Guha spoke the language of love and Rama knew that the only way to make him understand is to speak to him in the same language…

Rama was tongue-tied when the persisting Guha changed the line of argument soon after he ferried the former across the Ganges. ‘It is all right sir, if you do not stay with me. Take me along with you. I will be useful to you. Sir, you are going through forests and will be living there for a long time. I belong to the jungle and know the topography like I know the lines on my palm.’

‘neRi idu neRi vallEn.’ I know all the paths and those that branch from them, in the jungle. ‘nEdinEn vazhuvaamal naRiyana kani kaayum naRavu ivai thara vallEn.’ I know where good fruits, vegetables and honey could be obtained. I would look for them and bring them to you. ‘uRaividam amaivippEn.’ I will build the hut for you to stay. ‘oru nodi varai ummaip pirigilEn.’ I will not leave your side for as long a time as a second. ‘udan Egap peruguven enin naayEn.’ If this dog is blessed to accompany you. (In the prose order, the last phrase would be read first.)

This was a place where no reason, no logic, no excuse could work. ‘Take me along with you. If you do not stay with us, I will stay with you. I will not be a burden on you. I will be very useful to you. In fact, you need a person like me, because you are going to spend a long number of years in the deep jungle, of which I am familiar with. If you so order, I will come with all my army with you.’

What could one do when love persists? Guha was a chieftain who was never educated. He did not know the ways of the erudite. His system had place only for passions, emotions and strong feelings. It was untouched – unadulterated – by knowledge. He could not be called wise by any standards. He was guided by his instincts and no more. The task becomes harder for Rama to convince him, without hurting him the least. Rama knew that he was running the risk of hurting Guha if he said ‘no’ to him. We saw in contrast how easy it was for him to say so to Sugriva and Vibishana.

Guha spoke the language of love and Rama knew that the only way to make him understand is to speak to him in the language of love, the only language he understood. ‘annavan urai kElaa amalanum urai nErvaan.’ Rama listened to Guha and replied. ‘en uyir anayaai nee.’ You are like my very soul. ‘iLaval un ilayaan.’ This, my younger brother is your younger brother. ‘nannudhal nin kEL.’ Sita is your relative. ‘naLir kadal nilam ellaam unnudayadhu.’ This entire world surrounded by the sea is yours. ‘naan nin thozhil urimayin uLLEn.’ And I am here, by your skills. In other words, I am here, protected by your chivalry, served by your devotion and my heart bound by your love.

Rama prepared Guha’s mind with these sweet words, uttered with all sincerity, to listen to him. Let’s see how this untamed savage of a hunter is made to listen now and also how he comes out brilliantly in his meeting with Bharata.

Be like Bharata

‘When you become my brother, your people become mine. If you come with us, our people would have none to lead or protect them,’ Rama told Guha.

‘Do not feel bad about having to live in separation now,’ Rama continued. I know how agonising it must be for you to live away from us. But consider this. ‘thunbu uLadhu enin andrO sugam uLadhu?’ There is happiness only if there is sorrow. That is, one can know and enjoy the feeling of happiness surging from within, only if one knows what sorrow is. How would one be able to distinguish it otherwise? ‘adhu andri pinbu uLadhu idai mannum pirivu uLadhu ena unnEl.’ We are going to be together for a long time to come (after I come back). Do not think of the estrangement that we have to go through now. ‘munbu uLem oru naalvEm.’ We were four brothers until now. ‘mudivu uLadhu ena unnaa anbu uLa.’ Now there is an endless love running in our hearts. ‘ini naam Or aiyvargal uLar aayinOm.’ We become five (brothers) from today.

‘You are not my friend any more, my dear Guha. You are my brother.’ Before completing the sentence, Rama realised that he is asking for trouble now! Guha, for the very same reason of becoming his brother would want to follow him! ‘If I am your brother, let me follow you then, for Lakshmana accompanies you. If that brother can come with you, why not this brother?’ he might ask!

‘Lakshmana, your brother is with me to protect me always. What or who can dare harm me when he stands guard? I will not go back on my words. I will come to you when I return after serving what has been ordained to me. More over, my dear brother, you have a duty to perform.’

‘angu uLa kiLai kaavarkku amaidhiyin uLan umbi.’ Your brother (Bharata) is there (in Ayodhya) to protect our kith and kin (subjects). ‘ingu uLa kiLai kaavarkku yaar uLar isayaai nee?’ Just tell me, who is there to protect our people here? ‘un kiLai enadhu andrO? Are not your people mine? ‘uRu thuyar uRal aamO?’ What is the need to go gloomy? ‘en kiLai idhu kaa en Evalin inidhu endraan.’ Remain here to protect my subjects here, under my orders.

‘When you become my brother, your people become mine. If you come with us, our people would have none to lead or protect them. These are my people. Protect them with my nod of approval, as does Bharata in Ayodhya!’ Before Guha could cite the example of Lakshmana, Rama is quick enough to cite the example of Bharata!

What else Guha could do except to listen to these words? Who else could sound so very convincing? And who else could be so ready to sense the love radiating from his heart and be empathetic with this hunter? Guha’s heart was heavy. But there is no doubt that while it was heavy, it was also floating high up in the air, with the love that Rama showered on him.

Though Guha appears in a very few scenes, the Poet works up the character so very well that the reader is able to identify him with Lakshmana. His love for Rama was as immense as that of Lakshmana. We are going to see him react to Bharata’s arrival, in the same manner as Lakshmana did. We are going to see a common purpose, a common perception and a common urge to protect the interests of Rama running in both these hearts.

Hari Krishnan