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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 79: Guha accepts Bharata’s purpose

Summary. Bharata denies seeking Rāma’s death and asks the way to Bharadvāja, Guha offers guides and praises his refusal of the Kingdom

Sequence

  1. Bharata thanks Guha for offering to feed such a large company (2.79.1–3)
  2. he asks the way to Bharadvāja's hermitage → Guha offers guides and his own assistance (2.79.4–6)
  3. he then asks directly whether the army is intended against Rāma (2.79.7)
  4. Bharata denies it: Rāma is his elder and like a father, and he has come only to bring him home (2.79.8–10)
  5. relieved, Guha praises his willingness to surrender an unasked-for Kingdom (2.79.11–13)
  6. after settling the camp, Bharata retires with Śatrughna (2.79.14–15)
  7. thoughts of Rāma's hardship overwhelm him again, and Guha returns to comfort him. (2.79.16–21)

Verses 2.79.1–21

2.79.1

evam uktas tu bharato niṣādādhipatiṃ guham
pratyuvāca mahāprājño vākyaṃ hetvarthasaṃhitam

Thus addressed, the greatly wise Bharata replied to Guha, the lord of the Niṣādas, with words full of reason and meaning:

Words: evam uktas — thus addressed; tu — and; bharato — Bharata; niṣādādhipatiṃ — to the lord of the Niṣādas; guham — Guha; pratyuvāca — replied; mahāprājño — the greatly wise; vākyaṃ — words; hetvarthasaṃhitam — full of reason and meaning

2.79.2

ūrjitaḥ khalu te kāmaḥ kṛto mama guroḥ sakhe
yo me tvam īdṛśīṃ senām eko 'bhyarcitum icchasi

A great favour, indeed, have you done me, O friend of my father, in that you alone wish to entertain such an army of mine.

Words: ūrjitaḥ — mighty, great; khalu — indeed; te — your; kāmaḥ — wish, favour; kṛto — done; mama guroḥ — of my elder (father); sakhe — O friend; yo — who; me — for me, my; tvam — you; īdṛśīṃ — such; senām — army; eko — alone; 'bhyarcitum — to entertain, honor; icchasi — you wish

2.79.3

ity uktvā tu mahātejā guhaṃ vacanam uttamam
abravīd bharataḥ śrīmān niṣādādhipatiṃ punaḥ

Having spoken thus, the illustrious Bharata of great splendour again addressed excellent words to Guha, the lord of the Niṣādas:

Words: ity uktvā — having spoken thus; tu — and; mahātejā — of great splendour; guhaṃ — to Guha; vacanam uttamam — excellent words; abravīd — said; bharataḥ — Bharata; śrīmān — illustrious; niṣādādhipatiṃ — to the lord of the Niṣādas; punaḥ — again

2.79.4

katareṇa gamiṣyāmi bharadvājāśramaṃ guha
gahano 'yaṃ bhṛśaṃ deśo gaṅgānūpo duratyayaḥ

By which road shall I go to Bharadvāja's hermitage, O Guha? This region is exceedingly dense, and the Gaṅgā's marshy bank hard to cross.

Words: katareṇa — by which (of the two); gamiṣyāmi — shall I go; bharadvājāśramaṃ — to Bharadvāja's hermitage; guha — O Guha; gahano — dense, impenetrable; 'yaṃ — this; bhṛśaṃ — exceedingly; deśo — region; gaṅgānūpo — the Gaṅgā's marshy bank; duratyayaḥ — hard to cross

2.79.5

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rājaputrasya dhīmataḥ
abravīt prāñjalir vākyaṃ guho gahanagocaraḥ

Hearing that speech of the wise prince, Guha, a ranger of the wilds, spoke with joined palms:

Words: tasya — of him, his; tadvacanaṃ — that speech; śrutvā — having heard; rājaputrasya — of the prince; dhīmataḥ — of the wise one; abravīt — spoke; prāñjalir — with joined palms; vākyaṃ — words; guho — Guha; gahanagocaraḥ — a ranger of the wilds

2.79.6

dāśās tv anugamiṣyanti dhanvinaḥ susamāhitāḥ
ahaṃ cānugamiṣyāmi rājaputra mahāyaśaḥ

The fishermen, archers well-arrayed, will accompany you, and I too will follow, O illustrious prince.

Words: dāśās — the fishermen; tv — indeed; anugamiṣyanti — will follow; dhanvinaḥ — archers; susamāhitāḥ — well-arrayed, attentive; ahaṃ — I; cānugamiṣyāmi — and will follow; rājaputra — O prince; mahāyaśaḥ — O illustrious one

2.79.7

kaccin na duṣṭo vrajasi rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ
iyaṃ te mahatī senā śaṅkāṃ janayatīva me

Surely you do not march with ill intent against Rāma of untiring deeds? This great army of yours rouses, as it were, a misgiving in me.

