The king of Nishada tribe asks his relative to guard the river bank and get ready for a battle, if necessary, with Bharata. Then, Guha approaches Bharata with a welcome-drink of honey, meat and fish. He asks Bharata with his army to accept his hospitality.
Chapter [Sarga] 84 in Detail
tatah nivistaam dhvajiniim gangaam anvaashritaam nadiim |
nisaada raajo dristvaa eva jnaatiin 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:
mahatii iyam atah senaa saagara aabhaa pradrishyate |
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.”
yathaa tu khalu durbhaddhirbharatah svayamaagatah |
sa esa 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.”
bandhayisyati vaa daashaan atha vaa asmaan vadhisyati |
atha daasharathim raamam pitraa raajyaat vivaasitam || 2-84-4
sampannaam shriyamanvicchamstasya 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?”
bhartaa caiva sakhaa caiva raamah daasharathir mama |
tasya artha kaamaah samnaddhaa gangaa anuupe atra tisthata || 2-84-6
“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.”
tisthantu sarva daashaah ca gangaam anvaashritaa nadiim |
bala yuktaa nadii raksaa maamsa muula phala ashanaah || 2-84-7
“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.”
naavaam shataanaam pancaanaam kaivartaanaam shatam shatam |
samnaddhaanaam tathaa yuunaam tisthantu atyabhyacodayat || 2-84-8
“Let five hundred boats, each manner by a hundred youthful ferrymen, be stationed and made ready” –thus announced Guha.
yadaa tustah tu bharatah raamasya iha bhavisyati |
saa iyam svastimayii senaa gangaam adya tarisyati || 2-84-9
“If Bharata is favorably disposed now towards Rama, then only his army may (be allowed to) cross the River Ganga in safety.”
iti uktvaa upaayanam grihya matsya maamsa madhuuni ca |
abhicakraama bharatam nisaada adhipatir guhah || 2-84-10
After uttering thus, Guha the king of Nishadas took fish, meat and honey as an offering and approached Bharata.
tam aayaantam tu sampreksya suuta putrah prataapavaan |
bharataaya aacacakse atha vinayajno viniitavat || 2-84-11
Seeing him approach, Sumantra the charioteer, a majestic man who knows the rules of discipline, humbly told Bharata as follows:
esa jnaati sahasrena sthapatih parivaaritah |
kushalo dandaka aranye vriddho bhraatuh ca te sakhaa || 2-84-12
“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.”
tasmaat pashyatu kaakutstha tvaam nisaada adhipo guhah |
asamshayam vijaaniite yatra tau raama laksmanau || 2-84-13
“O, Bharata! For that reason, let Guha the king of Nishadas see you. He knows surely where those two Rama and Lakshmana – are stationed.”
etat tu vacanam shrutvaa sumantraat bharatah shubham |
uvaaca vacanam shiighram guhah pashyatu maam iti || 2-84-14
Hearing the auspicious words of Sumantra, Bharata answered, “Introduce Guha to me without delay.”
labdhvaa abhyanujnaam samhristah jnaatibhih parivaaritah |
aagamya bharatam prahvo guho vacanam abraviiit || 2-84-15
Having obtained permission, Guha along with his own people, joyfully and humbly approached Bharata and spoke as follows:
niskutah caiva desho ayam vancitaah ca api te vayam |
nivedayaamah te sarve svake daasha kule vasa || 2-84-16
“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.”
asti muulam phalam caiva nisaadaih samupaahritam |
aardram ca maamsam shuskam ca vanyam ca ucca avacam mahat || 2-84-17
“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.”
aashamse svaashitaa senaa vatsyati imaam vibhaavariim |
arcitah vividhaih kaamaih shvah sasainyo gamisyasi || 2-84-18
“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.”
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande caturashiititamah sargah
Thus completes 84th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate