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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 78: Guha prepares to resist Bharata

Summary. Seeing the army, he readies five hundred armed boats to protect Rāma and approaches Bharata to learn his intentions

Sequence

  1. Guha sees the immense force beside the Gaṅgā and cannot determine its full extent (2.78.1–2)
  2. recognizing Bharata's banner, he fears an attack on his people or an attempt to kill Rāma (2.78.3–4)
  3. he orders his men to guard the river for Rāma's protection (2.78.5–6)
  4. five hundred boats are readied with armed crews, but he says the army may cross if Bharata's intentions prove peaceful (2.78.7–8)
  5. carrying gifts of food, Guha approaches the prince → Sumantra introduces him as Rāma's friend and someone who can help locate the travelers (2.78.9–12)
  6. Bharata admits him, and Guha offers hospitality and supplies for the army's overnight stay. (2.78.13–17)

Verses 2.78.1–17

2.78.1

tato niviṣṭāṃ dhvajinīṃ gaṅgām anvāśritāṃ nadīm
niṣādarājo dṛṣṭvaiva jñātīn saṃtvarito 'bravīt

Then the Niṣāda king, seeing the army encamped along the river Gaṅgā, hurriedly said to his kinsmen:

Words: tato — then; niviṣṭāṃ — encamped; dhvajinīṃ — the army (banner-bearing host); gaṅgām anvāśritāṃ — stationed along the Gaṅgā; nadīm — river; niṣādarājo — the Niṣāda king; dṛṣṭvaiva — as soon as he saw; jñātīn — to his kinsmen; saṃtvarito — hurriedly; 'bravīt — said

2.78.2

mahatīyam ataḥ senā sāgarābhā pradṛśyate
nāsyāntam avagacchāmi manasāpi vicintayan

This great army, looking like the ocean, appears before us; even pondering it in my mind, I cannot make out its end.

Words: mahatīyam — this great; ataḥ — here, from this; senā — army; sāgarābhā — resembling the ocean; pradṛśyate — is seen, appears; nāsyāntam — not its end; avagacchāmi — I make out, comprehend; manasāpi — even with the mind; vicintayan — pondering

2.78.3

sa eṣa hi mahākāyaḥ kovidāradhvajo rathe
bandhayiṣyati vā dāśān atha vāsmān vadhiṣyati

This very man of huge frame, with the kovidāra tree for his banner on his chariot, will either put us fishermen in chains or else slay us.

Words: sa eṣa hi — this very one; mahākāyaḥ — of huge frame; kovidāradhvajo — having the kovidāra tree as his banner; rathe — on his chariot; bandhayiṣyati — will bind, put in chains; vā — either; dāśān — the fishermen; atha — or; vāsmān — or else us; vadhiṣyati — will slay

2.78.4

atha dāśarathiṃ rāmaṃ pitrā rājyād vivāsitam
bharataḥ kaikeyīputro hantuṃ samadhigacchati

Or else Bharata, son of Kaikeyī, is coming to kill Rāma, Daśaratha's son, banished from the kingdom by his father.

Words: atha — or, moreover; dāśarathiṃ — the son of Daśaratha; rāmaṃ — Rāma; pitrā — by his father; rājyād — from the kingdom; vivāsitam — banished, exiled; bharataḥ — Bharata; kaikeyīputro — son of Kaikeyī; hantuṃ — to kill; samadhigacchati — is coming, approaches

2.78.5

bhartā caiva sakhā caiva rāmo dāśarathir mama
tasyārthakāmāḥ saṃnaddhā gaṅgānūpe 'tra tiṣṭhata

Rāma, son of Daśaratha, is both my lord and my friend; desiring his welfare, stand here armed on the bank of the Gaṅgā.

