Savitri Chooses Satyavan

Verse 1 (3.295.1)

अथ मद्राधिपो राजा नारदेन समागतः । उपविष्टः सभामध्ये कथायोगेन भारत ॥

atha madrādhipo rājā nāradena samāgataḥ | upaviṣṭaḥ sabhāmadhye kathāyogena bhārata

Now the king of the Madras was seated in the midst of his assembly together with Narada, O Bharata, and the two were talking.

Verse 2 (3.295.2)

ततोऽभिगम्य तीर्थानि सर्वाण्येवाश्रमांस्तथा । आजगाम पितुर्वेश्म सावित्री सह मन्त्रिभिः ॥

tato'bhigamya tīrthāni sarvāṇyevāśramāṃstathā | ājagāma piturveśma sāvitrī saha mantribhiḥ

Then Savitri, having visited all the sacred fords and the hermitages, came back to her father's house with the ministers.

Verse 3 (3.295.3)

नारदेन सहासीनं सा दृष्ट्वा पितरं शुभा । उभयोरेव शिरसा चक्रे पादाभिवादनम् ॥

nāradena sahāsīnaṃ sā dṛṣṭvā pitaraṃ śubhā | ubhayoreva śirasā cakre pādābhivādanam

Seeing her father seated with Narada, the lovely girl bowed her head at the feet of both.

Verse 4 (3.295.4)

क्व गताऽभूत्सुतेयं ते कुतश्चैवागता नृप । किमर्थं युवतीं भद्र न चैनां संप्रयच्छसि ॥

kva gatā'bhūtsuteyaṃ te kutaścaivāgatā nṛpa | kimarthaṃ yuvatīṃ bhadra na caināṃ saṃprayacchasi

"Where has this daughter of yours been, O king, and where is she coming from? Why, good sir, do you not give her in marriage, now that she is a grown young woman?"

Verse 5 (3.295.5)

कार्येण खल्वनेनैव प्रेषिताद्यैव चागता । एतस्याः शृणु देवर्षे भर्तारं योऽनया वृतः ॥

kāryeṇa khalvanenaiva preṣitādyaiva cāgatā | etasyāḥ śṛṇu devarṣe bhartāraṃ yo'nayā vṛtaḥ

"It was on just this errand that I sent her out, and she has returned only today. Hear, divine seer, the husband she has chosen."

Verse 6 (3.295.6)

सा ब्रूहि विस्तरेणेति पित्रा संयोदिता शुभा । तदैव तस्य वचनं प्रतिगृह्येदमब्रवीत् ॥

sā brūhi vistareṇeti pitrā saṃyoditā śubhā | tadaiva tasya vacanaṃ pratigṛhyedamabravīt

Urged by her father with the words "Tell it in full," the lovely girl accepted his bidding at once and said this:

Verse 7 (3.295.7)

आसीत्साल्वेषु धर्मात्मा क्षत्रियः पृथिवीपतिः । द्युमत्सेन इति ख्यातः पश्चाच्चान्धो बभूव ह ॥

āsītsālveṣu dharmātmā kṣatriyaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ | dyumatsena iti khyātaḥ paścāccāndho babhūva ha

"Among the Shalvas there was a righteous Kshatriya, a lord of the earth, known as Dyumatsena; later in life he became blind.

Note on the text: Savitri's own words (verses 7–10) carry no printed heading; given to सावित्री because her direct speech fills the whole verse.

Verse 8 (3.295.8)

विनष्टचक्षुषस्तस्य बालपुत्रस्य धीमतः । सामीप्येन हृतं राज्यं छिद्रेऽस्मिन्पूर्ववैरिणा ॥

vinaṣṭacakṣuṣastasya bālaputrasya dhīmataḥ | sāmīpyena hṛtaṃ rājyaṃ chidre'sminpūrvavairiṇā

When that wise king had lost his sight and his son was still a child, an old enemy who lived nearby seized his kingdom, taking this misfortune as his opening.

Note on the text: Savitri's own words (verses 7–10) carry no printed heading; given to सावित्री because her direct speech fills the whole verse.

Verse 9 (3.295.9)

स बालवत्सया सार्धं भार्यया प्रस्थितो वनम् । महारण्यं गतश्चापि तपस्तेपे महाव्रतः ॥

sa bālavatsayā sārdhaṃ bhāryayā prasthito vanam | mahāraṇyaṃ gataścāpi tapastepe mahāvrataḥ

With his wife and her young child he set out for the forest, and having gone into the great wilderness, that man of great vows gave himself to austerities.

