Bearers also brought loads of fine fat sheat-fish, large pahinas. Thus equipping himself with presents, he went out to meet Bharata, and fair and auspicious omens attended him on his way.

As soon as he saw Vasishtha, the lord of sages, the Nishada chief declared his name and prostrated himself before the sage from a distance. The sage, who recognized him as Rama’s friend, gave him his blessing and told Bharata who he was.

When he heard that he was Rama’s friend, Bharata alighted from his chariot and, leaving it behind, went forward to greet him with a heart overflowing with love. Guha declared his village, his race and his name and made obeisance with his forehead on the ground.

When Bharata saw Guha prostrating himself, he clasped him to his bosom with much uncontrollable rapture as though it were Lakshmana he had met.

Bharata embraced him with such great affection that everybody enviously extolled the expression of his love. There was a jubilant cry of ‘Blessed, blessed is he!’ as the gods applauded and rained down flowers upon him.

‘Him,’ they said, ‘whom the world and the Vedas declare to be altogether vile, so that contact with his shadow requires a ceremonial cleaning, Rama’s younger brother is taking to his heart and embracing, his body thrilling all over with joy.

Those who in the act of yawning say “Rama, Rama” need not fear the onset of a multitude of sins; and here is one whom Rama himself had clasped to his bosom and bestowed on him and his family the power to sanctify the world.