Valmiki Ramayana 2.84.12 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 84, Shloka 12

गुहस्य सन्देहः, गङ्गातीर-रक्षा, भरतस्य सत्कारः

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

Devanagari script

एष ज्ञातिसहस्रेण स्थपतिः परिवारितः।कुशलो दण्डकारण्ये वृद्धो भ्रातुश्च ते सखा।।।।

Transliteration

eṣa jñātisahasreṇa sthapatiḥ parivāritaḥ |

kuśalo daṇḍakāraṇye vṛddho bhrātuś ca te sakhā ||

Translation

एष ज्ञातिसहस्रैः परिवारितः स्थपतिरयं दृश्यते। दण्डकारण्यविधौ कुशलो वृद्धश्च, तव भ्रातुः सखापि॥

Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this (man)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana (demonstrative pronoun)

• jñātisahasreṇa: with a thousand relatives
• jñātisahasreṇa: Karaṇa/Sahakārī (करण/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāti (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (jñātīnām sahasreṇa = with a thousand kinsmen), Napuṃsakaliṅga head ‘sahasra’, Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (inst/तृतीया), Ekavacana

• sthapatiḥ: chief/lord
• sthapatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthapati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• parivāritaḥ: surrounded/escorted
• parivāritaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana (qualifying sthapatiḥ)

• kuśalaḥ: skilled/well
• kuśalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• daṇḍakāraṇye: in the Dandaka forest
• daṇḍakāraṇye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka-araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya/Tatpuruṣa conventional place-name; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī-vibhakti (loc/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• vṛddhaḥ: aged
• vṛddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhrātuḥ: of (your) brother
• bhrātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

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

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana (enclitic pronoun)

• sakhā: friend
• sakhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

Guha who has come here surrounded by too many thousands of his relations is fully acquainted with the Dandaka forest. He is an aged man and a friend of your brother said Sumatra.

Characters & Entities

• Guha
• Sumantra
• Bharata
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)

FAQs

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

Wise counsel in governance: identifying allies by character, experience, and established bonds helps a ruler act rightly and avoid suspicion or rashness.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra introduces Guha to Bharata, emphasizing Guha’s capability and his friendly ties with Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and discernment—Sumantra frames Guha as trustworthy through facts (skill, age, friendship).