Words: kaccin — surely (not)?; na — not; duṣṭo — with evil intent; vrajasi — you go, march; rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ — against Rāma of untiring deeds; iyaṃ — this; te — your; mahatī — great; senā — army; śaṅkāṃ — misgiving, doubt; janayatīva — rouses, as it were; me — in me

2.79.8

tam evam abhibhāṣantam ākāśa iva nirmalaḥ
bharataḥ ślakṣṇayā vācā guhaṃ vacanam abravīt

To him who spoke thus, Bharata, pure as the cloudless sky, replied to Guha in a gentle voice:

Words: tam — to him; evam — thus; abhibhāṣantam — speaking; ākāśa iva — like the sky; nirmalaḥ — spotless, pure; bharataḥ — Bharata; ślakṣṇayā — gentle, soft; vācā — with a voice; guhaṃ — to Guha; vacanam — these words; abravīt — spoke

2.79.9

mā bhūt sa kālo yat kaṣṭaṃ na māṃ śaṅkitum arhasi
rāghavaḥ sa hi me bhrātā jyeṣṭhaḥ pitṛsamo mama

May that dreadful time never come; you ought not to suspect me. For that Rāghava is my elder brother, like a father to me.

Words: mā bhūt — let it never be; sa kālo — that (evil) time; yat — which (would be); kaṣṭaṃ — calamitous, grievous; na — not; māṃ — me; śaṅkitum — to suspect; arhasi — you ought; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; sa hi — he indeed; me — my; bhrātā — brother; jyeṣṭhaḥ — eldest; pitṛsamo — like a father; mama — to me

2.79.10

taṃ nivartayituṃ yāmi kākutsthaṃ vanavāsinam
buddhir anyā na te kāryā guha satyaṃ bravīmi te

I go to bring back Kākutstha, who dwells in the forest; you must form no other notion, Guha — I tell you the truth.

Words: taṃ — him; nivartayituṃ — to bring back; yāmi — I go; kākutsthaṃ — Kākutstha (Rāma); vanavāsinam — forest-dweller; buddhir anyā — another notion; na te kāryā — must not be formed by you; guha — O Guha; satyaṃ — the truth; bravīmi — I tell; te — to you

2.79.11

sa tu saṃhṛṣṭavadanaḥ śrutvā bharatabhāṣitam
punar evābravīd vākyaṃ bharataṃ prati harṣitaḥ

He, his face lit with delight on hearing Bharata's words, again, joyfully, addressed Bharata:

Words: sa — he; tu — and; saṃhṛṣṭavadanaḥ — with delighted face; śrutvā — having heard; bharatabhāṣitam — Bharata's speech; punar — again; evābravīd — spoke; vākyaṃ — words; bharataṃ prati — to Bharata; harṣitaḥ — delighted

2.79.12

dhanyas tvaṃ na tvayā tulyaṃ paśyāmi jagatītale
ayatnād āgataṃ rājyaṃ yas tvaṃ tyaktum ihecchasi

Blessed are you; I see none equal to you on the face of the earth — you who wish to renounce a kingdom that has come to you without effort.

Words: dhanyas — blessed; tvaṃ — you; na tvayā tulyaṃ — no equal to you; paśyāmi — I see; jagatītale — on the face of the earth; ayatnād — without effort; āgataṃ — come; rājyaṃ — a kingdom; yas — you who; tvaṃ — you; tyaktum — to renounce; ihecchasi — here wish

2.79.13

śāśvatī khalu te kīrtir lokān anucariṣyati
yas tvaṃ kṛcchragataṃ rāmaṃ pratyānayitum icchasi

Everlasting, surely, will be your fame, ranging through the worlds — you who wish to bring back Rāma, fallen into hardship.

Words: śāśvatī — everlasting; khalu — surely, indeed; te — your; kīrtir — fame; lokān — through the worlds; anucariṣyati — will range, pervade; yas — you who; tvaṃ — you; kṛcchragataṃ — fallen into hardship; rāmaṃ — Rāma; pratyānayitum — to bring back; icchasi — you wish

2.79.14

evaṃ saṃbhāṣamāṇasya guhasya bharataṃ tadā
babhau naṣṭaprabhaḥ sūryo rajanī cābhyavartata

As Guha was conversing thus with Bharata, the sun grew dim and set, and night came on.

