Śarabhaṅga Moksha (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa)

Śarabhaṅga Moksha is the episode in the Āraṇya Kāṇḍa in which the aged tapasvin (ascetic) Śarabhaṅga Muni ends his life in Rāma’s presence. Indra had invited him to Brahmaloka, but he put off going until he had seen Rāma. He entered a fire in Rāma’s presence (agni-praveśa) and rose from it as a radiant young man, going up to Brahmaloka.

Arrival at the āśrama

Rāma had set Virādha-Tumburu free. Then Rāma, Sītā and Lakshmaṇa went to the āśrama of Śarabhaṅga Muni in the Daṇḍakāraṇya.

As they came near, they saw a wonderful sight. A divine chariot, blazing with light and attended by celestial beings, stood near the āśrama. Indra himself sat in the chariot.

This is in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Āraṇya Kāṇḍa, Chapter 5.

Indra leaves

Indra had come to take Śarabhaṅga to Brahmaloka. This was the reward the muni had earned by long and extraordinary tapas (austerity). But Indra turned his attention to the south and saw Rāma coming, and he chose to withdraw. He rose in his chariot and left before Rāma arrived.

This is in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Āraṇya Kāṇḍa, Chapter 5.

Śarabhaṅga’s joy

Śarabhaṅga had decided not to accept Indra’s invitation to Brahmaloka until he had seen Rāma face to face. He put off the greatest reward open to a tapasvin so that he could have the darśana (sacred sight) of a prince in exile.

When Rāma, Sītā and Lakshmaṇa came into his āśrama, Śarabhaṅga welcomed them with great joy. He gave them the hospitality of the forest āśrama.

This is in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Āraṇya Kāṇḍa, Chapter 5.

Agni-praveśa and ascent

After he had received Rāma and spoken with him, Śarabhaṅga did his last act. He lit a sacred fire, the fire of his last yajña (fire ritual). Reciting sacred mantras, he walked into the flames.

He did this of his own will and with joy. It was not an act of despair but of completion. The fire burnt his aged body. From the same fire a changed being came forth. Śarabhaṅga now appeared as a radiant young man, shining with the full power of his tapas in his glorified body.

In this form he rose up toward Brahmaloka, the highest realm that tapas can reach.

This is in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Āraṇya Kāṇḍa, Chapter 5.

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Āraṇya Kāṇḍa, Chapter 5