Valmiki Ramayana 2.85.5 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 5

भरत-गुहसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रस्य धीमतः।अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं गुहो गहनगोचरः।।2.85.5।।

Transliteration

tasya tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā rājaputrasya dhīmataḥ |

abravīt prāñjalir vākyaṃ guho gahana-gocaraḥ || 2.85.5 ||

Translation

Entendant ces paroles du prince avisé, Guha, familier des chemins des forêts profondes, répondit les mains jointes avec respect.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/of that (prince)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘वचनम्’

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

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

• राजपुत्रस्य: of the prince
• राजपुत्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज+पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘king’s son’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• धीमतः: wise/sagacious
• धीमतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘राजपुत्रस्य’

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

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded palms
• प्राञ्जलिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (state: ‘with folded hands’)

• वाक्यम्: words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुहः: Guha
• गुहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गहनगोचरः: one who moves in dense forests
• गहनगोचरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गहन+गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (locative/determinative: ‘whose range is in dense (forest)’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘गुहः’

Context

When he heard those words of the sagacious Bharata, Guha the forest ranger answered him reverentially with folded palms.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Guha

FAQs

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

Dharma in communication: reverence and humility stabilize relationships in crisis. Guha’s respectful reply models ethical speech and truthful cooperation.

What is the narrative situation?

After Bharata asks the route to Bharadvāja’s āśrama, Guha prepares to guide and assist him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Guha’s respectful hospitality and readiness to help—service aligned with righteousness.