Sloka & Translation

[Rama and Lakshmana visit the hermitage of Sabari-- Sabari's hospitalitythey go round the forest and hermitage of sage Matanga-- Sabari casts her body into the fire and ascends to heaven.]

तौ कबन्धेन तं मार्गं पम्पाया दर्शितं वने।

प्रतस्थतुर्दिशं गृह्य प्रतीचीं नृवरात्मजौ।।3.74.1।।


तौ both, नृवरात्मजौ the two princes, वने in the forest, प्रतीचीं दिशम् western direction showed by, गृह्य took, कबन्धेन by Kabandha, दर्शितं shown by, तम् him, पम्पायाः Pampa's, मार्गम् way, प्रतस्थतुः both set out.

The two princes set forth in the western direction towards Pampa shown by Kabandha.
तौ शैलेष्वाचितानेकान् क्षौद्रकल्पफलान्द्रुमान्।

वीक्षन्तौ जग्मतुर्ध्रष्टुं सुग्रीवं रामलक्ष्मणौ।।3.74.2।।


तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ Rama and Lakshmana, शैलेषु in the mountain, आचितान् loaded with, क्षौद्रकल्पफलान् honey like fruits, द्रुमान् trees, वीक्षन्तौ seeing, सुग्रीवम् Sugriva, द्रष्टुम् to see, जग्मतुः both went.

Observing the trees loaded with honeysweet fruits on the mountain, Rama and Lakshmana went to see Sugriva.
कृत्वा च शैलपृष्ठे तु तौ वासं रामलक्ष्मणौ।

पम्पायाः पश्चिमं तीरं राघवावुपतस्थतुः।।3.74.3।।


राघवौ Rama, तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ both Rama and Lakshmana, शैलपृष्ठे on the slope of the mountain, वासम् stay, कृत्वा made, पम्पायाः Pampa's, पश्चिमं तीरम् western bank, उपतस्थतुः
started on that path.

Rama and Lakshmana halted on the slope of the mountain and then departed for the western bank of Pampa.
तौ पुष्करिण्याः पम्पायास्तीरमासाद्य पश्चिमम्।

अपश्यतां ततस्तत्र शबर्या रम्यमाश्रमम्।।3.74.4।।


ततः then, तौ both, पम्पायाः Pampa, पुष्करिण्याः of the tank, पश्चिमम् western, तीरम् bank, आसाद्य reached, तत्र there, शबर्याः of Sabari, रम्यम् delightful, आश्रमम् hermitage, अपश्यताम् observed.

Both reached the west bank of lake Pampa and saw the delightful hermitage of Sabari.
तौ तमाश्रममासाद्य द्रुमैर्बहुभीरावृतम्।

सुरम्यमभिवीक्षन्तौ शबरीमभ्युपेयतुः।।3.74.5।।


तौ they both, तम् that, आश्रमम् hermitge, आसाद्य after reaching, बहुभिः with many, द्रुमैः with many trees, आवृतम् surrounded, सुरम्यम् very beautiful, अभिवीक्षन्तौ both looking at, शबरीम् Sabari's, अभ्युपेयतुः went towards.

Both reached the beautiful hermitage full of many kinds of trees. There they saw Sabari, and went towards her.
तौ च दृष्ट्वा तदा सिद्धा समुत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः।

रामस्य पादौ जग्राह लक्ष्मणस्य च धीमतः।।3.74.6।।


तदा then, सिद्धा an accomplished ascetic, तौ both, दृष्ट्वा after seeing, कृताञ्जलिः joined palms and offered obeisance, समुत्थाय having got up, रामस्य Rama's, धीमतः sagacious, लक्ष्मणस्य च and Lakshmana's, पादौ feet, जग्राह held.

On seeing them both, Sabari, an accomplished ascetic, got up with folded hands and
touched the feet of the sagacious Rama and Lakshmana.
पाद्यमाचमनीयं च सर्वं प्रादाद्यथाविधि।

तामुवाच ततो रामश्श्रमणीं संशितव्रताम्।।3.74.7।।


पाद्यम् water to wash feet, आचमनीयं च and water to sip, सर्वम् all, यथाविधि as per tradition, प्रादात् she offered, ततः then, संशितव्रताम् doing penance, ताम् of yours, श्रमणीम् austere woman, रामः Rama, उवाच said:

She offered them water to wash their feet and water to sip as per tradition. Then Rama spoke to Sabari who used to perform austere penance:
कच्चित्ते निर्जिता विघ्नाः कच्चित्ते वर्धते तपः।

कच्चित्ते नियतः क्रोध आहारश्च तपोधने।।3.74.8।।


तपोधने endowed with the wealth of penance(the ascetic), ते your, विघ्नाः obstacles, निर्जिताः कच्चित् hope you have overcome, ते your, तपः penance, वर्धते कच्चित् progressing indeed, ते your, क्रोधः anger, आहारश्च desire for food, नियतः कच्चित् is controlled indeed?

O ascetic hope you have overcome your obstacles to penance, you have controlled your anger and your desire for food. Is your austerity in progress.
कच्चित्ते नियमाः प्राप्ताः कच्चित्ते मनसः सुखम्।

कच्चित्ते गुरुशुश्रूषा सफला चारुभाषिणि।।3.74.9।।


चारुभाषिणि sweettongued, ते you, नियमाः selfcontrol, प्राप्ताः कच्चित् have you attained , ते your, मनसः mind, सुखं कच्चित् attained peace, ते your, गुरुशुश्रूषा serving the preceptor, सफला कच्चित् has yielded results?

O Sweettongued Sabari, have you achieved selfcontrol? Has your mind attained peace ? Have your services to the preceptor yielded results?
रामेण तापसी पृष्टा सा सिद्धा सिद्धसम्मता।

शशंस शबरी वृद्धा रामाय प्रत्युपस्थिता।।3.74.10।।


रामेण by Rama, पृष्टा enquired, सिद्धा an accomplished ascetic, सिद्धसम्मता a lady adored and accepted by siddhas, तापसी ascetic, वृद्धा old woman, सा शबरी that Sabari, प्रत्युपस्थिता standing in front, रामाय to Rama, शशंस she spoke.

When Rama asked Sabari who was an old, accomplished ascetic adored by siddhas, she stood in front and replied :
अद्य प्राप्ता तपस्सिद्धिस्तव संदर्शनान्मया।

अद्य मे सफलं तप्तं गुरवश्च सुपूजिताः।।3.74.11।।


अद्य now, तव your, संदर्शनात् by seeing you, मया by me, तपस्सिद्धि: fulfilment of my penance, प्राप्ता is attained, अद्य now, मे my, तप्तम् penance, सफलम् successful, गुरवश्च preceptors, सुपूजिता: have been honoured.

On seeing you now my penance has attained fulfilment, my services to my preceptors have borne fruit.
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म स्वर्गश्चैव भविष्यति।

त्वयि देववरे राम पूजिते पुरुषर्षभ।।3.74.12।।


पुरुषर्षभ best of men, देववरे best among gods, त्वयि when you, पूजिते worshipped, अद्य now, मे my, जन्म birth, सफलम् fruitful, स्वर्गश्चैव even heaven, भविष्यति is certain.

O best of men, O highest of the gods my birth has become fruitful today with your worship, (you have made) even attainment of heaven quite certain.
चक्षुषा तव सौम्येन पूतास्मि रघुनन्दन।

गमिष्याम्यक्षयान्लोकांस्त्वत्प्रसादादरिन्दम।।3.74.13।।


रघुनन्दन O delight of the Raghus, तव your, सौम्येन by your handsome, चक्षुषा looks, पूता sanctified, अस्मि I am, अरिन्दम O subduer of enemies, त्वत्प्रसादात् by your grace, अक्षयान् imperishable, लोकान् worlds, गमिष्यामि I will reach.

O delight of the Raghus, your handsome look has sanctified me, O subduer of enemies, by your grace I will reach the inmperishable worlds.
चित्रकूटं त्वयि प्राप्ते विमानैरतुलप्रभैः।

इतस्ते दिवमारूढा यानहं पर्यचारिषम्।।3.74.14।।


अहम् I, यान् those men, पर्यचारिषम् I have served, ते they, त्वयि when you, चित्रकूटम् Chitrakutam, प्राप्ते arrived, अतुलप्रभैः with incomparable radiance, विमानैः with aerial chariots, इतः from here, दिवम् to heaven, आरूढाः I will reach.

