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.
नान्यस्मिन्पुरुषे सन्ति ये सत्यवति वै गुणाः। प्रदानमेव तस्मान्मे रोचते दुहितुस्तव
The virtues that truly belong to Satyavati are found in no other man; therefore, I am pleased to give my daughter to him.
अविचाल्यमेतदुक्तं तथ्यं च भवता वचः। करिष्याम्येतदेवं च गुरुर्हि भगवान्मम
What you have spoken is unwavering and true; I shall do exactly this, for the revered one is my teacher.
अविघ्नमस्तु सावित्र्याः प्रदाने दुहितुस्तव। साधयिष्याम्यहं तावत्सर्वेषां भद्रमस्तु वः
May there be no obstacle in the giving of your daughter Savitri; I shall accomplish this, and may all be well for you.
एवमुक्त्वा स्वमुत्पत्य नारदस्त्रिदिवं गतः। राजाऽपि दुहितुः सज्जं वैवाहिकमकारयत्
Having spoken thus, Narada rose and went to heaven; and the king arranged for his daughter's wedding preparations.
अथ कन्याप्रदाने स तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन्। समानित्ये च तत्सर्वंभाण्डं वैवाहिकं नृपः
Then, as he pondered the matter of giving his daughter, the king gathered all the wedding gifts and items.
ततो वृद्धान्द्विजान्सर्वानृत्विक्सभ्यपुरोहितान्। समाहूय दिने पुण्ये प्रययौ सह कन्यया
On an auspicious day, he summoned all the elders, priests, officiants, and household priests, and set out with his daughter.
मेध्यारण्यं स गत्वा च द्युमत्सेनाश्रमं नृपः। पद्भ्यामेव द्विजैः सार्धं राजर्षिं तमुपागमत्
The king went to the sacred forest, to Dyumatsena's hermitage, and approached that royal sage on foot together with the brahmins.
तत्रापश्यन्महाभागं सालवृक्षमुपाश्रितम्। कौश्यां बृस्यां समासीनं चक्षुर्हीनं नृपं तदा
There he saw the illustrious king, deprived of sight, seated on a kusa grass mat and a deer skin, sheltered by a sala tree.
स राजा तस्य राजर्षेः कृत्वापूजां यथाऽर्हतः। वाचा सुनियतो भूत्वा चकारात्मनिवेदनम्
The king, having paid proper respects to the royal sage, spoke with self-control and offered himself in greeting.
तस्यार्ध्यमासं चैव गां चावेद्यस धर्मवित्। किमागमनमित्येवं राजा राजानमब्रवीत्
The knower of dharma offered him water for washing and a cow, and then asked the king, 'For what purpose have you come?'