सावित्री की कथा

Markandeya said : OBharata, (one day) when that monarch, the king of the Madra, joined by Narada and seated in the midst of his court, was conversing with him.

Savitri, after visiting all the Tirthas and the hermitages, came to the abode of her father together with the ministers.

That auspicious one, seeing her father seated with Narada, bowed down to the feet of both with her head.

Narada said: O king, where did this your daughter go to and where does she come from? Why do you not bestow this youthful (damsel) on a husband?

Ashyapati said : She was sent on that very business and she is just now come. Hear, O divine sage, from her, whom she has chosen for her husband.

Markandeya said : That auspicious one, at the command of her father to relate everything in detail, regarded his words like those of a god and said thus,

Savitri said : There was, in Shalya, a pious Kshatriya king, Dyumatsena by name, who lost his eyes in course of time.

That intellectual (monarch) who had an only infant son, having lost his eyes, a neighbouring enemy who bore him an old grudge, taking advantage of his blindness, seized his kingdom.

(Deprived of his kingdom), he (Dyumatsena) accompanied by his wife with the infant at her breast, retired to the woods. And having gone to a great forest, he, observant of rigid vows, began to practise asceticism.

His son, Satyavana (by name), born in the city and brought up in the hermitage, is my fit husband and I have wedded him in my mind.

Narada said: Alas, O king, Savitri has done a very foolish act in as much as she, has through ignorance, chosen for her husband, Satyavana endued with (high) qualities.

It is because his father is (ever) truthful and his mother speaks the truth, that the Brahmanas have named him Satyavana (i.e. truthful).

In his boyhood he was very fond of horses, made horses of clay and painted them. Therefore he is (sometimes) called Chitrashva (i.e. one who paints horses)

The King said: Is now the prince Satyavana, who is attached to his father, energetic, intelligent, forgiving and brave?

Narada said: He is energetic as Vibhavasu (the sun), wise as Brihaspati, heroic as Mahendra and forgiving as the earth.

Ashvapati said : Is the king's son, Satyavana, charitable, devoted to the Brahmanas, handsome, largehearted and of amiable appearance?

Narada said : With regard to charity commensurate with his means, he is equal to Rantideva, the son of Sankriti and he is as devoted to the Brahmanas and as truthful as Shibi, the son of Ushinara.

The heroic Satyavana is equal to Yayati in magnanimity, is as lovely to look at as the moon and is as beautiful as either of the twin Ashvinis.

He is (moreover) possessed of self-restraint, is meek, heroic, truthful, of subdued senses, faithful to his friends, free from malice, modest and patient.

To be brief, men of great asceticism and of high character say that he (Satyavana) is ever plain and firm in honour.

Ashvapati said: O adorable one, you have described him as possessed of all noble qualities. Now tell me of his defects, if there be any.

Narada said: He has only one defect which has eclipsed all his qualities and which even by the most vigorous exertions cannot be rooted out.

He has only one defect and no other. Satyavana who has a little of life in store for him, will, within a year from this day, breathe his last.

The King said: O beautiful Savitri, go and seek another for your husband. He has a great defect which lies surpassing all his merits.

The divine Narada, who is honoured by the celestials, tells me that within a year, he, of short life, will give up the ghost.

Savitri said: The die falls but once and the daughter can once be bestowed. The words "I bestow" are uttered but once and once only these three things occur.

Whether his life be long or short, whether he be gifted with (noble) qualities or destitute of them, I have for once, chosen him for my husband and will not select any other a second time.

Having (first) settled a thing in mind, it is then expressed in words and is ultimately given effect to by (external) acts. My (own) mind is a proof of this.

Narada said: O best of men, your daughter is firm in her resolve. It is impossible to wean her away from virtue.

The qualities that are present in Satyavana are wanting in any other person. Therefore I command the bestowal of your daughter (on Satyavana).

The King said: The words of your respectable self are true and should never be dishonoured. Since O adorable one, you are my preceptor I will do as directed by you.

Narada said: May your daughter Savitri, be given away without any obstruction. I shall now go away. May you be all happy.

Markandeya said : Saying this, Narada, soaring upwards, returned to heaven. And the king too began to ..jake preparations for the marriage of his daughter.