Note on the text: Savitri's own words (verses 7–10) carry no printed heading; given to सावित्री because her direct speech fills the whole verse. Corrected पस्तेषे → तपस्तेपे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara and ष for प, the pada is a syllable short; CE tapas tepe).

Verse 10 (3.295.10)

तस्य पुत्रः पुरे जातः संवृद्धश्च तपोवने । सत्यवाननुरूपो मे भर्तेति मनसा वृतः ॥

tasya putraḥ pure jātaḥ saṃvṛddhaśca tapovane | satyavānanurūpo me bharteti manasā vṛtaḥ

His son, born in the city and raised in the forest of ascetics, is Satyavan. He is worthy of me, and in my heart I have chosen him as my husband."

Note on the text: Savitri's own words (verses 7–10) carry no printed heading; given to सावित्री because her direct speech fills the whole verse.

Verse 11 (3.295.11)

अहो वत महत्पापं सावित्र्या नृपते कृतम् । अजानन्त्या यदनया गुणवान्सत्यवान्वृतः ॥

aho vata mahatpāpaṃ sāvitryā nṛpate kṛtam | ajānantyā yadanayā guṇavānsatyavānvṛtaḥ

"Alas, O king, Savitri has done a grievous thing without knowing it, in choosing Satyavan, virtuous though he is.

Verse 12 (3.295.12)

सत्यं वदत्यस्य पिता सत्यं माता प्रभाषते । तथाऽस्य ब्राह्मणाश्चक्रुर्नामैतत्सत्यवानिति ॥

satyaṃ vadatyasya pitā satyaṃ mātā prabhāṣate | tathā'sya brāhmaṇāścakrurnāmaitatsatyavāniti

His father speaks the truth and his mother speaks the truth; so the brahmins gave him this name, Satyavan.

Note on the text: Corrected तथाऽस् → तथाऽस्य (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; CE tato 'sya).

Verse 13 (3.295.13)

बालस्याश्वाः प्रियाश्चास्य करोत्यश्वांश्च मृन्मयान् । चित्रेऽपि विलिखत्यश्वांश्चित्राश्व इति चोच्यते ॥

bālasyāśvāḥ priyāścāsya karotyaśvāṃśca mṛnmayān | citre'pi vilikhatyaśvāṃścitrāśva iti cocyate

As a boy he loved horses; he would make horses out of clay and draw horses in pictures too, and so he is also called Chitrashva."

Verse 14 (3.295.14)

अपीदानीं स तेजस्वी बुद्धिमान्वा नृपात्मजः । क्षमावानपि वा शूरः सत्यवान्पितृवत्सलः ॥

apīdānīṃ sa tejasvī buddhimānvā nṛpātmajaḥ | kṣamāvānapi vā śūraḥ satyavānpitṛvatsalaḥ

"And now, is the prince Satyavan, who loves his father, full of spirit? Is he wise, forbearing, brave?"

Note on the text: Corrected शृरः → शूरः (misprint in Wikisource; CE śūraḥ).

Verse 15 (3.295.15)

विवस्वानिव तेजस्वी बृहस्पतिसमो मतौ । महेन्द्र इव वीरश्च वसुधेव क्षमान्वितः ॥

vivasvāniva tejasvī bṛhaspatisamo matau | mahendra iva vīraśca vasudheva kṣamānvitaḥ

"He is radiant like the Sun, the equal of Brihaspati in understanding, heroic like great Indra, and patient like the Earth."

Note on the text: Corrected वृहस्पति → बृहस्पति and इवन → इव (misprints in Wikisource; CE bṛhaspati, iva).

Verse 16 (3.295.16)

अपि राजात्मजो दाता ब्रह्मण्यश्चापि सत्यवान् । रूपवानप्युदारो वाऽप्यथवा प्रियदर्शनः ॥

api rājātmajo dātā brahmaṇyaścāpi satyavān | rūpavānapyudāro vā'pyathavā priyadarśanaḥ

"Is the prince Satyavan generous and devoted to brahmins? Is he handsome, noble-minded and pleasing to look upon?"

Verse 17 (3.295.17)

सांकृते रन्तिदेवस्य स्वशक्त्या दानतः समः । ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवादी च शिबिरौशीनरो यथा ॥

sāṃkṛte rantidevasya svaśaktyā dānataḥ samaḥ | brahmaṇyaḥ satyavādī ca śibirauśīnaro yathā

"In giving, according to his means, he is the equal of Rantideva, son of Sankriti; in devotion to brahmins and in truthfulness he is like Shibi, son of Ushinara.

