Valmiki Ramayana 2.85.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 4

भरत-गुहसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

कतरेण गमिष्यामि भरद्वाजाश्रमं गुह।गहनोऽयं भृशं देशो गङ्गाऽनूपो दुरत्ययः।।2.85.4।।

Transliteration

katarena gamiṣyāmi bharadvājāśramaṃ guha |

gahano 'yaṃ bhṛśaṃ deśo gaṅgānūpo duratyayaḥ || 2.85.4 ||

Translation

হে গুহ, মই কোন পথেদি ভৰদ্বাজাশ্ৰমলৈ যাম? গঙ্গাৰ জলাভূমিসদৃশ তীৰৰ এই দেশ অতি গহন আৰু অতিক্ৰম কৰাটো অতি দুৰূহ।

Word by Word

• कतरेण: by which (way)
• कतरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कतर (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (Masc./Neut.), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); प्रश्नवाचक-विशेषण

• गमिष्यामि: shall I go
• गमिष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular)

• भरद्वाजाश्रमम्: Bharadvāja’s hermitage
• भरद्वाजाश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरद्वाज+आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘of Bharadvāja’ + ‘hermitage’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुह: O Guha
• गुह: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गहनः: dense/impassable
• गहनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘देशः’

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘देशः’

• भृशम्: very much
• भृशम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘exceedingly’)

• देशः: region
• देशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गङ्गानूपः: marshy along the Ganges
• गङ्गानूपः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गङ्गा+अनूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (locative/determinative sense: ‘Ganges-bank marsh’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘देशः’

• दुरत्ययः: hard to traverse
• दुरत्ययः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्+अत्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (दुर्- ‘hard’ + ‘to cross’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘देशः’

Context

O Guha! this region of Ganga with its dense forest is very difficult to cross. How can I reach the hermitage of Bharadwaja?

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Guha
• Bharadvāja
• Gaṅgā
• Bharadvāja-āśrama

FAQs

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

Dharma includes seeking guidance from the wise: Bharata’s aim to reach Bharadvāja’s āśrama signals a commitment to righteous counsel and truthful action rather than impulsive force.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata is navigating difficult terrain near the Gaṅgā while proceeding toward sages and ultimately toward Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and humility—Bharata asks for local knowledge and guidance instead of assuming authority can overcome all obstacles.