"Satyavan, taking his axe upon his shoulders, set out for the woods. And at this, Savitri said unto her husband, 'It behoveth thee not to go alone! I will accompany thee. I cannot bear to be separated from thee!'"
― Section CCLXLIV, Pativrata-mahatmya Parva, Book 3: Vana Parva, The Mahabharata
It was a mellow evening like always, the red rays of evening sun were reflecting on my anti-glare spectacles as I was sewing sweaters for the upcoming bitter cold season. My grandchildren would play down around this time but for a change they sat in their rooms and stared up at the crepuscular sky mingled in their own thoughts. I placed their glasses of milk on the dining table, lightly patting their backs. I asked them “Looks like someone is not staring at their phone lock screen today." Tanishka, my six-year-old grandchild, asked me to narrate a story about Indian culture as they pondered. I decided to recite the epic tale of Savitri and Satyavan.
"Many moons ago, according to the tale, in the kingdom of Madra resided one of the most captivating and pure maidens. Not only had her beauty attracted men from miles away but also she was widely discussed for her intelligence. Suitors from all classes and places came seeking her hand for marriage but were disappointed as Savitri would reject all of them. To find her soulmate she travelled across gold laden cities to the driest of deserts rejecting many men along the journey. One day when roaming across a forest her eyes fell upon a man cutting wood, she did not know what it was but she felt a connection between them. That man was none other than Satyavan.
"They talked, he told her about how he was a prince of a wealthy kingdom and someone had dethroned his father. She felt for him in the course of narration and had the sudden urge to help him, but why would she? BECAUSE SHE WAS IN LOVE! Hours passed by; they both knew they had found their soulmates. She went back to her kingdom to tell her father about the good news only to find Narrad over there. Her father was over the moon. But Narrad had other plans, he decided to reveal the agonising puzzle. He said that after a year, Satyan would pass away.
"Aghast Savitri was not willing to accept it. Knowing this she took a vow that she would only marry Satyavan in her life and no one if it is not him. Few days later they got married and lived modestly, which indeed was a very opposite life than Savitri ever imagined, but the only thing that mattered to her was Satyavan -the love of her life. Sadly the day came, the sun was so raging hot that Satyavan, as usual, was cutting wood. When he suddenly fell to the ground making a loud THUD. Even though Savitri tried her best to save him, it took no less than minutes for his body to turn cold.
"Savitri wept till her eyes became red. With blurred glances, her puffy eyes saw a figure standing behind the tree. It was none other than Yamraj who had come to take his soul. Determined, Savitri walked behind Yamraj, under the fierce sun no matter how hot it was, she wanted to take Satyavan back. Soon enough, Yamraj noticed her and granted her a wish. She asked him to give Satyavan’s vision back; it was granted. Savitri didn’t stop, she continued to walk. Noticing this, Yamraj asked her to not walk behind him and asked her to make one more wish. This time Savitri asked to give Satyavan’s kingdom back to his family; the wish was granted. But this was not a full stop to Savitri’s mission to revive her husband back to life.
"It was finally the time when Yamraj stepped into his kingdom of the dead, but noticing Savitri’s dedication he decided to grant one more wish. This time, Savitri demanded to be the mother of several children. He granted her the wish and signalled her to go back but Savitri reminded him of a vow she took a year ago. Awestruck by this Yamraj finally decides to give Satyavan’s soul to Savitri. And they lived happily ever after."
As I finished the narration, the warm milk had developed a layer of cream on top of it, the red rays of sun were replaced by the sapphire sky with stars like shining diamonds. The kids had learnt about love and dedication. Which not only would be applicable to
their life partners in the future but also to their parents.
"Markandeya said, 'At length, O king, after a long time had passed away, the hour that had been appointed for the death of Satyavan arrived.' And as the words that had been spoken by Narada were ever present in the mind of Savitri, she had counted the days as they passed. And having ascertained that her husband would die on the fourth day following, the damsel fasted day and night, observing the Triratra vow. And hearing of her vow, the king became exceedingly sorrow and rising up soothed Savitri and said these words, 'This vow that thou hast begun to observe, O daughter of a king, is exceedingly hard; for it is extremely difficult to fast for three nights together!' And hearing these words, Savitri said, 'Thou needst not be sorry, O father! This vow I shall be able to observe! I have for certain undertaken this task with perseverance; and perseverance is the cause of the successful observance of vows.'"
― Section CCLXLIV, Pativrata-mahatmya Parva, Book 3: Vana Parva, The Mahabharata
Bibliography:
n.a. "The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Pativrata-mahatmya Parva: Section CCLXLIV." Internet Sacred Texts Archive. 23 Jan, 2005. Web. 10 Jun, 2022. <https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03294.htm>
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