Lord Ram said to me ...

Lord Ram said to me when I asked

'O Lord, why have you apportioned these fruits of action to me as phaladAtA?'

[The Lord or Ishvara is the phaladAta or giver of the fruits of action. See SrI RamaNa's talks on this.]

He said: 'Just as shabari picked out the best fruit for me by tasting each one, so too I have picked out the best fruit for your actions that are most appropriate for your welfare now. But in your ignorance and desire you don't recognize this. I have given you discrimination and buddhi and when you act accordingly the world opens up its heart to you. So accept. Be calm. Be at peace. That is bliss. Chasing the will-o-the wisps is not. Rest calmly in dharma, as you best know it. Restraint will bear greater fruit, but accept your desire and limitations. To love dhArmically is not wrong. But pursuit of desire without heed or regard for the greater ultimate goal of liberation is not wise.'

[Shabari was an old woman who was a great devotee of Lord Ram. When Lord Ram incarnated on this earth the great RShis and Munis promptly recognized him as the embodiment of Pure Consciousness, Brahman. So did his ardent devotees such as Shabari. She waited long for his arrival and had selected the choicest fruit to offer him, but so great was her devotion that she did not want to offer him any fruit that was not sweet. So she had tasted each fruit to ensure its sweetness before offering it to the Lord. Sri Ram arrived at her dwelling with Sri LakshmaNa and they were both duly received with ceremonial washing of feet (pAdyam), sipping of water (Acamanam), offering of water and grass (arghyam) and other upacAras of worship. When offered the fruit, SrI LakshmaNa pointed out to SrI Ram that the fruit had already been bitten into, something this is opposed to the rules of AcAram or proper conduct, where only uneaten food is to be offered to anyone. However, SrI Ram said that since this was offered with true devotion he would gladly accept it. This is the mark of the Lord. By doing so SrI Ram again proved he was the incarnation of Brahman.]