; upāgataḥ — approached, came near

2.44.11

tato niṣādādhipatiṃ dṛṣṭvā dūrād avasthitam
saha saumitriṇā rāmaḥ samāgacchad guhena saḥ

Then, seeing the lord of the Niṣādas standing at a distance, Rāma, together with Saumitri, went forward to meet Guha.

Words: tato — then; niṣādādhipatiṃ — the lord of the Niṣādas; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; dūrād — from afar; avasthitam — standing; saha saumitriṇā — together with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); rāmaḥ — Rāma; samāgacchad — went to meet; guhena — with Guha; saḥ — he

2.44.12

tam ārtaḥ saṃpariṣvajya guho rāghavam abravīt
yathāyodhyā tathedaṃ te rāma kiṃ karavāṇi te

Guha, deeply moved, embracing that Rāghava, said: 'As Ayodhyā, so is this place yours, Rāma. What may I do for you?'

Words: tam — him; ārtaḥ — stirred, deeply moved; saṃpariṣvajya — having embraced; guho — Guha; rāghavam — to Rāghava; abravīt — said; yathāyodhyā — as Ayodhyā; tathedaṃ — so this; te — yours; rāma — O Rāma; kiṃ — what; karavāṇi — may I do; te — for you

2.44.13

tato guṇavadannādyam upādāya pṛthagvidham
arghyaṃ copānayat kṣipraṃ vākyaṃ cedam uvāca ha

Then, taking up excellent food of various kinds, he quickly brought forward a guest-offering as well, and spoke these words:

Words: tato — then; guṇavadannādyam — excellent food and viands; upādāya — having taken up; pṛthagvidham — of various kinds; arghyaṃ — a guest-offering; copānayat — and brought forward; kṣipraṃ — quickly; vākyaṃ — words; cedam — and this; uvāca ha — spoke indeed

2.44.14

svāgataṃ te mahābāho taveyam akhilā mahī
vayaṃ preṣyā bhavān bhartā sādhu rājyaṃ praśādhi naḥ

'Welcome to you, mighty-armed one! This whole land is yours; we are your servants, you our lord — rule our kingdom well.'

Words: svāgataṃ — welcome; te — to you; mahābāho — O mighty-armed one; taveyam — this of yours; akhilā — entire, whole; mahī — land, earth; vayaṃ — we; preṣyā — servants; bhavān — you (honorific); bhartā — lord, master; sādhu — well; rājyaṃ — kingdom; praśādhi — rule, govern; naḥ — our, us

2.44.15

bhakṣyaṃ bhojyaṃ ca peyaṃ ca lehyaṃ cedam upasthitam
śayanāni ca mukhyāni vājināṃ khādanaṃ ca te

'Here is set before you food to chew, food to eat, drink, and things to lick, and fine beds, and fodder for your horses.'

Words: bhakṣyaṃ — food to chew; bhojyaṃ ca — and food to eat; peyaṃ ca — and drink; lehyaṃ — things to lick; cedam — and this; upasthitam — present, at hand; śayanāni ca — and beds; mukhyāni — excellent, first-rate; vājināṃ — of the horses; khādanaṃ ca — and fodder; te — for you

2.44.16

guham eva bruvāṇaṃ taṃ rāghavaḥ pratyuvāca ha
arcitāś caiva hṛṣṭāś ca bhavatā sarvathā vayam

To Guha as he was thus speaking Rāghava replied: 'In every way we are honoured and gladdened by you,

Words: guham — Guha; eva — indeed; bruvāṇaṃ — speaking; taṃ — him; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; pratyuvāca ha — replied indeed; arcitāś caiva — honoured and; hṛṣṭāś ca — and gladdened; bhavatā — by you; sarvathā — in every way; vayam — we

2.44.17

padbhyām abhigamāc caiva snehasaṃdarśanena ca
bhujābhyāṃ sādhuvṛttābhyāṃ pīḍayan vākyam abravīt

by your coming on foot and by your show of affection'; and, pressing him with his two shapely arms, he spoke these words:

Words: padbhyām — with both feet, on foot; abhigamāc caiva — and by (your) approach; snehasaṃdarśanena ca — and by the show of affection; bhujābhyāṃ — with both arms; sādhuvṛttābhyāṃ — shapely, well-rounded; pīḍayan — pressing, embracing; vākyam — words; abravīt — spoke

2.44.18

diṣṭyā tvāṃ guha paśyāmi arogaṃ saha bāndhavaiḥ
api te kūśalaṃ rāṣṭre mitreṣu ca dhaneṣu ca

'By good fortune I see you, Guha, in good health together with your kinsmen. Is all well with you in your realm, among your friends, and in your wealth?'

Words: diṣṭyā — by good fortune, thankfully; tvāṃ — you; guha — O Guha; paśyāmi — I see; arogaṃ — free of illness, healthy; saha bāndhavaiḥ — together with your kinsmen; api — (is it that...?); te — your; kūśalaṃ — well-being, welfare; rāṣṭre — in the realm; mitreṣu ca — and among friends; dhaneṣu ca — and in wealth

2.44.19

yat tv idaṃ bhavatā kiṃ cit prītyā samupakalpitam
sarvaṃ tad anujānāmi na hi varte pratigrahe

'But whatever has been provided here by you out of affection — all of that I gratefully decline, for I may not accept gifts.'

