All 38 Uses of
guile
in
The Ramayana
- With ready guile they told him where Their hermit dwelling lay: Then, lest the sire should find them there, Sped by wild paths away.†
Book 1
- She sore impeded and beset By Ráma and his arrowy net, Though skilled in guile and magic lore, Rushed on the brothers with a roar.†
Book 1
- Then Janak, best of kings, aware Of Visvámitra lodging there, With Satánanda for his guide— The priest on whom he most relied, His chaplain void of guile and stain— And others of his priestly train, Bearing the gift that greets the guest, To meet him with all honour pressed.†
Book 1
- But Arjun stooped to treachery vile And slew my noble sire by guile, Whose penance awful strength had gained, Whose hand the God-given bow retained.†
Book 1
- Poor victim of the guileless breast, A happier fate thou meritest.†
Book 2 *guileless = innocent -- without cunning (shrewdness, cleverness) or deceitstandard suffix: The suffix "-less" in guileless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.
- Full of all guile and sin and spite Misshapen hump-backs shock the sight: But thou art fair and formed to please, Bent like a lily by the breeze.†
Book 2
- Misguided by the hump-back's guile She pondered her resolve awhile, As the fair path that bliss secured The miserable lady lured, Devoted to her queen, and swayed By hopes of gain and bliss, the maid Rejoiced, her lady's purpose known, And deemed the prize she sought her own.†
Book 2
- O wicked traitress, fierce and vile, Who lovest deeds of sin and guile, What crime or grievance dost thou see, What fault in Ráma or in me?†
Book 2
- thou hast slain me, murderess, while Soothing my soul with words of guile, As the wild hunter kills the deer Lured from the brake his song to hear.†
Book 2
- Thou and thy son at least forbear In offerings to my shade to share, For by the plot thy guile has laid His consecration will be stayed.†
Book 2
- But if thou still wilt shut thine eyes, Nor see the guile herein that lies, My soul is sad, I deeply mourn, And duty seems a thing to scorn.†
Book 2
- I swear it by my truth, believe, For thee, my son, I deeply grieve, Misguided by the traitress dame With hidden guile like smouldering flame.†
Book 2
- His sire's behest, By Queen Kaikeyí's guile distressed, Has banished to the forest hence Him who was all the world's defence.†
Book 2
- Kausalyá saw the monarch lie With drooping frame and failing eye, And for her banished son distressed With these sad words her lord addressed: "Kaikeyí, cruel, false, and vile Has cast the venom of her guile On Ráma lord of men, and she Will ravage like a snake set free; And more and more my soul alarm, Like a dire serpent bent on harm, For triumph crowns each dark intent, And Ráma to the wild is sent.†
Book 2
- If Gods were joined with demons, they Could ne'er, I ween, that hero slay, But guile may kill the wondrous man; Attend while I disclose the plan.†
Book 3
- For thou art skilled in art and wile, A warrior brave and trained in guile.†
Book 3
- He wears, well trained in magic guile, The figure of a deer a while, Bright as the very sun, or place Where dwell the gay Gandharva race.†
Book 3
- If they, O chief, at first appear Pure of all guile, in heart sincere, Detect in speech and look the sin And treachery that lurk within.†
Book 4
- In eye, on brow, in all his face The keenest look no guile could trace.†
Book 4
- Through woman's guile his son has made His dwelling in the forest shade, Where, as he lived with every sense Subdued in hermit abstinence, Fierce Ráva?†
Book 4
- The friend of justice, void of guile, Thus answered with a gentle smile: "Great Vánar, friends who seek my aid Still find their trust with fruit repaid.†
Book 4
- Thou wearest virtue's badge,(588) but guile And meanest sin thy soul defile.†
Book 4
- Mean-hearted coward, false and vile, Whose cruel soul delights in guile, Could Dasaratha, noblest king, Beget so mean and base a thing?†
Book 4
- Nor yet has Ráma's guileless heart Discerned thee for the thing thou art— A snake who holds the frogs that cries And lures fresh victims as it dies.†
Book 4guileless = innocent -- without cunning (shrewdness, cleverness) or deceitstandard suffix: The suffix "-less" in guileless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.
- Though grief and woe his utterance broke They trusted not the words he spoke; But, looking still for secret guile, Reflected in their hearts a while: "If on our mangled limbs he feed, We gain the death ourselves decreed."†
Book 4
- He will with guile thy hold elude, Or own thy might, by thee subdued.†
Book 5
- Here is no hope by guile to win The hostile hearts of those within.†
Book 5
- came with guile And bore me thence to Lanká's isle.†
Book 5
- s brother, comes with guile And, feigning from his king to flee, Seeks refuge, Raghu's son, with thee.†
Book 6
- Well ponder every hope and fear Until thy doubtful course be clear; Then own his merit or detect His guile, and welcome or reject.†
Book 6
- lord of Lanká's isle, And Rákshas sin and Rákshas guile.†
Book 6
- But Saramá, of gentler mood, With pitying eyes the mourner viewed, Stole to her side and softly told Glad tidings that her heart consoled, Revealing with sweet voice and smile The secret of the giant's guile.†
Book 6
- Then if thy love and changeless will Would serve the helpless captive still, Go forth and learn each plot and guile Planned by the lord of Lanká's isle.†
Book 6
- But brave Sugríva, swift to know The guileful purpose of the foe, Gained with light leap the upper air, And breath and strength and spirit there; Then, joyous as for victory won, Returned to Raghu's royal son.†
Book 6guileful = full of cunning (shrewdness and cleverness, and perhaps deceit)
- Now show the might, employ the guile, O Monarch of the giants' isle, Which stole a helpless dame away: Call up thy power and strength to-day.†
Book 6
- On, smite the lord of Lanká's isle, But guard you from the giants' guile Who each dishonest art employ And by deceit brave foes destroy.†
Book 6
- Kaikeyí's guile I ne'er forget: Her cruel words will haunt me yet, Which sent thee forth, my son, to roam The forest far from me and home.†
Book 6
- Then Bharat called the Vánar chief And questioned thus in doubt and grief: "Hast thou uncertain, like thy kind, A sweet delusive guile designed?†
Book 6
Definition:
cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceitful