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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 Rama was tongue-tied when the persisting Guha changed the line of argument soon after he ferried the former across the Ganges. ‘It is all right sir, if you do not stay with me. Take me along with you. I will be useful to you. Sir, you are going through forests and will be living there for a long time. I belong to the jungle and know the topography like I know the lines on my palm.’
‘neRi idu neRi vallEn.’ I know all the paths and those that branch from them, in the jungle.
‘nEdinEn vazhuvaamal naRiyana kani kaayum naRavu ivai thara vallEn.’ I know where good fruits, vegetables and honey could be obtained. I would look for them and bring them to you.
‘uRaividam amaivippEn.’ I will build the hut for you to stay.
‘oru nodi varai ummaip pirigilEn.’ I will not leave your side for as long a time as a second.
‘udan Egap peruguven enin naayEn.’ If this dog is blessed to accompany you. (In the prose order, the last phrase would be read first.)
This was a place where no reason, no logic, no excuse could work. ‘Take me along with you. If you do not stay with us, I will stay with us. I will not be a burden on you. I will be very useful to you. In fact, you need a person like me, because you are going to spend a long number of years in the deep jungle, of which I am familiar with. If you so order, I will come with all my army with you.’
What could one do when love persists? Guha was a chieftain who was never educated. He did not know the ways of the erudite. His system had place only for passions, emotions and strong feelings. It was untouched - unadulterated - by knowledge. He could not be called wise by any standards. He was guided by his instincts and no more. The task becomes harder for Rama to convince him, without hurting him the least. Rama knew that he was running the risk of hurting Guha if he said ‘no’ to him. We saw in contrast how easy it was for him to say so to Sugriva and Vibishana.
 Guha spoke the language of love and Rama knew that the only way to make him understand is to speak to him in the language of love, the only language he understood.
‘annavan urai kElaa amalanum urai nErvaan.’ Rama listened to Guha and replied.
‘en uyir anayaai nee.’ You are like my very soul.
‘iLaval un ilayaan.’ This, my younger brother is your younger brother.
‘nannudhal nin kEL.’ Sita is your relative. ‘naLir kadal nilam ellaam unnudayadhu.’ This entire world surrounded by the sea is yours.
‘naan nin thozhil urimayin uLLEn.’ And I am here, by your skills. In other words, I am here, protected by your chivalry, served by your devotion and my heart bound by your love.
Rama prepared Guha’s mind with these sweet words, uttered with all sincerity, to listen to him. Let’s see how this untamed savage of a hunter is made to listen now and also how he comes out brilliantly in his meeting with
Bharata.
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Hari Krishnan
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