Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 8
गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्
Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs
Spoken by Guha to RamaSetting: Ganga riverbank near Śṛṅgaverapura (Guha’s domain)Places named: Bhāgīrathī/Gaṅgā, ŚṛṅgaverapuraPre-crossing preparations for river passage
ततः स प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा गुहो राघवमब्रवीत् ।
उपस्थितेयं नौर्देव भूयः किं करवाणि ते ॥८॥
tataḥ sa prāñjalir bhūtvā guho rāghavam abravīt |
upasthiteyaṃ naur deva bhūyaḥ kiṃ karavāṇi te ||8||
అప్పుడు గుహుడు అంజలి ఘటించి రాఘవునితో అన్నాడు— “హే దేవా! నౌక సిద్ధంగా ఉంది; మీకు మరి ఏ సేవ చేయుదును?”
Sandhi Notes
- प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा = प्राञ्जलिः + भूत्वा (visarga sandhi)
- राघवमब्रवीत् = राघवम् + अब्रवीत्
- उपस्थितेयं = उपस्थिता + इयम्
- नौर्देव = नौः + देव (visarga sandhi)
Then Guha with folded palms said to Rama: O king, the boat ready. Tell me what else can I do for you.
The teaching
Sevā offered with humility (añjali) becomes dharma; the righteous accept help without pride and proceed without burdening the host.
- Ethical theme
- Atithi-dharma / social duty
Devotion and practice
Cultivates dāsya-bhāva (service attitude) and humility in assisting the righteous; practice of respectful speech and readiness to help.
- Form of praise
- Vandana (salutation)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Reverent, serviceful, composed
Themes
- Dharma
- Seva (service)
- Hospitality
- Maryada
- Itihasa
- Ethics
The boat as upāya (means) for crossing saṃsāra; surrender and service as purifying disciplines.
Nāva imagery recalls the ‘boat’ metaphor for crossing beyond fear/ignorance found across Upaniṣadic teaching traditions (general echo, not a direct quotation).
- Guha and Rama
- Ally-host offering service to royal exile (reverential)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.52 (Gaṅgā-crossing sequence); Rāmacaritamānasa Ayodhyākāṇḍa (Niṣāda-rāja/Guha hospitality and Gaṅgā-pāra episode)
Dharmaśāstra notions of atithi-satkāra and añjali as respectful address
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Guha’s friendship with Rāma and arrangements for crossing the Gaṅgā (surrounding sargas)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Commanding
Madhyama-gati with respectful udātta on vocatives (deva, rाघव)
FAQs
Sevā and atithi-dharma: Guha respectfully offers practical help to a righteous guest in distress, asking what further duty remains.
On the Gaṅgā’s bank, Guha arranges a boat for Rāma’s crossing and stands ready to serve.
Guha’s devotion and humility—expressed through folded hands and eagerness to assist without being asked.
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