Savitri's Vow and the Fateful Day

Verse 1 (3.297.1)

ततः काले बहुतिथे व्यतिक्रान्ते कदाचन । प्राप्तः स कालो मर्तव्यं यत्र सत्यवता नृप ॥

tataḥ kāle bahutithe vyatikrānte kadācana | prāptaḥ sa kālo martavyaṃ yatra satyavatā nṛpa

Then, after a long time had gone by, there came at last the time, O king, when Satyavan was to die.

Note on the text: Corrected मर्व्यं → मर्तव्यं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; CE martavyaṃ) and restored the word space in यत्र सत्यवता.

Verse 2 (3.297.2)

गणयन्त्याश्च सावित्र्या दिवसे दिवसे गते । यद्वाक्यं नारदेनोक्तं वर्तते हृदि नित्यशः ॥

gaṇayantyāśca sāvitryā divase divase gate | yadvākyaṃ nāradenoktaṃ vartate hṛdi nityaśaḥ

Savitri counted the days as each one passed, and the words Narada had spoken were always present in her heart.

Note on the text: Corrected दिवसदिवसे → दिवसे दिवसे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign; CE divase divase).

Verse 3 (3.297.3)

चतुर्थेऽहनि मर्तव्यमिति संचिन्त्य भामिनी । व्रतं त्रिरात्रमुद्दिश्य दिवारात्रं स्थिताऽभवत् ॥

caturthe'hani martavyamiti saṃcintya bhāminī | vrataṃ trirātramuddiśya divārātraṃ sthitā'bhavat

Reckoning that he must die on the fourth day, the noble lady took a vow lasting three nights and remained standing day and night.

Verse 4 (3.297.4)

त्रयोदश्यां चोपवासं प्रतिपत्सु च पारणम् । आयुष्यं वर्धते भर्तुर्व्रतेनानेन भारत ॥

trayodaśyāṃ copavāsaṃ pratipatsu ca pāraṇam | āyuṣyaṃ vardhate bharturvratenānena bhārata

Fasting on the thirteenth day of the fortnight and breaking the fast on the first: by this vow, O Bharata, a husband's life is lengthened.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); nothing like it in the CE text or the apparatus lines included in the CE file. Removed stray wiki marks (backtick and quote mark). Corrected व्रतेनानि → व्रतेनानेन (misprint in Wikisource; the pada is a syllable short and व्रतेनानि is not a word; "by this vow").

Verse 5 (3.297.5)

तं श्रुत्वा नियमं तस्या भृशं दुःखान्वितो नृपः । उत्थाय वाक्यं सावित्रीमब्रवीत्परिसान्त्वयन् ॥

taṃ śrutvā niyamaṃ tasyā bhṛśaṃ duḥkhānvito nṛpaḥ | utthāya vākyaṃ sāvitrīmabravītparisāntvayan

Hearing of her vow, the king was deeply grieved; he rose and spoke to Savitri, trying to comfort her.

Note on the text: Corrected रकनियमं → नियमं (misprint in Wikisource; stray रक marks, as elsewhere on this page; CE niyamaṃ). The rest of the first line differs from the CE (duḥkhaṃ vadhvā) as a recension variant.

Verse 6 (3.297.6)

अतितीव्रोऽयमारम्भस्त्वयाऽऽरब्धो नृपात्मजे । तिसृणां वसतीनां हि स्थानं परमदुश्चरम् ॥

atitīvro'yamārambhastvayā''rabdho nṛpātmaje | tisṛṇāṃ vasatīnāṃ hi sthānaṃ paramaduścaram

"This is a very harsh undertaking you have begun, princess. To keep a fast through three nights is exceedingly hard to bear."

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; this verse is Dyumatsena's direct speech, so it is given to द्युमत्सेन. Corrected स्तानं → स्थानं (misprint in Wikisource; CE sthānaṃ).

