Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— तस्मिन् वने मुनिवराः सुदीप्तब्रह्मवर्चसः। सुदीर्घतपसः शुद्धाः श्रितवैखानसव्रताः॥१॥
Brahmā said: In that forest dwelt eminent sages radiant with spiritual brilliance, purified by very long austerities and established in the Vaikhānasa discipline.
Passage 2
तपस्यन्तस्तपो दीप्तं वानप्रस्थव्रते स्थिताः। अन्ये च गृहमेधीयैर्धर्मैरीशं यजन्ति ये॥२॥
Some performed blazing austerities under the vows of forest life, while others worshiped the Lord through the duties of householders.
Passage 3
अपरे निष्ठया नित्यं ब्रह्मचर्यमुपासते। इतरे यतिधर्मस्था ब्रह्मविद्वरसम्मताः॥३॥
Others steadfastly observed perpetual celibacy, while still others followed the renunciant's discipline and were esteemed by the finest knowers of Brahman.
Passage 4
तथान्ये सांख्यपरमा योगाचार्यास्तथा परे। सर्वे प्राज्ञास्त्रिकालज्ञास्तपसा धूतकल्मषाः॥४॥
Some were devoted to Sāṅkhya and others were masters of yoga. All were wise, knew the three divisions of time, and had cleansed away sin through austerity.
Passage 5
नानाविधैर्व्रतैर्यज्ञैर्यजन्ते विधिभिर्द्विजाः। राममायान्तमालोक्य तस्थुस्ते विहितादराः॥५॥
Those twice-born sages worshiped according to rule with many kinds of vows and sacrifices. Seeing Rāma approach, they stood ready with due honor.
Passage 6
मद्गृहं राम आगत्य कतिचित्स्थास्यति क्षणान्। एवमाशासमायुक्ताः सर्व एव महर्षयः॥६॥
Every great seer cherished the hope, “Rāma will come to my dwelling and remain there for a few moments.”
Passage 7
पाद्यादिकं समायोज्य तस्थुः स्वस्वाश्रमे द्विजाः। सर्वेषां पश्यतां तेषां रामोऽगाच्छबरीगृहम्॥७॥
The sages arranged water for his feet and other offerings and waited in their respective hermitages. Before the eyes of them all, Rāma went to Śabarī's home. Śabarī Prepares Her Offering
Passage 8
यत्र सा भिल्लजातीया प्रकृत्या शुद्धमानसा। सर्वोपकरणैः सज्जा श्रीरामप्रेमविह्वला॥८॥
There the Bhilla-born woman, naturally pure in mind and overwhelmed by love for Śrī Rāma, waited with every provision prepared.
Passage 9
आस्ते दूराद्वीक्षमाणा रामस्यागमनं पथि। अकुण्ठोत्कण्ठया पूर्णा पुलकाञ्चितविग्रहा। क्षणं बहिः क्षणं मध्ये वेश्म तिष्ठन्त्युदाशया॥९॥
She watched the road from afar for Rāma's arrival, filled with unrestrained longing and covered in horripilation. With exalted hope she stood one moment outside and the next within her home.
Passage 10
तया हृतानि स्वगृहे वन्यानि विविधानि च। फलानि स्वादुभूरीणि संनिवेदयितुं प्रिये॥१०॥
She had brought many kinds of abundant, delicious forest fruits into her home to offer to her beloved Lord.
Passage 11
मधुराणि तथाम्लानि स्वादूनि वनजानि सा। आजहार पवित्राणि फलानि निजहस्ततः॥११॥
With her own hands she gathered pure forest fruits—sweet, tart, and flavorful.
Passage 12
स्वादूनि पीतानि रक्तानि पाकरम्याणि भूरिशः। सञ्चितानि शुभामत्रेष्वनेकानि समन्ततः॥१२॥
Many ripe and lovely fruits, tasty, yellow, and red, were collected all around in auspicious vessels.
Passage 13
मनोज्ञपत्रपात्रेषु रक्षितानि प्रयत्नतः। सुधारससुरस्यानि मनःप्रेममितानि च॥१३॥
She carefully kept them in charming leaf bowls. Their exquisite nectar-like flavor was matched by the love in her heart.
Passage 14
हरितानि मनोज्ञानि शाकानि विविधानि च। लवणाक्तानि परितः सज्जितानि सुभुक्तये॥१४॥
She also arranged many kinds of attractive green vegetables, seasoned with salt, for a delightful meal.
Passage 15
सुरभीणि सुभोज्यानि सुरसानि स्वभावतः। सुखावहानि भूरीणि भूरिप्रेमकराणि च॥१५॥
They were fragrant, wholesome, naturally savory, abundant, pleasure-giving, and prepared with immense love.
