Aranya Kanda
Narration
Today begins the seventy-fourth chapter — the story of Lord Rama and Lakshmana arriving at Shabari’s ashram on the banks of Lake Pampa in the Matanga forest, receiving her hospitality, and witnessing her final liberation.
After being guided by Kabandha, the two princes, Rama and Lakshmana, began their journey westward along the path leading to Lake Pampa. As they walked, they saw mountains covered with trees laden with flowers, fruits, and honey. Passing through those woods, they moved ahead to meet Sugriva.
At night, the two brothers — jewels of the Raghu dynasty — rested upon a mountain peak. The next morning, they reached the western shore of Lake Pampa. There, they saw a beautiful hermitage belonging to the ascetic Shabari.
Surrounded by many trees, that peaceful ashram looked radiant. As the brothers approached, the aged ascetic Shabari — a perfected yogini — stood with folded hands, her heart overflowing with devotion. She bowed at the feet of the wise Lord Rama and Lakshmana and then offered water for washing their feet, drinking, and other rituals, performing their welcome with full reverence.
Then Lord Rama, the embodiment of righteousness, asked her gently,
“Blessed lady, have you overcome all obstacles in your penance? Is your austerity increasing? Have you mastered anger and appetite? Are the vows you undertook being fulfilled properly? Do you feel peace and contentment in your heart? O graceful one, has your service to your teachers borne fruit?”
Hearing these tender words, the aged ascetic Shabari — honored by many sages — stood humbly before Him and replied,
“O Lord of the Raghus, just by seeing You today, my penance has borne fruit. My birth has become meaningful, and my service to my revered teachers has been fulfilled. By receiving You here, O radiant One, my austerities have succeeded, and I am sure to attain Your divine abode. Your gentle gaze has made me pure. By Your grace, O destroyer of foes, I shall now ascend to the eternal world.
When You had gone to Mount Chitrakuta, my teachers — whom I always served — departed for the divine realm, seated upon a shining aerial chariot. Before leaving, those noble sages told me,
‘O Shabari, one day Lord Rama will come to your ashram with Lakshmana. Receive Him with full devotion. By seeing Him, you will attain the highest and eternal abode.’
Thus they spoke, O noble prince. Since then, I have been waiting for You, collecting various forest fruits and roots that grow near Lake Pampa.”
Though born outside the traditional order, Shabari was not excluded from true knowledge — she possessed constant awareness of the Supreme Being. Hearing her pure words, the virtuous Lord Rama said,
“O blessed one, I have already heard from Kabandha about the greatness of your teachers. If you permit, I would like to witness their holy influence myself.”
At Rama’s request, Shabari led both brothers through the sacred forest and said,
“O Lord of the Raghus, behold this Matanga forest, dark like a mass of rain clouds and filled with many creatures and birds. Here lived my noble teachers — sages of pure heart and lofty thought. On this very spot, after chanting the Gayatri mantra, they offered their bodies into the sacred fire.
See this altar — it still glows with their spiritual power, lighting all directions even today. When they became weak with age and fasting, unable to move, they merely contemplated the seven seas — and at once, seven sacred waters appeared before them. Those seven holy ponds still exist here, filled with the waters of all the seas. You may bathe there and see for yourself.
After their bath, they hung their bark garments on the trees — and to this day, those robes have not dried. The garlands they offered to the gods have never withered.”
When she had shown everything, Shabari said with folded hands,
“O Lord, You have now seen the forest and heard all that was worth hearing. Permit me now to leave this body and go to the divine abode where my blessed teachers dwell.”
Hearing her words, Lord Rama and Lakshmana felt great joy and wonder. Then Rama said to her,
“O noble lady, you have honored me greatly. Now, depart in peace and happiness, according to your wish.”
Receiving His blessing, Shabari — wearing matted locks, bark garments, and a black deerskin — entered the sacred fire. Her body became radiant like the flames themselves. She appeared adorned in divine garments, ornaments, garlands, and fragrant paste, glowing like lightning upon Mount Sudama. Then, shining brilliantly, she ascended to heaven and joined her revered teachers in the divine realm.
Thus ends the seventy-fourth chapter of the Aranya Kanda.
Now begins the seventy-fifth chapter — the conversation between Rama and Lakshmana, and their journey to the banks of Lake Pampa.
After Shabari’s ascent, the righteous Lord Rama and Lakshmana reflected upon the greatness of those holy sages. Then Rama spoke to his devoted brother,
“O gentle one, I have now seen the sacred hermitage of those virtuous sages. Many wonders exist here — even deer and tigers live together peacefully. Many kinds of birds dwell in this place. We have bathed in the holy waters of the seven seas and offered libations to our ancestors. All inauspiciousness has been washed away, and now the time for our welfare has come.
My heart feels great joy, Lakshmana. Some auspicious purpose is rising within me. Come, let us go now to the lovely banks of Lake Pampa. Nearby stands the beautiful Rishyamukha Mountain, where the pious son of the Sun, Sugriva, dwells. Out of fear of his brother Bali, he lives there with four other vanaras. I long to meet Sugriva, for the task of finding Sita depends upon him.”
Hearing these words, Lakshmana replied eagerly,
“Brother, let us go at once! My heart, too, is restless to move forward.”
Then the two brothers, the protectors of creation, left the hermitage. As they walked, they admired trees laden with blossoms and filled with singing birds. The forest resounded with the cries of peacocks, parrots, and woodpeckers.
When Lord Rama beheld the beauty of Lake Pampa, a deep longing for Sita arose in His heart. The lake sparkled with crystal-clear waters, filled with fish and turtles. Its banks were adorned with tilaka, ashoka, nagakesara, and bakula trees, surrounded by fragrant groves and blooming lotuses of every color — red, white, and blue. It looked like a living painting of many hues.
The lake was encircled by mango trees where peacocks danced and sang. Seeing the beauty of Pampa, Rama’s heart was overwhelmed with grief for Sita. He gazed upon the flowering trees and the serene waters, but every sight reminded Him of His beloved.
Thus, standing beside the splendid Lake Pampa, Rama wept in love and sorrow for Sita.
Nearby rose the famed Rishyamukha Mountain, glittering with trees and metals, where the mighty vanara hero Sugriva — son of the wind-god — dwelled with his companions.
Then, the great and steadfast Rama said to Lakshmana,
“O best of men, come, let us go to Sugriva. Without Sita, how can I live?”
Saying this, the sorrowful yet resolute Lord Rama, longing for His beloved, entered the beautiful waters of Pampa to calm His heart. Together, Rama and Lakshmana beheld the splendor of the forest — full of birds, flowers, and sacred groves — and performed holy ablutions there.
Thus ends the seventy-fifth chapter of the Aranya Kanda — and with it, the entire Aranya Kanda comes to completion.