Doha 34
Grace on Śabarī; description of the nine forms of Devotion and departure for the Pampā lake
सापत ताड़त परुष कहंता। बिप्र पूज्य अस गावहिं संता॥ पूजिअ बिप्र सील गुन हीना। सूद्र न गुन गन ग्यान प्रबीना॥१॥
कहि निज धर्म ताहि समुझावा। निज पद प्रीति देखि मन भावा॥ रघुपति चरन कमल सिरु नाई। गयउ गगन आपनि गति पाई॥२॥
ताहि देइ गति राम उदारा। सबरी कें आश्रम पगु धारा॥ सबरी देखि राम गृहँ आए। मुनि के बचन समुझि जियँ भाए॥३॥
सरसिज लोचन बाहु बिसाला। जटा मुकुट सिर उर बनमाला॥ स्याम गौर सुंदर दोउ भाई। सबरी परी चरन लपटाई॥४॥
प्रेम मगन मुख बचन न आवा। पुनि पुनि पद सरोज सिर नावा॥ सादर जल लै चरन पखारे। पुनि सुंदर आसन बैठारे॥५॥
Meaning
“A Brāhmaṇa, even though he may curse you, beat you or speak harsh words to you, is still worthy of adoration; so declare the saints. A Brāhmaṇa must be adored, though he may be lacking in amiability and virtue; not so a Śūdra, though possessing a host of virtues and rich in knowledge.” (1) The Lord instructed Kabandha in His own cult (the cult of Devotion) and was delighted at heart to see his devotion to His feet. Having regained his original form of a Gandharva, he bowed his head to the lotus feet of Śrī Rāma and ascended to the heaven. (2) Having conferred on him his own Gandharva state, the beneficent Rāma repaired to the hermitage of Śabarī*. When Śabarī saw that Śrī Rāma had called at her hermitage, she recalled the words of (her Guru) sage Mataṅga† and was glad at heart. (3) * Śabarī was known by the name of the wild tribe (Śabaras) to which she belonged. Though low-born, she had already acquired some celebrity for her piety and devotion; hence the poet has chosen to call her abode a ‘hermitage’ (a name generally applied to the abode of sages and hermits). This can easily serve as an illustration of the catholicity of the great Hindu religion, which, though rigid in social matters, does not fail to give proper recognition to individual merit and virtue. The whole of this episode is a great eye-opener in this respect. † From other sources it can be gathered that the sage, Ṛṣi Mataṅga, who was Śabarī’s own Guru, had predicted to her, on the eve of his demise long before, that the Lord would visit her. It is this prediction of the sage that has been referred to above. With lotus-like eyes, long arms, tuft of matted hair adorning their head like a crown and garlands of wild flowers adorning their breast, the two brothers looked most charming—the one dark of hue and the other fair; Śabarī fell prostrate and embraced their feet. (4) She was so overwhelmed with love that no words came to her lips. Again and again she bowed her head at their lotus feet. Presently she took some water and reverently laved their feet and then conducted them to lovely seats (sitting-mats). (5)
कंद मूल फल सुरस अति दिए राम कहुँ आनि। प्रेम सहित प्रभु खाए बारंबार बखानि॥३४॥
Meaning
She brought and offered to Śrī Rāma the most delicious bulbs, roots and fruits. The Lord partook of them praising them again and again. (34)
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