Shabari and the Sweet Berries

Deep in the forest, in a little hut among the trees, lived an old woman named Shabari. Every morning she swept the path and picked fresh flowers. She was waiting for a very special guest: Lord Ram.

Her teacher had once told her, “One day, Ram will come to your hut.” She believed it with her whole heart. Years went by, and her hair turned white, but Shabari never stopped waiting.

(Use a slow, patient, hopeful voice.)

Each morning she thought, “Maybe he will come today.” And each day she swept the path clean, laid out fresh flowers, and kept her heart happy.

(Say “You came!” with a big, glad voice.)

One day, at last, she heard footsteps. Ram and his brother Lakshman were walking down the path. Shabari’s eyes filled with happy tears. “You came!” she cried, and she folded her hands in joy.

She hurried off to gather berries. She wanted them to be perfect, so she tasted each one, to be sure it was sweet enough, and kept only the very sweetest for her guests.

Lakshman looked a little surprised. But Ram did not mind at all. He saw how much love was in every berry, and how carefully she had chosen them.

“These are the sweetest berries I have ever tasted,” said Ram, and he ate them one by one, smiling. Shabari felt her heart glow like a lamp.

(Slow right down for the last page.)

When evening came, the forest filled with fireflies, glowing like tiny lamps. Shabari had learned that love and kindness matter more than anything grand. That night she slept deeply, with the smell of flowers all around, and the forest seemed brighter than ever. Goodnight.