Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 84, Shloka 10

गुहस्य सन्देहः, गङ्गातीर-रक्षा, भरतस्य सत्कारः

Guha’s Suspicion, Securing the Ganga Bank, and Hospitality to Bharata

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वोपायनं गृह्य मत्स्यमांसमधूनि च।अभिचक्राम भरतं निषादाधिपतिर्गुहः।।।।

Transliteration

ity uktvopāyanaṃ gṛhya matsyamāṃsamadhūni ca |

abhicakrāma bharataṃ niṣādādhipatir guhaḥ ||

Translation

ऐसा कहकर निषादाधिपति गुह मछली, मांस और मदिरा आदि उपहार लेकर भरत से मिलने चल पड़ा।

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (उद्धरण-निपात)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vac (धातु) + ktvā (कृत्)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा), avyaya-prayoga (indeclinable verbal)

• upāyanam: a gift/present
• upāyanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāyana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• gṛhya: having taken
• gṛhya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: grah (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
• Form: Gerund in -ya (ल्यप्), avyaya-prayoga

• matsyamāṃsamadhūni: fish, meat, and wine/honey
• matsyamāṃsamadhūni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matsya (प्रातिपदिक) + māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Itaretara-dvandva (copulative: fish+meat+wine/honey), Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• abhicakrāma: approached/went up to
• abhicakrāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-kram (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• bharatam: Bharata
• bharatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• niṣādādhipatiḥ: lord of the Niṣādas
• niṣādādhipatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣāda (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (niṣādānām adhipatiḥ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• guhaḥ: Guha
• guhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

Having spoken thus, Guha, lord of the nishadas, approached Bharata, taking with him fish, meat and wine as offerings.

Characters & Entities

• Guha
• Bharata
• Niṣādas

FAQs

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

Atithi-dharma (hospitality) and respectful diplomacy: approaching a royal guest with appropriate offerings, acknowledging relationship and status.

What is the narrative situation?

Guha prepares to receive Bharata and his forces, bringing customary provisions as a sign of welcome.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity and courtesy—Guha’s readiness to honor a guest-king through offerings.