Hearing Guha's words about Rama, Bharata fell unconscious. Bharata eases himself thereafter and asks Guha to report further details about Rama. Guha informs that even though he offered various kinds of flood to Rama, the latter refused it. He adds that Rama Seetha and Lakshmana observed fasting for that night. Guha also informs Bharata that Lakshmana laid a bed of grass for Rama as well as Seetha to sleep thereon and Lakshmana stood guarding Rama during the night, along with Guha and his kinsmen.
Chapter [Sarga] 87 in Detail
guhasya vacanam shrutvaa bharato bhrisham apriyam |
dhyaanam jagaama tatra eva yatra tat shrutam apriyam || 2-87-1
Hearing those most disagreeable words from Guha, Bharata began to think deeply, directing his mind on Rama, of whom those unpleasant words were heard.
sukumaaro mahaa sattvah simha skandho mahaa bhujah |
pundariika vishaala akshah tarunah priya darshanah || 2-87-2
pratyaashvasya muhuurtam tu kaalam parama durmanaah |
papaata sahasaa totrair hridi viddha iva dvipah || 2-87-3
That gentle, extremely courageous and the mighty armed young prince, whose shoulders resembled a lion's his large eyes opening like a flowering lotus and having pleasing appearance, momentarily sighed and in his extreme anguish, sank to the ground suddenly like an elephant that has been wounded in the heart with goads.
bharatam murccitam drustvaa vivarnavadano guhah |
babhuuva vyathitastatra bhuumikampe yathaa drumah || 2-87-4
Seeing Bharata unconscious, Guha growing pale, shook like a tree during an earthquake.
tad avastham tu bharatam shatrughno anantara sthitah |
parishvajya ruroda uccair visamjnah shoka karshitah || 2-87-5
Shatrughna, who stood near, taking Bharata, who was in that unconscious state in his arms, becoming non-pulsed, cried loudly, overcome as he was with grief.
tatah sarvaah samaapetur maataro bharatasya taah |
upavaasa krishaa diinaa bhartri vyasana karshitaah || 2-87-6
Then, all the queens, emaciated through fasting, extremely miserable, being unable to find consolation for the sad end of their lord, rushed towards Bharata.
taah ca tam patitam bhuumau rudantyah paryavaarayan |
kausalyaa tu anusritya enam durmanaah parishasvaje || 2-87-7
All of them, sobbing, surrounded Bharata who fell on the ground. Kausalya on her part, torn with grief and bending over him, embraced him.
vatsalaa svam yathaa vatsam upaguuhya tapasvinii |
paripapragcca bharatam rudantii shoka laalasaa || 2-87-8
That affectionate Kausalya, agitated as she was with grief and looking miserable, pressing him to her bosom as a cow its own calf, questioned Bharata (in the following words)
putra vyaadhir na te kaccit shariiram paribaadhate |
adya raaja kulasya asya tvad adhiinam hi jiivitam || 2-87-9
"O, son! I hope that no ailment afflicts your body. Now, the life of this royal race is indeed dependent on you."
tvaam drishtvaa putra jiivaami raame sabhraatrike gate |
vritte dasharathe raajni naatha ekah tvam adya nah || 2-87-10
"O, son! Rama along with Lakshmana has gone to the forest. The king Dasaratha is dead. I survive, looking on you. Now, you alone are the protector for us."
kaccin na lakshmane putra shrutam te kimcid apriyam |
putra vaa hy ekaputraayaah saha bhaarye vanam gate || 2-87-11
"I hope you have not heard any unpleasant news about Lakshmana or about Rama my one and the only son who left for the forest along with his wife."
sa muhuurtam samaashvasya rudann eva mahaa yashaah |
kausalyaam parisaantvya idam guham vacanam abraviit || 2-87-12
Bharata of great renown, easing himself well within a moment, consoled Kausalya and while still weeping, spoke to Guha (as follows)
bhraataa me kva avasad raatrim kva siitaa kva ca lakshmanah |
asvapat shayane kasmin kim bhuktvaa guha shamsa me || 2-87-13
"O, Guha! Tell me where did Rama my brother as also Seetha and Lakshmana halt in the night? On what couch and eating what, did he repose?
so abraviid bharatam prishto nishaada adhipatir guhah |
yad vidham pratipede ca raame priya hite atithau || 2-87-14
Guha, the Lord of Nishadas, thrilling with rapture, spoke to Bharata about the manner in which he made arrangements for (feeding and reposing) his beloved and kind guest, Rama.
annam ucca avacam bhakshyaah phalaani vividhaani ca |
raamaaya abhyavahaara artham bahu ca upahritam mayaa || 2-87-15
"Various kinds of food and drink and different varieties of fruits were brought repeatedly by me to the presence of Rama for the purpose of his consumption."
tat sarvam pratyanujnaasiid raamah satya paraakramah |
na hi tat pratyagrihnaat sa kshatra dharmam anusmaran || 2-87-16
Rama, the truly courageous man, refused all of them. Reminding himself of his warrior's statute, he could not accept it.
na hy asmaabhih pratigraahyam sakhe deyam tu sarvadaa |
iti tena vayam raajann anuniitaa mahaatmanaa || 2-87-17
"O, Bharata! We were pacified by that high-souled Rama by saying thus: ' O, friend! We are not allowed to receive anything we must always be givers."
lakshmanena samaaniitam piitvaa vaari mahaa yashaah |
aupavaasyam tadaa akaarshiid raaghavah saha siitayaa || 2-87-18
"Rama, of great glory, then along with Seetha drank the water brought by Lakshman as observed fasting."
tatah tu jala sheshena lakshmano apy akarot tadaa |
vaag yataah te trayah samdhyaam upaasata samaahitaah || 2-87-19
"Thereafter Lakshmana also drank the left-over water and those three practiced silence together in that evening-twilight.
saumitrih tu tatah pashcaad akarot svaastaram shubham |
svayam aaniiya barhiimshi kshipram raaghava kaaranaat || 2-87-20
"Lakshmana then personally brought a layer of Kusa grass and arranged a fittingly nice bed with it for Rama immediately."
tasmin samaavishad raamah svaastare saha siitayaa |
prakshaalya ca tayoh paadaau apacakraama lakshmanah || 2-87-21
"Rama, along with Seetha, settled down on that bed. After washing their feet, Lakshmana went away to a distance."
etat tad ingudii muulam idam eva ca tat trinam |
yasmin raamah ca siitaa ca raatrim taam shayitaau ubhau || 2-87-22
"Here at this fort of Ingndi Tree, on just this grass, on which both Rama and Seetha slept that night."
niyamya prishthe tu tala angulitravaan |
sharaih supuurnaau ishudhii param tapah |
mahad dhanuh sajyam upohya lakshmano |
nishaam atishthat parito asya kevalam || 2-87-23
"Lakshmana, the scourge of his foe, wearing a glove of Goha skin, strapping two quivers full of arrows on either side of his back and wielding a great stringed bow, remained on his part walking round Rama during that night."
tatah tu aham ca uttama baana caapadhrik |
sthito abhavam tatra sa yatra lakshmanah |
atandribhir jnaatibhir aatta kaarmukair |
mahaa indra kalpam paripaalayamh tadaa || 2-87-24
"Wearing excellent arrows and a bow along with my vigilant kinsmen carrying their bows, I on my part remained near Lakshmana, who was guarding Rama who vied with Indra the Lord of celestials."
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande saptaashiititamah sargah
Thus completes 87th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate