This story is taken from India’s great epic Mahabharata. During the forest life of Pandava brothers, great sages come to see the brothers and narrated to them to make them bear lightly the burden of their exile.There was a king called Ashvapati. The king had a daughter called Savitri, who was so good and beautiful. When she grew old enough, her father asked her to choose a husband for herself. These ancient Indian princesses were independent to choose their own princely suitors.Savitri travelled in distant regions and seeing different prince, but not one of them could win the heart of Savitri.
They came at last to a holy hermitage in one of the forests in ancient India were no animals were allowed to kill. The animals lost the fear of man- even the fish in the lakes came and took food out of the hand. Not even the greatest empire could pass by the hermitage without going to pay homage to the sages.
Now it happened that there was a king, Dyumatsena who was defeated by his enemies and was deprived of his kingdom when he was struck with age and had lost his sight. This poor old, blind, king, with his queen and his son, Satyavan took refuge in the forest. Savitri came to this hermitage and saw Satyavan, the hermit’s son and her heart was conquered.When savitri returned to her palace, she said to her father about Satyavan, the hermit’s son.
On hearing this father consulted the sage Narada; he declared it was the most ill-omned choice that was ever made. The king then asked him why it was so. And Narada said, “Within twelve months from this time the young man will die.”Then king was started with terror and spoke, “this young is going to die in twelve months, you will become the widow: think of that. Desist from your choice, my child, you shall never be married to a short-lived and fated bridge groom.” “Never mind father; do not ask me to marry another person and sacrifice the chastity of mind, for I love and have accepted in my mind that good and brave Satyavan only as my husband. A maiden chooses only once, and she never departs from her troth.”
When the king found that Savitri was resolute in mind and resolute in mind and heart, he complied.Then Savitri married prince Satyavan, and she went from the palace of h
er father into the forest, to live with her father into the forest to live with her chosen husband, and help her husband’s parents. Though Savitri knew the exact date when Satyavan was to die, she kept it hidden from him. Also she kept her as virgin.Thus their lives went on until the fatal day came near, and three short days remained only.She took a severe vow of three nights penance and holy fasts, and kept her heart vigils. Savitri spent sorrowful and sleepless nights with fervent prayers and unseen tears, till the dreaded morning dawned.That day Savitri could not bear him out of her sight, even for a moment. When her husband went to gather usual herbs and fuel, she also accompanied her. Suddenly in faltering accent he complained to his wife of feeling faint, “My head is dizzy and my sense reel, dear savitri, I feel sleep stealing over me, let me rest beside you for a while.”In fear and trembling she replied, “Come, lay your head upon my lap.”
He laid his burning head in the lap of his wife, and ere long sighed and expired. Clasping him to her, her eyes flowing with tears, there sat in the lonesome forest, until the emissaries of death approached to take away the soul of Satyavan.But they could not come near to the place where savitri sat with the dead body of her husband, his head resting in her lap. There was a zone of fire surrounding her, and not one of the emissaries of death come within it. They fled back from it, returned to king Yama, the God of Death, and told him why they could not obtain the soul of this man.Then Yama came, the God of Death, and the judge of the dead. He was the first man that died – the first man that died on the earth- and he had become the presiding deity over all those that die. He judge whether, after a man that has died, he is punished or rewarded. So he came himself. Of course, he would go inside the charmed circle, as he was a God
. When he came to Savitri, he said, “Daughter, give up this dead body, for know death is the fate of mortals, and I am the first of mortals who died. Since then, everyone had to die. Death is the fate of man.” Thus told Savitri walked off, and Yama drew the soul out.Yama having himself of the soul of the young man proceeded on his way. Before he had gone far, he heard the footfalls upon the dried leaves. He turned back. “Savitri, daughter, why are you following me? This is the fate of all mortals.” I am not following you, my lord,” replied Savitri,” but this is also the fate of women, she follows her love take her and the eternal law not separating loving man and faithful wife.”Then said the God of Death, “your answer pleased me, ask for any boom, expect your husband life”
“If you pleased to grant a boom, O Lord of Death, I ask that my father in law may be cured of his blindness and made him happy.”He granted and again travelled with the soul of Satyavan. Again the same footfall was heard from behind. He looked around.” Savitri, my daughter, you still following me.”“Yes my Lord; I cannot help doing so, I am trying all the time to go back, but the mind goes after my husband and the body follows. The soul has already gone, for in that soul is also mine; and when you take the soul, the body follows, does it not?”
“Pleased am I with your words, fair Savitri. Ask another boom of me, but it must not me the life of your husband.”“Let my father in law regain his lost wealth and kingdom, Lord, if you pleased to grant another supplication.”“ Loving daughter,” Yama answered, “this boon I now bestow, but return home, for living mortal cannot go with Yama” And Yama pursed his way.But Savitri, meek and faithful, still followed her departed husband. Yama again turned back,” Noble Savitri, follow not in hapless woe.”“I cannot choose but follow where you take my beloved one.”
“Then suppose, Savitri that your husband was a sinner and has to go to hell. In that case goes Savitri with the one she loves?”“Glad I am to follow where he goes, be it life or death, heaven or hell, “said the loving wife.“Blessed are your words, my child, pleased am I with you, ask yet another boom, but the dead come not to life again.”“Since you permit me, then, let the imperial line of my father-in law be not destroyed; let his kingdom descend to Satyavan’s son.”
And then the God of Death smiled. “My daughter your desire fails the death, here is soul of your husband, he shall live again. He shall live to be a father and your children also shall reign in due course. Return home. Love has conquered Death! Woman never loved like you and you proved that even I, the God of Death, am powerless against the power of the true love.”
“If you pleased to grant a boom, O Lord of Death, I ask that my father in law may be cured of his blindness and made him happy.”He granted and again travelled with the soul of Satyavan. Again the same footfall was heard from behind. He looked around.” Savitri, my daughter, you still following me.”“Yes my Lord; I cannot help doing so, I am trying all the time to go back, but the mind goes after my husband and the body follows. The soul has already gone, for in that soul is also mine; and when you take the soul, the body follows, does it not?”
“Pleased am I with your words, fair Savitri. Ask another boom of me, but it must not me the life of your husband.”“Let my father in law regain his lost wealth and kingdom, Lord, if you pleased to grant another supplication.”“ Loving daughter,” Yama answered, “this boon I now bestow, but return home, for living mortal cannot go with Yama” And Yama pursed his way.But Savitri, meek and faithful, still followed her departed husband. Yama again turned back,” Noble Savitri, follow not in hapless woe.”“I cannot choose but follow where you take my beloved one.”
“Then suppose, Savitri that your husband was a sinner and has to go to hell. In that case goes Savitri with the one she loves?”“Glad I am to follow where he goes, be it life or death, heaven or hell, “said the loving wife.“Blessed are your words, my child, pleased am I with you, ask yet another boom, but the dead come not to life again.”“Since you permit me, then, let the imperial line of my father-in law be not destroyed; let his kingdom descend to Satyavan’s son.”
And then the God of Death smiled. “My daughter your desire fails the death, here is soul of your husband, he shall live again. He shall live to be a father and your children also shall reign in due course. Return home. Love has conquered Death! Woman never loved like you and you proved that even I, the God of Death, am powerless against the power of the true love.”
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