Words: yat tv idaṃ — but whatever this; bhavatā — by you; kiṃ cit — anything, whatsoever; prītyā — out of affection; samupakalpitam — provided, prepared; sarvaṃ — all; tad — that; anujānāmi — I decline (lit. give leave for); na hi — for not; varte — I engage, occupy myself; pratigrahe — in accepting gifts

2.44.20

kuśacīrājinadharaṃ phalamūlāśanaṃ ca mām
viddhi praṇihitaṃ dharme tāpasaṃ vanagocaram

'Know me as one clad in kuśa grass, bark, and hide, feeding on fruits and roots, intent upon dharma, an ascetic who ranges the forest.'

Words: kuśacīrājinadharaṃ — wearing kuśa grass, bark, and hide; phalamūlāśanaṃ — feeding on fruits and roots; ca — and; mām — me; viddhi — know; praṇihitaṃ — intent, devoted; dharme — upon dharma; tāpasaṃ — an ascetic; vanagocaram — ranging in the forest

2.44.21

aśvānāṃ khādanenāham arthī nānyena kena cit
etāvatātrabhavatā bhaviṣyāmi supūjitaḥ

'I have need only of fodder for the horses, of nothing else; by just this much from your honoured self I shall be well honoured.'

Words: aśvānāṃ — of the horses; khādanenāham — with fodder I; arthī — in need of, desirous; nānyena — not by any other; kena cit — anything; etāvatātrabhavatā — by just this much, by your honoured self; bhaviṣyāmi — I shall be, become; supūjitaḥ — well honoured

2.44.22

ete hi dayitā rājñaḥ pitur daśarathasya me
etaiḥ suvihitair aśvair bhaviṣyāmy aham arcitaḥ

'For these horses are dear to the king, my father Daśaratha; when these horses are well tended, I shall be honoured.'

Words: ete — these; hi — for, indeed; dayitā — dear, cherished; rājñaḥ — of the king; pitur — of the father; daśarathasya — of Daśaratha; me — my; etaiḥ — by these; suvihitair — well tended, well provided for; aśvair — horses; bhaviṣyāmy aham — I shall be; arcitaḥ — honoured

2.44.23

aśvānāṃ pratipānaṃ ca khādanaṃ caiva so 'nvaśāt
guhas tatraiva puruṣāṃs tvaritaṃ dīyatām iti

And Guha there commanded his men: 'Let drink and fodder for the horses be given quickly.'

Words: aśvānāṃ — for the horses; pratipānaṃ ca — and drink, water; khādanaṃ caiva — and fodder; so 'nvaśāt — he commanded; guhas — Guha; tatraiva — right there; puruṣāṃs — the men; tvaritaṃ — quickly; dīyatām — let it be given; iti — thus

2.44.24

tataś cīrottarāsaṅgaḥ saṃdhyām anvāsya paścimām
jalam evādade bhojyaṃ lakṣmaṇenāhṛtaṃ svayam

Then, wearing an upper garment of bark and having attended the evening twilight, he himself took only the water brought by Lakṣmaṇa as his food.

Words: tataś — then; cīrottarāsaṅgaḥ — with an upper garment of bark; saṃdhyām — the twilight; anvāsya — having attended, sat through; paścimām — western, evening; jalam evādade — took only water; bhojyaṃ — as food; lakṣmaṇenāhṛtaṃ — brought by Lakṣmaṇa; svayam — himself

2.44.25

tasya bhūmau śayānasya pādau prakṣālya lakṣmaṇaḥ
sabhāryasya tato 'bhyetya tasthau vṛkṣam upāśritaḥ

Then Lakṣmaṇa, having washed the feet of him as he lay on the ground with his wife, withdrew and stood leaning against the tree.

Words: tasya — his; bhūmau — on the ground; śayānasya — of him lying down; pādau — the two feet; prakṣālya — having washed; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; sabhāryasya — of him with his wife; tato — then; 'bhyetya — having withdrawn, gone aside; tasthau — stood; vṛkṣam — the tree; upāśritaḥ — leaning against, resting on

2.44.26

guho 'pi saha sūtena saumitrim anubhāṣayan
anvajāgrat tato rāmam apramatto dhanurdharaḥ

Guha too, along with the charioteer, conversing with Saumitri, kept watch over Rāma, vigilant and bearing his bow.

Words: guho 'pi — Guha too; saha sūtena — together with the charioteer; saumitrim — Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); anubhāṣayan — conversing with, talking to; anvajāgrat — kept watch, stayed awake; tato — then; rāmam — over Rāma; apramatto — vigilant, heedful; dhanurdharaḥ — bearing a bow

2.44.27

tathā śayānasya tato 'sya dhīmato yaśasvino dāśarather mahātmanaḥ
adṛṣṭaduḥkhasya sukhocitasya sā tadā vyatīyāya cireṇa śarvarī

And so, as that wise, illustrious, great-souled son of Daśaratha lay there — he who had never known sorrow and was fit only for comfort — that night for him wore slowly away.

Words: tathā — thus, and so; śayānasya — of him lying; tato — then; 'sya — of him; dhīmato — wise; yaśasvino — illustrious; dāśarather — of the son of Daśaratha; mahātmanaḥ — great-souled; adṛṣṭaduḥkhasya — of him who had never known sorrow; sukhocitasya — of him accustomed to comfort; sā — that (night); tadā — then; vyatīyāya — passed by, wore away; cireṇa — slowly, after a long time; śarvarī — the night

← 2.43 Rāma crosses Kosala’s rivers · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.45 Lakṣmaṇa keeps watch beside the Gaṅgā →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

Plain text: /text/2/44.md · JSON: /data/2/44.json