The men I served have ascended heaven on aerial chariots of incomparable radiance the moment you touched Chitrakuta.
तैश्चाहमुक्ता धर्मज्ञैर्महाभागैर्महर्षिभिः।

आगमिष्यति ते रामस्सुपुण्यमिममाश्रमम्।।3.74.15।।

स ते प्रतिग्रहीतव्यस्सौमित्रिसहितोतिथिः।

तं च दृष्ट्वा वरान्लोकानक्षयांस्त्वं गमिष्यसि।।3.74.16।।


धर्मज्ञैः by knowers of rigteousness, महाभागैः by the honourable, तैः महर्षिभिः by those great seers, अहम् I, उक्ता have been told, रामः Rama, ते your, सुपुण्यम् very sacred, इमम् आश्रमम् this hermitage, अगमिष्यति will come, सौमित्रिसहितः along with Saumitri, सः he, ते for you, अतिथिः guest, प्रतिग्रहीतव्यः receive with due reverence, तम् him, दृष्ट्वा after seeing, त्वम् you, वरान् great, अक्षयान् inexhaustible, लोकान् worlds, गमिष्यसि you will go,

Those great honourable sages who knew the ways of dharma said: 'Rama would visit this sacred hermitage along with Lakshmana. He would be your guest. Receive him
with due honour. And you would attain the great, inexhaustible worlds when you see him.'
मया तु विविधं वन्यं सञ्चितं पुरुषर्षभ।

तवार्थे पुरुषव्याघ्र पम्पायास्तीरसम्भवम्।।3.74.17।।


पुरुषव्याघ्र O best among men, (रघुनन्दन delight of the Raghus), मया by me, तव अर्थे for your sake, पम्पायाः Pampa's, तीरसम्भवम् grown on the bank, विविधम् many kinds, वन्यम् forestfood, सञ्चितम् collected.

O best among men I have collected and kept for your sake different kinds of forestfood grown on the bank of Pampa.
एवमुक्तस्स धर्मात्मा शबर्या शबरीमिदम्।

राघवः प्राह विज्ञाने तां नित्यमबहिष्कृताम्।।3.74.18।।


शबर्या by Sabari, एवम् in that way, उक्तः addressed, धर्मात्मा righteous, सः राघवः that Rama, नित्यम् always, विज्ञाने in knowledge, अबहिष्क्रताम् not kept away, तां शबरीम् that Sabari, प्राह he said.

Entreated by her in that manner, the righteous Rama spoke to Sabari who was established in true knowledge:
दनोस्सकाशात्तत्त्वेन प्रभावं ते महात्मनः।

श्रुतं प्रत्यक्षमिच्छामि सन्द्रष्टुं यदि मन्यसे।।3.74.19।।


महात्मनः by the great self, दनोः सकाशात् from Danu, श्रुतम् heard, ते your, प्रभावम् power, मन्यसे यदि if you think so, प्रत्यक्षम् directly, (सं)द्रष्टुम् to see, इच्छामि I desire.

I have heard from great Danu about your power. If you agree, I would like to see this power in person.
एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्ता रामवक्त्राद्विनिस्सृतम्।

शबरी दर्शयामास तावुभौ तद्वनं महत्।।3.74.20।।


शबरी Sabari, रामवक्त्रात् from Rama's mouth, विनिस्सृतम् released, एतत् this, वचनम् word, श्रुत्वा on hearing, तौ उभौ both of them, महत् great, तत् that, वनम् garden, दर्शयामास started showing.

At these words from the mouth of Rama, Sabari took them both round the great garden.
पश्य मेघघनप्रख्यं मृगपक्षिसमाकुलम्।

मतङ्गवनमित्येव विश्रुतं रघुनन्दन।।।3.74.21।।


रघुनन्दन O delight of the Raghus, मेघघनप्रख्यम् looking like the dense cloud, मृगपक्षिसमाकुलम् filled with animals and birds, मतङ्गवनमित्येव known as Matanga garden, विश्रुतम् popular, पश्य see.

