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.
कुलस्य संतानकरं सुवर्चसं शतं सुतानां पितुरस्तु ते शुभे। कृतेन कामेन नराधिपात्मजे निवर्त दूरं हि पथस्त्वमागता
May a hundred sons, illustrious and continuing the family line, be born to your father, O blessed one. By my favor, O princess, turn back; you have come far enough on this path.
न दूरमेतन्मम भर्तृसन्निधौ मनो हि मे दूरतरं प्रधावति। अथ व्रजन्नेव गिरं समुद्यतां मयोच्यमानां शृणु भूय एव च
This is not far for me, for my heart swiftly runs to my husband’s presence. Yet, as I go, hear once more the words I am about to speak.
विवस्वतस्त्वं तनयऋ प्रतापवां- स्ततो हि वैवस्वत उच्यसे बुधैः। समेन धर्मेण चरन्ति ताः प्रजा- स्ततस्तवेहेवर धर्मराजता
You are the mighty son of Vivasvat; thus, the wise call you Vaivasvata. Your subjects act with justice and righteousness; therefore, you are called the king of justice here, O lord.
आत्मन्यपि न विश्वासस्तथा भवति सत्सु यः। तस्मात्सत्सु विशेपेण सर्वः प्रणयमिच्छति
One does not have such trust even in oneself as in the virtuous; therefore, everyone especially wishes to place their affection in the good.
सौहदात्सर्वभूतानां विश्वासो नाम जायते। तस्मात्सत्सु विशेपेण विश्वासं कुरुते जनः
From goodwill toward all beings arises what is called trust; therefore, people especially place their trust in the virtuous.
उदाहृतंते वचनं यदङ्गने शुभे न तादृक् त्वदृते श्रुतं मया। अनेन तुष्टोस्मि विनाऽस्य जीवितं वरं चतुर्थं वरयस्व गच्छ च
The words you have spoken, O lady, are rare; I have not heard their like from anyone but you. By this I am pleased; yet, without his life, choose a fourth boon and then depart.
ममात्मजं सत्यवतस्तथौरसं भवेदुभाभ्यामिह यत्कुलोद्वहम्। शतं सुतानां बलवीर्यशालिना- मिदंचतुर्थं वरयामि ते वरम्
May a son, born of Satyavat and myself, be born here, continuing both our lines; may he be the father of a hundred sons, strong and mighty. This is the fourth boon I ask of you.
शतं सुतानां बलवीरय्शालिनां भविष्यति प्रीतिकरं तवाबले। परिश्रमस्ते न भवेन्नृपात्मजे निवर्त दूरं हि पथस्त्वमागता
A hundred sons, endowed with strength and valor, will be born to you, O gentle lady, bringing you joy. You shall not suffer hardship, O princess; turn back, for you have come far enough on this path.
सतां सदा शाश्वतधर्मवृत्तिः सन्तो न सीदन्ति न च व्यथन्ति। सतां सद्भिर्नाफलः संगमोस्ति सद्भ्यो भयंनानुवर्तन्ति सन्तः
The conduct of the virtuous is always in accordance with the eternal law; the good do not falter nor are they distressed. For the virtuous, association with the virtuous is never fruitless, and the good do not pursue fear from the good.
सन्तो हि सत्येन नयन्ति सूर्यं सन्तो भूमिं तपसा धारयन्ति। सन्तो गतिर्भूतभव्यस्य राज- न्सतां मध्ये नावसीदन्ति सन्तः
Indeed, the good lead the sun by truth; the good uphold the earth through austerity. The good are the refuge of what has been and what will be, O King; among the virtuous, the good never sink.