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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 Though an illiterate and a rustic, Guha exhibits a matchless eye for details and a strong intuition that enables him to study the situation clearly and getting a glimpse of the other man’s heart just by his appearance. He reads keenly from a distance the appearance of Bharata and comes to conclusions.
‘nambiyum en naayaganai okkindraan.’ He looks very much like my Lord. He is wearing the same attire -
maravuri or tree-bark - as does my Lord. ‘ayal nindraan thambiyayum okkindraan.’ The one who stands close (Satrughna) resembles Lakshmana in all respects.
‘thava vEdam thalai nindraan.’ He looks like sages, wearing the clothing of a hermit. His hair is matted. He is not clad in royal attire. That gives me a clue.
‘thunbam oru mudivu illan.’ It seems that there is no end to the agony that his heart suffers. There is something more to it.
‘thisai nOkkith thozhugindraan.’ His hands are raised above his head, joined in respectful obeisance in the supposed direction where Rama resides. That confirms his intentions. He is pure at heart. His intentions are unmistakably clear. His character, I am very sure, is untainted.
‘emperumaan pin pirandhaar izhaipparO pizhaippu?’ After all, he is the younger brother of my Lord. How can somebody who is born after my Lord swerve? How can they think of doing something wrong? How can they move away from the path of rectitude? I should have known that. I should have realised that. Turning to his soldiers, he said:
Now, I will go there to the other side of the river to receive him. He appears to have no malicious intents.
‘kurippu ellam kaNdu uNarndhu peyargindrEn.’ I will come back after speaking to him, knowing and understanding what he really feel and why he has come here.
‘kaamingaL.’ Stay here on guard, protecting the boats and this bank.
‘thaN thurai oru naavaayil oru thaniyE thaan vandhaan.’ So saying, he got into a boat, rowing it all alone by himself, went to the other bank with none accompanying him.
 Now, Bharata is moving towards Guha and Guha is moving towards Bharata. Let’s get back to the verse that we saw yesterday, (See:
The
realisation) by which Kamban referred to the common physical features of both Bharata and Guha and what we were discussing about them. One comes with the purity of heart, though belonging to a great royal house, towards a simpleton with all reverence. The other, equally pure at heart but still curious, is moving towards him in awe. Guha has come to his conclusions; but still needs more proof to verify that his theory is right. We will see the scene of their coming together and meeting each other. A really moving account of it. We will see how they met and without uttering a single harsh word, Guha brought the deep-seated agony in the heart of Bharata pouring forth.
In sharp contrast, let us also see the conversation that took place between Bharata and sage Bharadwaja, who though could understand the purpose that impelled Bharata to come to the jungle prefers to phrase his question in not so kind words to make Bharata speak out what he has in heart. That is a scene that takes place after Bharata reaches the other bank of the river, on his way to Citrakuta. The Poet wants us to understand the evolution of Guha, the unsophisticated illiterate, into a great soul. This is not to belittle the greatness of sage Bharadwaja, though.
More follows...
Hari Krishnan
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