Guha Welcomes Bharata with Drink of Honey and Meat

ततः निविष्टाम् ध्वजिनीम् गन्गाम् अन्वाश्रिताम् नदीम् | निषाद राजो दृष्ट्वा एव ज्ञातीन् सम्त्वरितः अब्रवीत् || २-८४-१

tataH niviShTaam dhvajiniim gangaam anvaashritaam nadiim | niShaada raajo dR^iShTvaa eva GYaatiin samtvaritaH abraviit || 2-84-1

Just on seeing an army encamped and positioned along the River Ganga, Guha the king of Nishadas hastily spoke to his relatives as follows:

महती इयम् अतः सेना सागर आभा प्रदृश्यते | न अस्य अन्तम् अवगच्चामि मनसा अपि विचिन्तयन् || २-८४-२

mahatii iyam ataH senaa saagara aabhaa pradR^ishyate | na asya antam avagacchaami manasaa api vicintayan || 2-84-2

"On this side, a huge army is seen like an ocean. I am not able to comprehend the extent of this army even by my discerning mind."

यथा तु खलु दुर्भद्धिर्भरतः स्वयमागतः | स एष हि महा कायः कोविदार ध्वजो रथे || २-८४-३

yathaa tu khalu durbhaddhirbharataH svayamaagataH | sa eSha hi mahaa kaayaH kovidaara dhvajo rathe || 2-84-3

"Here is seen on that chariot, a towering banner bearing Kovidara tree and hence Bharata himself with an evil intent seems to have come."

बन्धयिष्यति वा दाशान् अथ वा अस्मान् वधिष्यति | अथ दाशरथिम् रामम् पित्रा राज्यात् विवासितम् || २-८४-४ सम्पन्नाम् श्रियमन्विच्चंस्तस्य राज्ञः सुदुर्लभाम् | भरतः कैकेयी पुत्रः हन्तुम् समधिगच्चति || २-८४-५

bandhayiShyati vaa daashaan atha vaa asmaan vadhiShyati | atha daasharathim raamam pitraa raajyaat vivaasitam || 2-84-4 sampannaam shriyamanviccha.nstasya raajJNaH sudurlabhaam | bharataH kaikeyii putraH hantum samadhigacchati || 2-84-5

"Will Bharata the son of Kaikeyi bind us with chains or slay us? Or is he coming to kill Rama, the son of Dasaratha, who was exiled from the kingdom by his father, desirous as Bharata is to get the prosperous Ayodhya kingdom, a luxury and that which is inaccessible to another?"

भर्ता चैव सखा चैव रामः दाशरथिर् मम | तस्य अर्थ कामाः सम्नद्धा गन्गा अनूपे अत्र तिष्ठत || २-८४-६

tiShThantu sarva daashaaH ca gangaam anvaashritaa nadiim | bala yuktaa nadii rakShaa maa.nsa muula phala ashanaaH || 2-84-7

"Rama the son of Dasaratha is my Lord and my companion too. Hence you, covered with armor, be stationed on this bank of Ganga River, desiring to advance the interest of Rama."

तिष्ठन्तु सर्व दाशाः च गन्गाम् अन्वाश्रिता नदीम् | बल युक्ता नदी रक्षा मांस मूल फल अशनाः || २-८४-७

naavaam shataanaam pancaanaam kaivartaanaam shatam shatam | samnaddhaanaam tathaa yuunaam tiShThantu atyabhyacodayat || 2-84-8

"Let all our ferrymen guarding the river, along with the troops, eating meat roots and fruits ( in their boats), stay positioned along the River Ganga."

नावाम् शतानाम् पन्चानाम् कैवर्तानाम् शतम् शतम् | सम्नद्धानाम् तथा यूनाम् तिष्ठन्तु अत्यभ्यचोदयत् || २-८४-८

yadaa tuShTaH tu bharataH raamasya iha bhaviShyati | saa iyam svastimayii senaa gangaam adya tariShyati || 2-84-9

"Let five hundred boats, each manner by a hundred youthful ferrymen, be stationed and made ready" -thus announced Guha.

यदा तुष्टः तु भरतः रामस्य इह भविष्यति | सा इयम् स्वस्तिमयी सेना गन्गाम् अद्य तरिष्यति || २-८४-९

iti uktvaa upaayanam gR^ihya matsya maa.nsa madhuuni ca | abhicakraama bharatam niShaada adhipatir guhaH || 2-84-10

"If Bharata is favourably disposed now towards Rama, then only his army may (be allowed to) cross the River Ganga in safety."

