Valmiki Ramayana 2.85.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 3

भरत-गुहसंवादः

Bharata and Guha: Trust, Hospitality, and the Burden of Grief

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा तु महातेजा गुहं वचनमुत्तमम्।अब्रवीद्भरत श्श्रीमाननिषादाधिपतिं पुनः।।2.85.3।।

Transliteration

ity uktvā tu mahātejā guhaṃ vacanam uttamam |

abravīd bharataḥ śrīmān aniṣādādhipatiṃ punaḥ || 2.85.3 ||

Translation

فلما قال ذلك، خاطب بهاراتا ذو البهاء غُها بكلامٍ كريم، ثم عاد فكلّم سيدَ النِّشادات مرةً أخرى.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• तु: then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा+तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘भरतः’

• गुहम्: Guha
• गुहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्तमम्: excellent/courteous
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘वचनम्’

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रीमान्: illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘भरतः’

• निषादाधिपतिम्: the Niṣāda chief
• निषादाधिपतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निषाद+अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘again’)

Context

Having spoken to Guha courteously, the majestic, radiant Bharata continued:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Guha
• Niṣādas

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma as maryādā: even in distress, Bharata maintains respectful speech and proper conduct toward an ally-king, reflecting truthful and disciplined leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration transitions into Bharata’s next question to Guha as he continues the journey to locate Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courtesy under pressure—Bharata’s nobility is shown through controlled, respectful address.