Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 50 of 119 · 51 verses
Farewell to Ayodhya; Guha
Having passed through the broad, lovely land of Kosala, wise Rama turns toward Ayodhya and, with joined palms, says: “I take leave of you, best of cities, protected by Kakutstha, and of the deities who guard you and live in you. When my forest life is over and I am free of debt to the lord of the world, I will see you again, together with my mother and father.” Then, his eyes red, raising his right arm, his face full of tears, he says to the country people: “You have shown me compassion and kindness as is fitting. Prolonging sorrow is the worst sin; go and see to your affairs.” They salute the great soul, walk around him, and stand here and there lamenting terribly, and while they still have not had enough of seeing him, Raghava passes beyond their sight like the sun at nightfall.
The tiger among men drives through Kosala, through prosperous lands full of grain and wealth, of generous people, safe, lovely, with shrines and sacrificial posts, mango groves and full reservoirs, well-fed people and herds of cattle, worthy of kings and ringing with the chanting of the Veda. Then he sees the divine Ganga flowing in three paths, with auspicious water and no moss, frequented by sages, adorned with hermitages, visited by apsarases, gods, danavas, gandharvas, kinnaras and naga women, full of the gods’ pleasure grounds; laughing with the crash of its waters and its pure foam; sometimes braided, sometimes swirling, sometimes still and deep, sometimes rushing; sometimes roaring deeply, sometimes terribly; bathed in by hosts of gods, adorned with clear lotuses, with broad sandbanks and pure sand; echoing with swans, cranes and chakravakas; garlanded with trees on its banks, covered here with blooming water lilies, there with lotus forests; dusted with pollen as if intoxicated; clear as a jewel; resounding with elephants of the quarters and wild elephants; adorned like a woman with the finest ornaments, with fruits, flowers, buds, bushes and birds; home to dolphins, crocodiles and snakes; fallen from Vishnu’s foot and from Shankara’s matted hair by the ocean’s power, the ocean’s queen. The mighty-armed one reaches it near Shringaverapura.
Seeing the river with its waves and whirlpools, he says to Sumantra: “Let us stay here today. Not far from the river is a great ingudi tree, full of flowers and shoots; let us stay right here, charioteer, and see the best of rivers, honoured by gods, danavas, gandharvas, beasts, men and birds.” Lakshmana and Sumantra agree and drive the horses to the ingudi tree, where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana get down. Sumantra unyokes the horses and stands with joined palms before Rama at the tree’s foot. There lives the king named Guha, Rama’s friend, dear as himself, of Nishada birth, mighty, known as a chieftain. Hearing that Rama has come to his land, he comes with his elders, ministers and kin. Rama, with Saumitri, goes to meet the Nishada lord. Guha, distressed, embraces Raghava and says: “This place is yours as much as Ayodhya, Rama; what can I do for you? Who could ever have so dear a guest?” He brings good food of many kinds and the guest offering and says: “Welcome, mighty-armed one; this whole land is yours. We are your servants, you our master; rule our kingdom well. Here are foods to eat, to chew, to drink and to lick, fine beds and fodder for your horses.” To Guha Raghava replies: “We are honoured and delighted by you in every way, by your coming on foot and showing your love.” Embracing him warmly with his well-rounded arms, he says: “By good fortune I see you, Guha, well, with your kin. Is all well in your kingdom, with your friends and your wealth? All that you have prepared for me with love, I accept in spirit, but I may not take gifts. Know me as one wearing kusha, bark and deerskin, living on fruit and roots, devoted to dharma, an ascetic roaming the forest. I need only fodder for the horses, nothing else; with that you will have honoured me well. These horses are dear to my father King Dasharatha; if they are well cared for, I will be honoured.” Guha orders his men to give water and fodder to the horses at once. Rama, wearing bark as his upper garment, performs the evening twilight worship and takes only water as food, which Lakshmana himself brings. Lakshmana washes the feet of Rama, lying on the ground with his wife, and then stands leaning against a tree. Guha too, with the charioteer, talking with Saumitri, keeps watch over Rama all night, alert, bow in hand. So, as the glorious, wise, great-souled son of Dasharatha lies there, who has never known sorrow and is used to comfort, the night passes, slowly.
