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.
तस्य पुत्रः पुरे जातः संवृद्धश्च तपोवने। सत्यवाननुरूपो मे भर्तेति मनसा वृतः
His son was born in the city and raised in the hermitage; Satyavān, worthy in every way, is the husband I have chosen in my heart.
अहो वत महत्पापं सावित्र्या नृपते कृतम्। अजानन्त्या यदनया गुणवान्सत्यवान्वृतः
Alas, O king, what a great misfortune Sāvitrī has committed, unknowingly choosing the virtuous Satyavān!
सत्यं वदत्यस्य पिता सत्यं माता प्रभाषते। तथाऽस् ब्राह्मणाश्चक्रुर्नामैतत्सत्यवानिति
His father speaks the truth, his mother speaks the truth; thus, the Brahmanas named him Satyavan, saying, 'He is truthful.'
बालस्याश्वाः प्रियाश्चास्य करोत्यश्वांश्च मृन्मयान्। चित्रेऽपि विलिखत्यश्वांश्चित्राश्व इति चोच्यते
As a child, he loved horses, and he would make horses out of clay; even in drawings, he would depict horses, and so he is also called Citrāśva, 'the one with painted horses.'
अपीदानीं स तेजस्वी बुद्धिमान्वा नृपात्मजः। क्षमावानपि वा शृरः सत्यवान्पितृवत्सलः
Now, is that radiant prince intelligent, patient, and devoted to his father, as before?
विवस्वानिव तेजस्वी वृहस्पतिसमो मतौ। महेन्द्र इवन वीरश्च वसुधेव क्षमान्वितः
He is radiant like the sun, wise like Brihaspati, heroic like Indra, and patient like the earth.
अपि राजात्मजो दाता ब्रह्मण्यश्चापि सत्यवान्। रूपवानप्युदारो वाऽप्यथवा प्रियदर्शनः
That royal prince is generous, devoted to Brahmanas, truthful, handsome, noble, and pleasing to behold.
सांकृते रन्तिदेवस् स्वशक्त्या दानतः समः। ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवादी च शिबिरौशीनरो यथा
In giving, he is equal to Rantideva according to his ability; devoted to Brahmanas and a speaker of truth, like Shibi and Ushinara.
ययातिरिव चोदारः सोमवत्प्रियदर्शनः। रूपेणान्यतमोऽश्विभ्यां द्युमत्सेनसुतो बली
He is generous like Yayati, delightful to behold like Soma; in beauty, he rivals the Ashvins, and Dyumatsena's son is strong.
स वदान्यः स तेजस्वीधीमांश्चैव क्षमान्वितः'। स दान्तः स मृदुः शूरः स सत्यः संयतेन्द्रियः। सन्मैत्रः सोनसूयश्च स ह्रीमान्द्युतिमांश्च सः
He is generous, radiant, intelligent, patient, self-controlled, gentle, heroic, truthful, restrained in his senses, friendly, free from envy, modest, and possessed of splendor.