Verse 7 (3.297.7)

न कार्यस्तात संतापः पारयिष्याम्यहं व्रतम् । व्यवसायकृतं हीदं व्यवसायश्च कारणम् ॥

na kāryastāta saṃtāpaḥ pārayiṣyāmyahaṃ vratam | vyavasāyakṛtaṃ hīdaṃ vyavasāyaśca kāraṇam

"Do not grieve, father; I shall complete the vow. It was undertaken with resolve, and resolve is what will carry it through."

Note on the text: Corrected व्यसंसायकृतं → व्यवसायकृतं (misprint in Wikisource; CE vyavasāyakṛtaṃ).

Verse 8 (3.297.8)

व्रतं भिन्धीति वक्तुं त्वां नास्मि शक्तः कथंचन । पारयस्वेति वचनं युक्तमस्मद्विधो वदेत् ॥

vrataṃ bhindhīti vaktuṃ tvāṃ nāsmi śaktaḥ kathaṃcana | pārayasveti vacanaṃ yuktamasmadvidho vadet

"I can in no way tell you, 'Break your vow.' 'Complete it' is the word that is right for one like me to say."

Verse 9 (3.297.9)

एवमुक्त्वा द्युमत्सेनो विरराम महामनाः । तिष्ठन्ती चैव सावित्री काष्ठभूतेव लक्ष्यते ॥

evamuktvā dyumatseno virarāma mahāmanāḥ | tiṣṭhantī caiva sāvitrī kāṣṭhabhūteva lakṣyate

Having said this, the high-minded Dyumatsena fell silent, and Savitri, standing there, seemed like a thing of wood.

Note on the text: Corrected काण्ठभूतेव → काष्ठभूतेव (misprint in Wikisource; CE kāṣṭhabhūteva).

Verse 10 (3.297.10)

श्वोभूते भर्तृमरणे सावित्र्या भरतर्षभ । दुःखान्वितायास्तिष्ठन्त्याः सा रात्रिर्व्यत्यवर्तत ॥

śvobhūte bhartṛmaraṇe sāvitryā bharatarṣabha | duḥkhānvitāyāstiṣṭhantyāḥ sā rātrirvyatyavartata

With her husband's death due on the morrow, O best of the Bharatas, that night passed for Savitri as she stood there in grief.

Verse 11 (3.297.11)

अद्य तद्दिवसं चेति हुत्वा दीप्तं हुताशनम् । युगमात्रोदिते सूर्ये कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकीः क्रियाः ॥

adya taddivasaṃ ceti hutvā dīptaṃ hutāśanam | yugamātrodite sūrye kṛtvā paurvāhṇikīḥ kriyāḥ

Thinking, "Today is that day," she offered oblations into the blazing fire, and when the sun had risen a yoke's length she performed the morning rites.

Note on the text: Restored the word space in सूर्ये कृत्वा and corrected पौर्वाङ्णिकीः → पौर्वाह्णिकीः (misprint in Wikisource; CE paurvāhṇikīḥ).

Verse 12 (3.297.12)

व्रतं समाप्य सावित्री स्नात्वा शुद्धा यशस्विनी । ततः सर्वान्द्विजान्वृद्धाञ्श्वश्रूं श्वशुरमेव च । अभिवाद्यानुपूर्व्येण प्राञ्जलिर्नियता स्थिता ॥

vrataṃ samāpya sāvitrī snātvā śuddhā yaśasvinī | tataḥ sarvāndvijānvṛddhāñśvaśrūṃ śvaśurameva ca | abhivādyānupūrvyeṇa prāñjalirniyatā sthitā

Then, having completed her vow, the illustrious Savitri bathed and, made pure, bowed in due order to all the aged brahmins and to her mother-in-law and father-in-law, and stood before them with joined palms, composed.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick and quote mark) around the first line and restored the word space in समाप्य सावित्री. The first line is not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in its apparatus (3.280.10 *1316). Lines 2–3 are CE 3.280.11.

