Shloka 2.84.4
गुहस्य सन्देहः, गङ्गातीर-रक्षा, भरतस्य सत्कारः (Guha’s Suspicion, Securing the Ganga Bank, and Hospitality to Bharata)
बन्धयिष्यति वा दाशानथवाऽस्मान्वधिष्यति।अथ दाशरथिं रामं पित्रा राज्याद्विवासितम्।।।।सम्पन्नां श्रियमन्विच्छन्स्तस्य राज्ञ स्सुदुर्लभाम्।भरतः कैकयीपुत्रो हन्तुं समधिगच्छति।।।।
bandhayiṣyati vā dāśān athavā ’smān vadhiṣyati |
atha dāśarathiṃ rāmaṃ pitrā rājyād vivāsitam ||
Will he bind the fishermen with cords—or will he even slay us? Or has he come to strike at Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, whom his father has banished from the kingdom?
Could it be that Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, has come here to bind us with the cords or to slay us? Or is he marching forward with the intention of taking possession of a prosperous, rare kingdom by slaying Rama who has been banished by his father:
Dharma appears as protective loyalty toward the unjustly exiled: Guha is prepared to defend Rāma and his people against possible oppression.
Seeing the army, Guha imagines worst-case intentions—arrest, violence, or an attack on the exiled Rāma.
Steadfast loyalty and readiness to protect—Guha’s commitment to Rāma drives his defensive resolve.