इति उक्त्वा उपायनम् गृह्य मत्स्य मांस मधूनि च | अभिचक्राम भरतम् निषाद अधिपतिर् गुहः || २-८४-१०

tam aayaantam tu samprekShya suuta putraH prataapavaan | bharataaya aacacakShe atha vinayaGYo viniitavat || 2-84-11

After uttering thus, Guha the king of Nishadas took fish, meat and honey as an offering and approached Bharata.

तम् आयान्तम् तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य सूत पुत्रः प्रतापवान् | भरताय आचचक्षे अथ विनयज्ञो विनीतवत् || २-८४-११

eSha GYaati sahasreNa sthapatiH parivaaritaH | kushalo daNDaka araNye vR^iddho bhraatuH ca te sakhaa || 2-84-12

Seeing him approach, Sumantra the charioteer, a majestic man who knows the rules of discipline, humbly told Bharata as follows:

एष ज्ञाति सहस्रेण स्थपतिः परिवारितः | कुशलो दण्डक अरण्ये वृद्धो भ्रातुः च ते सखा || २-८४-१२

tasmaat pashyatu kaakutstha tvaam niShaada adhipo guhaH | asa.nshayam vijaaniite yatra tau raama lakShmaNau || 2-84-13

"This Lord who is surrounded by a thousand of his own people, is fully acquainted with the forest of Dandaka and also an old friend of your elder brother."

तस्मात् पश्यतु काकुत्स्थ त्वाम् निषाद अधिपो गुहः | असंशयम् विजानीते यत्र तौ राम लक्ष्मणौ || २-८४-१३

etat tu vacanam shrutvaa sumantraat bharataH shubham | uvaaca vacanam shiighram guhaH pashyatu maam iti || 2-84-14

"O, Bharata! For that reason, let Guha the king of Nishadas see you. He knows surely where those two Rama and Lakshmana - are stationed."

एतत् तु वचनम् श्रुत्वा सुमन्त्रात् भरतः शुभम् | उवाच वचनम् शीघ्रम् गुहः पश्यतु माम् इति || २-८४-१४

labdhvaa abhyanuGYaam samhR^iShTaH GYaatibhiH parivaaritaH | aagamya bharatam prahvo guho vacanam abraviiit || 2-84-15

Hearing the auspicious words of Sumantra, Bharata answered, "Introduce Guha to me without delay."

लब्ध्वा अभ्यनुज्ञाम् सम्हृष्टः ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः | आगम्य भरतम् प्रह्वो गुहो वचनम् अब्रवीइत् || २-८४-१५

niShkuTaH caiva desho ayam vancitaaH ca api te vayam | nivedayaamaH te sarve svake daasha kule vasa || 2-84-16

Having obtained permission, Guha along with his own people, joyfully and humbly approached Bharata and spoke as follows:

निष्कुटः चैव देशो अयम् वन्चिताः च अपि ते वयम् | निवेदयामः ते सर्वे स्वके दाश कुले वस || २-८४-१६

asti muulam phalam caiva niShaadaiH samupaahR^itam | aardram ca maa.nsam shuShkam ca vanyam ca ucca avacam mahat || 2-84-17

"This place is like a pleasure-grove near your house. We are your subjects and are reporting to you as such. Stay in this servant's house."

अस्ति मूलम् फलम् चैव निषादैः समुपाहृतम् | आर्द्रम् च मांसम् शुष्कम् च वन्यम् च उच्च अवचम् महत् || २-८४-१७

aasha.nse svaashitaa senaa vatsyati imaam vibhaavariim | arcitaH vividhaiH kaamaiH shvaH sasainyo gamiShyasi || 2-84-18

"Here are the roots and fruits gathered by my tribe as well as fresh and dried meat of great quality and of various kinds, and all a produce of the forest."

आशंसे स्वाशिता सेना वत्स्यति इमाम् विभावरीम् | अर्चितः विविधैः कामैः श्वः ससैन्यो गमिष्यसि || २-८४-१८

"I hope the army, after eating well, can halt for the night here. Furnished with all you could desire, you can continue your journey tomorrow along with your troops."