Words: bhartā caiva — both lord; sakhā caiva — and friend; rāmo — Rāma; dāśarathir — son of Daśaratha; mama — my, to me; tasyārthakāmāḥ — desiring his welfare; saṃnaddhā — armed, girded; gaṅgānūpe — on the bank of the Gaṅgā; 'tra — here; tiṣṭhata — stand, take your posts

2.78.6

tiṣṭhantu sarvadāśāś ca gaṅgām anvāśritā nadīm
balayuktā nadīrakṣā māṃsamūlaphalāśanāḥ

Let all the fishermen, stationed along the river Gaṅgā, provided with a force and living on meat, roots, and fruit, stand as guardians of the river.

Words: tiṣṭhantu — let them stand; sarvadāśāś ca — and all the fishermen; gaṅgām anvāśritā — stationed along the Gaṅgā; nadīm — river; balayuktā — provided with a force; nadīrakṣā — guardians of the river; māṃsamūlaphalāśanāḥ — living on meat, roots, and fruit

2.78.7

nāvāṃ śatānāṃ pañcānāṃ kaivartānāṃ śataṃ śatam
saṃnaddhānāṃ tathā yūnāṃ tiṣṭhantv atyabhyacodayat

'Let a hundred fishermen man each of five hundred boats — young men girded for battle — and stand ready,' he urged insistently.

Words: nāvāṃ — of boats; śatānāṃ pañcānāṃ — of five hundred; kaivartānāṃ — of fishermen; śataṃ śatam — a hundred to each; saṃnaddhānāṃ — of (those) girded, armed; tathā — and; yūnāṃ — of young men; tiṣṭhantv — let them stand; atyabhyacodayat — he vehemently urged

2.78.8

yadā tuṣṭas tu bharato rāmasyeha bhaviṣyati
seyaṃ svastimayī senā gaṅgām adya tariṣyati

But when Bharata's intent toward Rāma proves benign, then this army, wishing no harm, may cross the Gaṅgā today.

Words: yadā — when; tuṣṭas — well-disposed, satisfied; tu — but; bharato — Bharata; rāmasyeha — toward Rāma here; bhaviṣyati — will be; seyaṃ — this very; svastimayī — wishing well, benign; senā — army; gaṅgām — the Gaṅgā; adya — today; tariṣyati — will cross

2.78.9

ity uktvopāyanaṃ gṛhya matsyamāṃsamadhūni ca
abhicakrāma bharataṃ niṣādādhipatir guhaḥ

Having spoken thus and taken a gift — fish, meat, and honey — Guha, the lord of the Niṣādas, approached Bharata.

Words: ity — thus; uktvopāyanaṃ — having spoken, a gift; gṛhya — having taken; matsyamāṃsamadhūni ca — fish, meat, and honey; abhicakrāma — approached; bharataṃ — Bharata; niṣādādhipatir — the lord of the Niṣādas; guhaḥ — Guha

2.78.10

tam āyāntaṃ tu saṃprekṣya sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
bharatāyācacakṣe 'tha vinayajño vinītavat

Seeing him approach, the mighty son of the charioteer (Sumantra), knowing propriety, then respectfully announced to Bharata:

Words: tam āyāntaṃ — him approaching; tu — and; saṃprekṣya — having seen; sūtaputraḥ — the charioteer's son (Sumantra); pratāpavān — mighty, majestic; bharatāyācacakṣe — announced to Bharata; 'tha — then; vinayajño — knowing propriety; vinītavat — respectfully, humbly

2.78.11

eṣa jñātisahasreṇa sthapatiḥ parivāritaḥ
kuśalo daṇḍakāraṇye vṛddho bhrātuś ca te sakhā

This chieftain, surrounded by a thousand kinsmen, well-acquainted with the Daṇḍaka forest, an elder, is the friend of your brother.

Words: eṣa — this; jñātisahasreṇa — by a thousand kinsmen; sthapatiḥ — the chieftain, headman; parivāritaḥ — surrounded; kuśalo — skilled, well-acquainted; daṇḍakāraṇye — with the Daṇḍaka forest; vṛddho — aged, an elder; bhrātuś — of your brother; ca — and; te — your; sakhā — friend

2.78.12

tasmāt paśyatu kākutstha tvāṃ niṣādādhipo guhaḥ
asaṃśayaṃ vijānīte yatra tau rāmalakṣmaṇau

Therefore, O Kākutstha, let Guha, the lord of the Niṣādas, have audience with you; without doubt he knows where Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are.

