सावित्रीत्येव नामास्याश्चक्रुर्विप्रास्तथा पिता सावित्री सुकुमाराङ्गी यौवनस्था बभूव ह
The Brahmins and her father gave her the name Savitri; Savitri, with delicate limbs, entered her youth.
तां सुमध्यां पृथुश्रोणीं प्रतिमां काञ्चनीमिव 4.102.
She, with a slender waist and broad hips, was like a golden image.
सा तु पद्मपलाशाक्षी प्रज्वलंतीव तेजसा
She, with eyes like lotus petals, shone as if blazing with radiance.
अथोपोष्य शिरःस्नाता देवतामभिगम्य सा
Then, having fasted and bathed her head, she approached the deity.
तेभ्यः सुमनसः शेषाः प्रतिगृह्य नृपात्मजा
The princess received the remaining flowers from them.
सोभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ शेषान्पूर्वं निवेद्य च
After respectfully greeting her father's feet, she first presented the remaining ones.
तां दृष्ट्वा यौवनं प्राप्तां स्वच्छां तां देवरूपिणीम्
Seeing her, who had attained youth and was pure, resembling a goddess,
युक्तः प्रदानकालोऽस्यास्तेन कश्चिद्वृणोत्विमाम्
The proper time for her giving has arrived; let someone choose her.
देवादीनां यथा वाच्यो न लब्धेयं तथा कुरु
As is to be spoken among the gods and others, if she is not obtained, do likewise.
पितुर्गृहे तु या कन्या रजः पश्यत्यसंस्कृता
A maiden in her father's house who sees her menses, yet is unsanctified,
अतोर्थं प्रेषयामीति कुरु पुत्रि स्वयंवरम्
For this purpose, I will send you; daughter, hold a svayaṃvara.
एवमस्त्विति सावित्री प्रोक्ता तस्माद्विनिर्ययौ 4.102.
‘So be it,’ said Sāvitrī, and then departed from there.
मान्यानामत्र वृद्धानां कृत्वा पादाभिषेचनम्
Having performed the washing of the feet of the honored elders there,
आजगाम पुनर्वेश्म सावित्री सह मंत्रिभिः
Sāvitrī returned again to the house, accompanied by ministers.
आसीनमासने विप्रं प्रणम्य स्मितभाषिणी
She, smiling and speaking gently, bowed to the sage seated on the seat.
द्युमत्सेन इति ख्यातो देवदत्तो बभूव सः
He became known as Dyumatsena, and was called Devadatta.
अहो बत महत्कष्टं सावित्र्या नृपतेः कृतम्
Ah, indeed, great hardship was undertaken by Sāvitrī for the king.
सत्यं वदत्यस्य पिता सत्यं माता प्रभाषते
Her father speaks the truth, her mother speaks the truth.
एको दोषोऽस्ति नान्योऽस्य सोऽद्यप्रभृति सत्यवाक्
There is only one fault, no other; from today, he will speak truthfully.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तनयां प्राह पार्थिवः संवत्सरेण सोल्पायुर्देहत्यागं करिष्यति
Hearing Nārada's words, the king said to his daughter: ‘Within a year, with little lifespan, he will abandon his body.’
सकृत्प्रदीयते कन्या त्रीण्येतानि सकृत्सकृत्
A maiden is given only once; these three things are only once, only once.
दीर्घायुरथ वाल्पायुः सगुणो निर्गुणोऽपि वा 4.102.
Whether long-lived or short-lived, with qualities or even without qualities.
मनसा निश्चयं कृत्वा ततो वाचाऽभिधीयते
Having resolved in the mind, then it is spoken aloud.
अविघ्नमग्रे सावित्र्याः प्रदाने दुहितुस्तव
May there be no obstacle at the outset in the giving of Sāvitrī, your daughter.
एवमुक्त्वा समुत्पत्य नारदस्त्रिदिवं गतः शुभे मुहूर्ते पार्श्वस्थैर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः
Having spoken thus, Nārada rose up and went to heaven, at an auspicious moment, accompanied by learned Brahmins well-versed in the Vedas.
सावित्र्यपि वरं लब्ध्वा भर्तारं मनसेप्सितम्
Sāvitrī too obtained as her husband the one whom she had desired in her heart.
एवं तत्राश्रमे तेषां वसतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम्
Thus, in that hermitage, they all dwelt together with affection.
सावित्र्यास्तप्यमानायास्तिष्ठंत्याश्च दिवानिशम्
Sāvitrī, enduring hardships, remained steadfast day and night.
ततः काले बहुतिथे व्यतिक्रांते कदाचन प्रोष्ठपदे सिते पक्षे द्वादश्यां रजनीमुखे
Then, after much time had passed, once, in the bright fortnight of the month of Proṣṭhapada, at the beginning of the night on the twelfth day—
गणयन्ती च सावित्री नारदोक्तं वचो हृदि
Sāvitrī, recalling in her heart the words spoken by Nārada, kept counting the days.