Hari Om.
Let us begin the fifty first sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The trio speed away along the banks of ganga crossing villages, forests, gardens, fields enjoying the peerless beauty of the sacred river and the flora and the fauna that it supports. The villagers from the village on the way also follow the chariot for some distance and then stop upon the command of rAma. Traveling swiftly they reach SRngabErapura on the banks of the sacred river ganga and decide to halt for the day. A very dear friend of rAma, the tribal chief guha comes to know about the advent of rAma and hurries to meet him. Seeing guha approaching him, rAma goes to meet him and embraces him tightly enquiring his welfare. That evening rAma refuses any food that guha brought and retires under the ingudi tree after partaking of the water brought by brother lakshmaNa. guha and lakshmaNa move aside to keep vigil. Onwards…
As guha and lakshmaNa kept vigil that night, the tribal chief guha was moved to grief watching lakshmaNa stay awake in the service of his brother rAma without any conceit. He requested him – ” O dear lakshmaNa, you are used to comfort and deserve it. We are used to several hardships in the forest life. Here, please find the comfortable bed arranged for you and rest happily on it. We shall stay awake through the night for the protection of rAma and sItA. I swear by truth that there is none dearer to me than rAma in this world and I seek dharma, abundant wealth and fame only by his grace in this world.
न हि रामात्प्रियतमो ममास्ति भुवि कश्चन।
ब्रवीम्येतदहं सत्यं सत्येनैव च ते शपे।।2.51.4।।
अस्य प्रसादादाशंसे लोकेस्मिन् सुमुहद्यशः।
धर्मावाप्तिं च विपुलामर्थावाप्तिं च केवलम्।।2.51.5।।
I shall protect my dearest friend rAma along with my kin and forces. There is nothing unknown to us in the treacherous forests and we can even take on an entire army consisting of the four fold forces”.
Listening to the sincere words of guha, lakshmaNa said – “O guha, we know that you are righteous and are under your protection and hence we have nothing to fear. However, when the valiant son of daSaratha sleeps on the ground along with his consort sItA, how on earth can I get sleep or enjoy pleasures?
कथं दशरथौ भूमौ शयाने सह सीतया।
शक्या निद्रा मया लब्धुं जीवितं वा सुखानि वा।।2.51.9।।
Look at rAma whose valor and might even the gods or demons can stand is sleeping comfortably on the bed of grass along with sItA.
After engaging intensely in the practice of yajnas along with the sacred mantras, king daSaratha finally obtained a son with similar attributes as him. When such a son is banished, surely the land will be widowed as the king cannot survive parting with his dear son. The cries from the palace have ceased – surely the women must have been exhausted from crying continuously on account of rAma’s exile. I am not sure if the king, kausalyA and my mother sumitrA will survive this night. Yes, my mother might just survive in anticipation of Satrughna’s arrival but surely not kausalyA separated from her valiant son.
That lovely city of ayOdhyA filled with loyal people whom it gives so much joy will be destroyed due to the passing of the king. My father will brood over his inability to install rAma as the king and will die of that grief despite knowing the past is past and is unchangeable. Once he passes, kausalyA and sumitrA will follow suit. Those who are the by the side of the king when he passes shall perform his obsequies and are fortunate to do so.
Or the king might just survive and then rule over ayOdhyA justly – that lovely city with neat squares, well laid roads, dotted with sky scrapers and replete with bewitching beauties. The city echoes the trumpets of elephants, neighs of horses and the hustle of the chariots. It is full of auspiciousness and teeming with happy people. That capital of my father’s kingdom has beautiful gardens and parks and reverberates with boisterous celebration of festivals. People gaily go around the city. Will we return to ayOdhyA after completing our exile and be able to meet that stickler to vows daSaratha”?
Thus the great lakshmaNa stood grieving without sleeping and the night passed off. Listening to the truthful words of lakshmaNa, guha was moved out of his deep friendship with rAma and shed copious tears like an afflicted elephant.
Here we conclude the fifty first sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 2.52. Loyal servant, meticulous master
Previous: 2.50. Stopping by a dear friend
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