Verse 13 (3.297.13)

अवैधव्याशिषस्ते तु सावित्र्यर्थं हिताः शुभाः । ऊचुस्तपस्विनः सर्वे तपोवननिवासिनः ॥

avaidhavyāśiṣaste tu sāvitryarthaṃ hitāḥ śubhāḥ | ūcustapasvinaḥ sarve tapovananivāsinaḥ

All the ascetics who lived in that forest of austerities spoke kind and auspicious blessings for Savitri, that she might never be widowed.

Verse 14 (3.297.14)

एवमस्त्विति सावित्री ध्यानयोगपरायणा । मनसा ता गिरः सर्वाः प्रत्यगृह्णात्तपस्विनी ॥

evamastviti sāvitrī dhyānayogaparāyaṇā | manasā tā giraḥ sarvāḥ pratyagṛhṇāttapasvinī

"So be it," said Savitri, intent on meditation, and the ascetic lady accepted all those words in her heart.

Verse 15 (3.297.15)

तं कालं तं मुहूर्तं च प्रतीक्षन्ती नृपात्मजा । यथोक्तं नारदवचश्चिन्तयन्ती सुदुःखिता ॥

taṃ kālaṃ taṃ muhūrtaṃ ca pratīkṣantī nṛpātmajā | yathoktaṃ nāradavacaścintayantī suduḥkhitā

The princess waited for that time and that very moment, brooding in deep sorrow on Narada's words as he had spoken them.

Verse 16 (3.297.16)

ततस्तु श्वश्रूश्वशुरावूचतुस्तां नृपात्मजाम् । एकान्तमास्थितां वाक्यं प्रीत्या भरतसत्तम ॥

tatastu śvaśrūśvaśurāvūcatustāṃ nṛpātmajām | ekāntamāsthitāṃ vākyaṃ prītyā bharatasattama

Then her mother-in-law and father-in-law spoke lovingly to the princess, who had withdrawn to a quiet place, O best of the Bharatas:

Verse 17 (3.297.17)

व्रतं यथोपदिष्टं तु तथा तत्पारितं त्वया । आहारकालः संप्राप्तः क्रियतां यदनन्तरम् ॥

vrataṃ yathopadiṣṭaṃ tu tathā tatpāritaṃ tvayā | āhārakālaḥ saṃprāptaḥ kriyatāṃ yadanantaram

"You have completed the vow just as it was laid down. The time for eating has come; do what should follow."

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; this verse is the direct speech of Savitri's parents-in-law announced in verse 16 (CE 3.280.16 heads it श्वशुरावूचतुः), so it is given to them.

Verse 18 (3.297.18)

अस्तं गते मयाऽऽदित्ये भोक्तव्यं कृतकामया । एष मे हृदि संकल्पः समयश्च कृतो मया ॥

astaṃ gate mayā''ditye bhoktavyaṃ kṛtakāmayā | eṣa me hṛdi saṃkalpaḥ samayaśca kṛto mayā

"I shall eat when the sun has set and my wish is fulfilled. This is the resolve in my heart, and the pledge I have made."

Verse 19 (3.297.19)

एवं संभाषमाणायाः सावित्र्या भोजनं प्रति । स्कन्धे परशुमादाय सत्यवान्प्रस्थितो वनम् ॥

evaṃ saṃbhāṣamāṇāyāḥ sāvitryā bhojanaṃ prati | skandhe paraśumādāya satyavānprasthito vanam

While Savitri was speaking thus about food, Satyavan took his axe on his shoulder and set out for the forest.

Verse 20 (3.297.20)

सावित्री त्वाह भर्तारं नैकस्त्वं गन्तुमर्हसि । सह त्वया गमिष्यामि न हि त्वां हातुमुत्सहे ॥

sāvitrī tvāha bhartāraṃ naikastvaṃ gantumarhasi | saha tvayā gamiṣyāmi na hi tvāṃ hātumutsahe

But Savitri said to her husband, "You must not go alone. I will go with you; I cannot bear to leave you."

Note on the text: Restored the word space in न हि त्वां (run together in Wikisource as हित्वां).

