MAHABHARATHAM 4 NANGANALLUR J K SIVAN
PrIncess Savithri’s father, King Aswapathi was shocked when Sage Naradha who visited his palace declared that the decision of Savaithri was most ill-omened choice that she ever made. The sage Naradha, being a seer of past, present and future, predicted that “Within twelve months from this time the young man Sathyavan, whom your daughter Savithri wishes to marry, will meet with his death ”
Aswapathi warned his daughter: ”Savitri, this young man Sathyavan,you wish to marry is going to die in twelve months, and you will become a widow: think of that! Desist from your choice, my child, you shall never be married to a short-lived and fated bridegroom.”
Savithri was not perturbed. She replied “Never mind, pa, do not ask me to marry any other person and sacrifice the chastity of mind, for I love and have accepted in my mind that good and brave Satyavan only as my husband. A maiden chooses only once, and she never departs from her truth.”
Aswapathi knew that Savitri was resolute in mind and heart So Savitri married prince Satyavan, and she quietly went with him r into the forest, to live with him and serve his aged parents. Savitri knew the exact date when Satyavan was to die, but she kept it hidden from him. Daily he went into the depths of the forest, collected fruits and flowers, gathered faggots, and then came back to the cottage, and she cooked the meals and helped the old people. Thus their lives went on until the fatal day came near, and three short days remained only. She took a severe vow of three nights’ penance and holy fasts, and kept her hard vigils. Savitri spent sorrowful and sleepless nights with fervent prayers and unseen tears, till the dreaded morning dawned.
On the day Sathyavan was to die, did not leave him out of her sight, even for a moment. She begged permission from his parents to accompany her husband, when he went to gather the usual herbs and fuel, and got their consent and accompanied Sathyavan.
Suddenly, in faltering accents, Sathyavan complained to Savithri, “My head is dizzy, and my senses reel, dear Savitri, I feel like fainting, let me rest beside thee for a while.”
In fear and trembling she replied, “Come, lay your head upon my lap, my dearest lord.” He did so., within a moment he died. Clasping him to her, with tears flowing from her eyes, she sat in the lonesome forest, when the emissaries of Death approached to take away the soul of Satyavan. But they could not come near her with the dead body of Sathyavan. There was a zone of fire surrounding her, and not one of the emissaries of Death could come within it. They all fled back from it, returned to King Yama, the God of Death, and told him why they could not obtain the soul of this man.
Then came Yama, the God of Death, the Judge of the dead. He judges whether, after a man has died, he is to be punished or rewarded. When Yama came to Savitri, he said, “Daughter, give up this dead body, for know, death is the fate of mortals, and I am the first of mortals who died. Since then, everyone has had to die. Death is the fate of man.”
Yama drew the soul of Sathyavan out of his body and proceeded on his way. Before he had gone far, he heard footfalls behind him. Yama turned back.
“Savitri, daughter, why are you following me? This is the fate of all mortals.”
“I am not following thee, Father, but this is, also, the fate of woman, she follows where her love takes her, and the Eternal Law separates not loving man and faithful wife.
Yama appreciated Savaithri and said “Ask for any boon, except the life of your husband.”
“If thou art pleased to grant a boon, O Lord of Death, I ask that my father-in-law may be cured of his blindness and made happy.” “Let thy pious wish be granted, duteous daughter.” and Yama after granting boon proceeded further towards Yamalok.
Savithri still followed him.
‘Savitri, my daughter, why are you still following me?”
“Yes my Father; I cannot help doing so; I am trying all the time to go back, but the mind goes after my husband and the body follows. The soul has already gone, for in that soul is also mine; and when you take the soul, the body follows, does it not?”
“Savithri I am pleased with you. Ask yet another boon of me, but it must not be the life of your husband.”
“Let my father-in-law regain his lost wealth and kingdom, Father, if thou art pleased to grant another supplication.”
“Loving daughter,” Yama answered, “this boon I now bestow; but return home, for living mortal cannot go with King Yama.
But still Savaithri followed Yama.
“Noble Savitri, follow not in hopeless woe.”
“I cannot choose but follow where thou takest my beloved one.”
” Savithri your husband was a sinner and has to go to hell, you return back”
”M “Blessed are your words, my child, pleased am I with you, ask yet another, the last boon, but the dead come not to life again.”
“Great my lord, since you so permit me, then, let the imperial line of my father-in-law be not destroyed; let his kingdom descend to Satyavan’s sons.”
Yama replied . “My daughter, thou shalt have thy desire now: here is the soul of thy husband, he shall live again. He shall live to be a father and thy children also shall reign in due course. Return home. Love has conquered Death! Woman never loved like thee, and thou art the proof that even I, the God of Death, am powerless against the power of the true love that abideth!”
Savithri Sathyavan story is popularly known to everyone. Pure love could not be conquered by death, and Savithri through her tremendous love and devotion, snatched back from even Yama, the soul of her husband.
Mahabharatham has many such stories.
