85. Guha's Doubts Cleared [When Guha asks Bhārata whether his intentions are evil, Bhārata tells him that he is going to bring back Rāma. Guha is greatly impressed. Bhārata spends a sleepless night due to worry.] Bhārata hearing the words of Guha, the lord of Niṣādas, replied with well thought-out and greatly significant words. 85.1 "Oh friend of my elder

86. Guha Talks of Lakṣmaṇa [Guha tells Bhārata about Lakṣmaṇa and his love towards Rāma. He tells how he guarded Rāma in spite of Guha's offer to do so. He told how worried Lakṣmaṇa was about Ayodhyā.] Then the forest ranger Guha described to Bhārata, who had countless virtues, the good nature of the great Lakṣmaṇa. 86.1 "I spoke to

87. Guha Tells about Rāma [Bhārata becomes sad and upset. Later Bhārata asks about what Rāma ate and where he slept. Guha tells him that he only sipped water and lay down on a bed of Durbhā prepared by Lakṣmaṇa.] Bhārata after hearing these words of Guha, which was not to his liking, was immersed in thought as and when

88. Bhārata is Upset [Guha shows Bhārata the bed on which Rāma and Sītā slept. Bhārata is greatly upset. He decided to wear matted hair and cloths of Bark and live in forest while Rāma is crowned in Ayodhyā.] Having listened to all those words, Bhārata along with his expert ministers, went to the foot of Ingudi tree and gazed

89. Bhārata Reaches Bharadvāja's Hermitage [Guha arranges to ferry Bhārata along with his family members and army across Ganga. Then they all travel and reach near the hermitage of saint Bharadvāja.] Bhārata, after spending that night on the banks of Ganga, got up at dawn and told Śatrughna. 89.1 "Śatrughna are you asleep. You be safe. Please go and bring

90. Bharadvāja Talks with Bhārata [Bharadvāja also misunderstands the intention of Bhārata. Later hearing his real intention, he is greatly pleased. He informs Bhārata about the present location of Rāma. Bhārata decides to spend that night in the great heritage.] Seeing the hermitage of Bharadvāja, from a distance of about two miles, that best among men who was a knower

91. Bharadvāja's Hospitality to Bhārata [Sage Bharadvāja then offers hospitality to Bhārata and his army. He summons several devas and a great feast is arranged. All the members of Bhārata's retinue enjoy that great feast.] Seeing that the son of Kaikeyi has made up his mind to stay, the sage, invited him to stay there hospitably. 91.1 Bhārata addressing the

92. Bhārata's Chitrakūṭa Journey [Bhārata enquires the sage about where Rāma is staying. The saint tells him about Chitrakūṭa and gives him directions to reach there. Bhārata introduces his mothers to the sage and later they all leave towards Chitrakūṭa.] Thereafter greatly satisfied with the hospitality Bhārata and his men and after spending the night approached sage Bharadvāja with a

93. Bhārata at Chitrakūṭa [Bhārata travelling with his army reaches the Chitrakūṭa Mountain. His army men after search locate a hut from which smoke was rising. Bhārata stopping his army there proceeds towards the hut along with elders.] Seeing that great army marching in the furious elephants who were leaders of herds who were living in the forest ran off