# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 44 — Guha welcomes Rāma at the Gaṅgā *Rāma declines food and beds, asks for fodder for the horses and sleeps on the ground with Sītā after taking water* Portion: The river journey to Citrakūṭa · Verses: 27 · Ref format: 2.44. ## Sequence - At Śṛṅgaverapura, Rāma reaches the Gaṅgā and chooses a large iṅgudī tree near the river as their resting place (44.1–5) - they get down from the chariot, and Sumantra unhitches the horses (44.6–8) - Guha, the local Niṣāda ruler and Rāma's close friend, hears of their arrival and comes with his ministers and relatives (44.9–11) - he embraces Rāma and offers him his land, food, comfortable beds, and service as freely as if this were Ayodhyā (44.12–15) - Rāma warmly thanks him but explains that his new way of life requires forest food and the discipline of tapas (44.16–20) - he asks only that Daśaratha's horses be fed, and Guha immediately arranges it (44.20–23) - after evening worship, Rāma takes water and lies on the ground with Sītā → Lakṣmaṇa tends him, then keeps watch with Guha and Sumantra (44.24–27). ## Verses **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. **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. **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, **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.' **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.' **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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?' **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: **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.' **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.' **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, **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: **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?' **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.' **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.' **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.' **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.' **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.' **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. **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. **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. **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.