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विशालान्कोसलान्रम्यान्यात्वा लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः । अयोध्याभिमुखो धीमान्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
Having travelled through the broad, lovely Kosalas, Lakshmana’s elder brother, wise, facing Ayodhya, said with joined palms:
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Farewell to Ayodhya; Guha 1 min read.
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आपृच्छे त्वां पुरीश्रेष्ठे काकुत्स्थपरिपालिते । दैवतानि च यानि त्वां पालयन्त्यावसन्ति च ॥ २ ॥
“I take leave of you, best of cities, protected by Kakutstha, and of the deities who protect you and live in you.
निवृत्तवनवासस्त्वामनृणो जगतीपतेः । पुनर्द्रक्ष्यामि मात्रा च पित्रा च सह संगतः ॥ ३ ॥
“When my forest life has ended and I am free of debt to the lord of the world, I will see you again, together with my mother and father.”
ततो रुधिरताम्राक्षो भुजमुद्यम्य दक्षिणम् । अश्रुपूर्णमुखो दीनोऽब्रवीज्जानपदं जनम् ॥ ४ ॥
Then, his eyes red as blood, raising his right arm, his face full of tears, wretched, he said to the country people:
अनुक्रोशो दया चैव यथार्हं मयि वः कृतः । चिरं दुःखस्य पापीयो गम्यतामर्थसिद्धये ॥ ५ ॥
“You have shown me compassion and kindness, as is fitting. Prolonging sorrow is the most sinful thing; go, for the success of your affairs.”
तेऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम् । विलपन्तो नरा घोरं व्यतिष्ठन्त क्वचित्क्वचित् ॥ ६ ॥
Saluting the great soul and walking around him in reverence, the men stood here and there, lamenting terribly.
तथा विलपतां तेषामतृप्तानां च राघवः । अचक्षुर्विषयं प्रायाद्यथार्कः क्षणदामुखे ॥ ७ ॥
While they were still lamenting and not satisfied, Raghava went beyond the reach of their eyes, like the sun at the coming of night.
ततो धान्यधनोपेतान्दानशीलजनाञ्छिवान् । अकुतश्चिद्भयान्रम्यांश्चैत्ययूपसमावृतान् ॥ ८ ॥
उद्यानाम्रवणोपेतान् सम्पन्नसलिलाशयान् । तुष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णान्गोकुलाकुलसेवितान् ॥ ९ ॥
लक्षणीयान्नरेन्द्राणां ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादितान् । रथेन पुरुषव्याघ्रः कोसलानत्यवर्तत ॥ १० ॥
Then, by chariot, the tiger among men passed through the Kosalas, prosperous with grain and wealth, their people generous and auspicious, with no fear from anywhere, lovely, covered with shrines and sacrificial posts, with gardens and mango groves, with full reservoirs, crowded with contented, well-fed people, frequented by herds of cattle, worthy of kings, resounding with the chanting of the Veda.
मध्येन मुदितं स्फीतं रम्योद्यानसमाकुलम् । राज्यं भोग्यं नरेन्द्राणां ययौ धृतिमतां वरः ॥ ११ ॥
Through the middle of that joyful, prosperous kingdom, full of lovely gardens, fit for kings to enjoy, went the best of the steadfast.
