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?'
तस्य सर्वमभिप्रायमितिकर्तव्यतां च ताम्। सत्यवन्तं समुद्दिश्य सर्वमेव न्यवेदयत्
The king revealed his entire intention and purpose, all concerning Satyavan, to him.
सावित्री नाम राजर्षे कन्येयं मम शोभना। तां स्वधर्मेण धर्मज्ञ स्नुषार्थे त्वं गृहाण मे
'This beautiful maiden named Savitri is my daughter, O royal sage; in accordance with dharma, accept her as your daughter-in-law.'
च्युताः स्म राज्याद्वनवासमाश्रिता- श्चराम धर्मं नियतास्तपस्विनः। कथं त्वनर्हा वनवासमाश्रमे सहिष्यति क्लेशमिमं सुता तव
'We have lost our kingdom and taken up life in the forest, practicing austerity and righteousness; how will your daughter, unaccustomed to such hardship, endure the suffering of forest life?'
सुखं च दुःखं च भवाभवात्मकं यदा विजानाति सुताऽहमेव च। न मद्विधे युज्यतेवाक्यमीदृशं विनिश्चयेनाभिगतोस्मि ते नृप
'Both my daughter and I understand the nature of happiness and sorrow, of coming and going; such words are not fitting for one like me, O king—I have come to you with firm resolve.'
आशां नार्हसि मे हन्तुं सौहृदात्प्रणतस्य च। अभितश्चागतं प्रेम्णा प्रत्याख्यातुं न माऽर्हसि
'Out of friendship and because I have come to you with respect, you should not destroy my hope; nor should you reject me, who have approached you with affection.'
अनुरूपो हि युक्तश्च त्वं ममाहं तवापि च। स्नुषां प्रतीच्छ मे कन्यां भार्यां सत्यवतस्ततः
'You are suitable and worthy, as am I; therefore, accept my daughter as your daughter-in-law, the wife of Satyavan.'
पूर्वमेवाभिलवितः संबन्धो मे त्वया सह। भ्रष्टराज्यस्त्वहमिति तत एतद्विचारितम्
'This alliance with you was desired by me before; though I have lost my kingdom, it is for this reason that I have considered this matter.'
अभिप्रायस्त्वयं यो मे पूर्वमेवाभिकाङ्क्षितः। स निर्वर्ततु मेऽद्यैव काङ्क्षितो ह्यसि मेऽतिथिः
'The intention I had before, which I earnestly wished for, let it be fulfilled today; you are the guest I have longed for.'
ततः सर्वान्समानाय्य द्विजानाश्रमवासिनः। यथाविधि समुद्वाहं कारयामासतुर्नृपौ
Then the two kings summoned all the Brahmanas dwelling in the hermitage, and had the wedding performed according to proper rites.
दत्त्वा सोऽश्वपतिः कन्यां यथार्हं सपरिच्छदम्। ययौ स्वमेव भवनं युक्तः परमया मुदा
Having duly given his daughter with her ornaments and retinue, the lord of horses returned to his own palace, filled with supreme joy.