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.'
साऽभिवाद्याब्रवीच्छ्वश्रूं श्वशुरं च महाव्रता। अयं गच्छति मे भर्ता फलाहारो महावनम्
Having respectfully addressed her mother-in-law and father-in-law, the great-vowed Savitri said, 'My husband, who lives on fruits, is going to the great forest.'
इच्छेयमभ्यनुज्ञाता आर्यया श्वशुरेण ह। अनेन सह निर्गन्तुं न मेऽद्य विरहः क्षमः
'I wish, with your permission, noble mother and father-in-law, to go out with him; today I cannot bear to be apart from him.'
गुर्वग्निहोत्रार्तकृतेप्रस्थितश्च सुतस्तव। न निवार्यो निवार्यः स्यादन्यथा प्रस्थितो वनम्
'Your son has set out for the sake of the sacred fire and his duties to the elders; once he has departed for the forest, he should not be stopped.'
संवत्सरः किंचिदूनो न निष्क्रान्ताऽहमाश्रमात्। वनं कुसुमितं द्रष्टुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे
'It is a little less than a year since I left the hermitage; I have a great desire to see the blossoming forest.'
यदा प्रभृति सावित्री पित्रा दत्ता स्नाषु मम। नानयाऽभ्यर्थनायुक्तमुक्तपूर्वं स्मराम्यहम्
From the time Savitri was given to me by her father, I do not recall her ever making a request or speaking out of turn.
तदेषा लभतां कामं यथाभिलषितं वधूः। अप्रमादश्च कर्तव्यः पुत्रि सत्यवतः पथि
Let this bride obtain whatever she desires; and, my daughter, you must act with care on the path of truth.
उभाभ्यामभ्यनुज्ञाता सा जगाम यशस्विनी। सहभर्त्रा हसन्तीव हृदयेन विदूयता
Granted permission by both, that illustrious woman departed with her husband, as if smiling, though her heart was torn.
सा वनानि विचित्राणि रमणीयानि सर्वशः। मयूरगणजुष्टानि ददर्श विपुलेक्षणा
She, wide-eyed, beheld the wondrous and delightful forests, filled everywhere with flocks of peacocks.
नदीः पुण्यवहाश्चैव पुष्पितांश्च नगोत्तमान्। सत्यवानाह पश्येति सावित्रीं मधूरं वचः
She saw sacred rivers and flowering, lofty mountains, and Satyavan sweetly said to Savitri, 'Look!'
नीरीक्षमाणा भर्तारं सर्वावस्थमनिन्दिता। मृतमेव हिं मेने काले मुनिवचः स्मरन्
Gazing at her husband in every circumstance, blameless, she thought of him as already dead, remembering the sage’s words.