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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 ‘Do not feel bad about having to live in separation now,’ Rama continued. I know how agonising it must be for you to live away from us. But consider this. ‘thunbu uLadhu enin andrO sugam uLadhu?’ There is happiness only if there is sorrow. That is, one can know and enjoy the feeling of happiness surging from within, only if one knows what sorrow is. How would one be able to distinguish it otherwise?
‘adhu andri pinbu uLadhu idai mannum pirivu uLadhu ena unnEl.’ We are going to be together for a long time to come (after I come back). Do not think of the estrangement that we have to go through now.
‘munbu uLem oru naalvEm.’ We were four brothers until now. ‘mudivu uLadhu ena unnaa anbu uLa.’
Now there is an endless love runs in our hearts. ‘ini naam Or aiyvargal uLar aayinOm.’ We become five (brothers) from today.
‘You are not my friend any more, my dear Guha. You are my brother.’ Before completing the sentence, Rama realised that he is asking for trouble now! Guha, for the very same reason of becoming his brother would want to follow him! ‘If I am your brother, let me follow you then, for Lakshmana accompanies you. If that brother can come with you, why not this brother?’ he might ask!
‘Lakshmana, your brother is with me to protect me always. What or who can dare harm me when he stands guard? I will not go back on my words. I will come to you when I return after serving what has been ordained to me. More over, my dear brother, you have a duty to perform.’
‘angu uLa kiLai kaavarkku amaidhiyin uLan umbi.’ Your brother (Bharata) is there (in Ayodhya) to protect our kith and kin (subjects).
‘ingu uLa kiLai kaavarkku yaar uLar isayaai nee?’ Just tell me, who is there to protect our people here?
‘un kiLai enadhu andrO? Are not your people mine?
‘uRu thuyar uRal aamO?’ What is the need to go gloomy?
‘en kiLai idhu kaa en Evalin inidhu endraan.’ Remain here to protect my subjects here, under my orders.
‘When you become my brother, your people become mine. If you come with us, our people would have none to lead or protect them. These are my people. Protect them with my nod of approval, as does Bharata in Ayodhya!’ Before Guha could cite the example of Lakshmana, Rama is quick enough to cite the example of
Bharata!
 What else Guha could do except to listen to these words? Who else could sound so very convincing? And who else could be so ready to sense the love radiating from his heart and be empathetic with this hunter? Guha’s heart was heavy. But there is no doubt that while it was heavy, it was also floating high up in the air, with the love that Rama showered on him.
Though Guha appears in a very few scenes, the Poet works up the character so very well that the reader is able to identify him with Lakshmana. His love for Rama was as immense as that of Lakshmana. We are going to see him react to Bharata’s arrival, in the same manner as Lakshmana did. We are going to see a common purpose, a common perception and a common urge to protect the interests of Rama running in both these hearts.
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Hari Krishnan
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