Markandeya said : The monarch, reflecting on the words (of Narada) with regard to his daughter's marriage, began to make preparations for the wedding.

Then, inviting all the old Brahmanas and the Ritvijas together with the priests, the king accompanied by his daughter set out on an auspicious day.

Having reached the hermitage of Dyumatsena (situate) in the sacred forest, the king (Ashvapati) accompanied by the Brahmanas advanced on foot to meet that royal sage.

And there (in the hermitage) he saw that highly wise and old king seated on a mat of Kusha grass under a Sala tree.

The King (Ashvapati) having in conformity with usage, paid his respects to that royal sage, introduced himself (to him) by an appropriate speech and the king (Dyumatsena) versed in religion, having offered to the monarch (Ashvapati) a seat, (the oblation called) Arghya and a cow asked him what brought him there,

He (Ashvapati) then expressed all his intentions and purposes in detail with regard to Satyavana.

Ashvapati said : O royal sage, this fair damsel, named Savitri, is my daughter. O virtuous one, do you accept her for your daughter-in-law in conformity with the usage of your order.

Dyumatsena said : Exiled from my kingdom we have taken refuge in the woods and have been, like ascetics, practising virtue with subdued passions. How will (therefore), your daughter, unworyour of a forest life, put up with (its) hardships living in the forest?

Ashvapati said : Neither happiness nor misery has any permanence. My daughter and myself are aware of this. Therefore, O king, you should not use such words towards me. Having (previously) made up my mind. I have come here.

You should not dishearten me since I have saluted you through friendship. As I have come here actuated by love, you ought not to refuse me.

You are my and I am your equal; and we are suitable to each other. Be pleased, (therefore) to accept my daughter as your daughter-in-law and wife of good Satyavana.

Dyumatsena said: Formerly, I cherished a desire of forming an alliance with you. (But) deprived of my kingdom (afterwards) I hesitated (to do it).

Let, what I desired before, be accomplished this very day. You are a welcome guest to me.

Then, those two monarchs, inviting all the Brahmanas dwelling in the hermitages, caused the wedding to be celebrated agreeably to the usage.

Having given away his daughter with suitable robes, Ashvapati with a merry heart left for his own abode.

Satyavana having obtained a wife graced with all the (noble) qualities and she (Savitri) too having got a husband after her own heart, rejoiced exceedingly.

Her father having departed, she cast off all her ornaments and put on barks of trees and cloths dyed red.

By her ministrations, good qualities, affections, self-control and good services to all, she pleased every one.

By ministering to her physical comforts and by (covering her with) all sorts of robes, she delighted her mother-in-law. And she pleased her father-in-law by worshipping him as a god and by controlling her words.

Similarly, by agreeable words, by skillfulness, by sweet disposition and by ministering to him in private she delighted her husband.

Thus, O Bharata, these good people engaged in asceticism continued to dwell for some time in that hermitage.

And Savitri too, whether asleep or awake, could not forget the words of Narada which were present in her mind day and night.