Savitri - The Love that conquers even Death
 by William Black
 
Narrator: For comfort, counsel and consolation, I turn often to the religious and philosophical classics such as the Meditation of Marcus Aerulieus Caesar, the Dhammapada, the spiritual lyrics of Rumi, the Tao Te Ching and the Sayings of Chuang Chou, Plato's Dialogues, the Book of Job and, of course, the Bhagavad Gita. 

One day, I re-read a passage from the Mahabharata about the love of a wife that was able to conquer even death. This is a great story, much loved by every Indian family. It has some beautiful, rich lines exhibiting Savitri’s virtue and strength of character and it manages to dish out some sound advice, too. I was so moved by the story I hand-copied it into my diary. I’m skipping a lot of the details in this telling and “cutting to the chase” as they say:

Narrator: King Asvapati, the ruler of the Madva region in Vedic times pleased the demigods and received a daughter whom he named Savitri after the Goddess Savitri, wife of Lord Brahma. As the years passed Savitri grew into the loveliest maiden in all the land of the Aryas. Her father's subjects adored her as if she were a goddess. But, her tall form and imperious beauty so awed the young princes of India that none came forward to ask for her hand. King Asvapati grieved that no suitor wooed his beautiful maid. At last, he sent for Savitri in order to discuss her future.

King Asvapati: My daughter, you are a grown woman and it is time for you to marry. But, no suitor comes to win you. Go therefore through the land and seek some youth fit to be your husband!

Narrator: Savitri journeyed for a year to the various shrines and holy places of India, meeting with noble persons and great saints up and down the coast of India (which at that time was known as Bharatavarsa). 

In her absence, the sage Narada Muni, who can see everything, visited the court of Asvapati, king of the Madvas. The king greeted the great sage with befitting reverence, and king and anchorite were talking together when a royal messenger announced that the Princess Savitri had returned and was driving through the outer gates of the royal palace. The sage Narada Muni asked the king where she had been and why he did not wed her to some Aryan hero. 

Just then, the princess entered the royal hall and the king bade her tell him on what hero her love had fallen. The princess blushed and said with a smile that made her lovelier that before:

Savitri: O King Asvapati, my father, there ruled some years ago in the land of the Salyas a noble king named Dyumatsena. But, while still in the prime of life and while his son was but a tiny child, the king's eyes failed him and he became blind. Hearing of this, a neighboring king, over whom King Dyumatsena had in earlier years triumphed, sought his revenge. He suddenly attacked the land of the Salyas, overthrew the king's army and forced King Dyumatsena to flee with his queen and the little prince to the forest. There, King Dyumatsena became a hermit and renounced the world. 

For eighteen years, he has lived with his wife and son. And now the son, Satyavan by name, has grown to splendid manhood. I have seen him and I love him, and he alone shall be my husband! 

Narrator: So saying, the lovely princess bowed before her father and the great sage Narada, until her head touched their feet. 

 Narada Muni: Alas! Alas! Your daughter, O King, has made a foolish choice!

King Asvapati: Venerable Sage, is not Prince Satyavan wise and brave, tender-hearted and handsome?

Narada Muni: He is indeed! Prince Satyavan is as wise as Brihaspati, as brave as the god Shiva, as tender-hearted as mother earth, and as beautiful as an eastern moon. But, I know his fate - exactly one year from today, Prince Satyavan's life will come to a close! 

King Asvapati: O my daughter, choose another husband! If you were to wed Satyavan, in a short time you would be a widow! 

Savitri: Death can only come once. A daughter can only be given away once. And a person can only say once, "I give this away." Similarly, whether Satyavan's life is short or long, virtuous or evil, I’ll only choose my husband once and I have done so!

Narada Muni: (touched by her courage) O King, the maid will never wed any one but Satyavan. Let her, therefore, have him for her husband.

King Asvapati: (bowing before Narada Muni) Venerable Sir, as you will, so shall it be!

Narrator: Wedded to Satyavan, Savitri cast aside her ornaments and her silken garments and clothed herself in bark and in coarse red rags, so that she might not shame King Dyumatsena and those round him by her finery. She soon won the love of her husband's people and she gave herself wholly to her husband and thought of nothing else all day long but how to please him. But, a dark cloud hung over her happiness, for she could not forget the words which the sage Narada Muni had uttered, namely that Prince Satyavan must die within a year. 
Too soon, the appointed time was only three days off, and Savitri, in the hope of moving the Immortals, vowed that she would touch no food until Prince Satyavan had survived the hour fixed for his death. When the day itself dawned, Savitri worshipped the sun and the fire blazing on the hearth. Then, she bowed to all the Brahmans of the king's household, headed by Gautana Rsi, and to King Dyumatsena and to her mother-in-law, and they in turn blessed her.

When the prince rose, took up his ax and set forth for the forest, Savitri rose also.
 Savitri: Wait my husband, let me go with you! Today, I cannot leave you!

Satyavan: No, my love, you are weak with fasting, and the paths are steep and rugged!

Narrator: But Savitri's love for the prince overcame her weakness and she begged him earnestly not to forbid her. Satyavan at last consented and the two entered the woods.
 
