Valmiki Ramayana 2.85.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 14

भरत-गुहसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

एवं सम्भाषमाणस्य गुहस्य भरतं तदा।बभौ नष्टप्रभस्सूर्यो रजनी चाभ्यवर्तत।।2.85.14।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.85.14

Transliteration

evaṁ sambhāṣamāṇasya guhasya bharataṁ tadā |

babhau naṣṭaprabhaḥ sūryo rajanī cābhyavartata ||2.85.14||

Translation

एवं सम्भाषमाणस्य गुहस्य भरतं तदा सूर्यः नष्टप्रभः बभौ, रजनी चाभ्यवर्तत।

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Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• सम्भाषमाणस्य: of (him) conversing
• सम्भाषमाणस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle) ‘सम्भाषमाण’ + षष्ठी, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; “while (he) was conversing”

• गुहस्य: of Guha
• गुहस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्

• भरतम्: Bharata
• भरतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: then)

• बभौ: shone/appeared
• बभौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• नष्टप्रभः: with dimmed light
• नष्टप्रभः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naṣṭa + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (“whose light is lost/dimmed”)

• सूर्यः: sun
• सूर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• रजनी: night
• रजनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• अभ्यवर्तत: set in/approached
• अभ्यवर्तत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; “came on/ensued”

Context

Fortunate Bharata gratified by Guha encamped his army and retired to bed along with Satrughna.

Characters & Entities

• Guha
• Bharata
• Sun (sūrya)
• Night (rajanī)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames dharma in action across time: righteous intentions continue even as day ends, marking perseverance in duty.

What is the narrative situation?

The scene shifts to evening; as the dialogue continues, sunset arrives and night begins.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness—Bharata’s mission and Guha’s support persist without pause as circumstances change.