Introduction
Guha the king of Nishada tribe asks his relative to guard the river bank and get ready for a battle, if necessary, with Bharata. Then, Guha approaches Bharata with a welcome-drink of honey, meat and fish. He asks Bharata with his army to accept his hospitality.
Verse 1
ततः निविष्टाम् ध्वजिनीम् गन्गाम् अन्वाश्रिताम् नदीम् |
निषाद राजो दृष्ट्वा एव ज्ञातीन् सम्त्वरितः अब्रवीत् || २-८४-१
Just on seeing an army encamped and positioned along the River Ganga, Guha the king of Nishadas hastily spoke to his relatives as follows:
1. tataH = then; dR^iSTvaiva = just on seeing; dhvajiniim = an army; niviSTaam = encamped; anvaashritaam = and situated along; gaN^gaam nadiim = the River Ganga; niSaadaraajaH = Guha; the king of Nishadas; samtvasitaH = hastily; abraviit = spoke; jJNaatiin = to his relatives (as follows):
Verse 2
महती इयम् अतः सेना सागर आभा प्रदृश्यते |
न अस्य अन्तम् अवगच्चामि मनसा अपि विचिन्तयन् || २-८४-२
“On this side, a huge army is seen like an ocean. I am not able to comprehend the extent of this army even by my discerning mind.”
2. itaH = on this side; iyam = this; mahatii = huge; senaa = army; pradR^ishyati = is seen; saagaraabhaa = as an ocean; naadhigachchhami = I am not able to find; antam = the extent; asyaaH = of this army; vidintayannapi = even by my discerning; manasaa = with the mind.
Verse 3
यथा तु खलु दुर्भद्धिर्भरतः स्वयमागतः |
स एष हि महा कायः कोविदार ध्वजो रथे || २-८४-३
“Here is seen on that chariot, a towering banner bearing Kovidara tree and hence Bharata himself with an evil intent seems to have come.”
3. eSaH = here ( is seen); rathe hi = on the chariot; saH = that; mahaakaayaH = towering; kovidaara*; dhvajaH = banner bearing Kovidara tree; bharataH = (and hence) Bharata; durbuddhiH = with an evil intent; svayam = himself; yathaatu aagataH = seems to have come.
Verse 4 & 5
बन्धयिष्यति वा दाशान् अथ वा अस्मान् वधिष्यति |
अथ दाशरथिम् रामम् पित्रा राज्यात् विवासितम् || २-८४-४
सम्पन्नाम् श्रियमन्विच्चंस्तस्य राज्ञः सुदुर्लभाम् |
भरतः कैकेयी पुत्रः हन्तुम् समधिगच्चति || २-८४-५
“Will Bharata the son of Kaikeyi bind us with chains or slay us? Or is he coming to kill Rama, the son of Dasaratha, who was exiled from the kingdom by his father, desirous as Bharata is to get the prosperous Ayodhya kingdom, a luxury and that which is inaccessible to another?”
4; 5. bharataH = (Will) Bharata; kaikeyiiputraH = the son of Kaikeyi; badhayiSyati = bind with chains; daashaan = our fishermen; athavaa = or; vadhiSyati = kill; asmaan = us?; atha = or; samadhigachchhati = is he coming; hantum = to kill; raamam = Rama; daasharthiim = the son of Dasaratha; vivaasitam = who was exiled; raajyaat = from the kingdom; pitraa = by his father; anvichchhan = and desiring; shriyam = the prosperous kingdom; sampannaam = a luxury; sudurlabham = and that which is inaccessible to another.
Verse 6
भर्ता चैव सखा चैव रामः दाशरथिर् मम |
तस्य अर्थ कामाः सम्नद्धा गन्गा अनूपे अत्र तिष्ठत || २-८४-६
“Rama the son of Dasaratha is my Lord and my companion too. Hence you, covered with armor, be stationed on this bank of Ganga River, desiring to advance the interest of Rama.”
