Thus addressed, the exceedingly wise Bharata answered the lord of the
Nishadas, in words fraught with sense and reason, "Thy great desire, O
friend of my superior, is surely as good as attained; since thou of
mighty energy hast set thy heart on entertaining my army." Having said
these fair words unto Guha, the graceful and highly energetic Bharata
again addressed the lord of Nishadas, "By what way shall I go to
Bharadwaja's hermitage? These lands watered by the Gangft are dense and
hard to track." Hearing these words of the intelligent son of the king,
Guha well acquainted with the forest, said with joined hands, "My
servant well acquainted with the place shall attentively follow thee;
and, O prince possessed of mighty strength, I myself will also walk in
thy wake. But dost thou go after Rama of energetic acts with some evil
intention? This vast force of thine raiseth my apprehension." When Guha
had asked this, Bharata with a presence unclouded like the sky, spoke
unto Guha these sweet words, "May a time never come when I shall do
wrong onto Raghava! It behoveth thee not to fear me. Raghava is my
eldest brother dear unto me even as my sire himself. I go to make
Kakutstha dwelling in the woods, turn back. Other intention cherish I
none. O Guha, this I tell thee truly." Having heard Bharata's speech,
Guha with a countenance lighted up with delight, again cheerfully
addressed Bharata, saying, "Blessed art thou! Thy like find I none on
earth, inasmuch as thou wishest to resign a kingdom that comes to thee
without search. Thy eternal fame will certainly range this world, since
thou wishest to bring back Rama passing through misfortune." As Guha was
speaking thus unto Bharata, the Sun became shorn of his splendour and
night fell. Thereupon, having disposed his troops, the auspicious
Bharata gratified by Guha, went to bed along with Satrughna. Then arose
thoughts of Rama in the mind of the magnanimous Bharata ever having his
gaze fixed on virtue and undeserving (of hardship). Then even as a tree
already heated by a forest-fire burns with a fire hidden in its cavity,
that descendant of Raghu began to burn with the fire of grief inflamed
in his heart. And perspiration produced by the fire of sorrow issued out
of all his limbs, as the Himavat heated by the solar warmth generates
water. And Kaikeyi's son was overpowered and drowned by the mountain of
grief, having thoughts (of Rama) for its entire crags, sighs for its
mineral substance, disgust with the avocations of life, for its trees,
mental feebleness through grief for its summits, stupor for the animals
inhabiting it, and burning for its annual shrubs and bamboos. And
sighing heavily with a heart oppressed with sorrow, well nigh deprived
of consciousness, and involved in high peril, that best of men,
oppressed by the fever of his heart, like unto a mighty leader of a
herd, separated from it, did not attain peace of mind. Meeting with
Guha, the magnanimous Bharata accompanied by his people, engrossed with
the thoughts of Rama, became oppressed with grief. (Seeing this), Guha
by and by encouraged Bharata concerning his elder brother.