Chapter 295

“Markandeya said, The powerful Satyavan then, accompanied by his wife,plucked fruits and filled his wallet with them. And he then began to fellbranches of trees. And as he was hewing them, he began to perspire. Andin consequence of that exercise his head began to ache. And afflictedwith toil, he approached his beloved wife, and addressed her, saying, ‘OSavitri, owing to this hard exercise my head acheth, and all my limbs andmy heart also are afflicted sorely! O thou of restrained speech, I thinkmyself unwell, I feel as if my head is being pierced with numerous darts.Therefore, O auspicious lady, I wish to sleep, for I have not the powerto stand.’ Hearing these words, Savitri quickly advancing, approached herhusband, and sat down upon the ground, placing his head upon her lap. Andthat helpless lady, thinking of Narada’s words, began to calculate the(appointed) division of the day, the hour, and the moment. The nextmoment she saw a person clad in red attire with his head decked with adiadem. And his body was of large proportions and effulgent as the Sun.And he was of a darkish hue, had red eyes, carried a noose in his hand,and was dreadful to behold. And he was standing beside Satyavan and wassteadfastly gazing at him. And seeing him, Savitri gently placed herhusband’s head on the ground, and rising suddenly, with a tremblingheart, spake these words in distressful accents, ‘Seeing this thysuperhuman form, I take thee to be a deity. If thou will, tell me, Ochief of the gods, who thou art and what also thou intendst to do!’Thereat, Yama replied, ‘O Savitri, thou art ever devoted to thy husband,and thou art also endued with ascetic merit. It is for this reason that Ihold converse with thee. Do thou, O auspicious one, know me for Yama.This thy lord Satyavan, the son of a king, hath his days run out. Ishall, therefore, take him away binding him in this noose. Know this tobe my errand!’ At these words Savitri said, ‘I had heard that thyemissaries come to take away mortals, O worshipful one! Why then, O lord,hast thou come in person?’

“Markandeya continued, ‘Thus addressed by her, the illustrious lord ofPitris, with a view to oblige her, began to unfold to her truly all abouthis intentions. And Yama said, ‘This prince is endued with virtues andbeauty of person, and is a sea of accomplishments. He deserveth not to beborne away by my emissaries. Therefore is it that I have comepersonally.’ Saying this, Yama by main force pulled out of the body ofSatyavan, a person of the measure of the thumb, bound in noose andcompletely under subjection. And when Satyavan’s life had thus been takenout, the body, deprived of breath, and shorn of lustre, and destitute ofmotion, became unsightly to behold. And binding Satyavan’s vital essence,Yama proceeded in a southerly direction. Thereupon, with heartoverwhelmed in grief, the exalted Savitri, ever devoted to her lord andcrowned with success in respect of her vows, began to follow Yama. And atthis, Yama said, ‘Desist, O Savitri! Go back, and perform the funeralobsequies of thy lord! Thou art freed from all thy obligations to thylord. Thou hast come as far as it is possible to come’. Savitri replied,’Whither my husband is being carried, or whither he goeth of his ownaccord, I will follow him thither. This is the eternal custom. By virtueof my asceticism, of my regard for my superiors, of my affection for mylord, of my observance of vows, as well as of thy favour, my course isunimpeded. It hath been declared by wise men endued with true knowledgethat by walking only seven paces with another, one contracteth afriendship with one’s companion. Keeping that friendship (which I havecontracted with thee) in view, I shall speak to thee something. Do thoulisten to it. They that have not their souls under control, acquire notmerit by leading the four successive modes of life, viz.,–celibacy withstudy, domesticity, retirement into the woods, and renunciation of theworld. That which is called religious merit is said to consist of trueknowledge. The wise, therefore, have declared religious merit to be theforemost of all things and not the passage through the four successivemodes. By practising the duties of even one of these four modes agreeableto the directions of the wise, we have attained to true merit, and,therefore, we do not desire the second or the third mode, viz., celibacywith study or renunciation. It is for this again that the wise havedeclared religious merit to be the foremost of all things!’ Hearing thesewords of hers, Yama said, ‘Do thou desist! I have been pleased with thesewords of thine couched in proper letters and accents, and based onreason. Do thou ask for a boon! Except the life of thy husband, O thou offaultless features, I will bestow on thee any boon that thou maystsolicit!’ Hearing these words, Savitri said, ‘Deprived of his kingdom andbereft also of sight, my father-in-law leadeth a life of retirement inour sylvan asylum. Let that king through thy favour attain his eye-sight,and become strong ‘like either fire or the Sun!’ Yama said, ‘O thou offaultless features, I grant thee this boon! It will even be as thou hastsaid! It seems that thou art fatigued with thy journey. Do thou desist,therefore, and return! Suffer not thyself to be weary any longer!’Savitri said, ‘What weariness can I feel in the presence of my husband?The lot that is my husband’s is certainly mine also. Whither thoucarriest my husband, thither will I also repair! O chief of thecelestials, do thou again listen to me! Even a single interview with thepious is highly desirable; friendship with them is still more so. Andintercourse with the virtuous can never be fruitless. Therefore, oneshould live in the company of the righteous!’ Yama said, ‘These wordsthat thou hast spoken, so fraught with useful instruction, delight theheart and enhance the wisdom of even the learned. Therefore, O lady,solicit thou a second boon, except the life of Satyavan!’ Savitri said,’Sometime before, my wise and intelligent father-in-law was deprived ofhis kingdom. May that monarch regain his kingdom. And may that superiorof mine never renounce his duties! Even this is the second boon that Isolicit!’ Then Yama said,–‘The king shall soon regain his kingdom. Norshall he ever fall off from his duties. Thus, O daughter of a king have Ifulfilled thy desire. Do thou now desist! Return! Do not take any futuretrouble!’ Savitri said, ‘Thou hast restrained all creatures by thydecrees, and it is by thy decrees that thou takest them away, notaccording to thy will. Therefore it is, O god, O divine one, that peoplecall thee Yama! Do thou listen to the words that I say! The eternal dutyof the good towards all creatures is never to injure them in thought,word, and deed, but to bear them love and give them their due. As regardsthis world, everything here is like this (husband of mine). Men aredestitute of both devotion and skill. The good, however, show mercy toeven their foes when these seek their protection. Yama said, ‘As water tothe thirsty soul, so are these words uttered by thee to me! Therefore, dothou, O fair lady, if thou will, once again ask for any boon exceptSalyavana’s life!’ At these words Savitri replied, That lord of earth, myfather, is without sons. That he may have a hundred sons begotten of hisloins, so that his line may be perpetuated, is the third boon I would askof thee!’ Yama said, Thy sire, O auspicious lady, shall obtain a hundredillustrious sons, who will perpetuate and increase their father’s race!Now, O daughter of a king, thou hast obtained thy wish. Do thou desist!Thou hast come far enough.’ Savitri said, ‘Staying by the side of myhusband, I am not conscious of the length of the way I have walked.Indeed, my mind rusheth to yet a longer way of. Do thou again, as thougoest on, listen to the words that I will presently utter! Thou art thepowerful son of Vivaswat. It is for this that thou art called Vaivaswataby the wise. And, O lord, since thou dealest out equal law unto allcreated things, thou hast been designated the lord of justice! Onereposeth not, even in one’s own self, the confidence that one doth in therighteous. Therefore, every one wisheth particularly for intimacy withthe righteous. It is goodness of heart alone that inspireth theconfidence of all creatures. And it is for this that people relyparticularly on the righteous.’ And hearing these words, Yama said, ‘Thewords that thou utterest, O fair lady, I have not heard from any one savethee; I am highly pleased with this speech of thine. Except the life ofSatyavan, solicit thou, therefore, a fourth boon, and then go thy way!’Savitri then said, ‘Both of me and Satyavan’s loins, begotten by both ofus, let there be a century of sons possessed of strength and prowess andcapable of perpetuating our race! Even this is the fourth boon that Iwould beg of thee!’ Hearing these words of hers, Yama replied, ‘Thoushalt, O lady, obtain a century of sons, possessed of strength andprowess, and causing thee great delight, O daughter of a king, let nomore weariness be thine! Do thou desist! Thou hast already come too far!’Thus addressed, Savitri said, ‘They that are righteous always practiseeternal morality! And the communion of the pious with the pious is neverfruitless! Nor is there any danger to the pious from those that arepious. And verily it is the righteous who by their truth make the Sunmove in the heaven. And it is the righteous that support the earth bytheir austerities! And, O king, it is the righteous upon whom both thepast and the future depend! Therefore, they that are righteous, are nevercheerless in the company of the righteous. Knowing this to be the eternalpractice of the good and righteous, they that are righteous continue todo good to others without expecting any benefit in return. A good officeis never thrown away on the good and virtuous. Neither interest nordignity suffereth any injury by such an act. And since such conduct everadheres to the righteous, the righteous often become the protectors ofall.’ Hearing these words of hers, Yama replied, ‘The more thou utterestsuch speeches that are pregnant with great import, full of honeyedphrases, instinct with morality, and agreeable to mind, the more is therespect that I feel for thee! O thou that art so devoted to thy lord, askfor some incomparable boon!’ Thus addressed, Savitri said, ‘O bestower ofhonours, the boon thou hast already given me is incapable ofaccomplishment without union with my husband. Therefore, among otherboons, I ask for this, may this Satyavan be restored to life! Deprived ofmy husband, I am as one dead! Without my husband, I do not wish forhappiness. Without my husband, I do not wish for heaven itself. Withoutmy husband, I do not wish for prosperity. Without my husband, I cannotmake up my mind to live! Thou thyself hast bestowed on me the boon,namely, of a century of sons; yet thou takest away my husband! I ask forthis boon, ‘May Satyavan be restored to life, for by that thy words willbe made true.'”

“Markandeya continued, ‘Thereupon saying,–So be it,–Vivaswat’s son,Yama, the dispenser of justice, untied his noose, and with cheerful heartsaid these words to Savitri, ‘Thus, O auspicious and chaste lady, is thyhusband freed by me! Thou wilt be able to take him back free fromdisease. And he will attain to success! And along with thee, he willattain a life of four hundred years. And celebrating sacrifices with duerites, he will achieve great fame in this world. And upon thee Satyavanwill also beget a century of sons. And these Kshatriyas with their sonsand grandsons will all be kings, and will always be famous in connectionwith thy name. And thy father also will beget a hundred sons on thymother Malavi. And under the name of the Malavas, thy Kshatriya brothers,resembling the celestials, will be widely known along with their sons anddaughters!’ And having bestowed these boons on Savitri and having thusmade her desist, Yama departed for his abode. Savitri, after Yama hadgone away, went back to the spot where her husband’s ash-coloured corpselay, and seeing her lord on the ground, she approached him, and takinghold of him, she placed his head on her lap and herself sat down on theground. Then Satyavan regained his consciousness, and affectionatelyeyeing Savitri again and again, like one come home after a sojourn in astrange land, he addressed her thus, ‘Alas, I have slept long! Whereforedidst thou not awake me? And where is that same sable person that wasdragging me away?’ At these words of his, Savitri said, ‘Thou hast, Obull among men, slept long on my lap! That restrainer of creatures, theworshipful Yama, had gone away. Thou art refreshed, O blessed one, andsleep hath forsaken thee, O son of a king! If thou art able, rise thouup! Behold, the night is deep!'”

