Rāmāyana | Yuddha Kaṇḍa | Chapter 125
125. Hanuman Meets Guha and Bhārata
[Rāma sends Hanuman to go and inform his welfare to Guha and Bhārata. He also asks Hanuman to tell Bhārata about how he is returning with friends. Hanuman tells Guha about Rāma's welfare and meets Bhārata and informs him of impending arrival of Rāma. Bhārata becomes extremely happy.]
Rāghava who was quick in exhibiting his valour on seeing Ayodhyā became thoughtful and wanted to do a act of kindness. 125.1
Thinking like that, his sight fell on the monkeys there and he told that that sagacious and glorious monkey Hanuman. 125.2
"Go quickly to Ayodhyā oh great monkey and find whether the people in the city as well as the palace are safe?" 125.3
"You reach Sringaberipuram and tell Guha who lives in the forest, who is the king of Nishadas, about my welfare." 125.4
"Hearing that I am Okay, without sickness and free from any trouble Guha would be greatly pleased as he is my life like friend." 125.5
"Then that Guha who is the king of Niṣādas would become pleased and would tell you about the way to Ayodhyā and about welfare of Bhārata." 125.6
"You have to enquire about the welfare of Bhārata on my behalf and tell him that we have accomplished our objectives and I have returned safely with my wife and brother." 125.7
"Tell him how Vaidehī was abducted by force by Rāvaṇa, my conversation with Sugrīva and my killing of Vali in the battle." 125.8
"Tell him about the search for Maithili and how she was traced by you after crossing the extensive and never diminishing ocean." 125.9
"Tell him about how we went near the ocean, how we saw the God of the ocean, how we built the bridge and how we killed Rāvaṇa." 125.10
"Tell him about the boons given by Indra, Brahma and Varuṇa and about my meeting with our father by grace of Lord Shiva." 125.11
"Oh gentle one, then inform him how, I have come near the city of Ayodhyā along with Vibhīṣaṇa, and Sugrīva, the king of monkeys." 125.12
"Tell him how I have conquered all my enemies and obtained matchless fame and tell him that after accomplishing the purpose I have come near to him with my mighty friends." 125.13
"You also should try to know the expression in face of Bhārata when he hears the news and after he hears it completely about what he intends to do about me now." 125.14
"I also want to know all the happenings, the colour of his face, his glances, his mode of speech and all the gestures of Bhārata." 125.15
"Whose mind does not change with the kingdom which is full of wealth and enjoyments and has elephants, chariots and horses and which was inherited from father and grandfather." 125.16
"After having been associated with the kingdom, if Bhārata desires to rule it, let Bhārata rule it without dividing it in one piece." 125.17
"Oh Hanuman, after understanding his thoughts and perception you should come back quickly before we reach very near Ayodhyā." 125.18
Thus commanded by Rāma, Hanuman the son of wind God, assuming the form of a man went swiftly towards Ayodhyā. 125.19
Hanuman the son of wind God speedily flew towards Ayodhyā like the Garuda when he intends to catch a large snake. 125.20
After leaping to the sky and flying through the auspicious world of birds and after crossing the huge meeting place of Ganges and Yamuna, Hanuman reached Sringaberipuram and approached the Guha, the valorous Hanuman spoke to him these words in a charming voice. 125.21-125.22
"Your friend Rāma of the clan of Kākutstha who is truly valorous along with Sītā and the son of Sumitrā has enquired about your welfare." 125.23
"You would be able to meet him today itself on the fifth phase of the moon after he is permitted by sage Bharadvāja who has requested him to spend today's night in his hermitage. 125.24
After telling this the greatly lustrous one with joy again sprang up in the sky and not bothering about his fatigue travelled with very great speed. 125.25
On the way Hanuman saw, Ramā tīrtha, a place of descent into the river [hallowed by the association of Lord Paraśurāma], as well as the rivers Valukini, Varuthini and Gomati as also the formidable forest of Sāla trees, many thousands of people and numerous communities. 125.26
That great monkey went fast and covered a long distance quickly and reached near Nandigrama surrounded by flowering trees which had gardens comparable to Garden of Indra as well as Chaitraratha garden of Kubera which was frequented by well-dressed ladies along with their sons and elderly people. 125.27-125.28
At a distance of a krosa [two miles] from Ayodhyā Hanuman saw Bhārata, living in a hermitage, with the bark trees and the skin of a black antelope wrapped round his waist, looking miserable and emaciated, wearing matted locks on his head, his limbs coated with dirt, afflicted through separation from Rāma his elder brother, subsisting on roots and fruits, with his senses subdued, engaged in austerities, protecting virtue, with a very high head of matted hair, covering his body with the bark of trees and a deer skin, disciplined, whose thoughts were fixed on the Supreme Spirit, with a splendour equalling that of a Brahma Rishi, ruling the earth after placing the wooden sandals before him, protecting the people belonging to all the four caste groups from all dangers and attended by the upright ministers, priests and by clever troop-commanders, all clad in saffron robes. 125.29-125.33
Those citizens of the city who loved Dharma ignored the enjoyment of pleasures on seeing their prince clad in wooden bark and the hide of black antelope. 125.34
That Hanuman, the son of wind God thus spoke to Bhārata who was conversant with Dharma and clothed in the body of Dharma looked like another God of Dharma. 125.35
Rāma who used to live in Daṇḍakāraṇya wearing the cloth made of bark of trees and a matted lock, for which you seem to repent, enquired about your welfare. 125.36
"Oh Lord, I am telling you the news to your liking, give up this great sorrow for within a short time you would join with Rāma who is your elder brother." 125.37
"After killing Rāvaṇa and getting back Vaidehī and after accomplishing his purpose Rāma is coming back with his very mighty friends." 125.38
"The very lustrous Lakṣmaṇa and the very famous Sītā, the princess of Videha are also coming back along with Rāma resembling Sachi Devi coming with Indra." 125.39
When Hanuman told this to Bhārata, the son of Kaikeyi, he sank on the earth with great joy and fainted through excessive joy. 125.40
Within a short time Bhārata got up from his swoon after regaining consciousness and spoke to Hanuman who had brought glad tidings. 125.41
Without any sorrow, fully drenched in love, with great emotion Bhārata embraced the monkey and drenched him with great tear drops not born out of sorrow but of joy. 125.42
"Oh gentle one, Are you a Deva or a human being, who have come here out of compassion? To you, who has given me this agreeable news, I shall give in return, for the pleasant tidings, a hundred thousand cows, a hundred best villages, and for wives, sixteen golden complexioned virgin girls of a good conduct, decked with ear-rings, having beautiful noses and thighs, adorned with all kinds of jewels, with charming countenances as delightful as the moon and born in a noble family." 125.43- 125.45
That prince hearing about the news of arrival of Rāma from the monkey chief was greatly surprised and with great joy and with great desire to see Rāma again joyfully started talking. 125.46
This is the end of One Hundred and Twenty Fifth Sarga of Yuddha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.