Shabari's Liberation

Shloka 1 (aranya.74.1)

तौ कबन्धेन तं मार्गं पम्पाया दर्शितं वने । आतस्थतुर्दिशं गृह्य प्रतीचीं नृवरात्मजौ ॥ 74.1 ॥

tau kabandhena taṃ mārgaṃ pampāyā darśitaṃ vane | ātasthaturdiśaṃ gṛhya pratīcīṃ nṛvarātmajau || 74.1 ||

Those two sons of the best of kings, taking the westward direction shown by Kabandha, set out upon that path in the forest leading to Pampa.

Shloka 2 (aranya.74.2)

तौ शैलेष्वाचितानेकान् क्षौद्रपुष्पफलद्रुमान् । वीक्षन्तौ जग्मतुर्द्रष्टुं सुग्रीवं रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ 74.2 ॥

tau śaileṣvācitānekān kṣaudrapuṣpaphaladrumān | vīkṣantau jagmaturdraṣṭuṃ sugrīvaṃ rāmalakṣmaṇau || 74.2 ||

Rama and Lakshmana, gazing upon the many trees on the mountains laden with honeyed blossoms and fruit, went forward to see Sugriva.

Shloka 3 (aranya.74.3)

कृत्वा तु शैलपृष्ठे तु तौ वासं रघुनन्दनौ । पम्पायाः पश्चिमं तीरं राघवावुपतस्थतुः ॥ 74.3 ॥

kṛtvā tu śailapṛṣṭhe tu tau vāsaṃ raghunandanau | pampāyāḥ paścimaṃ tīraṃ rāghavāvupatasthatuḥ || 74.3 ||

Having made their night's rest on a mountain ridge, those two delights of Raghu's line, the Raghavas, drew near the western shore of Pampa.

Shloka 4 (aranya.74.4)

तौ पुष्करिण्याः पम्पायास्तीरमासाद्य पश्चिमम् । अपश्यतां ततस्तत्र शबर्या रम्यमाश्रमम् ॥ 74.4 ॥

tau puṣkariṇyāḥ pampāyāstīramāsādya paścimam | apaśyatāṃ tatastatra śabaryā ramyamāśramam || 74.4 ||

Having reached the western shore of the lotus-lake Pampa, they then beheld there the delightful hermitage of Shabari.

Shloka 5 (aranya.74.5)

तौ तमाश्रममासाद्य द्रुमैर्बहुभिरावृतम् । सुरम्यमभिवीक्षन्तौ शबरीमभ्युपेयतुः ॥ 74.5 ॥

tau tamāśramamāsādya drumairbahubhirāvṛtam | suramyamabhivīkṣantau śabarīmabhyupeyatuḥ || 74.5 ||

Reaching that hermitage, encircled by many trees, and gazing upon its lovely surroundings, they two approached Shabari.

Shloka 6 (aranya.74.6)

तौ दृष्ट्वा तु तदा सिद्धा समुत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः । पादौ जग्राह रामस्य लक्ष्मणस्य च धीमतः ॥ 74.6 ॥

tau dṛṣṭvā tu tadā siddhā samutthāya kṛtāñjaliḥ | pādau jagrāha rāmasya lakṣmaṇasya ca dhīmataḥ || 74.6 ||

On seeing them, that accomplished ascetic rose at once, joined her palms, and clasped the feet of Rama and of the wise Lakshmana.

Shloka 7 (aranya.74.7)

पाद्यमाचमनीयं च सर्वं प्रादाद् यथाविधि । तामुवाच ततो रामः श्रमणीं धर्मसंस्थिताम् ॥ 74.7 ॥

pādyamācamanīyaṃ ca sarvaṃ prādād yathāvidhi | tāmuvāca tato rāmaḥ śramaṇīṃ dharmasaṃsthitām || 74.7 ||

She duly offered them water for the feet and for sipping, and all else as custom required. Then Rama spoke to that ascetic woman, ever established in righteousness:

Shloka 8 (aranya.74.8)

कच्चित्ते निर्जिता विघ्नाः कच्चित्ते वर्धते तपः । कच्चित्ते नियतः कोप आहारश्च तपोधने ॥ 74.8 ॥

kaccitte nirjitā vighnāḥ kaccitte vardhate tapaḥ | kaccitte niyataḥ kopa āhāraśca tapodhane || 74.8 ||

'O lady rich in austerity, have you overcome all obstacles? Does your penance prosper? Are your anger and your diet kept in due measure?

Shloka 9 (aranya.74.9)

कच्चित्ते नियमाः प्राप्ताः कच्चित्ते मनसः सुखम् । कच्चित्ते गुरुशुश्रूषा सफला चारुभाषिणि ॥ 74.9 ॥

kaccitte niyamāḥ prāptāḥ kaccitte manasaḥ sukham | kaccitte guruśuśrūṣā saphalā cārubhāṣiṇi || 74.9 ||

Have your observances been fulfilled? Is your mind at peace? And, O sweet-spoken one, has your service to your teachers borne fruit?'

