While going westward and crossing several mountains and rivers as Kabandh had directed, Shri Ram and Lakshman finally reached the ashram of Maharishi Matang.

The atmosphere was so pleasant that it lifted Shri Ram's gloomy mind. The trees were heart-pleasingly shining forth in full blossom, due to the energy of tapobal.

Walking ahead they saw the idyllic hermitage of Shabri. Admiring everything from the trees to flowers to picturesque landscapes, they went towards the old Tapasvini.

Seeing them both and recognising them in an instant, Shabri smiled. Her wait was finally over. She went towards the brothers with joined hands and braced feet of both the incarnations.

She gave them water for feet-wash and mouthwash. She then offered them fruits and berries for food. Shri Ram was in bliss eating them.

"Aise fal toh ishwar ko Vaikunth mei bhi na mile." Shri Ram said.

"Yeh mere Guru Maharishi Matang ke tapobal ka prabhaav hai prabhu. Jiske karan yaha aate hi praani hinsa ki bhaavna tyaag ko dete hai. Waise toh unhe parlok sidhaare varsho beet gaye kintu yeh sthaan abhi tak unke tej se paripurn hai. Yu toh mai bhi unke saath jana chahti thi, ki parlok mai bhi unki sewa karu. Kintu mera bhakti bhaav dekh unhone bola ki mai issi aashram mei rahu, jaha mere bhakti ke fal swaroop ek din Shri Ram mujhe darshan dene aayenge. Aur jab mai Shri Ram aur unke bhai Lakshman ka atithi-satkaar kar lu toh mai unke paas jaa sakti hu. Antatah aap agaye prabhu." Shabri said with a smile.

"Maharishi Matang jaante the ki hum aayenge ?" Shri Ram asked.

"Ha. Unhone kaha tha ki apne patni ko dhundhte huye Shri Ram apne bhai Lakshman ke saath mere aashram padharenge. Aur mujhe yeh nirdesh diya tha ki mai aapko Vanaro ke nikaashit Raja Sugreev tak pahuchne ka maarg batayu. Gurudev ne kaha tha ki yadi aap Sugreev se mitrata kar lenge toh Ravan par awashya vijayi paayenge." Shabari said.

"Satya ?" Shri Ram asked as a smile appeared on his face.

"Ha prabhu ha. Unhone kaha tha ki Ravan ka naash kar, Shri Ram apni patni, bhai aur Mahadev ka diya amulya vardaan liye Ayodhya laut kar shaashan karenge." Shabari said.

"Mahadev ka amulya vardaan ? Tatparya ?" Shri Ram asked.

"Tatparya toh mujhe bhi gyaat nahi prabhu. Gurudev Maharishi Matang ne bas itna kaha tha ki woh aisa vardaan hoga jo vyakti ke punya karmo ke fal swaroop milta hai. Aisa vardaan jo Purush ko dhanya karta hai. Kintu chuki yeh vardaan aapko milega, woh sampoorn manushya jaati ko dhanya karega." Shabari said.

"Aapke shabdo se mujhe nayi aasha aur utsaah mila hai, Mata. Aisa lag raha hai ki aapne apne guru ka aashirvad mujh tak pahucha diya. Ab kripiya Sugreev tak pahuchne ka maarg bata de." Shri Ram said.

"Yaha se aage jaane par aapko kamal pushpo se bhara huya Pampa sarovar milega. Uske dakshin tat par 2 parvat shikhar dikhayi denge, Rishyamukh aur Malyaadri. Sugreev apne 4 mantriyo se saath wahi rehte hai." Shabri said.

"Mai aapka dhanyawaad kaise karu Mata ?" Shri Ram asked.

"Hey prabhu, aap mere kutir mei aaye mere liye utna hi paryapt hai. Ab mujhe iss vridh deh ko tyaag apne guru ki sewa mei Jana hai. Yadi aap mera daha-sanskaar karde toh mera kalyaan ho." Shabri said.

"Jaisa aap kahe." Shri Ram said.

And thus after Shabri left the body behind and Shri Ram along with Lakshman performed her final rites, both the brothers went forward to find the Pampa sarovar.

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A/N

Jo koi bhi mil raha hai Shri Ram se apna antim sanskaar karwa raha hai 😂😂😂 but karwaye bhi kyu na ? Moksh ka maarg hai.

And drum rolls please !

CAUSE HERE WE COME TO THE END OF ARANYA KAAND ✨✨

Agar Uttar Kaand ko side mei rakhe, toh we're halfway done through Ramayan ! 3 Kaands are done, 3 more are left ✨

BOLO JAI SIYA RAM 🙏
JAI HANUMAN 🙏