The oldest known version of the story of Savitri
and Satyavaan is found in “Aranya Parvam” of the Mahabharata. This story was
told by Markandeyah when Yudhisthira asks Markandeyah whether there has even
been a woman whose devotion matched Draupadi’s. Markandeyah replies with this
story.
Long long ago, there ruled a king named
Ashvapati, who ruled the great and glorious kingdom of Madra. The king had
everything at his disposal - wealth, power and luxury, but he had no offspring.
So he prayed, observed tapas and offered everyday ten thousand oblations in the
sacred fire repeating the Gayatri mantra as special prayers for Goddess
Savitri. For eighteen years, he repeated this performance. Finally goddess
Savitri, the presiding deity of Gayatri mantra was pleased with Ashvapati’s
devotion and appeared and grants him a boon, that he will soon have a daughter.
The king was joyful at the prospect of a child.
The king and his entire kingdom were overjoyed
when his daughter was born and named Savitri in honour of the goddess. The king
was very fond of her, gave her full freedom to do whatever she liked. Savitri
grew up as a beautiful girl and the fame of her beauty spread far and wide.
Royal families around the country asked for her hand by sending marriage
proposals to the king. However Savitri refused to marry, saying that she would
herself go out in the world and find a husband for herself. The king left the
choice to Savitri.
Savitri sets out on a pilgrimage for this same purpose
and finds Satyavaan, the son of a blind king name Dyumatsena, who after lost everything
lives in exile as a forest-dweller. Hearing that Savitri has chosen a penniless
prince, her father was severely disappointed. But Savitri was keen on marrying
Satyavaan.
Meanwhile Sage Narada met the king and announced
that Savitri had made a bad selection, although Satyavaan is perfect in every
way, he was destined to die one year from the day of their marriage. The king
Aswapati pleaded to Savitri to forget Satyavaan and choose more suitable husband.
But Savitri insisted that she had already accepted Satyavaan as her husband and
cannot think of anyone else. The king finally agreed and got Savitri and
Satyavaan married.
image courtesy: Google
The wedding of Savitri and Satyavaan took place
with a lot of fanfare and the couple went back to the forest hut and lived with
her parents-in-law. For the whole year they lived happily. Three days before
the predicted death of Satyavaan, Savitri started to observe a fast and vigil.
Her father-in-law warned her that she had taken on too harsh a regimen, but
Savitri assured him that she had taken an oath to perform these austerities and
Dyumatsena offered her his full support.
The morning of Satyavaan’s predicted death,
Savitri asked for her father-in-law’s permission to accompany her husband into
the forest. Since she has never asked for anything during the entire year she
has spent with them, Dyumatsena granted her wish.
The couple went into the forest. Under a tall
tree, Satyavaan made a seat of soft green leaves and plucked flowers for her to
weave into a garland while he chopped wood. Towards noon Satyavaan felt a
little tired, and after a while he came and lay down resting his head in
Savitri’s lap and within no time he was on the verge of death.
Suddenly the whole forest grew dark and soon
Savitri saw Lord Yama - God of Death standing in front of her. Within no time
Lord Yama carried out his duty of taking away Satyavaan’s soul and proceeded
towards Yamlok.
image courtesy: Google
When Yama was about to leave, Savitri walked
after him, pleaded lord Yama to take her too along with him to Yamalok, the land of
the dead, or give back the life of Satyavaan. Lord Yama replied that he can’t
take her to Yamalok because her time has not yet come. He advised her to go
back to her home and offered her any boon except the life of Satyavaan. She
first asked for eyesight and restoration of the kingdom for her father-in-law. Lord Yama granted the boon and moved towards Yamalok.
Instead of returning, Savitri continued to walk
behind Lord Yama through the rough roads of thorns and ditches. Savitri
continued to follow, with torn clothes and bleeding feet. Lord Yama was
impressed at her noble conduct and offered her another boon except the life of
Satyavaan. She asked for a hundred sons for her father. Yama immediately
granted the boon and again proceeded towards Yamlok. Savitri still continued to
follow him instead of returning.
Lord Yama was about to reach the gate of Yamalok and
saw that Savitri was still following him. He was irritated with this act of
Savitri and warned her that what she is doing is against nature and she should
immediately return. Savitri praised Yama as he is the king of Dharma and praised
about the glory of righteousness, on law, justice and mercy and appealed to
Yama as the embodiment of all these.
Lord Yama was impressed by her praise and
offered her a final boon with a promised from her to return immediately. She
asked for many sons for herself. Out of distraction, Yama granted the boon.
Savitri instantly asked Yamaraj how she could give birth to many sons without
Satyavaan? Yama laughed noting that he has been outwitted by the cleverness of
Savitri. He then released the soul of Satyavaan, blessed them both and
disappeared.
Savitri found herself under the tree where
Satyavaan was laying. Satyavaan woke up as if he was in deep sleep, he saw
Savitri both crying and laughing. When asked, she said “nothing my love, let’s
go back to the hut”.
Meanwhile Dyumatsena regained his eyesight even
before Savitri and Satyavaan’s return. Dyumatsena became the king and Satyavvan
as the crown prince. Savitri came to get one hundred brothers and many sons.
Satyavaan ultimately ruled the Salwa kingdom and led a very happy and peaceful
life with Savitri.
The End
Source: Wikipedia, Aurobindo, Mahabharat