Passage 16
वनान्तादुपनीतानि श्रीरामाय प्रयत्नतः। सानुजाय सदाराय साधु भोजयितुं स्वयम्॥१६॥
She had carefully brought them from deep in the forest so that she herself might feed Śrī Rāma well, together with his younger brother and beloved.
Passage 17
स्वासनं वनपत्रौघैः शय्यां च वनपल्लवैः। पद्मैश्च पद्मपत्रैश्च चक्रे शबराङ्गना॥१७॥
The Śabara woman made a seat from masses of forest leaves and a bed from tender shoots, lotuses, and lotus leaves.
Passage 18
पद्मानि चापि भूरीणि पुण्डरीकाणि भान्ति च। इन्दीवराणि नव्यानि रक्तपद्मानि वृन्दशः॥१८॥
She brought abundant lotuses, shining white lotuses, fresh blue lotuses, and clusters of red lotuses.
Passage 19
आनीतानि तया सम्यक् तथान्यतरुजानि च। कुसुमानि सुगन्धीनि नानावर्णानि भूरिशः॥१९॥
She also properly gathered many fragrant flowers of diverse colors growing upon other trees.
Passage 20
मालाकृतानि रम्याणि शय्यायां निहितानि च। अनुजाय च रामाय सुखार्थं सञ्चितान्यलम्॥२०॥
She made them into lovely garlands and spread them upon the bed, gathering more than enough for the comfort of Rāma and his younger brother.
Passage 21
संविधाय समस्तानि तानि स्वालयमध्यतः। बहिर्द्वारप्रदेशे सा तस्थौ रामसमागमे॥२१॥
After arranging everything inside her dwelling, she stood outside at the doorway awaiting her meeting with Rāma. The Lord Honors Śabarī
Passage 22
तां प्रेमबन्धपुलकाञ्चितगात्रयष्टिं स्वान्वीक्षणक्षणसुखावहितान्तरां च। भिल्लीं ददर्श कृपया रघुसार्वभौम आरात्तदीक्षणवशाद्विहितोत्सवाढ्यः॥२२॥
The sovereign of the Raghus compassionately saw the Bhilla woman from afar: her slender body thrilled by love's bond, her heart absorbed in the happiness of the moment she would see him, and her being filled with celebration by his distant glance.
Passage 23
उवाच लक्ष्मणं देवो दूराद्वीक्ष्य निजां हि ताम्। किंचित्स्मितमनोज्ञश्रीरुचिराननपङ्कजः॥२३॥
Seeing from afar that she was truly his own, the Lord addressed Lakṣmaṇa, his lovely lotus face radiant with a gentle smile.
Passage 24
पश्य लक्ष्मण सैषा मे भक्ता शबरसुन्दरी। द्वारे स्थितानुपश्यन्ती मुहुरस्मत्समागमम्॥२४॥
“Look, Lakṣmaṇa. This beautiful Śabara woman is my devotee. Standing at her door, she looks again and again for our arrival.
Passage 25
पश्यास्या नयने भ्रातर्मद्दर्शनसुलालसे। सुखयिष्यामि सुचिरमेनामहमनुग्रहात्॥२५॥
“Brother, see how her eyes intensely long for my sight. By my grace I shall bring her enduring happiness.”
Passage 26
इत्युक्त्वा पश्यतां तेषां मुनीनां दीप्तवर्चसाम्। विवेश शबरीसद्म कृपायत्तो रघूद्वहः॥२६॥
Having spoken thus, the compassion-led scion of Raghu entered Śabarī's dwelling while those spiritually radiant sages watched.
Passage 27
आयान्तं रघुपुङ्गवं प्रियतमा युक्तं प्रभुं सानुजं नव्येन्दीवरसुप्रसन्ननयनं पीताम्बरं सुन्दरम्। अंसन्यस्तधनुर्धरं कटितटप्रोद्भासितूणीरयुगं खड्गाढ्यं जटया पिशङ्गमहसं भिल्ली ददर्शोच्चकैः॥२७॥
The Bhilla woman fully beheld the approaching Lord, foremost of the Raghus, united with his beloved and accompanied by his younger brother: beautiful in yellow cloth, with serene eyes like fresh blue lotuses, a bow resting upon his shoulder, two quivers shining at his waist, adorned with a sword, and glowing tawny beneath his matted hair.
Passage 28
रामस्तस्याश्चक्षुषी पूरयाणः सान्द्रानन्दैर्दर्शनेन प्रभूतैः। पादन्यासैः पावयन् भूरितीर्थो विश्वाराध्यः प्राविशद्द्वारदेशम्॥२८॥
Filling her two eyes with immense, concentrated bliss through his sight, Rāma—the abundant holy ford worshiped by the world—sanctified the ground with his footsteps and entered the doorway.