Note on the text: Corrected रन्तिदेवस् → रन्तिदेवस्य (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; CE rantidevasya).

Verse 18 (3.295.18)

ययातिरिव चोदारः सोमवत्प्रियदर्शनः । रूपेणान्यतमोऽश्विभ्यां द्युमत्सेनसुतो बली ॥

yayātiriva codāraḥ somavatpriyadarśanaḥ | rūpeṇānyatamo'śvibhyāṃ dyumatsenasuto balī

He is generous like Yayati and pleasing to see like the Moon; in beauty the mighty son of Dyumatsena is like one of the two Ashvins.

Verse 19 (3.295.19)

स वदान्यः स तेजस्वी धीमांश्चैव क्षमान्वितः । स दान्तः स मृदुः शूरः स सत्यः संयतेन्द्रियः । सन्मैत्रः सोऽनसूयश्च स ह्रीमान्द्युतिमांश्च सः ॥

sa vadānyaḥ sa tejasvī dhīmāṃścaiva kṣamānvitaḥ | sa dāntaḥ sa mṛduḥ śūraḥ sa satyaḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ | sanmaitraḥ so'nasūyaśca sa hrīmāndyutimāṃśca saḥ

He is bountiful, he is radiant, he is wise and forbearing. He is self-controlled, gentle and brave, truthful and master of his senses; he is a true friend, free of envy, modest and full of splendour.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick and quote mark) around the first line and restored the word space in तेजस्वी धीमांश्च. Corrected सोनसूयश्च → सोऽनसूयश्च (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; CE so 'nasūyaś). The first line is not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in its apparatus (3.278.18 *1312). Lines 2–3 are CE 3.278.19.

Verse 20 (3.295.20)

नित्यशश्चार्जवं तस्मिन्धृतिस्तत्रैव च ध्रुवा । संक्षेपतस्तपोवृद्धैः शीलवृद्धैश्च कथ्यते ॥

nityaśaścārjavaṃ tasmindhṛtistatraiva ca dhruvā | saṃkṣepatastapovṛddhaiḥ śīlavṛddhaiśca kathyate

Uprightness is always in him, and steadfastness is firmly his as well. That, in short, is how he is spoken of by those who are elders in austerity and in conduct."

Verse 21 (3.295.21)

गुणैरुपेतं सर्वैस्तं भगवन्प्रब्रवीषि मे । दोषानप्यस्य मे ब्रूहि यदि सन्तीह केचन ॥

guṇairupetaṃ sarvaistaṃ bhagavanprabravīṣi me | doṣānapyasya me brūhi yadi santīha kecana

"Lord, you tell me he is endowed with every virtue. Tell me his faults too, if he has any."

Verse 22 (3.295.22)

एक एवास्य दोषो हि गुणानाक्रम्य तिष्ठति । स च दोषः प्रयत्नेन न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम् ॥

eka evāsya doṣo hi guṇānākramya tiṣṭhati | sa ca doṣaḥ prayatnena na śakyamativartitum

"He has just one fault, and it overshadows his virtues; nor can that fault be overcome by any effort.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in its apparatus (3.278.22 *1313).

Verse 23 (3.295.23)

एको दोषोऽस्ति नान्योऽस्य सोऽद्यप्रभृति सत्यवान् । संवत्सरेण क्षीणायुर्देहन्यासं करिष्यति ॥

eko doṣo'sti nānyo'sya so'dyaprabhṛti satyavān | saṃvatsareṇa kṣīṇāyurdehanyāsaṃ kariṣyati

There is this one fault and no other: within a year from today Satyavan, his life spent, will lay down his body."

Note on the text: Corrected सोद्यप्रभृति → सोऽद्यप्रभृति (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; CE so 'dya prabhṛti).

Verse 24 (3.295.24)

एहि सावित्रि गच्छस्व अन्यं वरय शोभने । तस्य दोषो महानेको गुणानाक्रम्य च स्थितः ॥

ehi sāvitri gacchasva anyaṃ varaya śobhane | tasya doṣo mahāneko guṇānākramya ca sthitaḥ

"Come, Savitri, go and choose another, my fair one. He has one great fault, and it overshadows his virtues.

