# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 78 — Guha prepares to resist Bharata

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

Portion: Guha and the Gaṅgā crossing · Verses: 17 · Ref format: 2.78.<verse>

## Sequence

- Guha sees the immense force beside the Gaṅgā and cannot determine its full extent (78.1–2)
- recognizing Bharata's banner, he fears an attack on his people or an attempt to kill Rāma (78.3–4)
- he orders his men to guard the river for Rāma's protection (78.5–6)
- five hundred boats are readied with armed crews, but he says the army may cross if Bharata's intentions prove peaceful (78.7–8)
- carrying gifts of food, Guha approaches the prince → Sumantra introduces him as Rāma's friend and someone who can help locate the travelers (78.9–12)
- Bharata admits him, and Guha offers hospitality and supplies for the army's overnight stay (78.13–17).

## Verses

**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:

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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:

**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.

**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.

**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.'

**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:

**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.

**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.

**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.