Verse 21 (3.297.21)

वनं न गतपूर्वं ते दुःखः पन्थाश्च भामिनि । व्रतोपवासक्षामा च कथं पद्भ्यां गमिष्यसि ॥

vanaṃ na gatapūrvaṃ te duḥkhaḥ panthāśca bhāmini | vratopavāsakṣāmā ca kathaṃ padbhyāṃ gamiṣyasi

"You have never been to the forest before, my lady, and the path is hard. Worn thin by your vow and your fasting, how will you go there on foot?"

Note on the text: Corrected दुःख → दुःखः (misprint in Wikisource; missing visarga; CE duḥkhaḥ).

Verse 22 (3.297.22)

उपवासान्न मे ग्लानिर्नास्ति चापि परिश्रमः । गमने च कृतोत्साहां प्रतिषेद्धुं न माऽर्हसि ॥

upavāsānna me glānirnāsti cāpi pariśramaḥ | gamane ca kṛtotsāhāṃ pratiṣeddhuṃ na mā'rhasi

"I feel no weakness from fasting, nor any weariness. I have set my heart on going; you should not stop me."

Verse 23 (3.297.23)

यदि ते गमनोत्साहः करिष्यामि तव प्रियम् । मम त्वामन्त्रय गुरून्न मां दोषः स्पृशेदयम् ॥

yadi te gamanotsāhaḥ kariṣyāmi tava priyam | mama tvāmantraya gurūnna māṃ doṣaḥ spṛśedayam

"If you are set on going, I will do as you wish. But take leave of my elders, so that no blame may touch me."

Note on the text: Corrected प्रयम् → प्रियम् (misprint in Wikisource; CE priyam).

Verse 24 (3.297.24)

साऽभिवाद्याब्रवीच्छ्वश्रूं श्वशुरं च महाव्रता । अयं गच्छति मे भर्ता फलाहारो महावनम् ॥

sā'bhivādyābravīcchvaśrūṃ śvaśuraṃ ca mahāvratā | ayaṃ gacchati me bhartā phalāhāro mahāvanam

The lady of great vows bowed to her mother-in-law and father-in-law and said, "My husband is going to the great forest to gather fruit.

Verse 25 (3.297.25)

इच्छेयमभ्यनुज्ञाता आर्यया श्वशुरेण ह । अनेन सह निर्गन्तुं न मेऽद्य विरहः क्षमः ॥

iccheyamabhyanujñātā āryayā śvaśureṇa ha | anena saha nirgantuṃ na me'dya virahaḥ kṣamaḥ

With leave from my noble mother-in-law and from my father-in-law, I would go out with him. Today I cannot bear to be parted from him.

Note on the text: Savitri's request continues from verse 24 without a printed heading; given to सावित्री because her direct speech fills the whole verse.

Verse 26 (3.297.26)

गुर्वग्निहोत्रार्थकृते प्रस्थितश्च सुतस्तव । न निवार्यो निवार्यः स्यादन्यथा प्रस्थितो वनम् ॥

gurvagnihotrārthakṛte prasthitaśca sutastava | na nivāryo nivāryaḥ syādanyathā prasthito vanam

Your son has set out for the sake of his elders and the fire offering, so he should not be held back; he might be held back only if he were going to the forest for some other purpose.

Note on the text: Savitri's request continues from verse 24 without a printed heading; given to सावित्री because her direct speech fills the whole verse. Corrected गुर्वग्निहोत्रार्तकृतेप्रस्थितश्च → गुर्वग्निहोत्रार्थकृते प्रस्थितश्च (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ and a lost word space; CE gurvagnihotrārthakṛte prasthitaś).

Verse 27 (3.297.27)

संवत्सरः किंचिदूनो न निष्क्रान्ताऽहमाश्रमात् । वनं कुसुमितं द्रष्टुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥

saṃvatsaraḥ kiṃcidūno na niṣkrāntā'hamāśramāt | vanaṃ kusumitaṃ draṣṭuṃ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me

For nearly a year I have not stepped out of the hermitage, and I long to see the forest in flower."

