नात्मानमनुशोचामि नेमान्भ्रातॄन्महामुने। हरणं चापि राज्यस् यथेमां द्रुपदात्मजाम्
I do not grieve for myself, nor for these brothers, O great sage, nor even for the loss of the kingdom or for this daughter of Drupada.
द्यूते दुरात्मभिः क्लिष्टाः कृष्णया तारिता वयम्। जयद्रथेन चपुनर्वनाच्चापि हृता बलात्
We were afflicted by wicked men in the dice game, and rescued by Krishna; and again, we were seized by Jayadratha and by the Rakshasa, by force.
अस्ति सीमन्तिनी काचिद्दृष्टपूर्वाऽपिवा श्रुता। पतिव्रता महाभागा यथेयं द्रुपदात्मजा
Is there any noble lady, ever seen or even heard of, as devoted to her husband and greatly fortunate as this daughter of Drupada?
शृणु राजन्कुलस्त्रीणां महाभाग्यं युधिष्ठिर। सर्वमेतद्यथाप्राप्तं सावित्र्या राजकन्यया
Hear, O king, of the great fortune of noble women, Yudhishthira; all this happened before, as with Savitri, the royal maiden.
आसीन्मद्रेषु धर्मात्मा राजा परमधार्मिकः। ब्रह्मण्यश्चमहात्मा च सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः
There was in Madra a righteous king, supremely virtuous, devoted to Brahmins, great-souled, truthful, and self-controlled.
यज्वा दानपतिर्दक्षः पौरजानपदप्रियः। पार्थिवोऽश्वपतिर्नाम सर्वभूतहिते रतः
He was a performer of sacrifices, generous, skilled, beloved by citizens and countryfolk, a ruler named Ashvapati, devoted to the welfare of all beings.
क्षमावाननपत्यश्च सत्यवाग्विजितेन्द्रियः। अतिक्रान्तेन वयसा संतापमुपजग्मिवान्
Patient, childless, truthful, and self-restrained, he, advanced in years, was overtaken by sorrow.
अपत्योत्पादनार्थं च तीव्रं नियममास्थितः। काले परिमिताहारो ब्रहमचारी जितेन्द्रियः
For the sake of begetting offspring, he undertook severe vows, eating little at the proper time, practicing celibacy and self-control.
हुत्वा शतसहस्रं स सावित्र्या राजसत्तम। षष्ठेषष्ठे तदाकाले बभूव मितमोजनः
That best of kings, together with Savitri, performed a hundred thousand offerings; every sixth month, he would eat sparingly.
एतेन नियमेनासीद्वर्षाण्यष्टादशैव तु। पूर्णे त्वष्टादशे वर्षे सावित्री तुष्टिमभ्यगात्
By this observance, for eighteen years it was so; when the eighteenth year was complete, Savitri attained satisfaction.
रूपिणी तु तदा राजन्दर्शयामास तं नृपम्। अग्निहोत्रात्समुत्थाय हर्षेण महताऽन्विता
Then, O king, radiant in form, she revealed herself to that king, rising from the sacrificial fire, filled with great joy.
उवाच चैनं वरदा वचनं पार्थिवं तदा। सा तमश्वपतिं राजन्सावित्री नियमे स्थितम्
She, the bestower of boons, then spoke these words to the king, O ruler: Savitri addressed Ashvapati, who was steadfast in his vow.
ब्रह्मचर्येण शुद्धेन दमेन नियमेन रच। सर्वात्मना च भक्त्या च तुष्टाऽस्मि तव पार्थिवाः
By your pure celibacy, self-restraint, and observance, and by your wholehearted devotion, O king, I am pleased with you.
वरं वृणीष्वाश्वपते मद्रराज यदीप्सितम्। न प्रामादश्च धर्मेषु कर्तव्यस्ते कथंचन
Choose a boon, Ashvapati, king of Madra, whatever you desire; and never, in any way, neglect righteousness.
अपत्यार्थः समारम्भः कृतो धर्मेप्सया मया। पुत्रा मे बहवो देवि भवेयुः कुलभावनाः
For the sake of offspring, I have undertaken this effort, desiring righteousness; may I have many sons, O goddess, who will uphold the lineage.