O delight of the Raghus see this garden looking like the dense cloud. Full of animals and birds, it is popularly known as Matanga garden.
इह ते भावितात्मानो गुरवो मे महावने।

जुहवाञ्चक्रिरे तीर्थं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रपूजितम्।।3.74.22।।


महावने in this great garden, भावितात्मानः who perceived the supreme spirit, ते they, मे गुरुवः my preceptors, इह here, मन्त्रवत् by the power of mantras, मन्त्रपूजितम् invoked by mantras, तीर्थम् waters, जुहवाञ्चक्रिरे performed sacrifice.

My precepters, who had perceived the Supreme Spirit made sacrificial offerings in this great garden, invoked gods through the power of mantras. They brought water and offered oblations to the sacrificial fire.
इयं प्रत्यक्थ्सली वेदिर्यत्र ते मे सुसत्कृताः।

पुष्पोपहारं कुर्वन्ति श्रमादुद्वेपिभिः करैः।।3.74.23।।


मे my, सुसत्कृताः revered ones, ते they, यत्र where, श्रमात् exhausted, उद्वेपिभिः करैः did with trembling hands, पुष्पोवहारम् offering flowers for worship, कुर्वन्ति make, प्रत्यक्थ्सली वेदिः altar knows as Pratyaksthali, इयम् this is.

This is the altar named Pratyaksthali where the saints aged and exhausted( by performing chandrayana) whom I worshipped made offerings of flowers with trembling hands.
तेषां तपःप्रभावेण पश्याद्यापि रघूद्वह।

द्योतयन्ति दिशस्सर्वाश्श्रिया वेद्योऽतुलप्रभाः।।3.74.24।।


रघूद्वह O Rama, तेषाम् their, तपःप्रभावेण by the power of their penance, अतुलप्रभाः matchless brilliance, वेद्यः altars, श्रिया with glow, अद्यापि even today, सर्वाः all, दिशः directions, द्योतयन्ति filling with light, पश्य see.

O Rama see, even now they illuminate the sacrificial altars with the power of their penance. They shed light in all directions with a matchless brilliance.
अशक्नुवद्भिस्तैर्गन्तुमुपवासश्रमालसैः।

चिन्तितेऽभ्यागतान्पश्य सहितान्सप्तसागरान्।।3.74.25।।


उपवासश्रमालसैः weariness due to fasting, गन्तुम् to move about, अशक्नुवद्भिः having no energy, तैः by them, चिन्तिते by mere thought, अभ्यागतान् came towards, सहितान् all together, सप्तसागरान् all the seven seas, पश्य see.

Look at the seven seas, which have reached here at their mere thought as they could not reach them due to fatigue from fasting.
कृताभिषेकैस्तैर्न्यस्ता वल्कलाः पादपेष्विह।

अद्यापि नावशुष्यन्ति प्रदेशे रघुनन्दन।।3.74.26।।


रघुनन्दन delight of the Raghus, इह here, कृताभिषेकैः after bathing, तै: by them, प्रदेशे place, पादपेषु on the trees, न्यस्ताः laid to dry, वल्कलाः bark clothes, अद्यापि even now, न अवशुष्यन्ति do not get dry still.

O delight of the Raghus look at the bark robes spread on the trees to dry after their bathing which are still wet.
देवकार्याणि कुर्वद्भिर्यानीमानि कृतानि वै।

पुष्पैःकुवलयैस्सार्धं म्लानत्वं नोपयान्तिवै।।3.74.27।।


देवकार्याणि for the worship of gods, कुर्वद्भि: they offered, कुवलयैःसार्धम् along with lotuses and others, पुष्पैः with flowers, यानि all those, कृतानि arranged, इमानि all these, म्लानत्वम् wilted, नोपयान्ति वै do not attain.

The flowers including lotuses offered by the sages while worshipping gods have not yet wilted.
कृत्स्नं वनमिदं दृष्टं श्रोतव्यं च श्रुतं त्वया।

तदिच्छाम्यभ्यनुज्ञाता त्यक्तुमेतत्कलेबरम्।।3.74.28।।


त्वया by you, कृत्स्नम् entirely, इदं वनम् this garden, दृष्टम् is seen, श्रोतव्यम् to be heard, श्रुतं च it is heard, तत् that, अभ्यनुज्ञाता with your permission, एतत् this, कलेबरम् body, त्यक्तुम् to give up, इच्छामि I desire to.

