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.
एवं तीर्थेषु सर्वेषु धनोत्सर्गं नृपात्मजा। कुर्वी द्विजमुख्यानां तंतं देशं जगाम ह
Thus, at all the sacred fords, the king's daughter made gifts of wealth and went to each region of the foremost twice-born.
अथ मद्राधिपो राजा नारदेन समागतः। उपविष्टः सभामध्ये कथायोगेन भारत
Then, O Bhārata, the king of Madra, seated in the midst of the assembly, met with Nārada in the course of conversation.
ततोऽभिगम्य तीर्थानि सर्वाण्येवाश्रमांस्तथा। आजगाम पितुर्वेश्म सावित्री सह मन्त्रिभिः
After visiting all the sacred fords and hermitages, Sāvitrī, together with the counselors, returned to her father's house.
नारदेन सहासीनं सा दृष्ट्वा पितरं शुभा। उभयोरेव शिरसा चक्रे पादाभिवादनम्
Seeing her father seated with Nārada, the noble maiden bowed her head to the feet of both.
क्व गताऽभूत्सुतेयं ते कुतश्चैवागता नृप। किमर्थं युवतीं भद्र न चैनां संप्रयच्छसि
Where has your daughter gone, and from where has she returned, O king? For what reason, O noble one, do you not give this young woman in marriage?
कार्येण खल्वनेनैव प्रेषिताद्यैव चागता। एतस्याः शृणु देवर्षे भर्तारं योऽनया वृतः
She was sent for this very purpose and has returned today; hear, O divine sage, whom she has chosen as her husband.
सा ब्रूहि विस्तरेणेति पित्रा संयोदिता शुभा। तदैव तस्य वचनं प्रतिगृह्येदमब्रवीत्
Urged by her father to speak in detail, the noble maiden accepted his words and spoke as follows.
आसीत्साल्वेषु धर्मात्मा क्षत्रियः पृथिवीपतिः। द्युमत्सेन इति ख्यातः पश्चाच्चान्धो बभूव ह
There was among the Sālvas a righteous Kshatriya king, renowned as Dyumatsena, who later became blind.
विनष्टचक्षुषस्तस्य बालपुत्रस्य धीमतः। सामीप्येन हृतं राज्यं छिद्रेऽस्मिन्पूर्ववैरिणा
When that wise man's sight was lost, his kingdom was seized by a former enemy nearby, taking advantage of his weakness.
स बालवत्सया सार्धं भार्यया प्रस्थितो वनम्। महारण्यं गतश्चापि पस्तेषे महाव्रतः
He, together with his wife and young son, departed for the forest; entering the great wilderness, he practiced great vows.