The prince pointed out to Savitri the streams sparkling in the sunlight and the flowering shrubs and the peacocks that looked down upon them from the boughs of tall, leafy trees. But Savitri's heart was heavy and although her lips answered Satyavan, her thoughts dwelt always on his coming peril. 

The prince, thinking nothing of the danger, climbed into the trees and plucked their fruit, and with his ax he cut down boughs for the sacrificial fire. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his head, his limbs began to ache and sweat stood out upon his body. Slowly, he walked back towards Savitri. 

Savitri, seeing his illness, ran to him and made him lie down in the shade of a banyan tree. Taking his head in her lap, she bade him sleep and rest. The prince was soon unconscious but Savitri, who knew that the hour of danger had come, looked anxiously about her. Soon, she saw by her side a giant of monstrous aspect. His face was black and yellow. His eyes were bloodshot. His clothes were red. A mighty noose was in his hands, and he wore a huge gold and jeweled crown that flashed back the rays of the sun. Bravely, she moved the prince's head from her lap to the ground and, rising to her full height, she faced the giant. Joining her hands together, she said with a trembling voice:

Savitri: My Lord, from your mighty form I know you to be no mortal but a god. Tell me who you are and what you desire? 

Lord Yamaraja: I am Yama, the god of Death. The prince's hours were numbered from his birth and, with the noose in my hand, I shall bind his soul and drag him away.

Savitri: Lord Yamaraja, how is it that you have yourself come to drag away the soul of Satyavan and not, as is your custom, sent one of your messengers? 

Lord Yamaraja: A prince so great and so noble as Satyavan deserved that I should come in person to take him away. It is only by the merits of your fasting and the purity of your chastity that you are able to see me.

Narrator: With these words, Lord Yamaraja bound with his noose the helpless form of the prince and drew the soul of Satyavan out from his heart and placed the soul in his own robes. Lord Yamaraja then strode away towards the South. Savitri, stricken with grief, followed. 
She followed Lord Yamaraja through the forest and into a second clearing where a waterfall splashed down into a rocky pool. Hearing her, Lord Yamaraja turned again, and Savitri could have sworn that she saw a flame flicker in each of the fierce demigod’s eyes, but she was not afraid. 
Lord Yamaraja: Go back, Princess, you must return home now, and there honor the dead prince with the last rites. You can not follow me.

Savitri: (bravely) All who are born must one day follow you. The Vedas say that one enters into friendship when seven steps are taken together. O Great One, please give me leave to only go a little further as your friend. (Lord Yamaraja stops and slowly turns and looks at Savitri.)

Lord Yamaraja: I give. Always I take away and again take away. It is good to be giving to someone for a change. It is true you have no fear of me. I take you for my friend.  Follow then if you wish, and I would be pleased if you take in return whatever I can give. But, I cannot give his life again to Satyavan.

Savitri: My father-in-law, King Dyumatsena, is blind. Therefore, let Dyumatsena's blindness fall away from him. 

Lord Yamaraja: It is done. Now return, for you are wearied with walking. Turn back home, I beg of you, for you will gain nothing by journeying further!

Savitri: Lord Yama, I feel no fatigue while I stay with my husband, and where he goes there also shall I go. Satyavan was a virtuous prince, and the wise have said that but a single day spent with the virtuous is a great gain. So, I desire to spend all my life in his company! 

Lord Yamaraja: My heart is again touched with your words, Princess. Your words are full of wisdom and they please me! Ask of me, therefore, a second boon! And, if it is not Satyavan's life I shall grant it to you!

Savitri: My father-in-law lost his kingdom to an enemy because of his blindness. Now, let Dyumatsena regain his kingdom.

Lord Yamaraja: So be it. He will regain all that he had before. 

Narrator: Lord Yamaraja and Savtri walked on, to the south, and the branches and hanging vines parted for them to pass and closed behind. 

Now, the forest grew into a jungle. Thistles sprang up and thorns pressed in on the path. Wild sparrows flitted in the air and owls screeched mysteriously in the shadows. But still, Savitri followed her husband. Shortly afterwards, King Lord Yamaraja turned and saw her. When they came to a stream, Lord Yamaraja held the cool water in his own hands for Savitri to drink. (Savitri drinks.)

Lord Yamaraja: It is not hard to give, for when life is finished and all must be given up, it is not difficult then. No, there is pain in life but none in death. What is very hard to find is one worthy of giving anything to! (Lord Yamaraja looks at Savitri with appreciation.) The water here is very clear and yet this water is not clearer than your heart! (pause) I like your spirit, Savitri. You seek what you want, you choose and it is done! Also, you do not wish to be anyone else; that shows great wisdom. Ask another gift, Savitri, anything but this life of Satyavan.

Savitri: Very well, my father wanted many children but he has only me. Let my father have one hundred sons.

Lord Yamaraja: He shall have them. But, ask of me something more. Ask me for a boon for yourself, this time. You may ask for anything but Satyavan's life.

