Markandeya said : Accompanied by his wife the powerful Satyavana (first) gathered fruits and filled his bag; he then began to cut down the trees.

As he was felling the branches he began to sweat and had an headache in consequence of the labour. Oppressed with toil, he came to his dear wife and said to her thus.

Satyavana said : I have a headache on account of this exercise. And, O Savitri, my limbs and heart are aching. O lady of restrained speech, I feel unwell. It seems (to me) that my head is being pierced by arrows. Therefore, O blessed lady, I feel inclined to sleep; for I am quite unable to stand.

(Thereupon), Savitri coming up to her husband, sat down on the ground with his head on her lap.

Then that devout lady, remembering the words of Narada, began to calculate the moment, the hour, the time and the day.

And in a moment she saw a person attired in red garments, wearing a diadem, of an enormous structure, having the splendour of the sun of a dark and yellow complexion, endued with red eyes, with a noose in his hands, dreadful to look at, standing beside Satyavana and gazing at him.

Beholding him she gently placed her husband's head on the ground. Then rising suddenly she, with a trembling heart and joined palms, said these words in a great sorrow.

Savitri said: From your superhuman appearance I know you to be a god. Kindly tell me, O god of gods, who you are and what is your desire.

Yama said: O Savitri, you are devotedly attached to your husband and are of ascetic virtue. And it for this reason that I address you. Know me, O auspicious girl, to be Yana.

The years of this prince, your husband, being numbered, I will bind (him with this noose) and take him hence. Know this to be my। intention.

Savitri said: We hear, O god, that your emissaries come to take away men. How is it that your worshipful self has come in person?

Markandeya said : Thus addressed by her, the divine lord of the Pitris, in order to please her, began faithfully to relate everything about his intentions.

And he said, I have come here personally considering that my emissaries are not fit to bring such a devotional and handsome person, endued with qualities, vast as a sea."

Then Yama powerfully drew out of the body of Satyavana a person of the measure of the thumb, bound him with the noose and brought him under control.

The life being taken out, the body deprived of breath, destitute of lustre and devoid of motion, became disagreeable to the eye.

Binding it thus, Yama proceeded towards the south; and weighed down with grief, the exalted Savitri also, devotedly attached to her husband and successful in her vow, followed him.

Yama said: Go back, O Savitri and perform the last rites of your husband. Your debt to your husband is discharged. You have come as far as is possible (for you) to do.

Savitri said: I ought to follow my husband thither where he is being carried to or whither he goes of his own accord. (Because) this is the eternal duty.

There shall be no obstacle to my course on account of my asceticism, my devotion to superiors, my affection for my husband, my observance of vows and your grace.

It is asserted by the wise, versed in true knowledge, that one contracts a friendship with another by going only seven paces with him. I will tell you something keeping this friendship in view. Pray listen to it.

Men, wanting in self-control do not observe (the proper rites and sacrifices) even in the forest. Nor do they go through and discharge the necessary duties of these three modes of life, namely conjugal or domestic life, life of celebacy and study in the house of the preceptor and thirdly a life of the total renunciation of the world. Conjugal life or domesticity leads to true religious merit. It is for this reason that the wise assert that domestic (which leads to righteousness) is the best of all (other modes of life).

By discharging faithfully the necessary duties of this one mode of life (i.e. conjugal life) we have all attained to the path (of righteousness) and therefore we do not covet the second and the third modes of life (i.e. celebacy and renunciation of the world). It is therefore that domesticity with its necessary duties is considered by the wise as the foremost of all (other lives).

Yama said: Do go back. I have been delighted with your words couched in (proper) letters and accents and resting on reason. Do you ask for a boon with the exception of your husband's life. O lady of faultless proportions, I will give any boon (you desire).

Savitri said: My father-in-law has been driven away from this kingdom and has lost his eyes. He now leads a forest life in our hermitage. Let that king, through your grace, be restored to his sight and be as powerful as the sun or fire.

Yama said: O blameless girl, I give you this boon, that, what you have asked of me, will take place. I see you are wearied with your journey. Do not proceed further. Go back. Do not take any more trouble.

Savitri said : I do not feel fatigue as I am with my husband. I will surely follow the same path as my husband does. I will surely go thither where you are taking my lord to. O best of the celestials, listen again to what I say.

(It is asserted by the wise) that even a single interview with the virtuous is highly desirable. Friendship with them is much more so. Communion with the righteous is never without fruit. So one should always associate with the virtuous.

Yama said: The words spoken by you are pregnant with great import. They augment the wisdom of even the learned and are delightful to the mind. Therefore, O damsel, with the exception of Satyavana's life to you ask for a second boon.

Savitri said: Let that king, my intellectual father-in-law, regain his kingdom that he lost before. And may that worshipful one never fail to properly discharge his duties. This is the second boon that I pray for.

Yama said: That monarch will be soon restored to his kingdom and be ever firm in his duties Princess, I have now gratified your wish. Do not proceed further; go back; do not allow yourself to be any more weary.