Verse 25 (3.295.25)

यथा मे भगवानाह नारदो देवसत्कृतः । संवत्सरेण सोऽल्पायुर्देहन्यासं करिष्यति ॥

yathā me bhagavānāha nārado devasatkṛtaḥ | saṃvatsareṇa so'lpāyurdehanyāsaṃ kariṣyati

As the blessed Narada, whom the gods honour, has told me, he is short-lived and within a year will lay down his body."

Verse 26 (3.295.26)

सकृदंशो निपतति सकृत्कन्या प्रदीयते । सकृदाह ददानीति त्रीण्येतानि सकृत्सकृत् ॥

sakṛdaṃśo nipatati sakṛtkanyā pradīyate | sakṛdāha dadānīti trīṇyetāni sakṛtsakṛt

"Once only does a share fall to one's lot; once only is a maiden given away; once only does one say, 'I give.' These three happen once, and once alone.

Note on the text: Corrected स कृदाह → सकृदाह and सकृत्सकृते → सकृत्सकृत् (misprints in Wikisource; wrong word split and a stray vowel sign; CE sakṛd āha, sakṛt sakṛt).

Verse 27 (3.295.27)

दीर्घायुरथवाऽल्पायुः सगुणो निर्गुणोऽपि वा । सकृद्वृतो मया भर्ता न द्वितीयं वृणोम्यहम् ॥

dīrghāyurathavā'lpāyuḥ saguṇo nirguṇo'pi vā | sakṛdvṛto mayā bhartā na dvitīyaṃ vṛṇomyaham

Long-lived or short-lived, with virtues or without them, I have chosen my husband once, and I will not choose a second.

Verse 28 (3.295.28)

मनसा निश्चयं कृत्वा ततो वाचाऽभिधीयते । क्रियते कर्मणा पश्चात्प्रमाणं मे मनस्ततः ॥

manasā niścayaṃ kṛtvā tato vācā'bhidhīyate | kriyate karmaṇā paścātpramāṇaṃ me manastataḥ

A thing is first settled in the mind, then spoken in words, and afterwards carried out in deed. So my mind is my authority."

Note on the text: Restored the word space in कृत्वा ततो (run together in Wikisource).

Verse 29 (3.295.29)

स्थिरा बुद्धिर्नरश्रेष्ठ सावित्र्या दुहितुस्तव । नैषा वारयितुं शक्या धर्मादस्मात्कथंचन ॥

sthirā buddhirnaraśreṣṭha sāvitryā duhitustava | naiṣā vārayituṃ śakyā dharmādasmātkathaṃcana

"The mind of your daughter Savitri is firm, best of men. She cannot be turned from this righteous course in any way.

Verse 30 (3.295.30)

नान्यस्मिन्पुरुषे सन्ति ये सत्यवति वै गुणाः । प्रदानमेव तस्मान्मे रोचते दुहितुस्तव ॥

nānyasminpuruṣe santi ye satyavati vai guṇāḥ | pradānameva tasmānme rocate duhitustava

The virtues that are in Satyavan are found in no other man. Therefore I am in favour of giving your daughter to him."

Verse 31 (3.295.31)

अविचाल्यमेतदुक्तं तथ्यं च भवता वचः । करिष्याम्येतदेवं च गुरुर्हि भगवान्मम ॥

avicālyametaduktaṃ tathyaṃ ca bhavatā vacaḥ | kariṣyāmyetadevaṃ ca gururhi bhagavānmama

"Her word cannot be shaken, and what you have said is the truth. I will do just as you say, for you, my lord, are my teacher."

Verse 32 (3.295.32)

अविघ्नमस्तु सावित्र्याः प्रदाने दुहितुस्तव । साधयिष्याम्यहं तावत्सर्वेषां भद्रमस्तु वः ॥

avighnamastu sāvitryāḥ pradāne duhitustava | sādhayiṣyāmyahaṃ tāvatsarveṣāṃ bhadramastu vaḥ

"May the giving of your daughter Savitri go forward without hindrance. I shall now take my leave. Good fortune to you all!"

Verse 33 (3.295.33)

एवमुक्त्वा खमुत्पत्य नारदस्त्रिदिवं गतः । राजाऽपि दुहितुः सज्जं वैवाहिकमकारयत् ॥

evamuktvā khamutpatya nāradastridivaṃ gataḥ | rājā'pi duhituḥ sajjaṃ vaivāhikamakārayat

Having said this, Narada rose into the sky and went to heaven, and the king had everything made ready for his daughter's wedding.

Note on the text: Corrected स्वमुत्पत्य → खमुत्पत्य (misprint in Wikisource; ख misread as स्व; CE kham utpatya, "rising into the sky").