Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 86: Guha Relates Rāma’s Pastimes on the Bank of Gaṅgā
Text 2.86.1
आचचक्षेऽथ सद्भावं लक्ष्मणस्य महात्मनः।
भरतायाप्रमेयाय गुहो गहनगोचरः॥
ācacakṣe ’tha sad-bhāvaṁ lakṣmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ
bharatāyāprameyāya guho gahana-gocaraḥ
ācacakṣe = described; atha = then; sat-bhāvam = nice attitude [towards Rāma as follows]; lakṣmaṇasya = Lakṣmaṇa’s; mahā-ātmanaḥ = the great soul; bharatāya = Bharata; aprameyāya = to the immeasurable; guhaḥ = Guha; gahana-gocaraḥ = the forest wanderer.
The forest wanderer Guha then described to the immeasurable Bharata the great soul Lakṣmaṇa’s nice attitude [towards Rāma as follows].
Guha spoke this to Bharata after consoling Him [as noted at the end of the previous chapter]. Lakṣmaṇa’s appropriate attitude towards Rāma was that of obeying Him as His elder brother.
In the matter of instructing about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no distinction between beginners and veterans. Teachers who speak [also] listen respectfully. This is pointed out in this verse.
[The prefix] ā [in the word ācacakṣe] indicates that He only spoke a little. He did this after understanding Bharata’s nature. Lakṣmaṇa’s appropriate attitude was one of tender affection [to Rāma] since His childhood.
Gahana-gocaraḥ indicates that Guha knew of the various grades of trees and so on in the forest. He spoke the following verses about Lakṣmaṇa’s obedience to His elder brother to increase Bharata’s affection for Rāma.