Ram Made Guha an Ornament of the World
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 196
Doha 196 · Movement 1 of 2
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Guha names the condition from which grace found him: deceitful, fearful, confused, low in social standing, and kept outside worldly and Vedic regard. Then one event overturns the entire description. Ram made him his own.
From that moment, Guha says, he became an ornament of the world. Hearing such loving humility, Shatrughna embraces him. Guha announces himself to the queens and greets each reverently. They recognize him as equal to Lakshmana and bless him with a long life of happiness.
Men and women gaze upon the forest chief as though Lakshmana stood before them. They call his life fulfilled because Ramabhadra once held him in full embrace. Guha hears his fortune praised, joy rises within him, and he leads the royal company onward through the land made sacred by friendship.
One act of Ram's belonging transforms the man society cast outside into the guide whom queens bless and Ayodhya honors.
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कपटी कायर कुमति कुजाती। लोक बेद बाहेर सब भाँती।। राम कीन्ह आपन जबही तें। भयउँ भुवन भूषन तबही तें।। देखि प्रीति सुनि बिनय सुहाई। मिलेउ बहोरि भरत लघु भाई।। कहि निषाद निज नाम सुबानीं। सादर सकल जोहारीं रानीं।। जानि लखन सम देहिं असीसा। जिअहु सुखी सय लाख बरीसा।। निरखि निषादु नगर नर नारी। भए सुखी जनु लखनु निहारी।। कहहिं लहेउ एहिं जीवन लाहू। भेंटेउ रामभद्र भरि बाहू।। सुनि निषादु निज भाग बड़ाई। प्रमुदित मन लइ चलेउ लेवाई।।
I was deceitful, cowardly, of wicked mind and low birth, cast out from society and from the Vedas in every way. From the very moment Rama made me His own, I became an ornament of the world. Seeing such prema and hearing such sweet, humble words, Bharat's younger brother Shatrughna came forward and embraced him warmly. The Nishada spoke his name in gracious words and reverently greeted each of the queens. Recognizing him as Lakshman's equal, they gave their ashirvada: 'May you live in happiness for a hundred lakh years!' Gazing upon the Nishada, the men and women of the city felt the same joy as if they had beheld Lakshman himself. They said, 'This man has gained the true laabh of life. He has embraced Shri Ramabhadra with his whole being.' Hearing the praise of his own great bhagya, the Nishada, his heart brimming with delight, led the royal party onward.