वृद्धयोरन्धयोर्दृष्टिस्त्वयि वंशः प्रतिष्ठिः। त्वयि पिण्डश्च कीर्तिश्च सन्तानश्चावयोरिति
For the two aged and blind ones, you are their sight, the foundation of their lineage, their offering, their fame, and their continuation.
माता वृद्धा पिता वृद्धस्तयोर्यष्टिरहं किल। तौ रात्रौ मामपश्यन्तौ कामवस्थां गमिष्यतः
My mother and father are old, and I am their support; if they do not see me at night, they will fall into a pitiable state.
निद्रायाश्चाभ्यसूयामि यस्या हेतोः पिता मम। माता च संशयं प्राप्ता मत्कृतेऽनपकारिणी
I resent sleep, because of which my father and my blameless mother have become anxious on my account.
अहं च संशयं प्राप्तः कृच्छ्रामापदमास्थितः। मातापितृभ्यां हि विना नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे
I too have become anxious and have fallen into great distress; without my mother and father, I cannot bear to live.
व्यक्तमाकुलया बुद्ध्या प्रज्ञाचक्षुः पिता मम। एकैकमस्यां वेलायां पृच्छत्याश्रमवासिनम्
Clearly, with a troubled mind, my wise father asks each hermitage dweller about me at this very hour.
नात्मानमनुशोचामि यथाऽहंपितरं शुभे। भर्तारं चाप्यनुगतां मातरं भृशदुःखिताम्
I do not grieve for myself as much as I do for my father, and for my mother, who follows her husband and is deeply afflicted.
मत्कृते न हि तावद्य सन्तापं परमेष्यतः। जीवन्तावनुजीवामि भर्तव्यौ तौ मयेति ह
I do not wish for them to suffer on my account; as long as they live, I will live to support them.
तयोः प्रियं मे कर्व्यमिति जीवामि चाप्यहम्। `परमं दैवतं तौ मे पूजनीयौ सदा मया। तयोस्तु मे सदाऽस्त्येवं व्रतमेतत्पुरातनम्
I live to do what pleases them; they are my highest divinity and must always be worshipped by me; this has ever been my ancient vow regarding them.
एवमुक्त्वा स धर्मात्मा गुरुभक्तो गुरुप्रियः। उच्छ्रित्य बाहू दुःखार्तः सुस्वरं प्ररुरोद ह
Having spoken thus, that righteous soul, devoted to and beloved by his elders, raised his arms in anguish and cried out in a clear voice.
ततोऽब्रवीत्तथा दृष्ट्वाभर्तारं शोककर्शितम्। प्रमृज्याश्रूणि पाणिभ्यां सावित्री धर्मचारिणी
Then, seeing her husband consumed by grief, Savitri, righteous in conduct, wiped his tears with her hands and spoke.
यदि मेऽस्ति तपस्तप्तं यदि दत्तं हुतं यदि। श्वश्रूश्वशुरभर्तॄणां मम पुण्याऽस्तु शर्वरी
If I have performed austerity, given gifts, or made offerings, may this night be auspicious for my parents-in-law and husband.
न स्मराम्युक्तपूर्वं वै स्वैरेष्वप्यनृतां गिरम्। तेन सत्येन तावद्य ध्रियेतां श्वशुरौ मम
I do not recall ever uttering a false word, even in jest; by that truth, may my parents-in-law be sustained today.
कामये दर्शनं पित्रोर्याहि सावित्रि माचिरम्। `अपिनाम गुरू तौ हि पश्येयं ध्रियमाणकौ
I long to see my parents—go quickly, Sāvitrī. I wish to bow to those two elders, if I may see them still alive.
पुरा मातुः पितुर्वाऽपियदि पश्यामि विप्रियम्। न जीविष्ये वरारोहे सत्येनात्मानमालभे
If I see anything grievous befall my mother or father, O lovely one, I will not live—by truth, I take this vow upon myself.
यदि धर्मे च ते बुद्धिर्मां चेज्जीवन्तमिच्छसि। मम प्रियं वा कर्तव्यं गच्छावाश्रममन्तिकात्
If your mind is set on righteousness, and if you wish me to live, then you must do what pleases me: let us go from this hermitage.