Words: evaṃ — thus; saṃbhāṣamāṇasya — as (he) was conversing; guhasya — of Guha; bharataṃ — with Bharata; tadā — then; babhau — appeared, shone; naṣṭaprabhaḥ — with its radiance lost, dimmed; sūryo — the sun; rajanī — night; cābhyavartata — and came on

2.79.15

saṃniveśya sa tāṃ senāṃ guhena paritoṣitaḥ
śatrughnena saha śrīmāñ śayanaṃ punar āgamat

Having settled that army to rest, and gratified by Guha, the illustrious Bharata, together with Śatrughna, went again to his couch.

Words: saṃniveśya — having settled to rest; sa — he; tāṃ senāṃ — that army; guhena — by Guha; paritoṣitaḥ — gratified, pleased; śatrughnena saha — together with Śatrughna; śrīmāñ — the illustrious; śayanaṃ — to his couch, bed; punar — again; āgamat — went, came

2.79.16

rāmacintāmayaḥ śoko bharatasya mahātmanaḥ
upasthito hy anarhasya dharmaprekṣasya tādṛśaḥ

Such a grief, made of anxious thought for Rāma, befell the great-souled Bharata, who looked ever to dharma and did not deserve it.

Words: rāmacintāmayaḥ — made of anxious thought for Rāma; śoko — grief; bharatasya — of Bharata; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; upasthito — befell, came upon; hy — indeed; anarhasya — undeserving (of it); dharmaprekṣasya — who looks to dharma; tādṛśaḥ — such

2.79.17

antardāhena dahanaḥ saṃtāpayati rāghavam
vanadāhābhisaṃtaptaṃ gūḍho 'gnir iva pādapam

That burning grief, with its inner fire, tormented Bharata, as a hidden fire torments a tree already scorched by a forest-blaze.

Words: antardāhena — with an inner burning; dahanaḥ — the burning (fire of grief); saṃtāpayati — torments, scorches; rāghavam — the Rāghava (Bharata); vanadāhābhisaṃtaptaṃ — scorched by a forest-fire; gūḍho — hidden; 'gnir — fire; iva — like; pādapam — a tree

2.79.18

prasrutaḥ sarvagātrebhyaḥ svedaḥ śokāgnisaṃbhavaḥ
yathā sūryāṃśusaṃtapto himavān prasruto himam

Sweat, born of the fire of grief, streamed from all his limbs, as Himavat, heated by the sun's rays, streams down its melting snow.

Words: prasrutaḥ — streamed forth; sarvagātrebhyaḥ — from all his limbs; svedaḥ — sweat; śokāgnisaṃbhavaḥ — born of the fire of grief; yathā — just as; sūryāṃśusaṃtapto — heated by the sun's rays; himavān — Himavat (the Himalaya); prasruto — streams down; himam — snow

2.79.19

dhyānanirdaraśailena viniḥśvasitadhātunā
dainyapādapasaṃghena śokāyāsādhiśṛṅgiṇā

By a mountain whose caverns were his brooding, whose ores were his deep sighs, whose clustering trees were his despondency, and whose lofty peaks were his grief and weariness —

Words: dhyānanirdaraśailena — by the mountain whose caverns are brooding; viniḥśvasitadhātunā — whose ores are deep sighs; dainyapādapasaṃghena — whose thickets of trees are despondency; śokāyāsādhiśṛṅgiṇā — whose towering peaks are grief and toil

2.79.20

pramohānantasattvena saṃtāpauṣadhiveṇunā
ākrānto duḥkhaśailena mahatā kaikayīsutaḥ

its numberless beasts his spells of delusion, its herbs and bamboos his torments: by this great mountain of sorrow was the son of Kaikeyī overwhelmed.

Words: pramohānantasattvena — whose numberless beasts are fits of swooning; saṃtāpauṣadhiveṇunā — whose herbs and bamboos are torments; ākrānto — overwhelmed, overcome; duḥkhaśailena — by a mountain of sorrow; mahatā — great; kaikayīsutaḥ — the son of Kaikeyī

2.79.21

guhena sārdhaṃ bharataḥ samāgato mahānubhāvaḥ sajanaḥ samāhitaḥ
sudurmanās taṃ bharataṃ tadā punar guhaḥ samāśvāsayad agrajaṃ prati

The noble-minded Bharata, composed and attended by his people, had met with Guha; yet, seeing him utterly disconsolate, Guha then once more consoled that Bharata concerning his elder brother.

Words: guhena sārdhaṃ — together with Guha; bharataḥ — Bharata; samāgato — having met; mahānubhāvaḥ — the noble-minded; sajanaḥ — with his people; samāhitaḥ — composed; sudurmanās — very disconsolate; taṃ bharataṃ — that Bharata; tadā — then; punar — again; guhaḥ — Guha; samāśvāsayad — consoled; agrajaṃ prati — concerning his elder brother

← 2.78 Guha prepares to resist Bharata · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.80 Guha recounts Lakṣmaṇa’s vigil →

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.

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