तत्र त्रिपथगां दिव्यां शिवतोयामशैवलाम् । ददर्श राघवो गङ्गां पुण्यामृषिनिसेविताम् ॥ १२ ॥
There Raghava saw the divine Ganga flowing in three paths, with auspicious water and no moss, holy, frequented by sages,
आश्रमैरविदूरस्थैः श्रीमद्भिः समलंकृताम् । कालेऽप्सरोभिर्हृष्टाभिः सेविताम्भोह्रदां शिवाम् ॥ १३ ॥
adorned with splendid hermitages standing not far off, its pools frequented at times by delighted apsarases, auspicious,
देवदानवगन्धर्वैः किन्नरैरुपशोभिताम् । नागगन्धर्वपत्नीभिः सेवितां सततं शिवाम् ॥ १४ ॥
adorned with gods, danavas, gandharvas and kinnaras, always frequented by the wives of nagas and gandharvas, auspicious,
देवाक्रीडशताकीर्णाम् देवोद्यानशतायुताम् । देवार्थमाकाशगमां विख्यातां देवपद्मिनीम् ॥ १५ ॥
full of hundreds of the gods’ pleasure grounds and hundreds of divine gardens, flowing in the sky for the gods’ sake, famous as the lotus pool of the gods;
जलाघाताट्टहासोग्रां फेननिर्मलहासिनीम् । क्वचिद्वेणीकृतजलां क्वचिदावर्तशोभिताम् ॥ १६ ॥
fierce with the loud laughter of its crashing waters, laughing with pure foam, here with braided water, there adorned with whirlpools,
क्वचित्स्तिमितगम्भीरां क्वचिद्वेगजलाकुलाम् । क्वचिद्गम्भीरनिर्घोषां क्वचिद्भैरवनिस्वनाम् ॥ १७ ॥
here still and deep, there turbulent with rushing water, here deeply roaring, there with a terrifying sound,
देवसंघाप्लुतजलां निर्मलोत्पलशोभिताम् । क्वचिदाभोगपुलिनां क्वचिन्निर्मलवालुकाम् ॥ १८ ॥
its waters bathed in by hosts of gods, adorned with clear lotuses, here with broad sandbanks, there with pure sand,
हंससारससंघुष्टां चक्रवाकोपकूजिताम् । सदा मत्तैश्च विहगैरभिसंनादितान्तराम् ॥ १९ ॥
echoing with swans and cranes, sung to by chakravakas, resounding always with birds in their excitement;
क्वचित्तीररुहैर्वृक्षैर्मालाभिरिव शोभिताम् । क्वचित्फुल्लोत्पलच्छन्नां क्वचित्पद्मवनाकुलाम् ॥ २० ॥
here adorned by trees growing on its banks like garlands, there covered with blooming water lilies, there crowded with lotus forests,
क्वचित्कुमुदष्ण्डैश्च कुड्मलैरुपशोभिताम् । नानापुष्परजोध्वस्तां समदामिव च क्वचित् ॥ २१ ॥
here adorned with clusters of night lotuses and buds, here as if intoxicated, dusted with the pollen of many flowers;
व्यपेतमलसंघातां मणिनिर्मलदर्शनाम् । दिशागजैर्वनगजैर्मत्तैश्च वरवारणैः ॥ २२ ॥
देवोपवाह्यैश्च मुहुः संनादितवनान्तराम् । प्रमदामिव यत्नेन भूषितां भूषणोत्तमैः ॥ २३ ॥
free of any mass of impurity, clear as a jewel to look at, its forest borders resounding again and again with the elephants of the quarters, wild elephants, fine rutting tuskers and the elephants that carry the gods; like a young woman carefully adorned with the finest ornaments;
फलैः पुष्पैः किसलयैर्वृतां गुल्मैर्द्विजैस्तथा । शिंशुमारैश्च नक्रैश्च भुजंगैश्च निषेविताम् ॥ २४ ॥
covered with fruits, flowers, shoots, bushes and birds, frequented by dolphins, crocodiles and snakes;
विष्णुपादच्युतां दिव्यामपापां पापनाशिनीम् । तां शङ्करजटाजूटाद्भ्रष्टां सागरतेजसा ॥ २५ ॥
समुद्रमहिषीं गङ्गां सारसक्रौञ्चनादिताम् । आससाद महाबाहुः शृङ्गवेरपुरं प्रति ॥ २६ ॥
fallen from Vishnu’s foot, divine, sinless, destroying sin, dropped from Shankara’s matted locks by the ocean’s power: that Ganga, queen of the ocean, echoing with cranes and krauncha birds, the mighty-armed one reached near Shringaverapura.