Shloka 10 (aranya.74.10)

रामेण तापसी पृष्टा सा सिद्धा सिद्धसम्मता । शशंस शबरी वृद्धा रामाय प्रत्यवस्थिता ॥ 74.10 ॥

rāmeṇa tāpasī pṛṣṭā sā siddhā siddhasammatā | śaśaṃsa śabarī vṛddhā rāmāya pratyavasthitā || 74.10 ||

Thus questioned by Rama, that aged ascetic, accomplished and honoured among the accomplished, standing before him, replied to Rama:

Shloka 11 (aranya.74.11)

अद्य प्राप्ता तपःसिद्धिस्तव संदर्शनान्मया । अद्य मे सफलं जन्म गुरवश्च सुपूजिताः ॥ 74.11 ॥

adya prāptā tapaḥsiddhistava saṃdarśanānmayā | adya me saphalaṃ janma guravaśca supūjitāḥ || 74.11 ||

'Today, by the very sight of you, I have attained the fruit of my austerity. Today my birth is fulfilled, and my service to my teachers well honoured.

Shloka 12 (aranya.74.12)

अद्य मे सफलं तप्तं स्वर्गश्चैव भविष्यति । त्वयि देववरे राम पूजिते पुरुषर्षभ ॥ 74.12 ॥

adya me saphalaṃ taptaṃ svargaścaiva bhaviṣyati | tvayi devavare rāma pūjite puruṣarṣabha || 74.12 ||

Today my austerities are fruitful, and heaven too shall be mine, since I have worshipped you, O Rama, best among men, who are foremost among the gods.

Shloka 13 (aranya.74.13)

तवाहं चक्षुषा सौम्य पूता सौम्येन मानद । गमिष्याम्यक्षयांल्लोकांस्त्वत्प्रसादादरिंदम ॥ 74.13 ॥

tavāhaṃ cakṣuṣā saumya pūtā saumyena mānada | gamiṣyāmyakṣayāṃllokāṃstvatprasādādariṃdama || 74.13 ||

By your gentle glance, O gentle one, I am purified, O giver of honour; by your grace, O subduer of foes, I shall go to the imperishable worlds.

Shloka 14 (aranya.74.14)

चित्रकूटं त्वयि प्राप्ते विमानैरतुलप्रभैः । इतस्ते दिवमारूढा यानहं पर्यचारिषम् ॥ 74.14 ॥

citrakūṭaṃ tvayi prāpte vimānairatulaprabhaiḥ | itaste divamārūḍhā yānahaṃ paryacāriṣam || 74.14 ||

When you arrived at Chitrakuta, those whom I used to serve rose from here to heaven in aircrafts of matchless splendour.

Shloka 15 (aranya.74.15)

तैश्चाहमुक्ता धर्मज्ञैर्महाभागैर्महर्षिभिः । आगमिष्यति ते रामः सुपुण्यमिममाश्रमम् ॥ 74.15 ॥

taiścāhamuktā dharmajñairmahābhāgairmaharṣibhiḥ | āgamiṣyati te rāmaḥ supuṇyamimamāśramam || 74.15 ||

And those righteous, most fortunate great sages said to me: 'Rama will come to this most sacred hermitage of yours,

Shloka 16 (aranya.74.16)

स ते प्रतिग्रहीतव्यः सौमित्रिसहितोऽतिथिः । तं च दृष्ट्वा वरांल्लोकानक्षयांस्त्वं गमिष्यसि ॥ 74.16 ॥

sa te pratigrahītavyaḥ saumitrisahito'tithiḥ | taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā varāṃllokānakṣayāṃstvaṃ gamiṣyasi || 74.16 ||

along with Saumitri; you must receive him as your guest, and having seen him, you shall attain the finest, imperishable worlds.'

Shloka 17 (aranya.74.17)

एवमुक्ता महाभागैस्तदाहं पुरुषर्षभ । मया तु संचितं वन्यं विविधं पुरुषर्षभ ॥ 74.17 ॥

evamuktā mahābhāgaistadāhaṃ puruṣarṣabha | mayā tu saṃcitaṃ vanyaṃ vividhaṃ puruṣarṣabha || 74.17 ||

Thus addressed by those most fortunate sages, O bull among men — for your sake, O tiger among men, I have gathered these various forest offerings,

Shloka 18 (aranya.74.18)

