Shabari: The Devoted Woman
The Story of an Unconventional Gift
What does your family do to prepare for a guest's arrival? Read this story about an old woman who welcomed her guests in an untraditional way!
The Girl Who Waited
In a peaceful forest lived a kind-hearted old woman named Shabari. Long ago, when she was young, her teacher, Rishi Matanga, had told her, “One day, Lord Rama will come to your home. Wait for him with love in your heart.”
From that day on, Shabari waited. Every morning, she cleaned her little hut, decorated the path with flowers, and picked fresh water from the stream. She had never seen Lord Rama, but she loved him deeply and believed he would come.
As the seasons changed and years passed, people laughed at her.
“Why are you waiting for someone who may never come?” they teased.
But Shabari smiled and said, “He will come. My Rama will come when the time is right.”
From that day on, Shabari waited. Every morning, she cleaned her little hut, decorated the path with flowers, and picked fresh water from the stream. She had never seen Lord Rama, but she loved him deeply and believed he would come.
As the seasons changed and years passed, people laughed at her.
“Why are you waiting for someone who may never come?” they teased.
But Shabari smiled and said, “He will come. My Rama will come when the time is right.”
The Sweetest Berries
One sunny morning, as Shabari was gathering wild ber (jujube) berries from the forest, she had a thought:
“What if Rama doesn’t like sour berries?”
So, she did something simple but full of love—she gently tasted each berry to make sure it was sweet before placing it in the basket. If it was too sour or unripe, she tossed it away. Only the sweetest berries were saved for Rama.
Though her hands were old and her steps slow, her heart was full of joy. She imagined the smile on Rama’s face when he tasted the berries.
Meanwhile, far away, Rama and his brother Lakshmana were searching for Sita. Guided by tales of a kind woman in the forest, they made their way to Shabari’s hut.
“What if Rama doesn’t like sour berries?”
So, she did something simple but full of love—she gently tasted each berry to make sure it was sweet before placing it in the basket. If it was too sour or unripe, she tossed it away. Only the sweetest berries were saved for Rama.
Though her hands were old and her steps slow, her heart was full of joy. She imagined the smile on Rama’s face when he tasted the berries.
Meanwhile, far away, Rama and his brother Lakshmana were searching for Sita. Guided by tales of a kind woman in the forest, they made their way to Shabari’s hut.
The Gift of Love
At last, the day came. Lord Rama and Lakshmana arrived at Shabari’s humble home. Her eyes filled with tears of joy.
“My Rama… you came,” she whispered.
Rama smiled kindly and bowed to her. “I have come because of your pure love and faith.”
Shabari offered him the basket of berries. “Please have these, my Lord,” she said.
Lakshmana was shocked to see that some of the berries had been clearly bit into! Shabari had tasted them already! But Rama happily picked them up and started eating them.
“These are the sweetest berries I have ever tasted,” he said.
Lord Rama didn't care that they were half-eaten. Because they had been picked with such thoughtfulness and love, they became more precious than any royal feast. Lord Rama blessed Shabari, and her heart was full. She had waited with love, and her dream had come true.
“My Rama… you came,” she whispered.
Rama smiled kindly and bowed to her. “I have come because of your pure love and faith.”
Shabari offered him the basket of berries. “Please have these, my Lord,” she said.
Lakshmana was shocked to see that some of the berries had been clearly bit into! Shabari had tasted them already! But Rama happily picked them up and started eating them.
“These are the sweetest berries I have ever tasted,” he said.
Lord Rama didn't care that they were half-eaten. Because they had been picked with such thoughtfulness and love, they became more precious than any royal feast. Lord Rama blessed Shabari, and her heart was full. She had waited with love, and her dream had come true.
What We Learn
The story teaches us that it is not the gift itself but the thought behind it that counts.
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