Chapter 83: Shabari attains Moksha

She was forced to marry a drunkard by her parents. So she ran away on wedding night and approached this kuteera where Rishi Mathang's pupils stayed. She helped them all with cooking, flowers, etc and all were happy. But one day, they came to know about her community (adivasa) and started untouchability policy towards her and felt that they had all become impure. So they all left her high and dry. And since that day she is waiting for Rama, alone. She wonders how they felt pure before knowing her and how they felt impure after knowing about her. Rama is angered by Rishi Matang’s disciples' behavior. He curses him saying no river will be a river to those disciples and no tree shall help them.

Shabari tastes each cherry and if sweet, gives it to Rama. If ripe, she throws it away. So it continues. She gives one to L. He throws it away (not sure why perhaps thinking that he did not deserve it). The Rishivar that Rama had met earlier comes to Shabari’s cottage and asks for forgiveness to Rama. It seems no river remained river and no tree helped them. Shabari says the same Rishivar was Matang's disciples. Rama asks them to ask Shabari for forgiveness. They do. She forgives them all. They all go away.

Rama asks permission to go. Shabari becomes senti and says how she can give permission for him to go when all her life she wanted to see him. So, she sits down on the ground and chants his name, saying it is death that she wants now, to achieve moksha. Rama grants it. She dies. R&L namaskar the ashes and move on.