तामूर्मिकलिलावर्तामन्ववेक्ष्य महारथः । सुमन्त्रमब्रवीत्सूतमिहैवाद्य वसामहे ॥ २७ ॥
Looking at it, with its waves and whirlpools, the great chariot-warrior said to Sumantra the charioteer: “Let us stay right here today.
अविदूरादयं नद्या बहुपुष्पप्रवालवान् । सुमहानिङ्गुदीवृक्षो वसामोऽत्रैव सारथे ॥ २८ ॥
“Not far from the river is this very great ingudi tree, full of flowers and shoots; let us stay right here, charioteer.
द्रक्ष्यामः सरितां श्रेष्ठां सम्मान्यसलिलां शिवाम् । देवदानवगन्धर्वमृगमानुषपक्षिणाम् ॥ २९ ॥
“We will look at the best of rivers, its waters honoured by gods, danavas, gandharvas, beasts, men and birds, auspicious.”
लक्ष्मणश्च सुमन्त्रश्च बाढमित्येव राघवम् । उक्त्वा तमिङ्गुदीवृक्षं तदोपययतुर्हयैः ॥ ३० ॥
Lakshmana and Sumantra, saying “Very well” to Raghava, then drove up to that ingudi tree with the horses.
रामोऽभियाय तं रम्यं वृक्षमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः । रथादवातरत्तस्मात्सभार्यः सहलक्ष्मणः ॥ ३१ ॥
Reaching that lovely tree, Rama, delight of the Ikshvakus, got down from the chariot with his wife and Lakshmana.
सुमन्त्रोऽप्यवतीर्य एवमोचयित्वा हयोत्तमान् । वृक्षमूलगतं राममुपतस्थे कृताञ्जलिः ॥ ३२ ॥
Sumantra too got down, unyoked the fine horses, and stood with joined palms before Rama at the foot of the tree.
तत्र राजा गुहो नाम रामस्यात्मसमः सखा । निषादजात्यो बलवान्स्थपतिश्चेति विश्रुतः ॥ ३३ ॥
There was a king there named Guha, Rama’s friend, dear as himself, of Nishada birth, mighty, known as a chieftain.
स श्रुत्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रं रामं विषयमागतम् । वृद्धैः परिवृतोऽमात्यैर्ज्ञातिभिश्चाप्युपागतः ॥ ३४ ॥
Hearing that Rama, the tiger among men, had come to his land, he came surrounded by his elders, ministers and kinsmen.
ततो निषादाधिपतिं दृष्ट्वा दूरादुपस्थितम् । सह सौमित्रिणा रामः समागच्छद्गुहेन सः ॥ ३५ ॥
Seeing the lord of the Nishadas approaching from a distance, Rama with Saumitri went to meet Guha.
तमार्तः सम्परिष्वज्य गुहो राघवमब्रवीत् । यथायोध्या तथेदं ते राम किं करवाणि ते ॥ ३६ ॥
Distressed, Guha embraced Raghava and said: “As Ayodhya is yours, so is this, Rama. What may I do for you?
ईदृशं हि महाबाहो कः प्राप्स्यत्यतिथिं प्रियम् । ततो गुणवदन्नाद्यमुपादाय पृथग्विधम् । अर्घ्यं चोपानयत्क्षिप्रं वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ॥ ३७ ॥
“Who will get so dear a guest, mighty-armed one?” Then, bringing good food of many kinds, he quickly brought the guest offering and said this:
स्वागतं ते महाबाहो तवेयमखिला मही । वयं प्रेष्या भवान्भर्ता साधु राज्यं प्रशाधि नः ॥ ३८ ॥
“Welcome, mighty-armed one; this whole land is yours. We are servants, you are the master; rule our kingdom well.