Savitri: Then, grant that I too may have one hundred sons by my husband.
(Lord Yamaraja sits down on the riverbank and watches the water flowing by. )

Lord Yamaraja: With no thought you answered me, Savitri. You told me truthfully what you desired. How can you have sons if Satyavan is dead? But, you did not think of that, did you?

 Savitri: No. In my family and caste tradition, it is forbidden for a widow to remarry.

Lord Yamaraja: I know you didn't mean to trick me. But, Satyavan has no more life; it is all gone!

Savitri: That is why I asked nothing for myself, for I am one who is half dead, and I do not wish even for heaven.

Lord Yamaraja: (sighs) How much is your life worth without Satyavan?

Savitri: Nothing, Lord.

Lord Yamaraja: Will you give me half your days on earth?

Savitri: Yes, you may have them.

Narrator: Again, Lord Yamaraja's unblinking, unmoving eyes rested long on Savitri with appreciation, At last he said:

Lord Yamaraja: It is done. I have taken half of your days and given them to your husband as his own. Shall I tell you the number of those days?

Savitri: No, I don’t care to know. Will we go back now?

Narrator: Lord Yamaraja thought for a moment. If Savitri could not remarry, then how could she have children and grandchildren? And yet, that is what he had promised Savitri, and he never broke his word. 
Lord Yamaraja: (He takes the noose off Satyavan's soul.) Savitri, I have freed your husband and he has no illness anymore. He will achieve prosperity and, along with you, live for four hundred years. When Satyavan performs sacrifices, he will attain great renown. Moreover, he will have a hundred sons with you. All of their sons and grandsons will become celebrated monarchs. 

Your father will also have a hundred sons with your mother, Malavati. These sons will look like gods. They will be known as the Malavas. Along with their sons and daughters, they will be very famous. 
Go back to your cottage and live in peace, Savitri, for your mortal intelligence has defeated me! Now, I will depart for my own abode. (The Lord of Death holds up his silver noose and it is empty.) His soul rests with you. You will carry it back yourself!                                                                        (Lord Yamaraja strides off the stage. There should be wild applause.)
Narrator: Thus, Lord Yamaraja stood up and walked on alone, to the Land of the Dead, with an empty noose. Savitri turned around and to her amazement saw that she was back at the forest clearing where she had started her journey with the Lord of Death. Savitri went to her husband's body and, sitting down beside him, once more placed his head on her lap. In a short time, he awoke and looked round him, not knowing where he was. 

Satyavan: Oh! How long have I slept? In my dream, I heard you talking with a man as I was being carried away; but, I could not understand a word of what was said. Was it really a dream?
Savitri: No man came here, Prabhu. Come, let us go - your father and mother will be waiting and getting anxious.                                                                                                          (Savitri and Satyavan embrace and walk to the other side of the stage.) 
Narrator: Savitri and Satyavan returned to their cottage to discover the restored sight of the old king. Savitri narrated how Narada Muni had foretold the death of Satyavan even before her marriage. She then described her Triratra vow, her pleadings with Lord Yamaraja and the boons the latter granted. The sages were astounded by the single-minded devotion of Savitri and praised and blessed her.
As the dawn broke, a company of riders came from the Salwa country with the report that the usurper to the throne of Dyumatsena was murdered by his own advisors and with the request that Dyumatsena should take over the reigns of the kingdom again. The riders were joyous to find out that Dyumatsena had regained his eyesight.
Dyumatsena was installed again as the king and Satyavan as the crown prince. Savitri came to get a hundred brothers and a hundred sons. Satyavan ultimately ruled the Salwa kingdom and they led a happy life for 400 hundred years on earth. Then, they passed gently away and their subjects sorrowed over them for many years afterwards. 

Even today, many thousands of years later, the story of Savitri’s chastity and wisdom is told and retold in every Indian family and they hold an annual festival in her honor called Vata Purnima. Satyavan had lain under a banyan tree on the full moon day of the month of Jyeshtha (March), thus this day came to be celebrated as Vata (banyan) Purnima when married women, sometimes decked out in their bridal finery, observe a fast and pray for the long life of their husbands. 

They take a ritual bath, then put on new clothes and visit a banyan tree. They ceremonially water the tree, tie a raw cotton thread around the tree trunk and worship the tree by offering mangoes and bananas. They go around the tree seven times and pray that they may get the same good husband for the next seven lives. 
    
On returning home, they paint a banyan tree on the wall of their temple room with turmeric powder and sandalwood paste and worship it. After breaking their fast, fruits, clothes and other articles are placed in a bamboo basket and given in charity. Throughout the day and night, the glorious story of Chaste Savitri’s devotion to her husband, Satyavan, is narrated. 

Savitri is famed as a glorious example of a chaste wife. A tragic fate befell her husband but, by her steadfast perseverance, she completely reversed the situation! Likewise, in our pursuit of wisdom and virtue, although we may encounter many obstacles or difficulties, we must manifest similar perseverance to succeed.

Further, Vyasadeva, the author of the Mahabharata has given a benediction for all time that whoever listens reverently to this account of Savitri's determination achieves happiness, success in all pursuits and never experiences anguish. (Bhajan)