Guha

King of the Nishadas

The Nishadas were a people of the forest and the river. They knew the waters of the Ganga well, fished, hunted in the woods and travelled by boat. Guha was their king, strong and respected, with many relatives and warriors around him. His town, Shringaverapura, stood on the bank of the Ganga.

Valmiki does not tell us about Guha’s birth or family, but he tells us what mattered most: Guha was Rama’s friend, a friend as dear to him as his own self. Even before the exile there was a bond of love between the prince of Ayodhya and the king of the forest people.

Welcoming Rama at Shringaverapura

When Rama left Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshmana, the charioteer Sumantra drove them to the Ganga. They stopped near Shringaverapura under a large ingudi tree. As soon as Guha heard that Rama had come, he hurried there with his ministers and relatives. Seeing Rama dressed for the forest, Guha was deeply sad. Rama embraced him warmly, and Guha bowed and asked how he could serve him.

Guha said, “Just as Ayodhya is yours, this land is yours too. Who could have a guest as dear as you?” He brought rice, sweets and many kinds of food and drink, and offered soft beds for the night. But Rama gently refused. “I have taken the vow of a forest hermit,” he said. “I will live on fruits and roots. Please feed only the horses of my father, which are dear to him.” Guha gladly did so.

That night Rama and Sita slept on a bed of grass under the ingudi tree. In the morning Rama asked Guha for the milky sap of the banyan tree, and he and Lakshmana used it to mat their hair like sages. Guha brought a fine boat with skilled boatmen. Rama sent Sumantra back to Ayodhya, said goodbye to his friend and crossed the Ganga with Sita and Lakshmana.

A night of watch with Lakshmana

While Rama and Sita slept, Lakshmana stayed awake with his bow. Guha said to him, “I have made a comfortable bed for you. We forest people are used to hardship. Sleep in peace; I will guard Rama with my people, for no one in the world is dearer to me than he.”

Lakshmana thanked him but would not rest. “How can I sleep, or think of my own comfort, when Rama lies on the ground with Sita?” he said. All night long the two sat together, and Lakshmana spoke of their father’s grief and the sorrow of Ayodhya. He feared that the old king would not survive the sorrow of parting from Rama. Guha listened and wept with him until dawn.

Testing Bharata

Some time later a huge army appeared on the bank of the river. It was Bharata, coming from Ayodhya with the queens, the priests and the people. Guha grew suspicious. He told his relatives, “If Bharata means harm to Rama, we will not let him cross.” He ordered five hundred boats to be made ready, each carrying a hundred young warriors.

Then Guha went to meet Bharata with gifts of fish, meat, honey and other foods of his people, to find out what was in his heart. Bharata asked him the way to the ashram of the sage Bharadvaja. Guha replied honestly, “My people will guide you. But seeing such a great army, I fear you may mean harm to Rama.” Bharata answered, “May such a time never come. Rama is like a father to me. I am going to bring him back.” Guha’s face lit up with joy, and he praised Bharata, saying that no one in the world was like him, for he was giving up a kingdom that had come to him without effort.

That night Guha told Bharata everything about Rama’s stay: how Rama had refused rich food, how he had slept on grass under the ingudi tree and how Lakshmana had kept watch. When Bharata heard that Rama and Lakshmana had matted their hair like hermits, he fell down in grief. Guha showed him the grass bed, still pressed down where Rama and Sita had slept. In the morning Guha’s boats carried Bharata and his whole army across the Ganga.

News of Rama’s return

Guha’s friendship was not forgotten. At the end of the exile, after the victory in Lanka, Rama flew back towards Ayodhya in the Pushpaka and stopped at Bharadvaja’s ashram. From there he sent Hanuman ahead with a message, and he told him to go first to Shringaverapura and tell his friend Guha that Rama was well and coming home.

Rama said that Guha, his friend as dear as his own self, would be overjoyed at the news, and that Guha would tell Hanuman the way to Bharata and the news of Ayodhya. Hanuman flew to Shringaverapura and told Guha, “Your friend Rama is at Bharadvaja’s ashram; you will see him tomorrow,” and then flew on to meet Bharata. So the king of the Nishadas was among the very first to hear that Rama was returning.

Character and qualities

Guha was simple, warm and deeply loyal. He did not care that Rama had lost his kingdom; he loved him just the same, as a hermit as much as a prince, and was proud to be his friend. He offered everything he had, and when Rama refused it, he served him in the ways Rama would accept.

His loyalty was also wise. He was ready to fight for his friend, yet he did not attack Bharata blindly. He tested him first, listened to his answer and then helped him with all his heart. Valmiki shows that a true friend protects us, but also judges others fairly.