Rama Enters Shabari's Hermitage, and Her Long Remembered Promise Comes Alive
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 32
Doha 34 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Rama completes his instruction to the restored Gandharva. A Brahmin remains worthy of reverence even when he curses, strikes, or speaks harshly. The saints declare that even a Brahmin without character or virtue is to be worshiped in this way, while a Shudra, however rich in virtue, knowledge, and skill, does not receive that same ritual reverence. Having explained this dharma, Rama sees Kabandha's love for his lotus feet and is pleased. The Gandharva bows, receives his proper destiny, and rises into the sky. The generous Lord then turns his steps toward Shabari's hermitage.
Shabari sees Rama enter her dwelling, and the words once spoken by her guru awaken within her heart. Before her stand two beautiful brothers, one dark and one fair, with lotus eyes and mighty arms. Matted locks crown their heads, and a garland of forest flowers rests upon Rama's chest. The promised arrival is no longer a hope held across years. It has taken form at her own threshold.
She falls at their feet and clings to them. Love takes away the power of speech, so her body performs the welcome her mouth cannot utter. Again and again she lowers her head upon the lotus feet. Then she brings water with reverence, washes the travelers' feet, and seats the brothers upon beautiful seats inside the hermitage.
The guru's promise stands before Shabari, dark and fair, while love leaves her without words.
Read the passage from the Manas
सापत ताड़त परुष कहंता। बिप्र पूज्य अस गावहिं संता।। पूजिअ बिप्र सील गुन हीना। सूद्र न गुन गन ग्यान प्रबीना।। कहि निज धर्म ताहि समुझावा। निज पद प्रीति देखि मन भावा।। रघुपति चरन कमल सिरु नाई। गयउ गगन आपनि गति पाई।। ताहि देइ गति राम उदारा। सबरी कें आश्रम पगु धारा।। सबरी देखि राम गृहँ आए। मुनि के बचन समुझि जियँ भाए।। सरसिज लोचन बाहु बिसाला। जटा मुकुट सिर उर बनमाला।। स्याम गौर सुंदर दोउ भाई। सबरी परी चरन लपटाई।। प्रेम मगन मुख बचन न आवा। पुनि पुनि पद सरोज सिर नावा।। सादर जल लै चरन पखारे। पुनि सुंदर आसन बैठारे।।
Even when a vipra curses, strikes, or speaks harshly, he remains worthy of worship; so the saints declare. A vipra deserves honor even if he lacks sheela and guna. But a person of lower station, however learned and virtuous, does not claim the same reverence. Having explained this nij dharma, Rama was pleased to see the love for his feet in Kabandha's heart. Bowing his head at Raghupati's charan kamal, Kabandha departed to the heavens, attaining his own gati. After granting him liberation, the generous Rama set foot in Shabari's ashrama. Shabari saw Rama arrive at her dwelling, and the words of her guru flooded her heart with joy. Lotus eyes, mighty arms, jata mukut crowning his head, a vanamala of forest flowers upon his chest. The two beautiful brothers, one shyama and one gaura, one dark and one fair, stood before her. Shabari fell at their feet, clasping them close. Drowned in prema, no words would come from her lips. Again and again she bowed her head to their pad saroja. With deep reverence she brought water and washed their feet, then seated them upon beautiful asanas.