Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— तमागतं सुन्दरमात्मनाथं विलोक्य सम्यक् शबरीक्षणाभ्याम्। अगाहतानन्दसमुद्रमत्यगी यथा स्वात्मसुखानुभूत्या॥१॥
Brahmā said: When Śabarī fully beheld with her own eyes her beautiful Lord approaching, she plunged into an ocean of joy and passed beyond herself in the experience of inner bliss.
Passage 2
हृष्टाथ सा किमपि राघवयोर्विलोक्य प्रीतिं परां स्वविषयां ननु हेतुवर्याम्। भूरिप्रभूतपरमप्रणयाद्रचित्ता स्मित्वाब्रवीद्वच इदं सरसार्णरुच्यम्॥२॥
Delighted to see the Raghus' supreme affection directed toward her without any other cause, her heart softened by abundant, surpassing love, she smiled and spoke these words, lovely with rasa.
Passage 3
एह्येहि जीवनधन प्रणयानुबन्धयाथार्थ्यकृद्रघुपते नयनाभिराम। त्वय्यागते त्रिभुवनाभिमते गृहं मे पूर्णा मनोरथततिनिखिलार्थदाता॥३॥
“Come, come, treasure of my life, charming to the eyes, lord of the Raghus who makes love's bond real. With you, beloved of the three worlds, arriving at my home, the whole succession of my desires has been fulfilled by the giver of every good.
Passage 4
यत्संश्रितोऽसि सुचिरं रघुसार्वभौम स्वप्नेषु यच्च कलितोऽसि मुहुः स्वयं त्वम्। सर्वं तदद्य सफलं समभून्ममेश साक्षान्निरीक्षणपथं त्वयि यातमात्रे॥४॥
“Sovereign of the Raghus, for so long I took refuge in you and repeatedly imagined you in dreams. Lord, all of that has borne fruit today merely because you have entered the path of my direct sight.
Passage 5
यत्साधनैः सुविततैः सुकृतोर्जितैर्न लभ्यं कथंचन मुनिप्रवरैरपीश। तत्तावकीनममृतादधिकं कथं नु लब्धास्मि दर्शनमहं महनीयमौले॥५॥
“Exalted Lord, even the foremost sages cannot somehow attain this sight of you through vast disciplines and accumulated merit. How, then, have I obtained this vision, more precious than nectar?
Passage 6
अन्त्य एष त्वदनुग्रहः प्रभो यतः कृतार्थत्वमहो गतास्म्यहम्। अहो अलं भूरिवचनोपचारकैरलं प्रकृत्यैव सुसौहृदे त्वयि॥६॥
“Lord, this is the consummation of your grace, by which I have attained complete fulfillment. Enough of elaborate verbal courtesies: my friendship with you is natural and sincere.”
Passage 7
इत्युक्त्वा पुलकाच्छन्नवपुः शबरसुन्दरी। मध्ये गृहं निनायामुं श्रीरामं सानुजं प्रभुम्॥७॥
Speaking thus, her body covered in horripilation, the beautiful Śabara woman led Lord Śrī Rāma and his younger brother inside her home.
Passage 8
पाद्यार्घ्याचमनस्नानमधुपर्कादिसंविधाः। प्रेम्णैव कल्पयामास शबरी स्वात्मभर्तवे॥८॥
Out of love alone, Śabarī arranged water for his feet, an offering of honor, water for sipping and bathing, the honey-mixture, and other services for the Lord of her soul.
Passage 9
ददौ मुद्रासनं तस्मै श्रीरामाय महात्मने। रघूणां पतये योगिवर्यमानसवासिने॥९॥
She gave a fine seat to great-hearted Śrī Rāma, lord of the Raghus who dwells in the minds of eminent yogins.
Passage 10
सौमित्रये पृथगदादासनं तत्समीपतः। तरुपल्लवसन्दोहपद्मपत्रोपकल्पितम्॥१०॥
Near it she gave Sumitrā's son a separate seat fashioned from masses of tender tree leaves and lotus leaves.
Passage 11
पादसंवाहनं चक्रे भीता राघवयोरियम्। नितान्तं तोषयामास वचोभिरमृतोपमैः॥११॥
Reverently she massaged the feet of the two Rāghavas and deeply pleased them with words like nectar. The Forest Feast
Passage 12
अथानयत्सा वनवृक्षपर्णद्रोणोपक्लृप्तानि सुखावहानि। फलानि मूलानि दलानि चैव शाकानि नानाविधमञ्जुलानि॥१२॥
She then brought delightful leaf bowls made from forest trees, filled with fruits, roots, leaves, and many kinds of lovely greens.
Passage 13
मधुराणि तथाम्लानि मधुराम्लानि भूरिशः। स्वादूनि फलमूलानि पात्रे भूयांस्युपाहरत्॥१३॥
She offered many flavorful fruits and roots in vessels—sweet, tart, and sweet-and-tart.
Passage 14
पृथक् पृथग्द्रोणगतानि तानि स्वादूनि रुच्यानि रसावहानि। आमानि पक्वानि मनोहराणि सा तत्पुरस्तान्निकटे फलानि॥१४॥
She placed before him, each in a separate leaf bowl, delicious, pleasing, juicy fruits—some raw and some ripe.
Passage 15
तानि स्वयं स बुभुजे परमात्मा सनातनः। यज्ञभुग् यज्ञपुरुषो महोदारः सहानुजः॥१५॥
The eternal Supreme Self, enjoyer and person of sacrifice, magnanimous beyond measure, ate them himself together with his younger brother.
