The Matsya Purana (critical study)
by Kushal Kalita | 2018 | 74,766 words | ISBN-13: 9788171103058
This page relates ‘Legend of Savitri-Satyavana’ of the English study on the Matsya-purana: a Sanskrit text preserving ancient Indian traditions and legends written in over 14,000 metrical verses. In this study, the background and content of the Matsyapurana is outlined against the cultural history of ancient India in terms of religion, politics, geography and architectural aspects. It shows how the encyclopedic character causes the text to deal with almost all the aspects of human civilization.
Part 1g - The Legend of Sāvitrī-Satyavāna
While explaining the glory of chaste and virtuous ladies, the Matsyapurāṇa has inserted the story of Sāvitrī and her chaste life towards the prosperity of her husband Satyavāna. Sāvitrī was born to Mālatī and king Śākala Aśvapati. After knowing about the coming death of Satyavāna, Śākala Aśvapati gave his daughter’s hand to him as it was resolved by the king previously. After marriage Sāvitrī had devotedly served her husband and her father-in-law and mother-in-law. When only four days left for Satyavāna to die Sāvitrī kept up a three-night fast. On the fourth day when Satyavāna went out for fetching fruits and flowers to the forest Sāvitrī also followed him and in order to distract the mind she started asking her lord the names of the trees and flowers of the forest.
After describing these, when Satyavāna was about to collect the firewoods he suddenly felt not well and did rest his head on Sāvitrī’s lap. Then that chaste lady noticed Dharmarāja, the God of Death coming there. She could see Satyavāna lifeless and followed Dharmarāja. Dharmarāja, on the other hand as seen by her was going away with her husband’s subtle soul. She immediately requested Dharmarāja to allow her to follow her husband. But Dharmarāja rejected. Then by righteous speech she first got a boon for her father-in-law that he could get back his lost vision as well as the realm. In second she asked Dharmarāja for hundred sons for her own father. By the merits of her virtuous speeches Dharmarāja too granted her the boons.
In the mean time Satyavāna had also achieved Heaven. Then again she wanted to follow her husband and again Dharmarāja rejected her. Then by the grace of her honest speech, she gained a boon of hundred sons through Satyavāna. Dharmarāja then became pleased with her prayer and thus Satyavāna got liberated. He was even blessed to reign for 500 years. So, the prayers read by Sāvitrī were fruitful and successful in saving her lord. These prayers according to the Matsyapurāṇa will bless a long life who reads these in the morning.