Story of Sāvitrī

The wife of Satyavān.

Birth.

In the country of Madra, famous in the Purāṇas, there was a king named Aśvapati. His wife was Mālatī. Though the couple grew old they were childless. At last they worshipped Devī Sāvitrī. After vows and prayers for eighteen years the Devī appeared before them, and giving them the boon that a daughter would be born to them, she disappeared. The couple returned to the palace and Mālatī conceived and delivered a daughter whom they named Sāvitrī. (Skandha 9, Devī Bhāgavata; Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 293).

Marriage.

Sāvitrī grew up as though Lakṣmī had taken an incarnation and bloomed into a beautiful damsel. But nobody came forward to marry her. On a New moon day she bathed and purified herself and getting the blessings of Brahmins, came and bowed before her father. The King felt sorry as nobody had offered to marry her though she was in the full bloom of youth. He advised her to travel in the outside world and to select a husband by herself. According to the order of her father she took the aged ministers of the King and travelled through the forests in which hermits lived.

Once Nārada came to the palace and while he was talking with King Aśvapati, Sāvitrī and the aged ministers returned. She bowed before her father and Nārada. As soon as Nārada saw her, he asked with curiosity about her marriage. The father replied that he had sent her in search of a husband. Sāvitrī said "I have accepted the Prince Satyavān as my husband. He is the son of King Dyumatsena of Sālva. Dyumatsena became blind in his old age, and taking this opportunity his enemies captured his country. Dyumatsena with his wife and son went to the forest and lived there."

Nārada described the qualities of Satyavān. "Satyavān is as radiant as the sun, as intelligent as Bṛhaspati, as valiant as Indra and as patient as the Earth. Aśvapati was immensely pleased at hearing about the good qualities of Satyavān, and asked Nārada, if there was anything to say against him. Nārada said that he had nothing to say against Satyavān except that he would die "within one year from this date." (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 294).

The King felt miserable when he heard this. Sāvitrī said that she had accepted Satyavān as her husband and that nothing could make her waver from her decision even if he is not going to live more than a year. The King agreed to the wish of his daughter and preparations for the marriage were begun. The King went with Sāvitrī to the forest and saw Dyumatsena who gladly consented to the marriage. Aśvapati returned to the palace leaving Sāvitrī with Satyavān and his parents. As soon as Aśvapati had returned, Sāvitrī discarded her ornaments and assumed the dress suitable to life in the forest and lived with them.

The death of Satyavān.

It was nearly a year and the day of death of Satyavān was fast approaching. There were only four days more. Sāvitrī had taken a vow lasting for three days. Dyumatsena dissuaded her from taking fast. She completed the fast. There was left only one night more. She kept awake for the whole night. Morning came. Though she ended her fast she had not taken any food. Dyumatsena wanted to know the reason. She humbly said that she would eat only after sun-set.

As usual Satyavān took his axe and started for the wood. Sāvitrī also followed him.

Satyavān:—"You have never accompanied me before. Moreover you are very weak on account of the fast. Then how can you come with me?"

Sāvitrī: "I am not at all weak by the fast and vow. I want to come with you. I pray, don't hinder me."

At last Satyavān consented after getting the permission of his parents. Both went to the forest to gather fruits and roots. They gathered fruits and roots. Then Satyavān began to cut wood. By that exertion Satyavān sweated all over. He was affected by headache. "Let me lie down!" He said. The axe fell from his hand. Sāvitrī caught her husband who was falling down and laid him on her lap. Sāvitrī saw a person clad in blood-coloured garments, with red eyes and a rope in hand, coming towards them. He came to the spot and stood there looking at the body of Satyavān. Realizing the person to be Kāla (Deathgod) Sāvitrī stood up instantly and bowed before him.

Sāvitrī:—"Who are you Lord. What may be your object in coming here?"

Yama:—Hei, Sāvitrī. As you are a hermitess of chastity I may converse with you. I am Yama. I am come to take away the life of your husband."

Sāvitrī:—"Lord, I have heard that your messengers come and take away the souls. How is it that you have come in person today?"

Yama:—This Satyavān is a righteous man who is an ocean of good qualities. Messengers are not sent, in the cases of persons like him."

Saying thus Yama cast his rope and caught the soul of Satyavān. Sāvitrī saw the body of her husband lying without life and soul. Sāvitrī followed Yama who had gone to the south with the soul of Satyavān.

Yama:—Child, you go back and conduct his funerals. You have followed your husband as far as you can.

Sāvitrī:—I am coming to the place where my husband is being taken. That is the duty of a wife. What impediment is there on my way to follow you, when I have the merits of vow, fast, devotion to my elders, love and regard for my husband and the good will of yourself, my Lord."

When Yama realized that it was difficult to send Sāvitrī back, he asked Sāvitrī to ask for any boon. Yama was prepared to give anything except the life of Satyavān. She requested for the recovery of sight by Dyumatsena. Yama granted it. Still Sāvitrī did not turn back. Yama asked her to pray for one more boon. She requested for the recovery of the lost kingdom of Dyumatsena. Yama sanctioned that request also. Still she followed Yama, who was ready to grant her a third boon. She requested: "My father may, please be given a hundred sons who would continue the family. Yama granted that too. But she did not turn back. Yama told her that she might ask for a fourth boon. She said: "I may be given a hundred sons born directly from Satyavān. Yama granted this fourth boon also. Then Sāvitrī asked Yama how the boon would be realized unless the life of Satyavān was given back to him. Yama was pleased with her at her love and devotion for her husband and returned the life of Satyavān. Yama blessed her that she and Satyavān would live for hundred years.

Yama disappeared. Sāvitrī returned and sat there taking the body of Satyavān on her lap. Satyavān came to life. Both of them rose up. Night came on. It was dark. They could not find the way. Satyavān wanted to reach their hermitage somehow. Sāvitrī took the axe and supporting her husband in the dim moon light, walked to the hermitage.

Dyumatsena got sight. He started with his wife in search of his children, and walked about in the forest. At last all of them met together. They reached home. Then Sāvitrī told them all that had happened. Everyone was delighted. Then some people from Sālva came to the hermitage. They said that the minister had killed the King, that the people had expelled the minister, and that they had come to request Dyumatsena to return to his country and to resume the reign. Accordingly all of them returned to Sālva. Dyumatsena was anointed as the King of Sālva. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapters 293 to 299).