Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 8

भरत-गुहसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

तमेवमभिभाषन्तमाकाश इव निर्मलः।भरतश्श्लक्ष्णया वाचा गुहं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.85.8।।

Transliteration

tam evam abhibhāṣantam ākāśa iva nirmalaḥ |

bharataḥ ślakṣṇayā vācā guhaṃ vacanam abravīt || 2.85.8 ||

Translation

ગુહે આમ બોલતાં, આકાશ સમ નિર્મળ અને શાંત ભરતે કોમળ વાણીથી ગુહને ઉત્તર આપ્યો.

Word by Word

• तम्: him (Guha)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• अभिभाषन्तम्: speaking/addressing
• अभिभाषन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+भाष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘tam’ as object: ‘him who was speaking’

• आकाशः: the sky
• आकाशः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इव: like/as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• निर्मलः: pure/serene
• निर्मलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘भरतः’

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

• श्लक्ष्णया: with gentle
• श्लक्ष्णया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘वाचा’

• वाचा: speech/voice
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

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

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

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

Context

When he heard Guha thus speaking, Bharata who was as tranquil as the sky, said to him in a gentle voice.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Guha

FAQs

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

Dharma in speech: when accused or doubted, Bharata responds without anger. Truth (satya) is strengthened by calm, non-harming communication.

What is the narrative situation?

Guha suspects Bharata’s intentions because of the army; the narration highlights Bharata’s composed demeanor before he reassures Guha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣamā and saumyatā—patience and gentleness, hallmarks of righteous leadership.