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.
एवमस्त्विति सावित्री ध्यानयोगपरायणा। मनसा ता गिरः सर्वाः प्रत्यगृह्णात्तपस्विनी
Savitri, devoted to meditation and yoga, accepted all those words in her mind, saying, 'So be it,' steadfast in her asceticism.
तं कालं तं मुहूर्तं च प्रतीक्षन्ती नृपात्मजा। यथोक्तं नारदवचश्चिन्तयन्ती सुदुःखिता
The princess, deeply distressed, waited for that destined time and moment, reflecting on Narada's words as spoken.
ततस्तु श्वश्रूश्वशुरावूचतुस्तां नृपात्मजाम्। एकान्तमास्थितां वाक्यं प्रीत्या भरतसत्तम
Then, O best of the Bharatas, her mother-in-law and father-in-law approached the princess, who was sitting apart, and addressed her with affection.
व्रतं यथोपदिष्टं तु तथा तत्पारितं त्वया। आहारकालः संप्राप्तः क्रियतां यदनन्तरम्
'You have completed your vow just as instructed; now the time for eating has come—let what follows be done,' they said.
अस्तं गते मयाऽऽदित्ये भोक्तव्यं कृतकामया। एष मे हृदि संकल्पः समयश्च कृतो मया
'I have resolved and made a promise to eat only after the sun has set,' she replied, 'this is my firm intention.'
एवं संभाषमाणायाः सावित्र्या भोजनं प्रति। स्कन्धे परशुमादाय सत्यवान्प्रस्थितो वनम्
As Savitri was thus speaking about her meal, Satyavan took up his axe on his shoulder and set out for the forest.
सावित्री त्वाह भर्तारं नैकस्त्वं गन्तुमर्हसि। सह त्वया गमिष्यामि न हित्वां हातुमुत्सहे
But Savitri said to her husband, 'You should not go alone; I will go with you, for I cannot bear to be separated from you.'
वनं न गतपूर्वं ते दुःख पन्थाश्च भामिनि। व्रतोपवासक्षामा च कथं पद्भ्यां गमिष्यसि
'You have never gone to the forest before, beloved, and the path is difficult; weakened by fasting and vows, how will you walk there on foot?'
उपवासान्न मे ग्लानिर्नास्ति चापि परिश्रमः। गमने च कृतोत्साहां प्रतिषेद्धुं न माऽर्हसि
'Fasting has not made me weak, nor do I feel any fatigue; I am eager to go, and you should not prevent me.'
यदि ते गमनोत्साहः करिष्यामि तव प्रयम्। मम त्वामन्त्रय गुरून्न मां दोषः स्पृशेदयम्
'If you are determined to go, I will do as you wish; but first, seek permission from my elders, so that no fault may touch me.'