Valmiki Ramayana 2.85.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 1

भरत-गुहसंवादः

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

Setting: Guha’s Niṣāda settlement on the Gaṅgā (Śṛṅgaverapura region)Places named: Gaṅgā, ŚṛṅgaverapuraBharata’s onward march from Ayodhyā toward Citrakūṭa to meet Rāma

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु भरतो निषादाधिपतिं गुहम् ।

प्रत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञो वाक्यं हेत्वर्थसंहितम् ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.85.1

Transliteration

evam uktas tu bharato niṣādādhipatiṃ guham |

pratyuvāca mahāprājño vākyaṃ hetv-artha-saṃhitam ||1||

Translation

ఇలా పలుకబడినప్పుడు మహాప్రాజ్ఞుడైన భరతుడు నిషాదాధిపతి గుహునికి హేతు-అర్థసంపన్నమైన వాక్యాలతో ప్రత్యుత్తరం చెప్పెను।

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Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus’)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)

• उक्तः: having been spoken to
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘having been addressed/said to’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• तु: then/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘but/and then’)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• भरतः: Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• निषादाधिपतिम्: the lord of the Niṣādas
• Type: Noun
• Root: निषाद+अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘Niṣādas’ + ‘lord’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• गुहम्: Guha
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to ‘निषादाधिपतिम्’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• महाप्राज्ञः: very wise
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा+प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘great’ + ‘wise’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘भरतः’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• हेत्वर्थसंहितम्: well-reasoned and meaningful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेतु+अर्थ+संहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘with reasons and meaning’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘वाक्यम्’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• एवमुक्तस्तु = एवम् + उक्तः + तु
• हेत्वर्थसंहितम् = हेतु + अर्थ + संहितम् (internal sandhi: हेतुः+अर्थः)

Context

When thus spoken to, Bharata, a great intellectual, replied to Guha with these well thought out and meaningful words.

The teaching

Power should be governed by reasoned, truthful speech; dharma is advanced through measured counsel rather than intimidation.

Duties in tension

• Kṣatriya duty to command an army vs. duty to act with restraint in another’s territory
• Familial duty to restore elder brother’s rightful honor vs. political optics of coercion

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / nīti

How it resolves

Reasoned reassurance and ethical diplomacy

For your practice

Practice of satya and measured speech (vāg-yama) as a daily discipline; cultivating buddhi-led communication.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Measured, diplomatic, resolute

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Satya
• Right speech
• Reasoned dialogue

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Guha
• Niṣāda

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through reasoned, meaningful speech: conflict is best resolved by truthful explanation rather than force.

What is the narrative situation?

After Guha’s suspicion and defensive measures, Bharata begins to answer, preparing to clarify his intentions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom expressed as measured speech—Bharata is portrayed as thoughtful and principled in communication.