Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— ललज्जेऽतितरां सा तु तत्त्वज्ञानवती क्षणात्। स्वोच्छिष्टानि फलान्यस्य समर्प्य जगदीशितुः॥१॥
Brahmā said: Śabarī suddenly came to reflective awareness and felt deeply ashamed that she had offered fruits tasted by her own mouth to the Lord of the world.
Passage 2
पूर्वं तु प्रेमरभसादविचारितमाचरत्। उत्पन्नतत्त्वधीः पश्चाच्छुशोच शबरी हृदि॥२॥
At first she had acted without reflection in love's impetuous rush; afterward, when discernment of the truth arose, Śabarī grieved within her heart.
Passage 3
अहो मया कृतमिदं किं तु साक्षाज्जगत्पतौ। यदुच्छिष्टफलान्यस्मै समर्पितवती कुधीः॥३॥
“Oh, what have I done to the manifest Lord of the world? Foolish-minded, I offered him fruits left from my own tasting.
Passage 4
क्वायं महामहाराजमौलिरत्नमरीचिभिः। नीराजिताङ्घ्रिकमलो रामस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः॥४॥
“How exalted is this Rāma, sovereign of the three worlds, whose lotus feet are worshipfully illumined by rays from the crest jewels of mighty emperors!
Passage 5
क्वाहं जात्याधमामूढा स्त्रीधर्मेण विदूषिता। अनुग्रहोऽस्यैव परो नीताहं येन पात्रताम्॥५॥
“And how low am I—base by birth, deluded, and deficient even in a woman's duties! It is his supreme grace alone that has made me a worthy recipient.
Passage 6
अपराधमहं चक्रे स्वोच्छिष्टविनिवेदनात्। प्रेममत्तमतिः किंचिन्न विचारितवत्यपि॥६॥
“I committed an offense by presenting what my own mouth had tasted. My mind was intoxicated with love and did not consider anything at all.”
Passage 7
इति तामनुशोचन्तीं राम आत्माखिलात्मनाम्। उवाच तत्परप्रेमवशीभूतोऽखिलार्थदः॥७॥
As she lamented in this way, Rāma—the Self of every self and giver of every good—spoke to her, for he had been brought under the sway of her supreme love. Rāma Reveals the Supremacy of Love
Passage 8
श्रीराम उवाच— त्वयाऽऽहृतानि स्वादूनि प्रेम्णैवानन्यवृत्तिना। खण्डितानि फलान्येतान्यखण्डानि मुदे मम॥८॥
Śrī Rāma said: “These delicious fruits were gathered by you with single-hearted love. Though divided into pieces, they are whole and perfect as sources of my delight.
Passage 9
जाने प्रेमवनीवास्तुः कापि धन्यतमाशुकी। आस्वादयत् फलान्येतान्यतिमाधुर्यभाञ्जि यत्॥९॥
“I know that some most blessed female parrot dwells in love's forest, for she has tasted these fruits and filled them with surpassing sweetness.
Passage 10
अथ त्वमतिपुण्यासि भिल्लजातिरपि स्फुटम्। वेदविद्भ्योऽपि विप्रेभ्यो मदनुग्रहभाजनम्॥१०॥
“Though plainly born among the Bhillas, you are supremely blessed: more than even Veda-knowing brāhmaṇas, you have become a recipient of my grace.
Passage 11
जातासि सपदि त्वं तु तीर्थपावनपावनी। परमेण मयि प्रेम्णा तवानेनातिभूयसा॥११॥
“Through this exceedingly abundant and supreme love of yours for me, you have at once become a purifier of even those who sanctify the holy places.
Passage 12
श्रौतं स्मार्तं तान्त्रिकं वापि कर्म पुण्योपास्तिस्तद्विशुद्धं तपो वा। ज्ञानं ब्रह्मात्मैक्यसंविद्विशुद्धं न मे त्वर्थे जायते भाग्यपूर्णे॥१२॥
“Fortunate one, neither Vedic, traditional, or tantric rites, nor meritorious worship and its pure austerity, nor the stainless knowledge that realizes the unity of Brahman and the self serves my purpose as your love does.
Passage 13
प्रेमैवैकं मय्यसाधारणं यत् तैस्तैर्भावैः सुविशुद्धैरुपेतम्। स्वभावेनासोढविश्लेषलेशं तेनेवाहं स्यां वशीभूतचित्तः॥१३॥
“Only singular love for me—endowed with its many completely pure dispositions and by nature unable to bear even the slightest separation—can bring my heart under another's control.
Passage 14
स ते प्रेमा वर्ततां मय्यलयो विवेकविज्ञानविवर्जितोऽपि। विवेकविज्ञाननिधिर्महीयान् येनाहमासं त्वद्वशे भिल्लपत्नि॥१४॥
“May that love of yours for me remain imperishable, even without analytic discernment and philosophical knowledge. Bhilla woman, it is greater than any treasury of such discernment and knowledge, for through it I have come under your sway.”
Passage 15
इत्युच्चैः प्रेममधुरं ब्रुवाणो रघुनन्दनः। भुक्तिं समापयामास सानुजः शबरीगृहे॥१५॥
Speaking these words, sublime and sweet with love, the delight of the Raghus finished his meal with his younger brother in Śabarī's home.