“Markandeya continued, ‘Having regained consciousness, Satyavan rose uplike one who had enjoyed a sweet sleep, and seeing every side coveredwith woods, said, ‘O girl of slender waist, I came with thee forprocuring fruits. Then while I was cutting wood I felt a pain in my head.And on account of that intense pain about my head I was unable to standfor any length of time, and, therefore, I lay on thy lap and slept. Allthis, O auspicious lady, I remember. Then, as thou didst embrace me,sleep stole away my senses. I then saw that it was dark all around. Inthe midst of it I saw a person of exceeding effulgence. If thou knowesteverything, do thou then, O girl of slender waist, tell me whether what Isaw was only a dream or a reality!’ Thereupon, Savitri addressed him,saying, The night deepens. I shall, O prince, relate everything unto theeon the morrow. Arise, arise, may good betide thee! And, O thou ofexcellent vows, come and behold thy parents! The sun hath set a longwhile ago and the night deepens. Those rangers of the night, havingfrightful voices, are walking about in glee. And sounds are heard,proceeding from the denizens of the forest treading through the woods.These terrible shrieks of jackals that are issuing from the south and theeast make my heart tremble (in fear)!’ Satyavan then said, ‘Covered withdeep darkness, the wilderness hath worn a dreadful aspect. Thou wilt,therefore, not be able to discern the tract, and consequently wilt not beable to go!’ Then Savitri replied, ‘In consequence of a conflagrationhaving taken place in the forest today a withered tree standeth aflame,and the flames being stirred by the wind are discerned now and then. Ishall fetch some fire and light these faggots around. Do thou dispel allanxiety. I will do all (this) if thou darest not go, for I find theeunwell. Nor wilt thou be able to discover the way through this forestenveloped in darkness. Tomorrow when the woods become visible, we will gohence, if thou please! If, O sinless one, it is thy wish, we shall passthis night even here!’ At these words of hers, Satyavan replied, ‘Thepain in my head is off; and I feel well in my limbs. With thy favour Iwish to behold my father and mother. Never before did I return to thehermitage after the proper time had passed away. Even before it istwilight my mother confineth me within the asylum. Even when I come outduring the day, my parents become anxious on my account, and my fathersearcheth for me, together with all the inhabitants of the sylvanasylums. Before this, moved by deep grief, my father and mother hadrebuked me many times and often, saying,–Thou comest having tarriedlong! I am thinking of the pass they have today come to on my account,for, surely, great grief will be theirs when they miss me. One nightbefore this, the old couple, who love me dearly, wept from deep sorrowand said into me, ‘Deprived of thee, O son, we cannot live for even amoment. As long as thou livest, so long, surely, we also will live. Thouart the crutch of these blind ones; on thee doth perpetuity of our racedepend. On thee also depend our funeral cake, our fame and ourdescendants! My mother is old, and my father also is so. I am surelytheir crutch. If they see me not in the night, what, oh, will be theirplight! I hate that slumber of mine for the sake of which my unoffendingmother and my father have both been in trouble, and I myself also, amplaced in such rending distress! Without my father and mother, I cannotbear to live. It is certain that by this time my blind father, his minddisconsolate with grief, is asking everyone of the inhabitants of thehermitage about me! I do not, O fair girl, grieve so much for myself as Ido for my sire, and for my weak mother ever obedient to her lord! Surely,they will be afflicted with extreme anguish on account of me. I hold mylife so long as they live. And I know that they should be maintained byme and that I should do only what is agreeable to them!’

“Markandeya continued, ‘Having said this, that virtuous youth who lovedand revered his parents, afflicted with grief held up his arms and beganto lament in accents of woe. And seeing her lord overwhelmed with sorrowthe virtuous Savitri wiped away the tears from his eyes and said, ‘If Ihave observed austerities, and have given away in charity, and haveperformed sacrifice, may this night be for the good of my father-in-law,mother-in-law and husband! I do not remember having told a singlefalsehood, even in jest. Let my father-in-law and mother-in-law holdtheir lives by virtue of the truth!’ Satyavan said, ‘I long for the sightof my father and mother! Therefore, O Savitri, proceed without delay. Obeautiful damsel, I swear by my own self that if I find any evil to havebefallen my father and mother, I will not live. If thou hast any regardfor virtue, if thou wishest me to live, if it is thy duty to do what isagreeable to me, proceed thou to the hermitage!’ The beautiful Savitrithen rose and tying up her hair, raised her husband in her arms. AndSatyavan having risen, rubbed his limbs with his hands. And as hesurveyed all around, his eyes fell upon his wallet. Then Savitri saidunto him, ‘Tomorrow thou mayst gather fruits. And I shall carry thy axefor thy ease.’ Then hanging up the wallet upon the bough of a tree, andtaking up the axe, she re-approached her husband. And that lady ofbeautiful thighs, placing her husband’s left arm upon her left shoulder,and embracing him with her right arms, proceeded with elephantic gait.Then Satyavan said, ‘O timid one, by virtue of habit, the (forest) pathsare known to me. And further, by the light of the moon between the trees,I can see them. We have now reached the same path that we took in themorning for gathering fruits. Do thou, O auspicious one, proceed by theway that we had come: thou needst not any longer feel dubious about ourpath. Near that tract overgrown with Palasa tree, the way diverges intotwo. Do thou proceed along the path that lies to the north of it. I amnow well and have got back my strength. I long to see my father andmother!’ Saying this Satyavan hastily proceeded towards the hermitage.'”