तवार्थे पुरुषव्याघ्र पम्पायास्तीरसम्भवम् । एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा शबर्या शबरीमिदम् ॥ 74.18 ॥

tavārthe puruṣavyāghra pampāyāstīrasambhavam | evamuktaḥ sa dharmātmā śabaryā śabarīmidam || 74.18 ||

which grow upon the shore of Pampa.' When the righteous Rama had been thus addressed by Shabari, he said this to her —

Shloka 19 (aranya.74.19)

राघवः प्राह विज्ञाने तां नित्यमबहिष्कृताम् । दनोः सकाशात् तत्त्वेन प्रभावं ते महात्मनाम् ॥ 74.19 ॥

rāghavaḥ prāha vijñāne tāṃ nityamabahiṣkṛtām | danoḥ sakāśāt tattvena prabhāvaṃ te mahātmanām || 74.19 ||

he, Raghava, spoke to her who was never excluded from true knowledge: 'From Danu's son I have heard in essence of the power of you and your great-souled teachers;

Shloka 20 (aranya.74.20)

श्रुतं प्रत्यक्षमिच्छामि संद्रष्टुं यदि मन्यसे । एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा रामवक्त्रविनिःसृतम् ॥ 74.20 ॥

śrutaṃ pratyakṣamicchāmi saṃdraṣṭuṃ yadi manyase | etattu vacanaṃ śrutvā rāmavaktraviniḥsṛtam || 74.20 ||

if you think it fit, I wish to see with my own eyes what I have heard.' Hearing these words that issued from Rama's own lips,

Shloka 21 (aranya.74.21)

शबरी दर्शयामास तावुभौ तद्वनं महत् । पश्य मेघघनप्रख्यं मृगपक्षिसमाकुलम् ॥ 74.21 ॥

śabarī darśayāmāsa tāvubhau tadvanaṃ mahat | paśya meghaghanaprakhyaṃ mṛgapakṣisamākulam || 74.21 ||

Shabari showed that great woodland to both of them: 'Behold — dense as massed clouds, thronged with deer and birds,

Shloka 22 (aranya.74.22)

मतङ्गवनमित्येव विश्रुतं रघुनन्दन । इह ते भावितात्मानो गुरवो मे महाद्युते । जुहवांचक्रिरे नीडं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रपूजितम् ॥ 74.22 ॥

mataṅgavanamityeva viśrutaṃ raghunandana | iha te bhāvitātmāno guravo me mahādyute | juhavāṃcakrire nīḍaṃ mantravanmantrapūjitam || 74.22 ||

is known, O joy of Raghu's line, as Matanga's forest. Here, O resplendent one, my contemplative teachers offered oblations at this hallowed hearth, worshipped duly with sacred hymns.

Shloka 23 (aranya.74.23)

इयं प्रत्यक्स्थली वेदी यत्र ते मे सुसत्कृताः । पुष्पोपहारं कुर्वन्ति श्रमादुद्वेपिभिः करैः ॥ 74.23 ॥

iyaṃ pratyaksthalī vedī yatra te me susatkṛtāḥ | puṣpopahāraṃ kurvanti śramādudvepibhiḥ karaiḥ || 74.23 ||

This is the western altar-ground where those deeply revered ones, with hands trembling from age, used to offer flowers in worship.

Shloka 24 (aranya.74.24)

तेषां तपःप्रभावेण पश्याद्यापि रघूत्तम । द्योतयन्ती दिशः सर्वाः श्रिया वेद्यतुलप्रभा ॥ 74.24 ॥

teṣāṃ tapaḥprabhāveṇa paśyādyāpi raghūttama | dyotayantī diśaḥ sarvāḥ śriyā vedyatulaprabhā || 74.24 ||

By the power of their austerity, behold, O best of the Raghus, how even today those altars, of matchless splendour, illumine every direction with their glory.

Shloka 25 (aranya.74.25)

अशक्नुवद्भिस्तैर्गन्तुमुपवासश्रमालसैः । चिन्तितेनागतान् पश्य समेतान् सप्त सागरान् ॥ 74.25 ॥

aśaknuvadbhistairgantumupavāsaśramālasaiḥ | cintitenāgatān paśya sametān sapta sāgarān || 74.25 ||

Those sages, wearied and enfeebled by fasting, were unable to travel to bathe in the seas; so, behold, all seven seas came together here at their mere thought.

Shloka 26 (aranya.74.26)

कृताभिषेकैस्तैर्न्यस्ता वल्कलाः पादपेष्विह । अद्यापि न विशुष्यन्ति प्रदेशे रघुनन्दन ॥ 74.26 ॥

kṛtābhiṣekaistairnyastā valkalāḥ pādapeṣviha | adyāpi na viśuṣyanti pradeśe raghunandana || 74.26 ||

The bark-garments spread on these trees by them, after their holy bathing, have not dried even to this day, O joy of Raghu's line, here in this place.

