Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 1

भरत-गुहसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु भरतो निषादाधिपतिं गुहम्।प्रत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञो वाक्यं हेत्वर्थसंहितम्।।2.85.1।।

Transliteration

evam uktas tu bharato niṣādādhipatiṃ guham |

pratyuvāca mahāprājño vākyaṃ hetv-artha-saṃhitam ||

Translation

婆罗多既被如此告知，便以大智慧答复尼沙陀之主瞿诃，言辞具足理据与深意。

Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Context

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

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.