Valmiki Ramayana 2.85.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 10
भरत-गुहसंवादः
Bharata and Guha: Trust, Hospitality, and the Burden of Grief
Spoken by Bharata to GuhaSetting: Gaṅgā riverbank near Guha’s domain (Śṛṅgaverapura)Places named: forest (vana), Gaṅgā, ŚṛṅgaverapuraBharata’s mission-journey to retrieve Rāma from forest exile
तं निवर्तयितुं यामि काकुत्स्थं वनवासिनम् ।
बुद्धिरन्या न ते कार्या गुह सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते ॥१०॥
taṃ nivartayituṃ yāmi kākutsthaṃ vanavāsinam |
buddhir anyā na te kāryā guha satyaṃ bravīmi te ||10||
मैं जंगल में जा रहा हूँ राम को वापस लाने। गुह, तुम कोई दूसरी बात सोचना मत। मैं तुमसे सच बोल रहा हूँ।
Sandhi Notes
- तं निवर्तयितुं = तम् + निवर्तयितुम्
- बुद्धिरन्या = बुद्धिः + अन्या
- ते कार्या = ते + कार्या
- सत्यं ब्रवीमि = सत्यम् + ब्रवीमि।
I am going to bring back that scion of the kakutsthas (Rama) who resides in the forest. O Guha, do not entertain any other thought. I am tellng you the truth.
The teaching
Let truth anchor resolve; when motives are dharmic, reassure allies and remove suspicion through clear commitment.
Duties in tension
- Obedience to the existing political situation vs. duty to restore rightful dharmic order by honoring Rāma
- Use of force (army) vs. non-coercive fraternal persuasion
- Ethical theme
- Satya-dharma / rājadharma
- How it resolves
- Truthful vow and reassurance; intent to persuade rather than conquer
Devotion and practice
Satya-vrata practice: aligning speech with intention; cultivating steadfastness (dhṛti) in righteous aims.
- Mantra
- satyaṃ bravīmi te (truth-pledge, not a mantra)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Determined, truth-pledged, purposeful
Themes
- Satya
- Dharma
- Brotherly devotion
- Reconciliation
- Right intention
Satya as alignment of speech and intention (vāk–manas–karman ekatā) as a mark of inner integrity.
Satya as foundational virtue (satyena labhyas tapasā hy eṣa ātmā—echo in spirit though not quoted).
- Bharata and Rama
- Younger brother seeking elder brother’s return; loyal service (devoted)
- Bharata and Guha
- Assurance to ally/host; confidence-building (firmly reassuring)
- Rama and Forest
- Ascetic exile as dharmic discipline (implied) (austere)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.82–2.83 (Bharata’s grief and resolve); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.89–2.90 (Bharata’s appeal to Rāma at Citrakūṭa)
Dharma literature on satya-vrata (truth as vow)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Bharata’s rejection of kingship and intent to install Rāma (broad arc)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Commanding
Higher udātta on 'satyaṃ bravīmi te', steady cadence to convey resolve
FAQs
Satya and righteous intent: Bharata openly declares his purpose—to restore Rāma—showing that truthfulness is the basis for trust and dharmic action.
Bharata reassures the suspicious Guha that he has not come to harm Rāma, but to bring him back from forest exile.
Integrity and fraternal loyalty—Bharata’s commitment is aligned with Dharma rather than ambition.
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