Valmiki Ramayana 2.89.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 89, Shloka 8

गङ्गातरणम्

Bharata’s Ferrying of the Army across the Ganga

Devanagari script

ततो गुह स्सन्त्वरितं श्रुत्वा भरतशासनम्।प्रति प्रविश्य नगरं तं ज्ञातिजनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tato guhaḥ santvaritaṃ śrutvā bharataśāsanam | prati praviśya nagaraṃ taṃ jñātijanam abravīt ||

Translation

Entonces Guha, al oír con prontitud la orden de Bharata, entró en su poblado y habló a sus parientes.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb: 'then'

• guhaḥ: Guha
• guhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom/1st), Ekavacana

• santvaritam: quickly
• santvaritam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: santvarita (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Accusative used adverbially: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; 'quickly/in haste'

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-anta (absolutive): 'having heard'

• bharataśāsanam: Bharata's command
• bharataśāsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata + śāsana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: bharatasya śāsanam; Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana

• prati: back / towards
• prati: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: Preverb/indeclinable used with verb: 'back/towards'

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-anta (absolutive): 'having entered'

• nagaram: the town
• nagaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'jñātijanam'

• jñātijanam: his kinsmen/relatives
• jñātijanam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāti + jana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (relation-based): jñātīnāṃ janaḥ; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana (collective)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (Aorist), Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

Context

While the two lions among men, Bharata and Satrughna were thus conversing with each other, Guha came in the appropriate time and said to Bharata with folded palms:

Characters & Entities

• Guha
• Bharata

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as dutiful service and responsiveness: Guha promptly acts to fulfill a legitimate request, supporting righteous travel and order.

What is the narrative situation?

Guha moves swiftly to mobilize his people to arrange the crossing after Bharata’s request.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Efficiency and reliability in service—Guha acts without delay.