Bharata Embraces Guha as If Lakshmana Had Returned
Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 193
Doha 193 · Movement 2 of 2
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Guha lies in full prostration before the royal brother, his forehead still touching the earth. Bharata does not allow distance to remain between them.
He bends, raises the Nishada chief, and draws him against his heart. The embrace arrives with the force of recognition, as though Lakshmana himself had appeared from the forest road and entered Bharata's arms.
Love cannot remain contained within Bharata's breast. Guha's friendship with Ram has made him kin, and Ram's affection is visible upon him like a seal no worldly boundary can erase. Around the two men the halted company witnesses a hierarchy dissolved by devotion. The suspected invader and the prepared defender meet without weapon or argument, held together by the one they both love.
Bharata lifts Guha from the dust and embraces him where Ram's friendship has already made the forest chief a brother.
Read the passage from the Manas
करत दंडवत देखि तेहि भरत लीन्ह उर लाइ। मनहुँ लखन सन भेंट भइ प्रेम न हृदयँ समाइ।।193।।
Seeing Guha prostrate before him, Bharata drew him into his embrace, as though he had met Lakshmana himself. Love could not be held within his heart.