Valmiki Ramayana 2.84.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 84, Shloka 3
गुहस्य सन्देहः, गङ्गातीर-रक्षा, भरतस्य सत्कारः
Guha’s Suspicion, Securing the Ganga Bank, and Hospitality to Bharata
Spoken by GuhaSetting: Near Śṛṅgaverapura on the Gaṅgā bankPlaces named: Śṛṅgaverapura, GaṅgāArrival of Bharata’s chariot and standards
यथा तु खलु दुर्बुद्धिर्भरत स्स्वयमागतः ।
स एष हि महाकायः कोविदारध्वजो रथे ॥३॥
yathā tu khalu durbuddhir bharataḥ svayam āgataḥ |
sa eṣa hi mahākāyaḥ kovidāradhvajo rathe ||3||
Wydaje się, że sam Bharata przybył, źle doradzony; oto na rydwanie widnieje wielki sztandar z godłem drzewa kovidāra.
Sandhi Notes
- (पाठभेद) ‘भरत स्स्वयम्’ is ‘भरतः स्वयम्’
It appears that the evilminded Bharata himself has come here. The emblem of a huge kovidara (pomegranate) tree is seen on his chariot.
The teaching
Reading intentions from symbols alone can mislead; dharma requires inquiry before condemnation.
Duties in tension
- Duty to protect Rāma as ally/guest
- Duty to respect Bharata as prince
- Duty to avoid rash accusation
- Ethical theme
- Discernment/non-hasty judgment
- How it resolves
- Premature inference (to be corrected later)
For your practice
Practice of suspending judgment and seeking truth (satya-anveṣaṇa) before reacting.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Bhayanaka (fear), with Raudra (fury)
- Mood
- Suspicious, tense, accusatory
Themes
- Itihasa
- Dharma
- Suspicion
- Misjudgment
- Political anxiety
Error of superimposition (adhyāsa): interpreting external signs through fear, projecting hostility onto ambiguous appearances.
- Guha and Bharata
- Suspicion of royal intent (hostile)
- Bharata and Rama
- Brothers; presumed rival claimants (misread) (suspected-adversarial)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.84.4 (fear of binding/killing); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.98-2.99 (Bharata’s true intent and humility; contrast)
Epic convention of identifying heroes by standards/emblems (dhvaja-lakṣaṇa)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Bharata’s chariot and insignia in departure scenes
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Solemn
Mandra (low register)
FAQs
The verse illustrates how fear and uncertainty can cloud judgment; Dharma requires restraint and verification before condemning another’s intent.
Guha identifies the approaching leader as Bharata by the chariot-banner and worries about Bharata’s motives.
Situational awareness—Guha reads signs (banner, chariot) quickly, though his suspicion shows the need for balanced discernment.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
