Hari Om.
Let us begin the sixty first sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
As the large contingent from ayOdhyA led by prince bharata reaches the river gangA at the city of SRngabErapura, the kingdom of the nishAda tribe. Their king guha is a staunch friend of rAma and subservient to him. His antennas rise at the advent of the large army advancing towards his kingdom. He recognizes the army being led bharata and wonders if the prince means hostility towards either him or rAma. He alerts his kinsmen to be prepared for countering the large army and accordingly keep vigil. Having alerted them, guha approaches bharata and after paying due respect, asks if he means any hostility towards rAma to enjoy the kingdom unobstructed. The prince, calmly responds that his only goal is to bring rAma back to ayOdhyA and he is his only refuge. King guha is touched! He appreciates the endeavor of bharata and foretells that his fame shall be everlasting for rejecting the throne that came to him unasked. The contingent retires for the day at the banks of gangA. But bharata finds no joy. He is deeply upset and palpitates profusely. He approaches guha who calms him and shares his sentiments. Onwards…
The ranger of treacherous terrains, guha, began narration of the lofty goodness of lakshmaNa to the virtuous bharata. He said – “lakshmaNa was alert and awake wielding bows and arrows that night in the protection of his brother rAma. I pointed a well made bed to him and ask him to rest while we keep vigil. You are a prince and used to comforts. We are used to a hard life. So we shall stay awake in the protection of rAma while he rests. There is no one else on the earth dearer to me than rAma, I tell the truth, don’t be anxious.
नहि रामात्प्रियतरो ममास्ति भुवि कश्चन।
मोत्सुकोऽभूर्ब्रवीम्येतदप्यसत्यं तवाग्रतः।।2.86.5।।
It is only by the grace of rAMa that I want the trifold achievements of dharma (righteousness), artha (means) and kAma (needs) in this world. Therefore wielding bow, I and my kinsmen shall protect him and be assured there is absolutely nothing unknown to us in this forest. We know it well as the back of our hand. As we submitted thus to the valiant lakshmaNa, the righteous one replied –
” 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”.
The next morning, the two brothers donned matted locks here on the banks of gangA and I arranged to ferry them across. The two brothers sporting matted locks, dressed in barks, wielding bows and arrows, valiant and alert thus moved away from here along with sItA.
Here we conclude the eighty fifth 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: 2.87. guha continues narration
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