6. raamaH = Rama; daasharathiH = the son of Dasaratha; mama = is my; bhartaachaiva = Lord; sakhaa chaiva = and my friend too; (Hence); pratiSThata = be stationed; sannaddhaa = covered with armor; gaN^gaanuupe = one this bank of Ganga River; artha kaamaaH = desiring to advance the interest; tasya = of that Rama.
Verse 7
तिष्ठन्तु सर्व दाशाः च गन्गाम् अन्वाश्रिता नदीम् |
बल युक्ता नदी रक्षा मांस मूल फल अशनाः || २-८४-७
“Let all our ferrymen guarding the river, along with the troops, eating meat roots and fruits ( in their boats), stay positioned along the River Ganga.”
7. sarve = (Let) all; daashaashcha = our ferrymen; nadiirakSaaH = guarding the river; balayuktaaH = along with troops; maamsa muula phalaashanaaH = eating; meet; roota and fruits ( in the boats); tiSThantu = stay; anvaashritaaH = positioned along; gaN^gaam nadiim = the River Ganga.
Verse 8
नावाम् शतानाम् पन्चानाम् कैवर्तानाम् शतम् शतम् |
सम्नद्धानाम् तथा यूनाम् तिष्ठन्तु अत्यभ्यचोदयत् || २-८४-८
“Let five hundred boats, each manner by a hundred youthful ferrymen, be stationed and made ready” -thus announced Guha.
8. paN^chaanam = (Let) five; shataanaam = hundred; naavaam = boats; shatam shatam = each; manned by a hundred; yuunaam = youthful; kaivartanaam = ferrymen; tiSThantu = be stationed; tathaa = and sannddhaam = made ready; iti = (Guha) thus; abhyachodayat = announced.
Verse 9
यदा तुष्टः तु भरतः रामस्य इह भविष्यति |
सा इयम् स्वस्तिमयी सेना गन्गाम् अद्य तरिष्यति || २-८४-९
“If Bharata is favourably disposed now towards Rama, then only his army may (be allowed to) cross the River Ganga in safety.”
9. yadaatu = when; bharataH = Bharata; bhaviSyati = be; aduSTaH = well-disposed; iha = here; raamasya = towards Rama; saa iyam = such of this; senaa = army; tariSyati = may cross; gaN^gaam = the River Ganga; adya = today; svastimatii = in safety.
Verse 10
इति उक्त्वा उपायनम् गृह्य मत्स्य मांस मधूनि च |
अभिचक्राम भरतम् निषाद अधिपतिर् गुहः || २-८४-१०
After uttering thus, Guha the king of Nishadas took fish, meat and honey as an offering and approached Bharata.
10. iti = thus; uktvaa = spoken; guhaH = Guha; niSaadaadhipatiH = the Lord of Nishadas; gR^ihya = took; matsya maamsa madhuuni = fish meat and honey; upaayanam = as an offering; abhichakraama = and approached; bharatam = Bharata.
Verse 11
तम् आयान्तम् तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य सूत पुत्रः प्रतापवान् |
भरताय आचचक्षे अथ विनयज्ञो विनीतवत् || २-८४-११
Seeing him approach, Sumantra the charioteer, a majestic man who knows the rules of discipline, humbly told Bharata as follows:
11. atha = thereafter; suutaputraH = Sumantra the charioteer; prataapavaan = a majestic man; vinayajJNaH = who knows the rules of discipline; samprekshya = seeing; tam = him aayaantam = approach; aachachaksha = told; bharataaya = Bharata; viniitavat = humbly (as follows):
Verse 12
एष ज्ञाति सहस्रेण स्थपतिः परिवारितः |
कुशलो दण्डक अरण्ये वृद्धो भ्रातुः च ते सखा || २-८४-१२
“This Lord who is surrounded by a thousand of his own people, is fully acquainted with the forest of Dandaka and also an old friend of your elder brother.”
12. eSaH = this; sthapatiH = Lord; parivaaritaH = who is surrounded; jJNaati sahasresha = by a thousand of his own people; kushalaH = is fully acquainted; daN^kaaraaN^ye = with the forest of Dandaka; vR^iddhaH = and an old; sakhaacha = friend; te = of your; bhraatuH = elder brother.
