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.
सत्यवानपि तां भार्यां लब्ध्वा सर्वगुणान्विताम्। मुमुदे सा रच रतं लब्ध्वा भर्तारं मनसेप्सितम्
Satyavan, having obtained her as his wife—endowed with all virtues—rejoiced, having gained a beloved spouse as he had wished in his heart.
गते पितरि सर्वाणि संन्यस्याभरणानि सा। जगृहेवल्कलान्येव वस्त्रं काषायमेव च
When her father had departed, she set aside all her ornaments, and took up only bark garments and ochre cloth as her attire.
परिचारैर्गुणैश्चैव प्रश्रयेण दमेन च। सर्वकामक्रियाभिश्च सर्वेषां तुष्टिमादधे
By her service, virtues, humility, self-control, and fulfilling all desires, she brought satisfaction to everyone.
श्वश्रूं शरीरसत्कारैः सर्वैराच्छादनादिभिः। श्वशुरं देवसत्कारैर्वाचः संयमनेन च
She honored her mother-in-law with all bodily services, such as clothing and the like, and her father-in-law with the respect due to a god, as well as by restraint in speech.
तथैव प्रियवादेन नैषुणेन शमेन च। रहश्चैवोपचारेण भर्तारं पर्यतोषयत्
Likewise, with kind words, freedom from slander, calmness, and private attentiveness, she pleased her husband.
एवं तत्राश्रमे तेषां तदा निवसतां सताम्। कालस्तपस्यतां कश्चिदपाक्रामत भारत
Thus, while those virtuous ones dwelt in the hermitage, some time passed as they engaged in austerities, O Bharata.
सावित्र्याग्लायमानायास्तिष्ठन्त्यास्तु दिवानिशम। नारदेन यदुक्तं तद्वाक्यं मनसि वर्तते
As Savitri, growing weary, remained day and night, the words spoken by Narada continued to dwell in her mind.
ततः काले बहुतिथे व्यतिक्रान्ते कदाचन। प्राप्तः स कालो मर्व्यं यत्रसत्यवता नृप
Then, after many days had passed, the destined time arrived for the death of Satyavan, O King.
गणयन्त्याश्च सावित्र्या दिवसदिवसे गते। यद्वाक्यं नारदेनोक्तं वर्तते हृदि नित्यशः
As Savitri counted the days passing one by one, Narada's words remained ever present in her heart.
चतुर्थेऽहनि मर्तव्यमिति संचिन्त्य भामिनी। व्रतं त्रिरात्रमुद्दिश्य दिवारात्रं स्थिताऽभवत्
Reflecting that her husband must die on the fourth day, the radiant one undertook a three-night vow, remaining steadfast day and night.
त्रयोदश्यां चोपवासं प्रतिपत्सु च पारणम्। आयुष्यं वर्धते भर्तुर्व्रतेनानि भारत
On the thirteenth day she fasted, and broke her fast on the prescribed days; by her vow, her husband's life was prolonged, O Bharata.
तं श्रुत्वा रकनियमं तस्या भृशं दुःखान्वितो नृपः। उत्थाय वाक्यं सावित्रीमब्रवीत्परिसान्त्वयन्
Hearing of her strict observance, the king was deeply distressed; rising up, he spoke consoling words to Savitri.
अतितीव्रोऽयमारम्भस्त्वयाऽऽरब्धो नृपात्मजे। तिसृणां वसतीनां हि स्तानं परमदुश्चरम्
This undertaking you have begun, O princess, is exceedingly severe; for women dwelling in the world, it is most difficult to perform.
न कार्यस्तात संतापः पारयिष्याम्यहं व्रतम्। व्यसंसायकृतं हीदं व्यवसायश्च कारणम्
Do not grieve, father; I will complete the vow. This resolve is the cause, and the resolve is the means.
व्रतं भिन्धीति वक्तुं त्वां नास्मि शक्तः कथंचन। पारयस्वेति वचनं युक्तमस्मद्विधो वदेत्
I am in no way able to tell you to break your vow; it is fitting for one like me to say, 'May you accomplish it.'
एवमुक्त्वा द्युमत्सेनो विरराम महामनाः। तिष्ठन्ती चैव सावित्री काण्ठभूतेव लक्ष्यते
Having spoken thus, Dyumatsena, of great mind, fell silent; and Savitri, standing firm, appeared as if carved from stone.
श्वोभूते भर्तृमरणे सावित्र्या भरतर्षभ। दुःखान्वितायास्तिष्ठन्त्याः सा रात्रिर्व्यत्यवर्तत
O best of the Bharatas, as the next day approached, the night passed for Savitri, who was filled with sorrow, awaiting her husband's death.
अद्य तद्दिवसं चेति हुत्वा दीप्तं हुताशनम्। युगमात्रोदिते सूर्येकृत्वा पौर्वाङ्णिकीः क्रियाः
At sunrise, after performing the prescribed morning rites and offering oblations into the blazing fire, she completed the rituals appropriate for that day.
व्रतं समाप्यसावित्री स्नात्वा शुद्धा यशस्विनी'। ततः सर्वान्द्विजान्वृद्धाञ्श्वश्रूं श्वशुरमेव च। अभिवाद्यानुपूर्व्येण प्राञ्जलिर्नियता स्थिता
Having finished her vow, Savitri, pure and renowned, bathed and then, with joined palms and self-restraint, respectfully greeted all the elders, the twice-born, her mother-in-law, and her father-in-law in due order.
अवैधव्याशिषस्ते तु सावित्र्यर्थं हिताः शुभाः। ऊचुस्तपस्विनः सर्वे तपोवननिवासिनः
Then, all the ascetics dwelling in the forest, wishing for Savitri's welfare, blessed her with auspicious words for the avoidance of widowhood.