अनुव्रजन्ती भर्तारं जगाम मृदुगामिनी। द्विधेव हृदयं कृत्वा तं च कालमवेक्षती
Following her husband, the gentle-stepping one went on, as if her heart were split in two, watching for that destined time.
अथ भार्यासहायः स फलान्यादाय वीर्यवान्। कठिनं पूरयामास ततः काष्ठान्यपाटयत्
Then, accompanied by his wife, the strong one gathered fruits and began to cut hard wood, splitting it thereafter.
तस्य पाटयतः काष्ठं स्वेदो वै समजायत। व्यायामेन च तेनास्य जज्ञे शिरसि वेदना
As he split the wood, sweat arose on him; from the exertion, pain developed in his head.
सोऽभिगम्य प्रियां भार्यामुवाच श्रमपीडितः। व्यायामेन ममानेन जाता शिरसि वेदना
Approaching his beloved wife, afflicted by fatigue, he said, 'From this exertion, pain has come into my head.'
अङ्गानि चैव सावित्रि हृदयं दूयतीव च। अस्वस्थमिव चात्मानं लक्षये मितभाषिणि
'My limbs, Savitri, and my heart seem as if torn; I feel myself unwell, O you of few words.'
शूलैरिव शिरो विद्धमिदं संलक्षयाम्यहम्। `भ्रमन्तीव दिशः सर्वाश्चक्रारूढं मनो मम'। तत्स्वप्तुमिच्छे कल्याणि न स्तातुं शक्तिरस्ति मे
'I sense my head is pierced as if by spikes; all directions seem to spin, my mind mounted on a wheel. So, good lady, I wish to sleep; I have no strength to stand.'
सा समासाद्य सावित्री भर्तारमुपगम्य च। उत्सङ्गेऽस्य शिर कृत्वा निषसाद महीतले
Then Savitri approached her husband, and, placing his head on her lap, sat down on the ground.
ततः सा नारदवचो विमृशन्ती तपस्विनी। तं मुहूर्तं क्षणं वेलां दिवसं च युयोज ह
Thereafter, reflecting on Narada’s words, the devoted one measured out the moment, the instant, the time, and the day.
हन्त प्राप्तः स कालोऽयमिति चिन्तापरा सती'। मुहूर्तादेव चापश्य्पुरुषं रक्तवाससम्। वद्धमौलिं वपुष्मन्तमादित्यसमतेजसम्
Absorbed in thought, 'Alas, that time has come,' she saw, in just a moment, a man clad in red garments, with bound hair, splendid, radiant as the sun.
श्यामावदातं रक्ताक्षं पाशहस्तं भयावहम्। स्थितं सत्यवतः पार्श्वे निरीक्षन्तं तमेव च
Dark yet bright, red-eyed, holding a noose, terrifying, he stood at Satyavan’s side, gazing only at him.
तं दृष्ट्वासहसोत्थाय भर्तुन्यस्य शनैः शिरः। कृताञ्जलिरुवाचार्ता हृदयेन प्रवेपती
Seeing him, she quickly rose, gently laying her husband’s head down, and, palms joined, trembling in her heart, spoke in distress.
दैवतंत्वाभिजानामि वपुरेतद्ध्यमानुषम्। कामया ब्रूहि देवेश कस्त्वं किंच चिकीर्षसि
'I recognize you as a divinity; this form is not human. Tell me truly, lord of gods, who are you and what do you intend to do?'
पतिव्रताऽसि सावित्रि तथैव च तपोन्विता। अस्त्वामभिभाषामि विद्धि मां त्वं शुभे यमम्
Savitri, you are devoted to your husband and endowed with great austerity. Yet, O auspicious one, I speak to you—know me to be Yama.
अयं ते रसत्यवान्भर्ता क्षीणायुः पार्थिवात्मजः। नेष्यामि तमहं बद्ध्वा विद्ध्येतन्मे चीकिर्षितं
This man, your husband, the son of a king, has reached the end of his life. I will bind him and take him away—know that this is my intention.
श्रूयते भगवन्दूतास्तवागच्छन्ति मानवान्। नेतुं किल भवान्कस्मादागतोसि स्वयं प्रभो
It is heard, O venerable one, that your messengers come to fetch mortals. Why then, O lord, have you yourself come here?
इत्युक्तः पितृराजस्तां भगवान्स्वचिकीर्षितम्। यथावत्सर्वमाख्यातुं तत्प्रियार्थं प्रचक्रमे
Thus addressed, the lord of the ancestors, desiring to please her, began to explain everything to her just as she wished.
