Chapter 292

“Markandeya continued, ‘On one occasion, O Bharata, when that king, thelord of the Madras, was seated with Narada in the midst of his court,engaged in conversation, Savitri, accompanied by the king’s counsellors,came to her father’s abode after having visited various sacred regionsand asylums. And beholding her father seated with Narada, she worshippedthe feet of both by bending down her head. And Narada then said, ‘Whitherhad this thy daughter gone? And, O king, whence also doth she come? Whyalso dost thou not bestow her on a husband, now that she hath arrived atthe age of puberty?’ Aswapati answered, saying, ‘Surely it was on thisvery business that she had been sent, and she returneth now (from hersearch). Do thou, O celestial sage, listen, even from her as to thehusband she hath chosen herself!’

“Markandeya continued, ‘Then the blessed maid, commanded by her fatherwith the words,–Relate everything in detail,–regarded those words ofher sire as if they were those of a god, and spoke unto him thus, ‘Therewas, amongst the Salwas, a virtuous Kshatriya king known by the name ofDyumatsena. And it came to pass that in course of time he became blind.And that blind king possessed of wisdom had an only son. And it sohappened that an old enemy dwelling in the vicinity, taking advantage ofthe king’s mishap, deprived him of his kingdom. And thereupon themonarch, accompanied by his wife bearing a child on her breast, went intothe woods. And having retired into the forests, he adopted great vows andbegan to practise ascetic austerities. And his son, born in the city,began to grow in the hermitage. That youth, fit to be my husband, I haveaccepted in my heart for my lord!’ At these words of hers, Narada said,’Alas, O king, Savitri hath committed a great wrong, since, not knowing,she hath accepted for her lord this Satyavan of excellent qualities! Hisfather speaketh the truth and his mother also is truthful in her speech.And it is for this that the Brahmanas have named the son Satyavan. In hischildhood he took great delight in horses, and used to make horses ofclay. And he used also to draw pictures of horses. And for this thatyouth is sometimes called by the name of Chitraswa.’ The king then asked,’And is prince Satyavan, who is devoted to his father, endued with energyand intelligence and forgiveness and courage?’ Narada replied, saying,’In energy Satyavan is like unto the sun, and in wisdom like untoVrihaspati! And he is brave like unto the lord of the celestials andforgiving like unto the Earth herself!’ Aswapati then said, ‘And is theprince Satyavan liberal in gifts and devoted to the Brahmanas? Is hehandsome and magnanimous and lovely to behold?’ Narada said, ‘In bestowalof gifts according to his power, the mighty son of Dyumatsena is likeunto Sankriti’s son Rantideva. In truthfulness of speech and devotionunto Brahmanas, he is like Sivi, the son of Usinara. And he ismagnanimous like Yayati, and beautiful like the Moon. And in beauty ofperson he is like either of the twin Aswins. And with senses undercontrol, he is meek, and brave, and truthful! And with passion insubjection he is devoted to his friends, and free from malice and modestand patient. Indeed, briefly speaking, they that are possessed of greatascetic merit and are of exalted character say that he is always correctin his conduct and that honour is firmly seated on his brow.’ Hearingthis, Aswapati said, ‘O reverend sage, thou tellest me that he ispossessed of every virtue! Do thou now tell me his defects if, indeed, hehath any!’ Narada then said, ‘He hath one only defect that hathoverwhelmed all his virtues. That defect is incapable of being conqueredby even the greatest efforts. He hath only one defect, and no other.Within a year from this day, Satyavan, endued with a short life will castoff his body!’ Hearing these words of the sage, the king said, ‘Come, OSavitri, go thou and choose another for thy lord, O beautiful damsel!That one great defect (in this youth) existeth, covering all his merits.The illustrious Narada honoured by even the gods, sayeth, that Satyavanwill have to cast off his body within a year, his days being numbered!’At these words of her father, Savitri said, ‘The death can fall but once;a daughter can be given away but one; and once only can a person say, Igive away! These three things can take place only once. Indeed, with alife short or long, possessed of virtues or bereft of them, I have, foronce, selected my husband. Twice I shall not select. Having first settleda thing mentally, it is expressed in words, and then it is carried outinto practice. Of this my mind is an example!’ Narada then said, ‘O bestof men, the heart of thy daughter Savitri wavereth not! It is notpossible by any means to make her swerve from this path of virtue! In noother person are those virtues that dwell in Satyavan. The bestowal ofthy daughter, therefore, is approved by me!’ The king said, ‘What thouhast said, O illustrious one, should never be disobeyed, for thy wordsare true! And I shall act as thou hast said, since thou art mypreceptor!’ Narada said, ‘May the bestowal of thy daughter Savitri beattended with peace! I shall now depart. Blessed be all of ye!’

“Markandeya continued, ‘Having said this, Narada rose up into the sky andwent to heaven. On the other hand, the king began to make preparationsfor his daughter’s wedding!'”