You have seen the entire garden and have listened what is to be heard. With your permission I would like to give up this body.
तेषामिच्छाम्यहं गन्तुं समीपं भावितात्मनाम्।

मुनीनामाश्रमो येषामहं च परिचारिणी।।3.74.29।।


आश्रमः hermitage, येषां मुनीनाम् of those seers (to whom this hermitage belongs), अहं च I, परिचारिणी I am a servant, भावितात्मनाम् realisers of supreme spirit, तेषाम् their, समीपम् near, गन्तुम् to go, इच्छामि I desire.

I wish to reach those realisers of the Supreme Spirit whom I served and to whom this hermitage belonged.
धर्मिष्ठं तु वचश्श्रुत्वा राघवस्सहलक्ष्मणः।

प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे आश्चर्यमिति तत्त्वतः।।3.74.30।।


सहलक्ष्मणः along with Lakshmana, राघवः Rama, धर्मिष्ठम् dedicated to dharma, वचः words, श्रुत्वा hearing, तत्त्वतः truly, आश्चर्यम् wonderful, इति thus, अतुलम् incomparable, प्रहर्षम् happiness, लेभे attained.

Rama and Lakshmana on hearing the pious words of Savari joyfully exclaimed, This is really wonderful.
तामुवाच ततो रामश्श्रमणीं संशितव्रताम्।

अर्चितोऽहं त्वया भक्त्या गच्छकामं यथासुखम्।।3.74.31।।


ततः then, रामः Rama,संशितव्रताम् determined in her vow, श्रमणीम् female ascetic, उवाच said, अहम् I, त्वया by you, भक्त्या devotion, अर्चितः worshipped, कामम् verily indeed, यथासुखम् with pleasure, गच्छ you may go.

Looking at Sabari who was steadfast in her vow, Rama said, O ascetic, you have worshipped me with devotion. You may go wherever you like (to the world you desire)
इत्युक्ता जटिला वृद्धा चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरा।

तस्मिन्मुहूर्ते शबरी देहं जीर्णं जिहासती।।3.74.32।।

अनुज्ञाता तु रामेण हुत्वात्मानं हुताशने।

ज्वलत्पावकसङ्काशा स्वर्गमेव जगाम सा।।3.74.33।।


इति this, उक्ता was said, जटिला a woman of matted locks, वृद्धा old, चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरा woman wearing tattered bark clothes and deer skin, शबरी Sabari, जीर्णम् emaciated, देहम् body, तस्मिन् मूहूर्ते at that moment, जिहासती desiring to give up, रामेण by Rama, अनुज्ञाता permitted, आत्मानम् herself, हुताशने in fire, हुत्वा after offering, ज्वलत्पावकसङ्काशा body glittering like fire, स्वर्गमेव to heaven, जगाम went.

With matted locks, tattered bark clothes and deer skin, Sabari consigned her old and emaciated body to the fire at that moment, with the permission of Rama and ascended to heaven, her body glowing like fire.
दिव्याभरणसंयुक्ता दिव्यमाल्यानुलेपना।

दिव्याम्बरधरा तत्र बभूव प्रियदर्शना।।3.74.34।।

विराजयन्ती तं देशं विद्युत्सौदामिनी यथा।


दिव्याभरणसंयुक्ता adorned with wonderful ornaments, दिव्यमाल्यानुलेपना wearing beautiful garlands and anointed with fragrant unguents, दिव्याम्बरधरा robed in most wonderful clothes, विद्युत् सौदामनी यथा like a streak of lightning, तं देशम् that place, विराजयन्ती illuminating, तत्र there, प्रियदर्शना pleasing appearance, बभूव appeared.

Adorned with wonderful ornaments and beautiful garlands, anointed with fragrant unguents, robed in most beautiful clothes, she appeared like a streak of lightning, her body shining bright and her face contented.
यत्र ते सुकृतात्मानो विहरन्ति महर्षयः।।3.74.35।।

तत्पुण्यं शबरी स्थानं जगामात्मसमाधिना।


शबरी Sabari, आत्मसमाधिना her meditation, सुकृतात्मानः who did good deeds, ते महर्षयः the great sages, यत्र where, विहरन्ति moved, तत् that, पुण्यम् sacred, स्थानम् holy place, जगाम went.

By virtue of her selfmeditation, Sabari went to that sacred world where the holy sages lived because of their good deeds.
इत्यार्ष श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्सप्ततितमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the seventyfourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.