June 22 - Sargas 49 and 50 of Ayodhya Kanda.
As they cross rivers, many thoughts of Ayodhya cross Sri Rama's mind. They arrive at the bank of the holy Ganga and are received by Guha, the king of hunters.
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Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita travelled through many charming regions and villages of Kosala desha (another name for Ayodhya kingdom). They heard people discussing how a lust-besotted king Dasharatha had relinquished his great son with no justification at all. What an evil woman was Kaikeyi. And so on.
Although steered by swift horses, their passage appeared to be slow as their thoughts were not so happy.
They travelled southward and crossed Vedashruti, Gomati and Syandika rivers. Many forests, paddy cultivation fields, orchards and grasslands greeted them. And they reached the bank of the river Ganga.
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Valmiki is excited to describe the Ganga. There are more than a dozen verses of charming poetry. A sample:
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देवसङ्घाप्लुतजलां निर्मलोत्पलसंकुलाम् ।
क्वचिदाभोगपुलिनां क्वचिन्निरमलवालुकाम् ॥
हंससारससंघुष्टां चक्रवाकोपशोभिताम् ।
सदामत्तैश्च विहगैरभिपन्नामनिनदिताम् ॥
क्वचित् तीररुहैर्वृक्षैर्मालाभिरिव शौभिताम् ।
क्वचित् फुल्लोत्पलच्छन्नां क्वचिद्पद्मवनाकुलाम् ॥
Sri Rama saw the Ganga, the holy river in which gods bathed, with many blue lilies. She flowed with banks at places curved, and in some places filled with white sand.
She was resounding with the calls of swans and cranes, and shone with many chakravakas (ruddy geese). All the birds that thronged the Ganga seemed in inebriated ecstasy. Ganga, the holy river, was their home!
At places there were flowering trees on her banks looking like her garlands. At many places she sported many lilies and large lotuses too.
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Rama decided to rest for the night. He pointed to a large almond tree full of rich foliage and flowers. Rama told Lakshmana and Sumantra that they will rest there for the night. He said what a great fortune was theirs as they would be watching the holy Ganga, revered by gods, demons, and all other beings.
As they were preparing to encamp there for the night, they saw the local king of hunters, Guha, at a distance. He had come with his ministers and soldiers. Sri Rama and Lakshmana went to him and greeted him. Guha was overwhelmed. He was keenly aware of the tragic circumstances of Rama's exile. He prayed that his kingdom was Rama's and Rama should happily stay there and rule this land. He arranged for a dainty dinner of many delicacies to be brought at once. See Rama's response:
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पद्भ्यामभिगमाच्चैव स्नेहसंदर्शनेन च ।
भुजाभ्यां साधुवृत्ताभ्यां पीडयन् वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥
दिष्ट्या त्वां गुह पश्यामि ह्यरोगं सह बान्धवैः ।
अपि ते कुशलं राष्ट्रे मित्रेषु च वनेषु च ॥
यत् त्विदं भवता किञ्चित् प्रीत्या समुपकल्पितम् ।
सर्वं तदनुजानामि नहि वर्ते प्रतिगर्हे ॥
कुशचीराजिनधरं फलमूलाशनं च माम् ।
विद्धि प्रणिहितं धर्मे तापसं वनगोचरम् ॥
अश्वानां खादनेनाहमर्थी नान्येन केनचित् ।
एतावतात्र भवता भविष्यामि सुपूजितः ॥
Sri Rama embraced Guha tightly and spoke thus:"By your coming on foot to receive us, and offering such affectionate reception, we are most pleased."
"I am very happy to see that by fortunate circumstances, you are healthy and surrounded by near and dear ones. I can see your kingdom is prosperous with well-wishers and also well provided for by the forest.
"Whatever dainty food and other things that you have so hospitably offered, I most thankfully accept. I am sorry we cannot consume any of this so I am returning them to you. Kindly accept them.
"You see, I am foresworn to live in the forest wearing barks and leaves and skins. I am to eat only roots and fruits. That is the Dharma I have to follow living in the forest as a tapas.
"Therefore, dear Guha, I request you to feed my horses pulling the chariot here. I ask for nothing else. That kind hospitality will please me."
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Guha did what was requested. Rama said his evening Sandhya prayers, and ate whatever roots and fruits Lakshmana had gathered. Then they retired for the night.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