Passage 16
शबरीसमुपानीतैः पानीयैः स्वादुशीतलैः। पीयूषविमलैः शुद्धैः स आत्मानमतर्पयत्॥१६॥
He refreshed himself with the pure, sweet, cool water Śabarī brought, clear as nectar. The Mirror Recalls Sītā
Passage 17
शबरीकरपद्मस्थपात्रधाराविनिर्गतैः। मुखमक्षालयद्रामः सानुजोऽमलवारिभिः॥१७॥
Together with his younger brother, Rāma rinsed his mouth with the spotless water flowing from a vessel held in Śabarī's lotus hand.
Passage 18
ताम्बूलमर्पयामास किराती क्रमुकान्वितम्। मुखरञ्जनकच्चूर्णसंयुतं तत्र सानुजे॥१८॥
The forest woman then offered the brothers betel leaf with areca nut and fragrant powder that reddens the mouth.
Passage 19
आदर्शं दर्शयामास साऽऽत्मनाथाय निर्मलम्। स दृष्ट्वा वदनं स्मार्षीज्जानकीं सम्मुमूर्छ च॥१९॥
She presented a spotless mirror to the Lord of her soul. Seeing his face, he remembered Jānakī and fell unconscious.
Passage 20
चिरात्प्रत्याहृतप्राणो भ्रात्रा सौमित्रिणा ततः। ऊचे शबरसुन्दर्या रामो जनकजापतिः॥२०॥
After a long while, when his brother Sumitrā's son had restored his life-breath, Rāma, Jānakī's lord, was addressed by beautiful Śabarī. Śabarī Longs to See the Divine Couple
Passage 21
शबर्युवाच— किं नु पुण्येषु मे नाथ कृतेषु बहुलेष्वपि। दूषणं समभूद्येन पश्यामि त्वां वियोगिनम्॥२१॥
Śabarī said: “Lord, what defect can there have been in the many meritorious deeds I performed, that I must see you separated from your beloved?
Passage 22
धन्यास्तेषां दृशो राम ये त्वां पश्यन्ति सर्वदा। श्रीमञ्जनकराजेन्द्रसुतया रमयान्वितम्॥२२॥
“Rāma, blessed are the eyes of those who always behold you together with your delight, the illustrious daughter of King Janaka.
Passage 23
अन्यस्यां त्वमवस्थायां दृष्टोऽसि रघुनन्दन। कदा नु जानकीयुक्तो मद्दृशोरतिथिर्भवेः॥२३॥
“Delight of the Raghus, I have seen you in a different condition. When will you, united with Jānakī, become the honored guest of my eyes?
Passage 24
अन्यैव सा पराभिख्या विदेहसुतया तव। यां पिबन्ति जनाः केचिद्भूरिभाग्यान्विता भुवि॥२४॥
“With Videha's daughter, yours is an altogether different and supreme splendor—one that only a few people endowed with abundant fortune drink in upon this earth.
Passage 25
दत्तोऽपि परमानन्दो मह्यमर्धायते प्रभो। तामर्धाङ्गहरां नाथ तव प्राणेश्वरीं विना॥२५॥
“Lord, even the supreme joy you have granted me seems only half complete without her who takes half your being, your sovereign beloved.” The Promise and Farewell
Passage 26
श्रीराम उवाच— आगामिनि तु कल्पे वै त्वं मद्विहरणालये। प्रमुदवने प्राप्तजनिर्मां द्रक्ष्यसि तया युतम्॥२६॥
Śrī Rāma said: “In the coming age you will take birth in Pramoda-vana, the abode of my play, and you will see me united with her.
Passage 27
तावत् प्रेमरसानन्दसमुद्रलहरीभरैः। अवसिक्ततनुस्तिष्ठ परे ब्रह्मणि मत्पदे॥२७॥
“Until then, remain in my abode, the supreme Brahman, your whole being bathed by the surging waves of the ocean of bliss that is love's rasa.
Passage 28
मद्भक्तिरसपूतायास्तव नित्यं मदात्मनः। इहामुत्राथ वा लोके न विशेषोऽस्ति कश्चन॥२८॥
“For you, purified by the rasa of devotion to me and forever one whose self belongs to me, there is no distinction at all between this world and the world beyond.
Passage 29
अनुजानीहि मां भद्रे गन्तुमग्रे वनान्तरम्। कर्तुमग्रेतनं कार्यमहं सज्जोऽस्मि सम्प्रति॥२९॥
“Auspicious one, now permit me to proceed deeper into the forest. I stand ready to accomplish the work that lies ahead.”
Passage 30
इत्यनुज्ञाप्य तां भक्तां भगवान् रघुनन्दनः। जगाम सानुजस्तस्यां पश्यन्त्यामेव सस्पृहम्॥३०॥
Having thus taken leave of his devotee, the blessed delight of the Raghus departed with his younger brother while she watched with yearning.
Passage 31
तस्यै स इत्थं प्रससाद देवः प्रेमप्लुतस्वात्मधिये शबर्यै। महामुनीनामपि योऽस्त्यलभ्यः सोऽचिन्तनीयः खलु तत्प्रसादः॥३१॥
Thus the Lord bestowed grace upon Śabarī, whose very self and understanding were flooded with love. That inconceivable grace of his is unattainable even to the great sages.