September 2 - Sargas 73 and 74 of Aranya Kanda.
Kabandha turns out to be a great guide and motivator. He describes in detail the spectacular beauty of the forest and the abundance of succulent fruits en route that Lakshmana can pluck from the trees. He assures the brothers that they will enjoy their travel and momentarily get over their grief over Sita's abduction.
He describes the holy Pampa lake and the hermitage of Matanga muni. There awaits them a saintly old lady Shabari who shall attain to heaven after extending to Sri Rama her hospitality.
Valmiki keeps it brief but we get to enjoy the meeting of Shabari with Sri Rama.
***
Before ascending to heaven, Kabandha gives detailed instructions on how to reach Rishyamuka mountain where king Sugriva is encamped. They have to pass through a verdant forest full of flowering and fruit-laden trees. Valmiki describes over two dozen varieties of trees and plants.
सर्वकालफला यत्र पादपा मधुरस्रवाः ।
सर्वे च ऋतवस्तत्र वने चैत्ररथे यथा ॥
तानार्ह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वा सुखम् ।
फलान्यमृतकल्पानि लक्ष्मणस्ते प्रदास्यति ॥
"Dear Sri Rama, you will see perennially flowering and fruiting trees dripping with honey in their produce. They have a year-round splendour like the trees in the garden of Lord Kubera.
"Dear Lakshmana will be able to climb those trees and pluck their fruits. Or he can bend their branches hanging down by the weight of fruits and reach them easily. He will be able to give you fruits that taste like amruta (divine nectar). "
शीतोदकं च पम्पाया दृष्ट्वा शोकं विहास्यसि ।
सुमनोभिश्चितांस्तत्र तिलका नक्तमालकाः ॥
उत्पलानि च फुल्लानि पङ्कजानि च राघव ।
न तानि कश्चिन्माल्यानि तत्रारोपयिता नरः ॥
"Dear Rama, after you cross the many forests and mountains full of wild animals, you will arrive at the beautiful lake Pampa Sarovara. Its cool waters will be very welcome and you shall give up your grief. There are so many splendid tilaka and night jasmine trees there.
"There are lovely blue lotuses, white lotuses, and lilies blooming in that lake. Remember that no man planted those lovely trees or is tending those beautiful lotuses in the lake. There is no one to string those flowers into lovely garlands and wear them."
Kabandha also tells the brothers that there are many birds and animals to be hunted for delicious food.
Then he talks of the Matanga Ashrama. This sacred hermitage housed the great rishi and all his disciples. It is in an enchanting garden. Those trees have been nurtured by the beads of sweat of assiduous disciples fetching food and sacred materials constantly. They are special as their flowers don't wilt nor their fruits lose their freshness ever. That is the power of penance.
Kabandha says that there is an old woman by the name of Shabari there. She has served the rishi and his disciples very devotedly for very long. She has received a blessing that after she meets Sri Rama and serves him, she will attain heaven by virtue of her devotion and penance. She is safe there as wild animals do not attack anyone in the hermitage.
Just in the vicinity of the hermitage is the tall, difficult-to-climb, mountain Rishyamuka. It was created by Lord Brahma. Whatever wish a good man makes lying in sleep on top of that mountain comes to be fulfilled. Similarly, an evil man will be killed in his sleep on that mountain by the demons.
On that mountain, in an inaccessible cave, stays the vanara king Sugriva with his four trusted lieutenants.
Having stated as much, Kabandha takes his leave respectfully of Sri Rama and Lakshmana and ascends to heaven in his full celestial glory.
***
Sri Rama and Lakshmana followed Kabandha's directions and traversing that lovely forest and mountain area, reached the hermitage of the sage Matanga on the western bank of the Pampa lake.
The brothers saw the old woman Shabari and approached her. Shabari with her spiritual insight knew who they were. She came forward and respectfully touched their feet. She gave them water to wash themselves and water to drink. Sri Rama now spoke to Shabari:
कच्चित्ते निर्जिता विघ्नाः कच्चित्ते वर्धते तपः ।
कच्चित्ते नियतः कोप आहाराश्च तपोधने ॥
"Oh auspicious lady, endowed with spiritual wealth, how is your spiritual progress? Have impediments to your practices ceased? Has your meditation deepened? Have you mastered your moods, especially anger? Have you gained mastery over hunger? "
Sri Rama enquired if Shabari's life-long devotion to her guru and his disciples was bearing fruit. The advanced ascetic Shabari replied,
अद्य प्राप्ता तपःसिद्धिस्तव संदर्शनान्मया ।
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म गुरवश्च सुपूजिताः ॥
"Oh Sri Rama, just now, after receiving you and this auspicious meeting, I can see that my penance has become fruitful! My service to my gurus has borne fruit! My life has been fulfilled by meeting you, Sri Rama!"
***
Shabari says that beholding the sacred and beautiful form of Sri Rama, she knows that the goal of her birth has been attained. She is now certain that she will ascend to heaven as blessed by her gurus.
Shabari says that all the hermits there, by their spiritual prowess, ascended to heaven in celestial chariots just as Sri Rama had arrived in Chitrakuta. They told Shabari that she would have to wait for Sri Rama's arrival at the Matanga hermitage, along with Lakshmana, and for his blessing. She would then be going to the higher world immediately.
Shabari respectfully offers the splendid fare of fruits she has collected from the banks of Pampa river and has saved for Sri Rama and Lakshmana.
Sri Rama then tells Shabari how she has been introduced to them by Kabandha already. He requests Shabari to show her special powers.
Shabari gladly takes the brothers on a tour of the Matanga garden with its enchanting trees. Sage Matanga was too old and infirm to travel to the many sacred rivers. In fact, he did the fire oblations with his shaking hands. At his request, the great rivers all brought their holy waters straight away to the Matanga hermitage for his use. Shabari shows the sacrificial fire altars that are still aglow with the sacred rituals long after the rituals have ceased. She shows how the seven seas have come there to be of service to the rishis during their oblations. The ascetics' robes spread on tree branches are still dripping wet from the baths of long ago. The lotuses offered for worship then have not wilted yet.
Shabari now seeks Sri Rama's permission to give up her mortal coil and ascend to the higher world. Sri Rama replies in words full of affection and grace:
तामुवाच ततो रामश्रामणीं संशितव्रताम् ।
अर्चितोऽहं त्वया भक्त्या गच्छकामं यथासुखम् ॥
"Sri Rama then addresses that advanced ascetic, Shabari, who has fulfilled all her duties in life and her spiritual practices magnificently. "Dear Shabari, I have been worshipped by you with devotion. Now I grant you permission to go wherever you desire, may your ascent be truly blessed!""
Shabari bows down to Sri Rama. In her old, tattered rags of the barks of trees, emaciated, shrunken with age, and wrinkled all over, she enters that sacred sacrificial fire and as her body burns down, her glorious spirit ascends in its full splendour to heaven.
Sri Rama and Lakshmana see Shabari adorned with wonderful ornaments, beautiful garlands, anointed with fragrances, robed in splendid finery, looking like a streak of lightning, her face beaming with peace and bliss.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
