Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 87, Shloka 3
गुहसंवादः—रामस्य रात्रिवासवर्णनम्
Dialogue with Guha: Account of Rama’s Night Halt
सुकुमारो महासत्त्वस्सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः।पुण्डरीकविशालाक्ष स्तरुणः प्रियदर्शनः।।2.87.2।।प्रत्याश्वस्य मुहूर्तं तु कालं परमदुर्मनाः।पपात सहसा तोत्रैर्ह्यतिविद्ध इव द्विपः।।2.87.3।।
sukumāro mahāsattvaḥ siṃhaskandho mahābhujaḥ |
puṇḍarīkaviśālākṣas taruṇaḥ priyadarśanaḥ ||
pratyāśvasya muhūrtaṃ tu kālaṃ paramadurmanāḥ |
papāta sahasā totrair hy atividdha iva dvipaḥ ||
Bharata—delicate yet mighty in spirit, broad-shouldered like a lion, strong-armed, lotus-wide-eyed, youthful and pleasing to behold—revived for a moment; then, his mind overwhelmed with grief, he suddenly fell, like an elephant struck hard by a goad.
Lakshmana, the scorcher of enemies, wearing protective covering for his palms and fingers (made of goha-skin), strapping on his back two quivers filled with arrows,holding a great bow, strung ready, stood sentinel throughout the night guarding the surrounding.
FAQs
The verse shows the human cost of dharma: even the virtuous are shaken by sorrow when duty and family rupture collide.
Bharata briefly regains composure but collapses again under intense grief.
Bharata’s sensitivity and sincerity—his grief underscores his deep moral involvement and love for Rāma.