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.
यौवनस्थां तु तां दृष्ट्वा स्वां सुतां देवरूपिणीम्। अयाच्यमानां च वरैर्नृपतिर्दुःखितोऽभवत्
Seeing his daughter in the bloom of youth, divine in form, and not being sought by suitors, the king became distressed.
पुत्रि प्रदानकालस्ते न च कश्चिद्वृणोति माम्। स्वयमन्विच्छ भर्तारं गुणैः सदृशमात्मनः
Daughter, the time for your marriage has come, but no one chooses me; seek for yourself a husband equal to you in virtues.
प्रार्थितः पुरुषो यश्च स निवेद्यस्त्वया मम। विमृश्याहं प्रदास्यामि वरय त्वं यथेप्सितम्
Whomever you desire, let him be made known to me by you; I will consider and give you in marriage—choose as you wish.
श्रुतं हि धर्मशास्त्रेषु पठ्यमानं द्विजातिभिः। तथा त्वमपिकल्याणि गदतो मे वचः शृणु
For it is heard in the scriptures of dharma, recited by the twice-born; so you too, O auspicious one, listen to my words as I speak.
अप्रदाता पिता वाच्यो वाच्यश्चानुपयन्पतिः। मृते पितरि पुत्रश्च वाच्यो मातुररक्षिता
A father who does not give his daughter is to be reproached, as is a husband who does not accept her; and when the father is dead, the son who does not protect his mother is also to be reproached.
इदं मे वचनं क्षुत्वा भर्तुरन्वेषणे न्वर। देवतानां यथा याच्यो न भवेयं तथा कुरु
Hear this word of mine: in seeking a husband, let it be arranged so that I am not to be begged for, as one begs from the gods.
एवमुक्त्वा दुहितरं तथा वृद्धांश्च मन्त्रिणः। व्यादिदेशानुयात्रं च गम्यतां चेत्यचोदयत्
Having thus addressed his daughter and likewise the aged counselors, he gave orders for the escort and urged them to depart.
साऽभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ व्रीडितेव मनस्विनी। पितुर्वचनमाज्ञाय निर्जगामाविचारितम्
She, modest and high-minded, having bowed to her father's feet and received his command, departed without hesitation.
सा हैमं रथमास्थाय स्थविरैः सचिवैर्वृता। तपोवनानिरम्याणि राजर्षीणां जगाम ह
She mounted a golden chariot, surrounded by aged counselors, and journeyed to the hermitages of royal sages.
मान्यानां तत्र वृद्धानां कृत्वा पादाभिवादनम्। वनानि क्रमशस्तात सर्वाण्येवाभ्यगच्छत
There, after offering respectful salutations at the feet of the honored elders, she visited all the forests in order, O father.