July 10 - Sargas 85 and 86 of Ayodhya Kanda.
Guha makes sure of Bharata's intentions, and showers praise on him for not taking over the kingdom given to him on a silver platter, citing pure reasons of Dharma.
Guha then narrates Lakshmana's woeful words during the night earlier as they kept vigil together watching over Sri Rama and Sita as they rested under the tree after meeting Guha.
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Bharata shows great appreciation for Guha's hospitality extended readily to his very large army. Then he requests Guha that they be shown the way to reach sage Bharadwaja's ashram after crossing the Ganga.
Guha says that it can be done without any difficulty. But he comes straight to the point:
कच्चिन्न दुष्टो व्रजसि रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः ।
इयं ते महती सेना शङ्कां जनयतीव मे ॥
तमेवाभिभाषन्तमाकाश इव निर्मलः ।
भरतः श्लक्ष्णया वाचा गुहं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥
मा भूत् स कालो यत् कष्टं न मां शङ्कितुमर्हसि ।
राघवः स हि मे भ्राता ज्येष्टो पितृसमो मतः ॥
तं निर्वर्तयितुं यामि काकुत्स्थं वनवासिनम् ।
बुद्धिरन्या न मे कार्या गुह स्त्यं ब्रवीमि ते ॥
Guha asks Bharata, "I hope you do not perchance have any evil designs in your going to meet Sri Rama? Do you intend to hurt him who is so assiduous in carrying out his duties? I am asking, because you have brought this huge army! That naturally raises such doubts!"
To this, Bharata, whose mind is as clear as a cloudless sky, replies in gentle words:
" May such a bad time never come, oh Guha, when you need to suspect my motives. I look upon my elder brother Sri Rama as my father himself.
"I am on my way as I am determined to bring back Sri Rama from his exile in the forest. I speak truthfully, please don't suspect that I have any other thoughts."
Guha feels relieved and glad that Sri Rama will not be put to more trouble. He is also mightily impressed by the righteous nature of Bharata, who is turning down kingship offered on a platter.
शाश्वती खलु ते कीर्तिर्लोकाननुचरिष्यति ।
यस्त्वं कृच्छ्रगतं रामं प्रत्यानयितुमिच्छसि ॥
"Dear Bharata, your nobility will be extolled far and wide as long as mankind exists, given that you intend to relieve Sri Rama from his extremely difficult situation in the forest and take him back to Ayodhya."
***
Then Guha narrates how Lakshmana stayed up all night keeping vigil on that night when Sri Rama and Sita slept under the tree after arriving at the bank of Ganga. Guha assured Lakshmana that he and his forces could deal with any attack from even a large army and they would stay up and guard them,
so Lakshmana may please retire and sleep in the comfortable bed they had set up for him. But Lakshmana said he would not be able to get a wink of sleep seeing Sri Rama and Sita lying down on bare ground. Sri Rama was the mightiest warrior and the rightful heir to the Ayodhya throne. But look at what he was facing now!
Lakshmana had said how Dasharatha and Kausalya were bound to give up their lives after Sri Rama's exile.
जटाधरौ तौ द्रुमचीरवाससौ
महाबलौ कुञ्जरयूथपोममौ ।
वरेषुचापासिधरौ परंतपौ
व्यपेक्षमाणौ सह सीतया गतौ ॥
"Dear Bharata, the image is imprinted on my mind of the two brothers, wearing matted locks, clad in tree barks and leaves, looking so mighty in valour, and resembling two king elephants.
They carried their glorious bows, arrows and swords. They looked capable of dealing with any enemy. They kept looking back alertly as they went away with Sita. "
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