तुष्टाऽसि यदि मे देवि वरमेतं वृणोम्यहम्। संतां परमो धर्म इत्याहुर्मां द्विजातयः
If you are pleased with me, O goddess, I choose this boon: let there be progeny; for the highest righteousness, so say the twice-born, is lineage.
पूर्वमेव मया राजन्नभिप्रायमिमं तव। ज्ञात्वा पुत्रार्थमुक्तो वै भगवांस्ते पितामहः
O King, I had already understood your intention; for the sake of your son, the venerable grandsire spoke thus to you.
प्रसादाच्चैव तस्मात्ते स्वयं विहितवत्यहम्। कन्या तेजस्विनी सौम्य क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति
And by his grace, I myself have arranged this; O gentle one, a radiant daughter will soon be born to you.
उत्तरं च न ते किंचिद्व्याहर्तव्यं कथंचन। पितामहनियोगेन तुष्टा ह्येतद्ब्रवीमि ते
You must not say anything further at all; by the command of the grandsire, satisfied, I declare this to you.
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय सावित्र्या वचनं नृपः। प्रसादयामास पुनः क्षिप्रमेतद्भविष्यति
The king, having pledged 'So be it' to Savitri's words, again sought her favor, and soon this came to pass.
अन्तर्हितायां सावित्र्यां जगाम स्वपुरं नृपः। स्वराज्ये चावसद्बीरः प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्
When Savitri had vanished, the king returned to his city; the valiant ruler dwelt in his sovereignty, protecting his subjects with righteousness.
कस्मिंश्चित्तु गते काले स राजा नियतब्रतः। ज्येष्ठायां धर्मचारिण्यां महिष्यां कगर्भमादधे
After some time had passed, that king, steadfast in vows, impregnated his eldest, virtuous queen.
राजपुत्र्यास्तु गर्भः स मानव्या भरतर्षभ। व्यर्धतं तदा शुक्ले तारापतिरिवाम्बरे
O bull among the Bharatas, the royal princess's pregnancy grew, shining forth like the lord of stars in the sky.
प्राप्ते काले तु सुषुवे कन्यां राजीवलोचनाम्। क्रियाश्च तस्या मुदितश्चक्रे च नृपसत्तमः
When the time arrived, she gave birth to a daughter with lotus-like eyes; the excellent king joyfully performed her rites.
सावित्र्या प्रीतया दत्ता साव्त्र्या द्दुतया ह्यपि। सावित्रीत्येव नामास्याश्चक्रुर्विप्रास्तथा पिता
Given by Savitri with affection, and also with delight, the Brahmins and her father named her Savitri.
सा विग्रहवतीव श्रीव्यवर्धत नृपात्मजा। कालेन चापि सा कन्या यौवनस्ता बभूव ह
That royal daughter grew in beauty and splendor; in time, she attained the state of youth.
तां सुमध्यां पृथुश्रोणीं प्रतिमां काञ्चनीमिव। प्राप्तेयं रदेवकन्येति दृष्ट्वा संमेनिरे जनाः
Seeing her, with a slender waist and broad hips, like a golden image, people thought she was a goddess descended to earth.
तां तु पद्मपलाशाक्षीं ज्वलन्तीमिव तेजसा। न कश्चिद्वरयामास तेजसा प्रतिवारितः
But no one sought her hand, for her eyes were like lotus petals and she shone with brilliance; all were restrained by her radiance.
अथोपोष्य शिरःस्नाता देवतामभिगम्य सा। हुत्वाग्निं विधिवद्विप्रान्वाचयामास पर्वणि
Then, after fasting and bathing her head, she approached the deity; having properly offered fire, she summoned the Brahmins on the festival day.
साऽभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ शेषाः पूर्वं निवेद्य च। कृताञ्जलिर्वरारोहा नृपतेः पार्श्वमास्थिता
She bowed to her father's feet, announced the rest beforehand, and, with joined palms, the noble maiden stood by the king's side.