Note on the text: Savitri's request continues from verse 24 without a printed heading; given to सावित्री because her direct speech fills the whole verse.

Verse 28 (3.297.28)

यदा प्रभृति सावित्री पित्रा दत्ता स्नुषा मम । नानयाऽभ्यर्थनायुक्तमुक्तपूर्वं स्मराम्यहम् ॥

yadā prabhṛti sāvitrī pitrā dattā snuṣā mama | nānayā'bhyarthanāyuktamuktapūrvaṃ smarāmyaham

"Since the day her father gave Savitri to be my daughter-in-law, I do not remember her ever before asking anything of us.

Note on the text: Corrected स्नाषु → स्नुषा (misprint in Wikisource; transposed vowel signs; CE snuṣā).

Verse 29 (3.297.29)

तदेषा लभतां कामं यथाभिलषितं वधूः । अप्रमादश्च कर्तव्यः पुत्रि सत्यवतः पथि ॥

tadeṣā labhatāṃ kāmaṃ yathābhilaṣitaṃ vadhūḥ | apramādaśca kartavyaḥ putri satyavataḥ pathi

So let our daughter-in-law have her wish, as she desires. But, daughter, take good care of Satyavan on the way."

Verse 30 (3.297.30)

उभाभ्यामभ्यनुज्ञाता सा जगाम यशस्विनी । सह भर्त्रा हसन्तीव हृदयेन विदूयता ॥

ubhābhyāmabhyanujñātā sā jagāma yaśasvinī | saha bhartrā hasantīva hṛdayena vidūyatā

Given leave by both, the illustrious lady set out with her husband, smiling outwardly though her heart was in torment.

Note on the text: Restored the word space in सह भर्त्रा.

Verse 31 (3.297.31)

सा वनानि विचित्राणि रमणीयानि सर्वशः । मयूरगणजुष्टानि ददर्श विपुलेक्षणा ॥

sā vanāni vicitrāṇi ramaṇīyāni sarvaśaḥ | mayūragaṇajuṣṭāni dadarśa vipulekṣaṇā

The wide-eyed lady saw lovely forests of every kind all around, haunted by flocks of peacocks.

Verse 32 (3.297.32)

नदीः पुण्यवहाश्चैव पुष्पितांश्च नगोत्तमान् । सत्यवानाह पश्येति सावित्रीं मधुरं वचः ॥

nadīḥ puṇyavahāścaiva puṣpitāṃśca nagottamān | satyavānāha paśyeti sāvitrīṃ madhuraṃ vacaḥ

Pointing out holy streams and splendid trees in flower, Satyavan spoke sweetly to Savitri, saying, "Look!"

Note on the text: Corrected मधूरं → मधुरं (misprint in Wikisource; long ū for short u).

Verse 33 (3.297.33)

निरीक्षमाणा भर्तारं सर्वावस्थमनिन्दिता । मृतमेव हि तं मेने काले मुनिवचः स्मरन् ॥

nirīkṣamāṇā bhartāraṃ sarvāvasthamaninditā | mṛtameva hi taṃ mene kāle munivacaḥ smaran

The blameless lady watched her husband in his every state, and remembering the sage's words about the hour, she looked on him as already dead.

Note on the text: Corrected नीरीक्षमाणा → निरीक्षमाणा and हिं → हि तं (misprints in Wikisource; the second pada was a syllable short; CE nirīkṣamāṇā, hi taṃ).

Verse 34 (3.297.34)

अनुव्रजन्ती भर्तारं जगाम मृदुगामिनी । द्विधेव हृदयं कृत्वा तं च कालमवेक्षती ॥

anuvrajantī bhartāraṃ jagāma mṛdugāminī | dvidheva hṛdayaṃ kṛtvā taṃ ca kālamavekṣatī

Following her husband, she walked on with gentle steps, her heart as if split in two, watching for that hour.