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Then, with his life withdrawn, breath gone, and radiance lost, Satyavat’s body became motionless and dreadful to behold.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.
श्रमः कुतो भर्तृसमीपतो हिमे यतो हि भर्ता मम सा गतिर्ध्रुवा। यतः पतिं नमेष्यसि तत्र मे गतिः सुरेश भूयश्च वचो निबोध मे
How can there be hardship near my husband, especially in the cold? For my husband is my certain refuge. Wherever you will take my husband, there lies my path. O lord of gods, now hear further words from me.
सतां सकृत्संगतमीप्सितं परं ततः परं मित्रमिति प्रचक्षते। न चाफलं सत्पुरुषेण संगतं ततः सतां संनिवसेत्समागमे
A single meeting with the virtuous is greatly desired; such a one is then called a true friend. Association with the good never goes fruitless; therefore, one should always seek the company of the virtuous.
मनोनुकूलं बुधबुद्धिवर्धनं त्वया यदुक्तं वचनं हिताश्रयम्। विना पुनः सत्यवतोस्य जीवितं वरं द्वितीयं वरयस्व भामिनि
Your words, favorable to my mind, increase wisdom and are rooted in my welfare. Yet, without the life of this truthful one, choose a second boon, O beautiful lady.
हृतंपुरा मे श्वशुरस्य धीमतः स्वमेव राज्यंलभतां स पार्थिवः। कजह्यात्स्वधर्मान्न च मे गुरुर्यथा द्वितीयमेतद्वरयामि ते वरम्
Once, my wise father-in-law’s kingdom was taken; let that king regain his own realm. Let him not abandon his own duty, nor my revered elder act otherwise. This is the second boon I ask of you.
स्वमेवं राज्यं प्रतिपत्स्यतेऽचिरा- न्न च स्वधर्मात्परिहीयते नृपः। कृतेन कामेन मया नृपात्मजे निवर्त गच्छस्व न ते श्रमो भवेत्
He will soon regain his own kingdom, and the king will not stray from his duty. By my favor, O princess, turn back and go; you shall not suffer any hardship.
प्रजास्त्वयैता नियमेन संयता नियम्य चैता नयसे निकामया। ततो यमत्वं तव देव विश्रुतं निबोध चेमां गिरमीरितां मया
You govern these subjects with discipline, and by restraining them, you lead them without desire. Therefore, your fame as Yama is renowned, O god; now listen to these words I speak.
अद्रोहः सर्वभूतेषु कर्मणा मनसा गिरा। अनुग्रहश्च दानं च सतां धर्मः सनातनः
Harmlessness toward all beings, in deed, thought, and word, along with kindness and generosity—these are the eternal duties of the virtuous.
एवंप्रायश्च लोकोऽयं मनुष्याः शक्तिपेशलाः। सन्तस्त्वेवाप्यमित्रेषु दयां प्राप्तेषु कुर्वते
Such is the way of the world: people are skilled in their own power, but the virtuous, even toward enemies who seek compassion, show mercy.
पिपासितस्येव भवेद्यथा पय- स्तथा त्वया वाक्यमिदं समीरितम्। विना पुनः सत्यवतोऽस्य जीवितं वरं वृणीष्वेह शुभे यदिच्छसि
Just as water is to the thirsty, so are your words to me, O lord. Yet, without the life of this truthful one, choose here a boon, O auspicious lady, whatever you desire.
ममानपत्यः पृथिवीपतिः पिता भवत्पितुः पुत्रशतं तथौरसम्। कुलस्य संतानकरं च यद्भवे- त्तृतीयमेतद्वरयामि ते वरम्
My father, the king, is childless; may he have a hundred sons from your father’s line, born of his own flesh, to continue the family. This is the third boon I ask of you.