Passage 16
श्लाघते प्रतिकवलं रघुप्रवीरो भुञ्जानोऽमृतरसभाञ्जिसत्फलानि। प्रेमाक्तान्यधिकरसावहानि तानि भक्तायाः स्वादितुमसौ परं प्रवीणः॥१६॥
Eating the fine, nectar-filled fruits, the hero of the Raghus praised every mouthful. Expert in tasting the deeper rasa carried by his devotee's love, he savored them fully.
Passage 17
अम्लानि लवणाक्तानि बुभुजे रघुचन्द्रमाः। स्वदमानो रसग्राही स्वादयंश्च प्रियानुजम्॥१७॥
The moon of the Raghus ate tart fruits seasoned with salt, relishing their flavor and giving them also to his beloved younger brother.
Passage 18
कन्दानि पावकभ्रष्टान्यनेकानि वनेचरी। रसाभेदप्रभिन्नानि कल्पयामास तत्पुरः॥१८॥
The forest-dwelling woman placed before him many roots roasted in the fire, distinguished by their diverse flavors.
Passage 19
कानिचिद्रक्तप्रायाणि श्वेतप्रायाणि कानिचित्। कानिचिद्वघ्रगन्धानि प्रायाण्यलमस्वदत्स्वयम्॥१९॥
Some were mostly red, some mostly white, and some strongly fragrant; she herself tasted many of them thoroughly.
Passage 20
फलानि कानिचित्तत्र प्रभवे मधुधारया। परीक्षार्थं समास्वाद्य मिष्टानि जगृहे तमाम्॥२०॥
Some fruits there overflowed with streams of honey. Tasting them to test them, she selected the sweetest. Rāma Accepts the Tasted Fruits
Passage 21
तान्येव हृदि जानानः प्रेमाक्तानि स्वभावतः। बुभुजेऽभ्यधिकप्रीतिरास्वादनविचक्षणः॥२१॥
Knowing inwardly that those very fruits were naturally saturated with love, Rāma, expert in tasting, ate them with extraordinary affection.
Passage 22
सस्वादेऽतितरां रामः श्लाघमानो मुहुर्मुहुः। शबरीवदनोच्छिष्टान्यतिस्वादूनि हर्षितः॥२२॥
Joyful Rāma savored again and again the exceedingly delicious fruits tasted by Śabarī's mouth, praising them repeatedly.
Passage 23
शबरीवदनोच्छिष्टैः प्रेमपूतैः फलै रसैः। आत्मानं तर्पयामास सर्वाभ्यधिकसारवित्॥२३॥
Knowing the essence beyond all else, he satisfied himself with the juicy fruits tasted by Śabarī and purified by love.
Passage 24
इमानि मे किलात्यर्थं जनयन्ति मनोरुचिम्। फलानि प्रायः केनापि स्वादितानि शुकेन वै॥२४॥
“These fruits truly awaken the greatest delight in my heart. It seems they have been tasted by some parrot.”
Passage 25
नाहं तृप्यामि शबरि मन्त्रपूतै रसावहैः। द्विजप्रदत्तैर्भूयोभिरन्नैः सुस्वादुभोजनैः॥२५॥
“Śabarī, I am not satisfied by abundant, delicious, flavorful food purified with mantras and offered by brāhmaṇas
Passage 26
यथा तृप्यामि मद्भक्त भक्त्या समुपकल्पितैः। पत्रैः शाकैः फलैर्मूलैर्यथावदुपसञ्चितैः॥२६॥
“as I am satisfied, my devotee, by leaves, greens, fruits, and roots properly gathered and offered with devotion.
Passage 27
अद्याहं खलु तृप्तोऽस्मि शबरि त्वद्गृहागतः। पत्रशाकफलैरेतैस्त्वया प्रेम्णोपकल्पितैः॥२७॥
“Today I am truly satisfied, Śabarī, having come to your home and eaten these leaves, greens, and fruits prepared by you with love. Rāma Blesses Śabarī
Passage 28
सफलं ते वनं भूयात्सन्ततं भूरिभूरुहम्। भूरिपद्मसरोवारि भूरिकन्दप्रसूनकम्॥२८॥
“May your forest always be fruitful, rich in trees, lakes filled with many lotuses, abundant roots, and flowers.
Passage 29
पर्यायेणर्तवः सर्वाः फलानि सुवतां सदा। अल्पपर्जन्यफलदाः सन्तु ते वनवीरुधः॥२९॥
“May all the seasons in turn continually produce fruits; may the plants of your forest bear fruit even with little rain.
Passage 30
अयत्नलभ्यफलदा भवन्त्वोषधयो वने। अनामयाः सदा सन्तु वने ते पशुपक्षिणः॥३०॥
“May the forest plants yield fruits obtainable without effort, and may the animals and birds in your forest always remain free from illness.
Passage 31
अव्याहता तव मतिः सर्वदा वर्ततां मयि। मनोरथास्ते सिद्ध्यन्तु यथेष्टविषयोन्मुखाः॥३१॥
“May your attention remain fixed upon me forever without obstruction, and may your desires be fulfilled in whatever worthy direction they incline.
Passage 32
मानयन्तु सदैव त्वां पूज्यामिव महर्षयः। इह त्वं सुखमेधस्व विमुच्यस्व परत्र च॥३२॥
“May the great sages always honor you as one worthy of worship. Flourish happily here and attain liberation hereafter.”
Passage 33
इति रघुपतिः स्वादं स्वादं फलानि फलानि च प्रकृतिमधुरास्वादान् कन्दाननेकविधानपि। रुचिरवचनैराशंसानः शुभान्यनुजान्वितः किमपि मुमुदे तत्रासीनः सुखं शबरीगृहे॥३३॥
Thus the lord of the Raghus, together with his younger brother, sat happily in Śabarī's home, tasting fruit after fruit and many kinds of naturally sweet roots, offering auspicious blessings in gracious words, and rejoicing beyond description.