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Continued from yesterday's instalment
 Bharata wore his raiment made of tree-bark, as did Rama when he undertook his exile and was followed by his retinue to the forest, in the hope of recalling Rama. A very large battalion followed him, including the people of Ayodhya. Kamban gives a detailed description of the retinue that followed him. None in the crowd wore any jewels, nor was there any music playing. More important was that the white umbrella of the emperor - an insignia of authority - was not held aloft. Bharata displayed his determination not to accept the crown in every single one of his word and deed.
It was when they reached the grand river, Ganges, that Guha the chief of hunters, who owned hundreds of large boats to ferry across the river, saw Bharata from the other side of river. Seeing the dust raised by the movement of thousands of people he mistook Bharata.
 Now, Guha is an interesting and innocent character. Rama was so moved by his devotion that he told him, 'We were four brothers until now. We become five with you.' He was accepted into the brotherhood of Rama. This hunter could not have asked for more. He did not in fact consider himself worthy of being called a brother of Sri Rama. He is so enthralled and enraptured by the gesture of Sri Rama that he prefers to refer to this in later verses as, 'he called me his friend in all his magnanimity'. The simpleton could not think of being accepted as a brother of Rama, even if it was the very same Lord that told him so.
Guha was infuriated by the crowd that followed Bharata and in a trice he came to the conclusion that he was marching with his army to engage Rama in battle, to retain the kingdom forever with him. The grand poetic skills of Kamban come into full play. The verses are set in a rhythm that matches his fury, his fits of rage and the entire surrounding. The reader has to just read the verses aloud and he can see the hunter jumping like jack-in-the-box amidst his followers, and preparing them for a war with
Bharata.
'Shall they cross today the deep waters of the Ganga, and are we bowmen afraid of the army because it is strengthened by elephant divisions? And shall we treat it as an empty breath - the declaration of lasting friendship made by Rama with us? And will not the world mock at me saying that the wretched hunter did not at least give his life for the sake of his friend?'
'unju ivar poyvidin naaik kugan endru enai odhaaro?' Will the world not call me a dog, a cur, if I allow them to cross this Ganges?
 Notice his statement about Sri Rama's declaration of lasting friendship! He is not able to really believe, nay, accept that he could be a brother of Sri Rama. Though he was more than contented with describing it as 'friendship' and mentioned even that with awe, veneration and admiration, he did just what the other brother of Rama - Lakshmana - did. Suspecting Bharata of bad intentions! But that makes Guha all the more loveable.
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Hari Krishnan
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