Guha Chooses Death at the Ganga for Ram
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 190
Doha 190 · Movement 1 of 2
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The order becomes absolute: block the ghat and prepare as those who have already accepted death. Guha will meet Bharata face to face with iron in hand and will not permit the army to cross while he lives.
The battlefield he imagines lies beside sacred Ganga. To die there for Ram's cause would make the body's brief span fruitful. Bharata may be a prince and Ram's brother, while Guha calls himself a lowly servant, but service has erased fear from the measure of rank.
He sees two joys held at once: death on the holy bank and death in Raghunath's defense. Fame is not the true prize. Guha fears becoming a burden upon the earth, alive yet unmarked among Ram's devotees. His mistaken battle plan burns with an unmistakable longing to belong wholly to his Lord.
Guha holds Ganga in one hand and service to Ram in the other, and calls the meeting of both his festival.
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होहु सँजोइल रोकहु घाटा। ठाटहु सकल मरै के ठाटा।। सनमुख लोह भरत सन लेऊँ। जिअत न सुरसरि उतरन देऊँ।। समर मरनु पुनि सुरसरि तीरा। राम काजु छनभंगु सरीरा।। भरत भाइ नृपु मै जन नीचू। बड़ें भाग असि पाइअ मीचू।। स्वामि काज करिहउँ रन रारी। जस धवलिहउँ भुवन दस चारी।। तजउँ प्रान रघुनाथ निहोरें। दुहूँ हाथ मुद मोदक मोरें।। साधु समाज न जाकर लेखा। राम भगत महुँ जासु न रेखा।। जायँ जिअत जग सो महि भारू। जननी जौबन बिटप कुठारू।।
Be prepared and block the river crossing. Make all arrangements as though for a fight unto death. I will take up weapons and face Bharata directly. While I live, I will not let him cross the sacred Ganga. To die in battle on the banks of the holy Ganga, to give up this fleeting body for Rama's cause! Bharata is a prince and brother; I am but a lowly servant. What great fortune to meet such a death! I shall wage a glorious battle for my master's sake, making my fame shine bright across all fourteen worlds. I will give up my life for Raghunatha's sake. Joy and celebration shall be in both my hands. The assembly of saints takes no account of one who bears no mark among Rama's devotees. One who lives without purpose is a burden on this earth, like an axe to the tree of his mother's youth.