Savitri said: You have controlled all the creatures by your ordinances and you carry them away not according to your caprice but those regulations. Therefore, O god, you are styled Yama (i.e. one who governs by ordinances). Hear (again) these my words.

The eternal duty of the righteous is mercy and charity, benevolence and favour towards all creation in thought, word and deed.

In this world, it is generally the case that men here are destitute of energy and skill. (But) the righteous show mercy even to their enemies when the latter throw themselves into the protection.

Yama said: The words uttered by you appear (to me) as delicious as water to a thirsty person. (Therefore), O auspicious girl, do you ask again for any other boon that you like than the life of Satyavana.

Savitri said: My royal father is childless. Let him have one hundred sons, begotten by him, who will perpetuate his family. This is the third boon that I ask of you.

Yama said: O auspicious girl, your father shall have one hundred highly-energetic sons, the perpetuators of his race. Princess, your desire is now gratified. Do retrace your steps. You have come too far.

Savitri said : It appears no distance to me since I am beside my husband. My mind travels a greater distance. (Now) listen, as you proceed on, to the words that I will presently utter.

You are the powerful son of Vivasavata and are therefore called by the wise Vaivasvata. You judge all the creatures impartially and rightfully and for this reason, O lord, you are styled the lord of justice.

People do not place so inuch reliance on their own selves as on the virtuous. Therefore everybody wishes particularly to cultivate intimacy with the righteous.

And friendship alone generates the confidence among all creatures. It is therefore that people repose confidence specially in the virtuous.

Yama said: O auspicious and fair damsel. I never before heard such words as you have (just now) spoken from any other person than you. I am pleased with these. Do you ask for a fourth boon with the exception of Satyavana's life and then retrace your steps.

Savitri said : Let me have one hundred strong and powerful sons, born of Satyavana's loins and begotten of both of us, who will perpetuate our line. This is the fourth boon I pray for.

Yama said : Lady, you shall have one hundred strong and powerful sons who will cause your delight. Princess, do not take any further trouble; go back; indeed you have come a great way.

Savitri said : The pious are ever unceasingly devoted to religion. They do neither fecl lassitude nor affliction. The intercourse of the pious with the virtuous is (ever) productive of good. And the righteous apprehend no fear from the virtuous.

Indeed, the righteous by their truthfulness make the sun move and it is the pious who by asceticism support the earth. O king, it is the righteous that are the cause of the past and the future. And the pious remaining in the midst of the righteous do never feel languor.

Knowing that this is the eternal custom of the good and the virtuous, pious people devote themselves to acts of self-sacrifice for others without expecting any return.

Good acts done to the virtuous are never fruitless. Such acts never destroy our honour or interest. Since the righteous are characterised by such (noble) conduct they become protectors (of all creatures).

Yama said: The more you address me in words pregnant with religious meaning, delightful to the mind, full of sweet phrases and of grave import, the more I am inclined to respect you. O lady, devotedly attached to your husband, crave an incomparable boon.

Savitri said : The boon that you have (just) given me cannot bear fruit (without my union with my husband). Therefore, O bestower of honour, among other boons (that you have already granted me) I crave this boon that Satyavana may be brought back to life. I am as good as dead without my husband.

I do not want happiness bereft of my husband. Without my lord I do not crave heaven itself. Deprived of my husband I do not long for prosperity. And bereft of my husband I am unable to bear life.

You have granted me the boon that I shall have one hundred sons and yet you are carrying away my husband. Now I pray for this boon that Satyavana may be alive again and then your words will prove true.

Markandeya said : Thereupon, Yama, the son of Vivasvata and the lord of justice saying "be it so" and unloosing his noose, cheerfully spoke to Savitri thus,

"O chaste and gentle lady, I release your husband. You will be able to take him back. He will be free from disease and (ever) successful (in his undertakings).

He as well as you will live four hundred years. By his devoutness and by celebrating many sacrifices he will win a great renown in the world.

And Satyavana will beget on you one hundred sons. And those Kshatriya sons (of you) together with their sons and grandsons will be kings;

And bearing your name will ever be renowned. Your father also will beget a hundred sons on your mother Malavi and those Kshatriya brothers of you resembling the celestials, together with their sons and grandsons will be celebrated under the name of the Malavas."

Having conferred these boons on her and having thus made her retrace her steps, the lord of justice (Yama) returned to his own abode.

Then Savitri having regained her husband, returned to the place where her husband's ashy pale corpse lay.

Beholding her husband on the ground she approached and took hold of him. She then sat down placing his head on her lap.

Having regained his consciousness, he looked at her again and again like one returned from a distant clime (after a long time) and (then) endearingly addressed her thus.

Satyavana said : Oh, I have slept for a long time. Why did you not awaken me? Where is that darkcomplexioned person who was dragging me away?

Savitri said: O best of men, you have (indeed) slept long on my lap. That god, the divine Yama, who governs all creatures, has departed.

O blessed one, you are (now) soothed and O prince, you have awakened from sleep. If you are able, rise up. Look, the night is far advanced.

