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.
नित्यशश्चार्जवं तस्मिन्धृतिस्तत्रैव च ध्रुवा। संक्षेपतस्तपोवृद्धैः शीलवृद्धैश्च कथ्यते
In him, there is always straightforwardness and unwavering resolve; in brief, the elders in austerity and character speak of him thus.
गुणैरुपेतं सर्वैस्तं भगवन्प्रब्रवीषि मे। दोषानप्यस्य मे ब्रूहि यदि सन्तीह केचन
O blessed one, tell me of all his virtues, O venerable one; also tell me if he has any faults at all.
एक एवास्य दोषो हि गुणानाक्रम्य तिष्ठति। स च दोषः प्रयत्नेन न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम्
He has only one fault, which stands amidst his virtues; and that fault cannot be overcome, even with effort.
एको दोषोऽस्ति नान्योऽस्य सोद्यप्रभृति सत्यवान्। संवत्सरेण क्षीणायुर्देहन्यासं करिष्यति
He has but one fault and no other, O Satyavan; from today, within a year, he will lay down his body, his life span exhausted.
एहि सावित्रि गच्छस्व अन्यं वरय शोभने। तस्य दोषो महानेको गुणानाक्रम्य च स्थितः
Come, Savitri, choose another, O beautiful one; his one great fault stands above all his virtues.
यथा मे भगवानाह नारदो देवसत्कृतः। संवत्सरेण सोऽल्पायुर्देहन्यासं करिष्यति
As the venerable sage Narada, honored by the gods, has told me: within a year, his short life will end, and he will lay down his body.
सकृदंशो निपतति सकृत्कन्या प्रदीयते। स कृदाह ददानीति त्रीण्येतानि सकृत्सकृते
The portion is allotted but once, a maiden is given but once, and one says 'I give' but once—these three are done only once.
दीर्घायुरथवाऽल्पायुः सगुणो निर्गुणोऽपि वा। सकृद्वृतो मया भर्ता न द्वितीयं वृणोम्यहम्
Whether long-lived or short-lived, virtuous or not, the husband I have chosen once, I will not choose a second.
मनसा निश्चयं कृत्वाततो वाचाऽभिधीयते। क्रियते कर्मणा पश्चात्प्रमाणं मे मनस्ततः
Having made a decision in my mind, I then speak it aloud; afterwards, I act upon it—my mind is my authority in this.
स्थिरा बुद्धिर्नरश्रेष्ठ सावित्र्या दुहितुस्तव। नैषा वारयितुं शक्या धर्मादस्मात्कथंचन
O best of men, your daughter Savitri's resolve is firm; she cannot be turned away from righteousness by any means.