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

भरत-गुहसंवादः

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

Setting: Gaṅgā riverbank near Śṛṅgaverapura (Guha’s domain)Places named: Śṛṅgaverapura, GaṅgāBharata seeking route onward toward Bharadvāja’s āśrama

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा तु महातेजा गुहं वचनमुत्तमम् ।

अब्रवीद्भरत श्श्रीमाननिषादाधिपतिं पुनः ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.85.3

Transliteration

ity uktvā tu mahātejā guhaṃ vacanam uttamam |

abravīd bharataḥ śrīmān aniṣādādhipatiṃ punaḥ ||3||

Translation

এইদৰে উত্তম বাক্য কৈ মহাতেজস্বী শ্ৰীমান ভৰত গুহক সম্বোধন কৰি পুনৰ নিষাদাধিপতিক ক’লে।

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Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sandhi Notes

• इत्युक्त्वा = इति + उक्त्वा
• वचनमुत्तमम् = वचनम् + उत्तमम्
• अब्रवीद्भरतः = अब्रवीत् + भरतः

Context

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

The teaching

Even in urgency, dharmic action begins with respectful speech and honoring local authority.

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / sadācāra

For your practice

Practice of vāg-saṃyama (disciplined speech) and humility in seeking guidance.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Courteous, measured, purposeful

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Polity and respect
• Maryādā (propriety)
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

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.