Markandeya said : Having regained his consciousness, Satyavana got up like one who had enjoyed an undisturbed sleep; and seeing all the sides covered with woods he said:

"O slender-waisted damsel, I set out with you for gathering fruits. And when I was hewing down the woods my headached.

Sorely distressed with headache I could not stand up long and (therefore) lay down on your lap. O auspicious girl, I remember all this.

Embraced by you, sleep gently came upon me. I then saw it was intensenly dark and also a highly effulgent person.

O slender-waisted lady, tell me, if you are aware of all that happened whether what I saw was a dream or a reality."

Thereupon Savitri replied to him "prince, the night is deepening tomorrow, I will disciose to you faithfully all that occurred.

Get up, get up, may you be all hale, O you of good devotion, come and see your parents. The sun has long gone down and the night is deepening.

The night-wandering creatures of harsh voices are joyfully roving about. And the rustling of leaves consequent on the footsteps of beasts are heard.

Jackals of frightful appearance stationed in the south and east have set up terrible howls which make my heart tremble.

Satyavana said : The forest, enveloped with a dense darkness, has worn a dreadful appearance. You will therefore neither be able to discern the paths nor to go.

Savitri said: There is a withered tree in a burning state in this forest which caught fire today. And the flames stirred up by the wind are seen now and then.

Fetching some fire (from that tree) I will kindle a fire all around. There are plenty of logs here. (So) give up your uneasiness.

If you do not venture to go. (I will do all this). I see you are unwell. You will not be able to discern the paths as a dense darkness is hanging over these woods.

We shall, with your leave, go tomorrow when the forest will be visible. O sinless one, we shall remain here for the night if you wish.

Satyavana said : I have recovered from the headache and my limbs are in a sound condition. I am therefore, through your favour, desirous of seeing my parents.

Never before did I return to the hermitage after the lapse of the proper time. My mother is used to shut me up in the asylum even before the evening sets in.

Even if I go out during the day my parents are filled with anxiety. And my father together with all the inhabitants of the hermitages searches for me.

Several times before this my parents afflicted with grief rebuked me saying “you have been long out."

I am now reflecting as to what a state they will be reduced for my sake. Surely, they will be sorely afflicted on account of my absence.

Sometimes ago, one night, the cheerful old couple, being greatly distressed and weeping profusely said to me repeatedly,

“Dear son, bereft of you, we cannot endure life for a single moment. Surely we must not survive you.

You are the only support of these blind ones. The perpetuity of our line, our funeral oblations, our fame, our descendants, (all) depend on you."

My father is, old and so also is my mother; and surely I am their only stay. To what a state will they be reduced if they miss me during the night?

I blame that sleep in consequence of which my harmless parents are in agonising suspense for my sake.

And (on account of which) I also placed in this critical position am filled with anxiety. Without my parents I do not care to bear life.

I am sure, that by this time my blind father with his mind torn with grief is inquiring of the dwellers of the hermitages about me.

I do not, O auspicious girl, grieve so much for myself as for my father and my weak mother (ever) devoted to her husband.

Surely, they will experience a deep sorrow for my sake. I know that my life will last so long as theirs, that I should support them and do only such acts as are agreeable to them.

Markandeya said : Saying this, that virtuous one devoted to and fond of his parents, raising his arms began to bewail loudly in great sorrow.

Seeing that her husband was oppressed with such a deep sorrow, the virtuous Savitri wiping the tears from his eyes spoke to him thus, “If I have practised asceticism, if I have done charitable acts, if I have offered oblations (to the fire), then, may this night be conducive to the welfare of my father-in-law, mother-in-law and my husband.

I do not remember to have offered a falsehood even in jest. By virtue of that truth may my father-in-law and mother-in-law remain alive this day.

Satyavana said: impatient to my parents. (Therefore), O Savitri, let us start immediately.

If I find my parents overtaken by any calamity, then, O fair girl, I swear by my own self I shall not bear life. I am see

If you are devoted to virtue, if you wish to see me alive, if it is your duty to do what is agreeable to me, (then) let us return to the hermitage (at once).

Thereupon, the fair Savitri rose up and adjusted her hair. She (next) taking her husband by his arms made him arise.

Satyavana too having risen, rubbed his limbs with his hand. Then looking around all sides, he cast his eyes on the fruit bag.

And Savitri said to him “gather fruit tomorrow. I shall carry your hatchet which is conducive to your devotion and welfare."

(Having said this), she hanging the bag on the branch of a tree and taking the hatchet, returned to her husband.

Then that lady of fair thighs, placing her husband's left hand on her left shoulder and embracing him by her right hand proceeded slowly like an elephant.

Satyavana said : Timid girl, the paths are well known to me as I go by them often. Further, by the moonlight falling between the trees I can discern them.

We have now reached the path we came by for gathering fruits. O auspicious girl, go along the way we took (in the morning) without hesitation.

Near yonder Palasa tree the road has branched off into two. Follow the path that lies to the north of it; be quick. I am now all right, have regained my strength and am very desirous of seeing my parents.

Saying this, he quickly proceeded towards the hermitage.