Episode 01 - Chapter 7 - Canto on Rama meeting Guha.

Chapter 7 – Canto on Rama meeting Guha - குகப் படலம்

Lakshmana announces the arrival of Guha to Sri Rama:

உள்ளம் தூயவன், தாயின் நல்லன், எற்றும் நீர்க் கங்கை நாவாய்க்கு

இறை, குகன், ஒருவன் (Looks to be) Pure Hearted, kinder than our mothers, the lord of the boats on the Ganga, with the name, Guha.

Guha grieves seeing Rama with his matted hair – the head that ought to be adorning the Ayodhya Crown instead presented this sage-like picture. Says that he is a sinner not having already gouged out the eyes that saw Rama in that condition – இங்ஙனம் பார்த்த கண்ணை ஈர்கிலாக் கள்வனேன் யான்,

Guha presents his humble offerings – honey and fish – to Rama. Rama accepts the humble gift, with these words:

அரிய, தாம் உவப்ப, உள்ளத்து அன்பினால் அமைந்த காதல்

தெரிதரக் கொணர்ந்த என்றால், அமிழ்தினும் சீர்த்த அன்றே?

பரிவினின் தழீஇய என்னின் பவித்திரம்; எம்மனோர்க்கும்

உரியன; இனிதின் நாமும் உண்டனெம் அன்றோ?’ என்றான்.

“What you have brought for me are special and rare; shall delight us, they carried with them your innate and unalloyed love for us and thus even superior to Divine Nectar. Whatever is given with such innate love, shall be sanctified and blessed with absolute purity. They are very appropriate for us and thus we shall partake them with delight.”

Here, Rama equates the food offered by the holy sages with the food offered by a tribal chieftain – the common denominator being the love bestride that offering, though (insensitive) commonsense would separate them on a scale of apparent purity. Rama’s words were addressed not just to Guha for pleasing him, make him feel at home, but also as a message to the sages present, who were looking askance at what they thought were inappropriate offerings to Rama.

Rama requests Guha to return to his place with his kin and return next morning; and, to ferry the three across the river with his boats. Guha, unable to tear himself away from Rama, requests in turn that he be permitted to stay the night with the three of them. Rama enquires of Sita and Lakshmana, just with his eyes querying them and having their consent, agrees.

Rama and Sita sleep on a bed of ‘kusa’ (dharba) grass. Lakshmana stands guard – without a wink. காலை வாய் அளவும் தம்பி இமைப்பிலன் காத்து நின்றான். Guha stands there his eyes riveted on the divine couple, unable to tear himself away. The night thus sped past.

Rama reminds Guha of his request for the ferry. Guha, upset about the consequential parting of his Lord, makes a fervent request of Rama – “Stay with us. There is plenty of forests around (that would make you fulfill your vow.) There is plenty of honey and meat and millet flour** that even the gods would covet. I have five lakhs men to do my bidding and they shall serve your command. ஐயிருபத்தோடு ஐந்தாயிரர் (5 x 20 x 5 x 1000 = 500000) உளர் ஆணை செய்குநர் And, there is this Ganga. Please do not leave us.”

** “ தினை “  is a small-sized millet popular with tribals of Thamizh Nadu and is referred to in period literature in that context. Its flour, mixed with honey, served as a delicious and nutritious staple for the tribals besides meat.

Rama fends off this request skillfully and with a soothing that is amongst his core attributes: “we need to go and bathe in the sacred rivers and waters beyond, meet the several sacred sages there and pay obeisance to them. that would just take some days – days that you could count on your fingers.” எண்ணிய சில நாளில் குறுகுதும்; இனிது We shall then safely and happily return to you. (Please let us go now.) – Fourteen years are presented by Rama as a few days in order to comfort Guha’s distress.

Guha concedes and fetches a boat and the three of them ford the Ganga and reach the southern banks. Rama enquires of Guha the direction and path to Chitrakoota. Guha offers to go along with them as a guide, presenting his credentials and prowess for handling the harsh and difficult road ahead.

இனி, நாம் ஓர் ஐவர்கள் உளர் ஆனோம்

Rama fully empathises with Guha, responds completely to the bonding and emotional thirst he demonstrates towards Rama;  and builds with him a bridge of a deep-seated, hearty, soulful and beautiful love and kinship, completely and so naturally – without a seeming effort - demolishing the huge gap between them in terms of attributes, social station, upbringing, knowledge, social skills and of course, innate divinity. (This would be the polar opposite of today’s politicians having a roti in a dalit’s hamlet for a photo opportunity, come election time!)

No wonder then, Kamban produces a master-class in poesy in bringing this bonding scene to us, that would take our breath away. No wonder too, that this piece is amongst the most celebrated in this great peerless epic (possibly amongst the TOP TEN?) This also comes with a great capsule of the entire philosophy of life.

என் உயிர் அனையாய் நீ;  இளவல் உன் இளையான்; இந்நல் நுதலவள் நின் கேள்;

“You are life my own life-breath; this younger brother of mine is your younger brother as well; and this, Sita with the lovely forehead, is your sister-in-law.”

‘துன்பு உளதுஎனின் அன்றோ சுகம் உளது? அது அன்றிப்

பின்பு உளது; “இடை, மன்னும் பிரிவு உளது” என, உன்னேல்;

முன்பு உளெம், ஒரு நால்வேம்; முடிவு உளது என உன்னா

அன்பு உள, இனி, நாம் ஓர் ஐவர்கள் உளர் ஆனோம்;

“How shall we enjoy pleasure, unless we have endured pain? Pray, please don’t regard this separation as pain; regard the enduring pleasure that shall follow (certainly, in time.) Till now, we were four brothers. Bound and bonded with brotherly love that is not finite at all, now forwards we have become five of us (brothers).”

Thirumangai Azhwar celebrates this ஏழை பங்காளன் attribute of Perumal thus:

ஏழை ஏதலன் கீழ்மகன் என்னாது இரங்கி மற்று அவற்கு இன் அருள் சுரந்து   மாழை மான் மடநோக்கி உன் தோழி உம்பி எம்பி என்று ஒழிந்திலை உகந்து தோழன் நீ எனக்கு இங்கு ஒழி என்ற சொற்கள் வந்து அடியேன் மனத்து இருந்திட

ஆழி வண்ண நின் அடி-இணை அடைந்தேன்- அணி பொழில் திருவரங்கத்து அம்மானே

Commentators would have us believe that Kamban was inspired by this paasuram in producing that incomparable marvel.

Persuading Guha to return to his domain, Rama promises to visit him when he returns from his abdication:

சுடர் உ று வடி வேலாய்! சொல் முறை கடவேன் யான்;

வடி திசை வரும் அந் நாள், நின்னுழை வருகின்றேன்.

A rare reiteration from the epitome of Satya, that he shall never fail his words. And he does keep that word. We would find Bharatha introducing Guha to Kousalya thus, in the concluding parts of Yudha Kandam:

"இன் துணைவன் இராகவனுக்கு; இலக்குவற்கும்,  இளையவற்கும்,  எனக்கும் மூத்தான்"   He is elder to all the four of us.

With unbearable sadness and feeling heart-bound by Rama’s persuasion, Guha bid farewell to the three. The latter set foot on a seemingly endless path, in the dense, tree-filled forests.

பிணி உடையவன் என்னும் பேதினன், விடை கொண்டான்;

அணி இழை மயிலோடும், ஐயனும், இளையோனும்,

திணி மரம் நிறை கானில் சேண் உறும் நெறி சென்றார்.