Hearing the words of Guha, exceedingly unpleasant, Bharata as soon as he
heard them, became plunged in thought. And then taking heart for a
while, that tender-framed one possessed of immense strength, gifted with
leonine shoulders and length of arms, having expansive eyes resembling
white lotuses, young in years, and endowed with a handsome presence,
affected with great grief, was overpowered, like an elephant wounded in
the heart with a goad. Seeing Bharata deprived of his senses with his
countenance covered with pallor, Guha became exceedingly agitated, like
a tree during an earthquake. Seeing Bharata in that condition, Satrughna
who was near, taking the former on his lap, began to cry, almost
deprived of his senses and oppressed with grief. Thereat, all the
mothers of Bharata, fasting, undergoing distress, and afflicted with the
calamity that had befallen their lord, came forward, and surrounding
Bharata, began to lament him fallen on the ground. And the distressed
Kausalya drawing nigh embraced him like a cow approaching her calf; and
weeping from excess of grief, spoke unto Bharata, saying, "My son, doth
any malady afflict thy body? Now the life of this royal race is, without
doubt, in thy hands. Rama having gone away along with his brother, I
shall, O son, live, seeing thee. King Dacaratha having departed this
life, thou alone art our lord. Hast thou, my son, heard anything
unpleasant concerning Lakshmana; or the son of that one having an only
son,[172] who has gone to the forest along with his wife?" Having taken
comfort for a while, that one of high fame weeping, and solacing
Kaucalya, spoke unto Guha, saying, "Where did my brother pass the night?
And where did Sita? And where did, again, Lakshmana? And in what bed did
he sleep, and what did he previously partake of? Do thou, O Guha, tell
me this." Thereat, well pleased, Guha, the lord of Nishadas, related
unto Bharata how he had acted in respect of Rama, his dear guest,
studious of his welfare. "I procured for Rama's use rice and fruits and
roots and various kinds of food. All these Rama having truth for his
prowess accepted, but observing Kshatriya morality, he did not take
them. 'O friend, we ought not to take anything: ours is always to give.'
Thus did that magnanimous one beseech us. On the high-souled Lakshmana
bringing water, Righava having drunk it, fasted along with Sita. Then
Lakshmana drank up the water that remained. Then the three with fixed
minds silently performed their adorations unto the Twilight. After that,
Sumitra's son prepared a goodly bed for Raghava, himself bringing Kuca
grass. And in that bed lay down Rama in company with Sita. Next washing
their feet, Lakshmana turned away. This is the foot of the Ingudi, and
this that grass. On it both Rama and Sita lay down that night Fastening
on his back a pair of quivers filled with arrows, furnished with
finger-fences, and taking his mighty bow, Lakshmana all night kept watch
around. I also taking an excellent bow, remained where remained
Lakshmana and surrounded by my kindred who stayed there vigilantly,
equipped with bows, guarded him that resembled the mighty Indra."
[172] Meaning herself.--T.