सावित्री तत उत्थाय केशान्संम्य भामिनी। पतिमुत्थापयामास बाहुभ्यां परिगृह्य वै
Then Sāvitrī arose, the radiant one, and, gathering her hair, she raised her husband up, embracing him with her arms.
उत्ताय सत्यवांश्चापि प्रमृज्याङ्गानि पाणिना। सर्वा दिशः समालोक्य कठिने दृष्टिमादधे
Satyavān too stood up, wiped his limbs with his hand, looked all around in every direction, and fixed his gaze with resolve.
तमुवाचाथसावित्री श्वः फलानि हरिष्यसि। योगक्षेमार्थमेतं ते नेष्यामि परशुं त्वहम्
Then Sāvitrī said to him: 'Tomorrow you will gather fruits. For your welfare and sustenance, I will carry this axe for you.'
कृत्त्वा कठिनभारं सा वृक्षशाखावलम्बिनम्। गृहीत्वा परशुं भर्तुः सकाशे पुनरागमत्
Having cut the heavy load of wood, and holding onto a tree branch, she took up the axe and returned again to her husband’s side.
वामे स्कन्धे तु वामोरूर्भर्तुर्बाहुं निवेश्य च। दक्षिणएन परिष्वज्य जगाम गजगामिनी
Placing her husband's left arm over her left shoulder and embracing him with her right, she, graceful as an elephant, walked on.
अभ्यासगमनाद्भीरु पन्थानो विदिता मम। वृक्षान्तरालोकितया ज्योत्स्नया चापि लक्षये
Because I have often walked this way, O timid one, I know the paths. I can also see by the moonlight shining between the trees.
आगतौ स्वः पथा येन फलान्यवचितानि च। यथागतं शुभे गच्छ पन्थानं मा विचारय
We have come by the path where the fruits were gathered. Go, O auspicious one, as you came—do not hesitate about the way.
पलाशखण्डे चैतस्मिन्पन्था व्यावर्तते द्विधा। तस्योत्तरेण यः पन्थास्तेन गच्छ त्वरस्व च
At this broken branch of the palāśa tree, the path divides in two. Take the northern path and go quickly.
स्वस्थोस्मि बलवानस्मि दिदृक्षुः पितरावुभौ। ब्रुवन्नेव त्वरायुक्तः सम्प्रायादाश्रमं प्रति
I am well, I am strong, and I wish to see both my parents. Speaking thus, with urgency, he set out toward the hermitage.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु द्युमत्सेनो महाबलः। लब्धचक्षुः प्रसन्नायां दृष्ट्यां सर्वं ददर्श ह
At that very moment, Dyumatsena of great might regained his sight; with clear vision, he saw everything.
स सर्वानाश्रमान्गत्वा शैब्यया सह भार्यया। पुत्रहेतोः परामार्तिं जगाम भरतर्षभ
He went to all the hermitages with his wife, the daughter of Shibi, and, because of his son, fell into the deepest anguish, O bull of the Bharatas.
तावाश्रमान्नदीश्चैववनानि च सरांसि च। तस्यां निशि विचिन्वन्तौ दम्पती परिजग्मतुः
That night, the couple searched through hermitages, rivers, forests, and lakes.
श्रुत्वा शब्दं तु यं कंचिदुन्मुखौ सुतशङ्कया। सावित्रीसहितोऽभ्येति सत्यवानित्यभाषताम्
Hearing any sound, they turned eagerly, hoping it was their son; Satyavān, together with Sāvitrī, approached and spoke.
भिन्नैश्च परुषैः पादैः सव्रणैः शोणितोक्षितैः। कुशकणअटकविद्धाङ्गावुनमत्ताविव धावतः
With feet bruised, wounded, and stained with blood, their bodies pierced by blades of grass and thorns, they ran like those distraught.
ततोऽभिसृत्य तैर्विप्रैः सर्वैराश्रमवासिभिः। परिवार्य समाश्वास्य तावानीतौ स्वमाश्रमम्
Then, all the ascetics of the hermitage gathered around, comforted them, and brought them back to their own hermitage.