भक्ष्यं भोज्यं च पेयं च लेह्यं चेदमुपस्थितम् । शयनानि च मुख्यानि वाजिनां खादनं च ते ॥ ३९ ॥
“Here are foods to eat, to enjoy, to drink and to lick, and the best beds, and fodder for your horses.”
गुहमेवं ब्रुवाणं तु राघवः प्रत्युवाच ह ॥ ४० ॥
To Guha speaking so, Raghava replied:
अर्चिताश्चैव हृष्टाश्च भवता सर्वथा वयम् । पद्भ्यामभिगमाच्चैव स्नेहसंदर्शनेन च ॥ ४१ ॥
“We are honoured and delighted by you in every way, by your coming on foot and by your showing of love.”
भुजाभ्यां साधुवृत्ताभ्यां पीडयन्वाक्यमब्रवीत् । दिष्ट्या त्वां गुह पश्यामि ह्यरोगं सह बान्धवैः ॥ ४२ ॥
Pressing him with his well-rounded arms, he said: “By good fortune I see you, Guha, well, with your kin.
अपि ते कुशलं राष्ट्रे मित्रेषु च धनेषु च । यत्त्विदं भवता किंचित्प्रीत्या समुपकल्पितम् । सर्वं तदनुजानामि नहि वर्ते प्रतिग्रहे ॥ ४३ ॥
“Is all well in your kingdom, with your friends and your wealth? All that you have prepared with love, I accept, but I do not live by receiving gifts.
कुशचीराजिनधरं फलमूलाशनं च माम् । विद्धि प्रणिहितं धर्मे तापसं वनगोचरम् ॥ ४४ ॥
“Know me as one wearing kusha, bark and deerskin, eating fruit and roots, devoted to dharma, an ascetic roaming the forest.
अश्वानां खादनेनाहमर्थी नान्येन केनचित् । एतावतात्र भवता भविष्यामि सुपूजितः ॥ ४५ ॥
“I have need only of fodder for the horses, nothing else. With that much here I shall be well honoured by you.
एते हि दयिता राज्ञः पितुर्दशरथस्य मे । एतैः सुविहितैरश्वैर्भविष्याम्यहमर्चितः ॥ ४६ ॥
“For these are dear to my father, King Dasharatha; by these horses being well cared for, I shall be honoured.”
अश्वानां प्रतिपानं च खादनं चैव सोऽन्वशात् । गुहस्तत्रैव पुरुषांस्त्वरितं दीयतामिति ॥ ४७ ॥
Guha ordered his men right there to give the horses water and fodder quickly: “Let it be given.”
ततश्चीरोत्तरासङ्गः संध्यामन्वास्य पश्चिमाम् । जलमेवाददे भोज्यं लक्ष्मणेनाहृतं स्वयम् ॥ ४८ ॥
Then, wearing bark as an upper garment, having worshipped the western twilight, he took only water as food, brought by Lakshmana himself.
तस्य भूमौ शयानस्य पादौ प्रक्षाल्य लक्ष्मणः । सभार्यस्य ततोऽभ्येत्य तस्थौ वृक्षमुपाश्रितः ॥ ४९ ॥
Lakshmana washed the feet of him lying on the ground with his wife, and then came and stood leaning against a tree.
गुहोऽपि सह सूतेन सौमित्रिमनुभाषयन् । अन्वजाग्रत्ततो राममप्रमत्तो धनुर्धरः ॥ ५० ॥
Guha too, with the charioteer, talking with Saumitri, watched over Rama, alert, bow in hand.
तथा शयानस्य ततोऽस्य धीमतो यशस्विनो दाशरथेर्महात्मनः । अदृष्टदुःखस्य सुखोचितस्य सा तदा व्यतीयाय चिरेण शर्वरी ॥ ५१ ॥
So, as the wise, glorious, great-souled son of Dasharatha lay there, who had not seen sorrow and was used to comfort, the night passed then, slowly.