Shloka 27 (aranya.74.27)

देवकार्याणि कुर्वद्भिर्यानीमानि कृतानि वै । पुष्पैः कुवलयैः सार्धं म्लानत्वं न तु यान्ति वै ॥ 74.27 ॥

devakāryāṇi kurvadbhiryānīmāni kṛtāni vai | puṣpaiḥ kuvalayaiḥ sārdhaṃ mlānatvaṃ na tu yānti vai || 74.27 ||

These garlands, woven of blue lotuses and other flowers by them as they performed their rites for the gods, indeed never fade.

Shloka 28 (aranya.74.28)

कृत्स्नं वनमिदं दृष्टं श्रोतव्यं च श्रुतं त्वया । तद् इच्छाम्य् अभ्यनुज्ञाता त्यक्ष्याम्य् एतत् कलेवरम् ॥ 74.28 ॥

kṛtsnaṃ vanamidaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ śrotavyaṃ ca śrutaṃ tvayā | tad icchāmy abhyanujñātā tyakṣyāmy etat kalevaram || 74.28 ||

You have now seen this whole woodland, and heard all that was to be heard. Therefore, with your leave, I now wish to lay down this body.

Shloka 29 (aranya.74.29)

तेषामिच्छाम्यहं गन्तुं समीपं भावितात्मनाम् । मुनीनामाश्रमो येषामहं च परिचारिणी ॥ 74.29 ॥

teṣāmicchāmyahaṃ gantuṃ samīpaṃ bhāvitātmanām | munīnāmāśramo yeṣāmahaṃ ca paricāriṇī || 74.29 ||

I wish to go to the presence of those contemplative sages, whose hermitage this is, and to whom I have been but a handmaid.

Shloka 30 (aranya.74.30)

धर्मिष्ठं तु वचः श्रुत्वा राघवः सहलक्ष्मणः । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे आश्चर्यमिति चाब्रवीत् ॥ 74.30 ॥

dharmiṣṭhaṃ tu vacaḥ śrutvā rāghavaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe āścaryamiti cābravīt || 74.30 ||

On hearing these righteous words, Raghava, together with Lakshmana, felt boundless joy and exclaimed, 'How wondrous is this!'

Shloka 31 (aranya.74.31)

तामुवाच ततो रामः शबरीं संशितव्रताम् । अर्चितोऽहं त्वया भद्रे गच्छ कामं यथासुखम् ॥ 74.31 ॥

tāmuvāca tato rāmaḥ śabarīṃ saṃśitavratām | arcito'haṃ tvayā bhadre gaccha kāmaṃ yathāsukham || 74.31 ||

Then Rama said to Shabari, so steadfast in her vows: 'You have honoured me well, O gracious lady; go now as you wish, wherever brings you peace.'

Shloka 32 (aranya.74.32)

इत्येवमुक्ता जटिला चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरा । अनुज्ञाता तु रामेण हुत्वाऽऽत्मानं हुताशने ॥ 74.32 ॥

ityevamuktā jaṭilā cīrakṛṣṇājināmbarā | anujñātā tu rāmeṇa hutvā''tmānaṃ hutāśane || 74.32 ||

So permitted by Rama, she of matted locks, clad in bark and black antelope-skin, offered herself into the sacred fire,

Shloka 33 (aranya.74.33)

ज्वलत्पावकसंकाशा स्वर्गमेव जगाम ह । दिव्याभरणसंयुक्ता दिव्यमाल्यानुलेपना ॥ 74.33 ॥

jvalatpāvakasaṃkāśā svargameva jagāma ha | divyābharaṇasaṃyuktā divyamālyānulepanā || 74.33 ||

and, blazing like fire itself, went straight to heaven — adorned now with celestial ornaments, celestial garlands and unguents,

Shloka 34 (aranya.74.34)

दिव्याम्बरधरा तत्र बभूव प्रियदर्शना । विराजयन्ती तं देशं विद्युत्सौदामनी यथा ॥ 74.34 ॥

divyāmbaradharā tatra babhūva priyadarśanā | virājayantī taṃ deśaṃ vidyutsaudāmanī yathā || 74.34 ||

clothed in celestial garments, lovely to behold, illuminating that region as a flash of lightning.

Shloka 35 (aranya.74.35)

यत्र ते सुकृतात्मानो विहरन्ति महर्षयः । तत् पुण्यं शबरी स्थानं जगामात्मसमाधिना ॥ 74.35 ॥

yatra te sukṛtātmāno viharanti maharṣayaḥ | tat puṇyaṃ śabarī sthānaṃ jagāmātmasamādhinā || 74.35 ||

By the power of her own meditative concentration, Shabari went to that sacred realm where those great sages of blessed souls dwell in joy.