अयं च धर्मसंयुक्तो रूपवान्गुणसागरः। नार्हो मत्पुरुषैर्नेतुमतोस्मि स्वयमागतः
This man is righteous, handsome, and an ocean of virtues. He is not fit to be taken by my servants; therefore, I have come myself.
ततः सत्यवतः कायात्पाशबद्धं वशंगतम्। अङ्गुष्ठमात्रं पुरुषं निश्चकर्ष यमो बलात्
Then Yama forcibly drew out from Satyavat’s body a person the size of a thumb, bound and subdued.
ततः समुद्धृतप्राणं गतश्वासं हतप्रभम्। निरविचेष्टंशरीरं तद्बभूवाप्रियदर्सनम्
Then, with his life withdrawn, breath gone, and radiance lost, Satyavat’s body became motionless and dreadful to behold.
यमस्तु तं ततो बद्ध्वा प्रयातो दक्षिणामुखः। सावित्री चैव दुःखार्ता यममेवान्वगच्छत
Yama, having bound him, departed facing south; and Savitri, stricken with grief, followed Yama.
भर्तुः शरीररां च विधाय हि तपस्विनी। भर्तारमनुगच्छन्ती तथावस्थं सुमध्यमा'। नियमव्रतसंसिद्धा महाभागा पतिव्रता
Having performed the rites for her husband’s body, the austere and noble-waisted Savitri, perfected in discipline and vow, followed her husband in that state.
निवर्त गच्छ सावित्रि कुरुष्वास्यौर्ध्वदैहिकम्। कृतंभर्तुस्त्वयाऽऽनृण्यं यावद्गम्यं गतं त्वया
Turn back, Savitri, and perform the last rites for him. You have fulfilled your duty to your husband; you may go no further.
यत्र मे नीयते भर्ता स्वयं वा यत्र गच्छति। मया च तत्र गन्तव्यमेष धर्मः सनातनः
Where my husband is taken, or wherever he goes, I too must go there. This is the eternal law.
तपसा गुरुभक्त्या च भर्तुः स्नेहाद्व्रतेन च। तव चैव प्रसादेन न मे प्रतिहता गतिः
By austerity, devotion to elders, love for my husband, and by my vow—and by your grace—my path is not hindered.
प्राहुः साप्तपदं मैत्रं बुधास्तत्त्वार्थदर्शिनः। मित्रतां च पुरस्कृत्य किंचिद्वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु
The wise, who see the truth, say that sharing seven steps together makes a bond of friendship. With that friendship in mind, I will say something—please listen.
नानात्मवन्तस्तु वने चरन्ति धर्मं च वासं च परिश्रमं च। विज्ञानतो धर्ममुदाहरन्ति तस्मात्सन्तो धर्ममाहुः प्रधानम्
Those with different natures wander in the forest, enduring duty, dwelling, and hardship. By discernment, they declare what is right; therefore, the virtuous regard righteousness as supreme.
एकस्य धर्मेण सतां मतेन सर्वेस्म तं मार्गमनुप्रपन्नाः। मा वै द्वितीयं मा तृतीयं च वाञ्छे तस्मात्सन्तो धर्ममाहुः प्रधानम्
By the standard of the good, all follow the path of a single righteousness. Let no one desire a second or third path; therefore, the virtuous declare righteousness as supreme.
निवर्त तुष्टोस्मि तवानया गिरा स्वराक्षरव्यञ्जनहेतुयुक्तया। वरं वृणीष्वेहविनाऽस्य जीवितं ददानि ते सर्वमनिन्दिते वरम्
Turn back—I am pleased by your words, which are well-formed and meaningful. Choose a boon, except for your husband’s life; O faultless one, I will grant you any boon.
च्युतः स्वराज्याद्वनवासमाश्रितो विनष्टचक्षुः श्वशुरो ममाश्रमे। स लब्धचक्षुर्बलवान्भवेन्नृप- स्तव प्रसादाज्ज्वलनार्कसंनिभः
My father-in-law, deprived of his kingdom and dwelling in the forest, has lost his sight and lives in my hermitage. By your grace, may he regain his sight and strength, shining like fire or the sun.
ददानि तेऽहं तमनिन्दिते वरं यथा त्वयोक्तं भविता च तत्तथा। तवाध्वना ग्लानिमिवोपलक्षये निवर्त गच्छस्व न ते श्रमो भवेत्
O faultless one, I grant you that boon as you have asked; it shall be so. I see weariness upon you from this journey—turn back; let there be no fatigue for you.