ततो निविष्टां ध्वजिनी गङ्गामन्वाश्रितां नदीम्। निषादराजो दृष्ट्वैव ज्ञातीन् स परितोऽब्रवीत्॥
Seeing the forces with banners flying quartered on the banks of the river Gangā, and engaged in carious occupations, the lord of the Nisadas, Guha, said to his relatives ranged around.
महतीयमितः सेना सागराभा प्रदृश्यते। नास्यान्तमवगच्छामि मनसापि विचिन्तयन्॥
This mighty host here appears like an ocean. I do not find its end even by thinking of it in my mind.
यदा नु खलु दुर्बुद्धिर्भरतः स्वयमागतः। स एष हि महाकायः कोविदारध्वजो रथे॥
Surely the foolish Bharata has come hither himself: on his car appears the huge Kovidāra banner.
बन्धयिष्यति वा पाशैरथ वास्मान् वधिष्यति। अनु दाशरथिं रामं पित्रा राज्याद् विवासितम्॥
Be like, he will either bind us by nooses or slay us and next Daśaratha's son Rāma banished from the kingdom by his sire.
सम्पन्नां श्रियमन्विच्छंस्तस्य राज्ञः सुदुर्लभाम्। भरतः कैकयीपुत्रो हन्तुं समधिगच्छति ॥
Desirous of taking complete possession of the rare regal fortune of that sovereign (Rāma), Kaikeyi's son, Bharata, comes to destroy him.
भर्ता चैव सखा चैव रामो दाशरथिर्मम। तस्यार्थकामाः संनद्धा गङ्गानूपेऽत्र तिष्ठत॥
Rāma the son of Daśaratha is both my maintainer and friend. Do you in his interests, donning on your mail, wait on the banks of the river.
तिष्ठन्तु सर्वदाशाश्च गङ्गामन्वाश्रिता नदीम्। बलयुक्ता नदीरक्षा मांसमूलफलाशनाः॥
And stationed on the river Gangā, let my powerful retainers subsisting on fruits and roots and meat, be prepared for opposing Bharata's passages over the river.
नावां शतानां पञ्चानां कैवर्तानां शतं शतम्। संनद्धानां तथा यूनां तिष्ठन्त्वित्यभ्यचोदयत्॥
And let hundreds upon hundreds of Kaivarta youths accoutred in mail remain in each of five hundred barks., Guha issued this order.
यदि तुष्टस्तु भरतो रामस्येह भविष्यति। इयं स्वस्तिमती सेना गङ्गामद्य तरिष्यति॥
But if Bharata be well disposed towards Rāma, this host shall today safely cross the Ganga.
इत्युक्त्वोपायनं गृह्य मत्स्यमांसमधूनि च। अभिचक्राम भरतं निषादाधिपतिर्मुहः॥
Having said this, the lord of the Nişādas, Guha, taking a present of flesh, fish and honey, went out for interviewing Bharata.
तमायान्तं तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य सूतपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। भरतायाचचक्षेऽथ समयज्ञो विनीतवत्॥
Seeing Guha approaching, the powerful son of the charioteer knowing season, humbly informed Bharata of it, saying.
एष ज्ञातिसहस्रेण स्थपतिः परिवारितः। कुशलो दण्डकारण्ये वृद्धो भ्रातुश्च ते सखा॥ तस्मात् पश्यतु काकुत्स्थ त्वां निषादाधिपो गुहः। असंशयं विजानीते यत्र तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥
This lord (that approaches) surrounded by his relatives, is very potent in Dandaka and is an old friend of your brother. Therefore let Guha, the lord of the Nişādas, see you, O Kākutstha. He indubitably knows where Rāma and Lakşmaņa are.
एतत् तु वचनं श्रुत्वा सुमन्त्राद् भरतः शुभम्। उवाच वचनं शीघ्रं गुहः पश्यतु मामिति ॥
Hearing these wise words of Sumantra, Bharata at once said, "Let Guha see me."
लब्ध्वानुज्ञां सम्प्रहृष्टो ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः। आगम्य भरतं प्रह्वो गुहो वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Receiving permission, Guha, right glad, appeared before Bharata, bending low, and said.
निष्कुटश्चैव देशोऽयं वञ्चिताश्चापि ते वयम्। निवेदयाम ते सर्वं स्वके दाशगृहे वस॥
This place is your home. But you have stolen a march over us. We dedicate all this to you. Do you reside in the abode of your servant.
अस्ति मूलफलं चैतनिषादैः स्वयमर्जितम्। आर्द्र शुष्कं तथा मांसं वन्यं चोच्चावचं तथा॥
Here are fruits and roots gathered by the Nişādas and meat dry and moist and various other produces of the forest.
आशंसे स्वाशिता सेना वत्स्यत्येनां विभावरीम्। अर्चितो विविधैः कामैः श्वः ससैन्यो गमिष्यसि॥
I pray that entertained in various ways and heartily partaking of meats and drinks, this army may spend the night here. Tomorrow morning, you will go along with your forces.