Words: tasmāt — therefore; paśyatu — let (him) see, have audience; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; tvāṃ — you; niṣādādhipo — the lord of the Niṣādas; guhaḥ — Guha; asaṃśayaṃ — without doubt; vijānīte — he knows; yatra — where; tau — those two; rāmalakṣmaṇau — Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

2.78.13

etat tu vacanaṃ śrutvā sumantrād bharataḥ śubham
uvāca vacanaṃ śīghraṃ guhaḥ paśyatu mām iti

Hearing these good words from Sumantra, Bharata quickly said, 'Let Guha come to see me.'

Words: etat — these; tu — and; vacanaṃ — words; śrutvā — having heard; sumantrād — from Sumantra; bharataḥ — Bharata; śubham — good, auspicious; uvāca — said; vacanaṃ — these words; śīghraṃ — quickly; guhaḥ — Guha; paśyatu — let (him) see; mām — me; iti — thus

2.78.14

labdhvābhyanujñāṃ saṃhṛṣṭo jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ
āgamya bharataṃ prahvo guho vacanam abravīit

Having obtained leave, delighted and surrounded by his kinsmen, Guha came to Bharata and, bowing low, spoke these words:

Words: labdhvābhyanujñāṃ — having obtained permission; saṃhṛṣṭo — delighted; jñātibhiḥ — by his kinsmen; parivāritaḥ — surrounded; āgamya — having come; bharataṃ — to Bharata; prahvo — bowing, humble; guho — Guha; vacanam — these words; abravīit — spoke

2.78.15

niṣkuṭaś caiva deśo 'yaṃ vañcitāś cāpi te vayam
nivedayāmas te sarve svake dāśakule vasa

This region is your own pleasure-grove, and we too are yours to command; we all offer ourselves to you — dwell here in our fishermen's home.

Words: niṣkuṭaś — a pleasure-grove; caiva — and; deśo — region; 'yaṃ — this; vañcitāś — devoted, at your disposal; cāpi — and too; te — yours; vayam — we; nivedayāmas — we offer, present; te — to you; sarve — all; svake — in our own; dāśakule — fishermen's household; vasa — dwell

2.78.16

asti mūlaṃ phalaṃ caiva niṣādaiḥ samupāhṛtam
ārdraṃ ca māṃsaṃ śuṣkaṃ ca vanyaṃ coccāvacaṃ mahat

There are roots and fruit, gathered by the Niṣādas, and meat both fresh and dried, and abundant forest fare of every kind.

Words: asti — there is; mūlaṃ — root; phalaṃ caiva — and fruit; niṣādaiḥ — by the Niṣādas; samupāhṛtam — gathered, brought; ārdraṃ ca — and fresh (meat); māṃsaṃ — meat; śuṣkaṃ ca — and dried; vanyaṃ — forest-produce; coccāvacaṃ — and of every kind; mahat — great, abundant

2.78.17

āśaṃse svāśitā senā vatsyatīmāṃ vibhāvarīm
arcito vividhaiḥ kāmaiḥ śvaḥ sasainyo gamiṣyasi

I trust the army, well-fed, will pass this night here; honored with all manner of comforts, you will proceed tomorrow with your army.

Words: āśaṃse — I trust, hope; svāśitā — well-fed; senā — the army; vatsyatīmāṃ — will pass this; vibhāvarīm — night; arcito — honored; vividhaiḥ kāmaiḥ — with various comforts; śvaḥ — tomorrow; sasainyo — with your army; gamiṣyasi — you will go, proceed

← 2.77 Bharata’s march to the Gaṅgā · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.79 Guha accepts Bharata’s purpose →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. 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/2/78.md · JSON: /data/2/78.json