Valmiki Ramayana 2.87.11 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 87, Shloka 11

गुहसंवादः—रामस्य रात्रिवासवर्णनम्

Dialogue with Guha: Account of Rama’s Night Halt

Devanagari script

स मुहूर्तं समाश्वस्य रुदन्नेव महायशाः।कौसल्यां परिसान्त्वेद्यं गुहं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

sa muhūrtaṃ samāśvasya rudann eva mahāyaśāḥ | kausalyāṃ parisāntvedyaṃ guhaṃ vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

మహాయశస్సు గల భరతుడు క్షణమాత్రం తనను తాను సమాధానపరచుకొని, కన్నీళ్లతోనే కౌసల్యను సాంత్వనపరచి, అనంతరం గుహునితో ఈ మాటలు పలికాడు॥

Word by Word

• saḥ: he (Bharata)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• muhūrtam: for a moment
• muhūrtam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कालावधि (duration)

• samāśvasya: having composed himself
• samāśvasya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√śvas (श्वस् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having composed himself/ regained breath’

• rudan: weeping
• rudan: Karta (कर्ता/participant)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rud (रुद् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• mahāyaśāḥ: the greatly renowned
• mahāyaśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् यशः)

• kausalyām: Kausalya
• kausalyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kausalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• parisāntvedyam: reassuring / consoling
• parisāntvedyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-sāntvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थक (gerundive sense) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be consoled/reassured’ (qualifying implied ‘vākyaṃ’)

• guham: to Guha
• guham: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• vacanam: words, speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Highly renowned Bharata, composing himself for a moment and still weeping, reassured Kauslaya, and then said this to Guha:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kausalyā
• Guha

FAQs

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

Dharma in grief: Bharata balances sorrow with duty—comforting Kausalyā first, then seeking necessary information.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata, overwhelmed, briefly composes himself, consoles Kausalyā, and turns to question Guha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy and composure: Bharata’s ability to act rightly while still emotionally affected.