Verse 13
तस्मात् पश्यतु काकुत्स्थ त्वाम् निषाद अधिपो गुहः |
असंशयम् विजानीते यत्र तौ राम लक्ष्मणौ || २-८४-१३
“O, Bharata! For that reason, let Guha the king of Nishadas see you. He knows surely where those two Rama and Lakshmana – are stationed.”
13. kaakutthsa = O; Bharata! Tasmaat = for that reason; guhaH = (let) Guha; niSaadaadhiphaH = the king of Nishadas; pashyatu = see; tvaam = you; vijaaniite = (He) knows; asamshayam = surely; yatra = where; tau = those; raamalakshmaNau = Rama and Lakshmana (are there).
Verse 14
एतत् तु वचनम् श्रुत्वा सुमन्त्रात् भरतः शुभम् |
उवाच वचनम् शीघ्रम् गुहः पश्यतु माम् इति || २-८४-१४
Hearing the auspicious words of Sumantra, Bharata answered, “Introduce Guha to me without delay.”
14. shrutvaa = hearing; etat = these; shubham = auspicious; vachanam = words; sumantreaat = of Sumantra; bharataH = Bharata; uvaacha = spoke; iti = these; vachanam = words; guhaH = (let) Guha; pashyati = see; maam = me; shiighram = immediately.
Verse 15
लब्ध्वा अभ्यनुज्ञाम् सम्हृष्टः ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः |
आगम्य भरतम् प्रह्वो गुहो वचनम् अब्रवीइत् || २-८४-१५
Having obtained permission, Guha along with his own people, joyfully and humbly approached Bharata and spoke as follows:
15. labdhvaa = having obtained; abhyamjJNaam = the permission; guhaH = Guha; parivaaritaH = surrouned; jJNaatibhiH = by his own people; samhR^iSTaH = joyfully; prahvaH = and humbly; aagamya = approached; baratam = Bharata; abraviit = and spoke; vachanam = these words.
Verse 16
निष्कुटः चैव देशो अयम् वन्चिताः च अपि ते वयम् |
निवेदयामः ते सर्वे स्वके दाश कुले वस || २-८४-१६
“This place is like a pleasure-grove near your house. We are your subjects and are reporting to you as such. Stay in this servant’s house.”
16. ayam = this; deshaH = place; niSkuTaH = is like a pleasure-grove near your house; vayam = we; vaN^chitaashchaapi = are your subjects; sarve = all of us; nivedayaavaH = are reporting to you; te = as such; vasa = stay; daasakule = in this servant’s house.
Verse 17
अस्ति मूलम् फलम् चैव निषादैः समुपाहृतम् |
आर्द्रम् च मांसम् शुष्कम् च वन्यम् च उच्च अवचम् महत् || २-८४-१७
“Here are the roots and fruits gathered by my tribe as well as fresh and dried meat of great quality and of various kinds, and all a produce of the forest.”
17. asti = here are; muulam = the root; phalam chaiva = fruit; samudaahR^itam = gathered; niSaadaiH = by my tribe; maamsamcha = and the meat; mahat = of great quality; ucchaavacham = and of various kinds; aardram = fresh; shuSkamcha = and dried; vanyam = and all a produce of the forest.
Verse 18
आशंसे स्वाशिता सेना वत्स्यति इमाम् विभावरीम् |
अर्चितः विविधैः कामैः श्वः ससैन्यो गमिष्यसि || २-८४-१८
“I hope the army, after eating well, can halt for the night here. Furnished with all you could desire, you can continue your journey tomorrow along with your troops.”
18. aasham se = I hope; senaa = the army; svaashitaa = after eating well; vatsyat = can halt; imam = in this night; architaH = offered reverently; vividhaiH = various kinds; kaamaiH = of all that you could desire; gamiSyasi = you can go; shvaH = tomorrow; sasainyaH = along with your army.
