Shabari's Berries

Searching for Sita, Ram and Lakshman reached a dense forest. There a strange demon named Kabandh caught them both with his long arms. He had no head; his mouth was in his belly. The brothers cut off his arms. As he died, Kabandh was freed from a curse and said, ‘Make friends with Sugriv near Lake Pampa. He will help you find Sita. On the way, meet Shabari.’

Shabari was a Bhil woman who served for many years in the ashram of the sage Matang. As the sage left for heaven, he told her, ‘One day Shri Ram himself will come to this ashram. Wait for him.’ From that day, Shabari swept the path every day, spread flowers and gathered fruit from the forest, thinking, perhaps today Ram will come. And so she grew old.

At last the day came. Seeing Ram and Lakshman, tears streamed from Shabari's eyes. She fell at the Lord's feet, washed them and lovingly offered them a seat. Then she brought the fruits she had gathered. Popular tradition tenderly says that Shabari tasted each berry to check if it was sweet, and gave Ram only the sweet ones.

Ram ate those tasted berries with great joy and praised them. He said, ‘I recognise only the bond of love. I do not look at caste, family, wealth or learning; I see only devotion.’ Then, according to the Manas, Ram taught Shabari the navdha bhakti, the nine forms of devotion, and said that anyone who has even one of them is dear to him.

Shabari showed Ram the way to Sugriv and Mount Rishyamuk. Then, fulfilled by the sight of the Lord, she gave up her body in the fire of yoga and reached the highest abode. Ram and Lakshman went on towards Lake Pampa, where they would soon meet Hanuman and Sugriv. Here the Aranya Kand comes to an end.