Sāvitri and Satyavān – Part 2

This is a continuation of Part 1. If you have not read Part 1, please read it first here and continue.

Seeing Yamadeva moving away with her husband’s soul, Sāvitri started following him quietly.

After a while, Yama noticed that Sāvitri was walking behind him. He turned around and said in a stern voice, “You cannot follow me. Go back and arrange for the funeral rites of your husband”

Sāvitri said in a humble voice, “Hey Yamadharmaraja! You are an epitome of Dharma. My Dharma as a wife says that I should follow my husband wherever he goes  and therefore I am following him”.

Yamadeva, slightly irritated at her stubbornness, said, “Don’t be adamant Sāvitri. Ask me for a boon except for your husband’s life. Take it and go back.”

Sāvitri thought for a while and said, “Hey Yamadeva! If you want to give me a boon then, let my father-in-law regain his eye-sight and become as strong as he was before he became blind”. “Granted!” said Yama. “Now go away from here!”

After a while, Yamadeva turned around to see that Sāvitri was still following. Before he could ask her anything, Sāvitri, in a sweet voice said, “It is said that once two people take seven steps together they are deemed as friends. And I have walked all this long with you. Who will get the privilege of walking and conversing with the personification of Dharma? I am blessed to have gotten that privilege and am not willing to let go of this opportunity and hence I am following you”

Yamadeva smiled at the intelligently worded statement of Sāvitri. But she could not follow him like that. So he said, “Okay Sāvitri. I will give you one more boon except your husband’s life. Ask and take it and then go back.”

Sāvitri replied, “Please grant the boon that my father-in-law should regain his lost kingdom”. “So be it” said Yama and he walked on.

Sāvitri followed Yama once again. Yamadeva looked back after sometime to see her coming along. He was impressed by her persistence and confidence. Sāvitri saw him looking at her and said, “Hey Yamadeva, you are doing your duty of carrying away people from the earth against their wishes causing agony to their loved ones. But, are not kindness and compassion the foremost qualities to be followed as per Dharma?  And being the personification of Dharma, could you please show some kindness to me?”

Yamadeva said, “Savitri, you have impressed me with your question. Ask for one more boon excepting your husband’s life and go away from here!”.

“Hey Deva, then please let my parents have a hundred sons of theirs as they do not have any heir to carry on their legacy” said Sāvitri. “Be it so! Your mother and father will have one hundred sons.” said Yama. “Now go away from here to your in-laws who are waiting for you”.  

Sāvitri looked at Yama and said, “Deva! I have come with you for a long distance and I do not even know where I am. I am doubtful if I will be able to find my way back. So the best option for me is to come with you I think”. The truth in her words brought a  compassionate smile on Yamadeva’s face. His tone softened. “Okay” said he. “Ask for just one last boon excepting your husband’s life and  I will grant it and see that you will be able to go back”.

Sāvitri thought for a moment. Very humbly, with tears in her eyes, Sāvitri started talking. “Hey Yamadeva! I am a princess and I have enjoyed all the joys of life in my father’s palace and loads of affection and love in my husband’s house. But I have heard elders say that, for a woman, the greatest joy she experiences is when she becomes a mother. I want to experience that joy. Would you be kind enough to bless me to have a hundred sons through my husband Satyavan?” Yamadeva raised his hand in blessing. “Sowbhagyavati Bhava! May you beget a hundred illustrious sons!” He then started moving away.

“Deva! Kindly stop” said Sāvitri. A puzzled Yama looked at her questioningly. “Pardon me for my questioning you” she continued. “You have granted me the boon of having a hundred sons through my husband. So if my husband is carried away by you, how can your boon come true?” she asked.

Yamadeva did not get angry. He was in fact charmed by Sāvitri’s intelligence and her wonderful choice of words. He smiled. “Sāvitri!” he said. “My boon will not go in vain. Here, I am releasing Satyavān’s  soul and I bless you and Satyavān a long life of four hundred of years together!” As he was speaking, Satyavān’s soul was released from the noose. Yamadeva disappeared and Sāvitri was transported back to where Satyavān’s body was lying. She took his head and placed it on her lap, gently stroking his face waiting for him to come alive. Slowly, the warmth in his body and the lustre of his skin returned. Satyavān slowly opened his eyes to find that it was almost sunset.

“I think I slept for too long” said a shocked Satyavān. “It is going to be dark soon Sāvitri. Why did you not wake me up dear?” Sāvitri just smiled and said, “I thought you were too tired and needed the rest. Let’s go now.” Sāvitri and Satyavān started walking back.

At the hermitage, King Dyumatsena was wondering how he had got back his sight and bodily strength all of a sudden. However, their worry was  about their son and daughter-in-law not returning to the hermitage at sunset. As they waited praying for their safety, Sāvitri and Satyavān arrived at the hermitage at about midnight finding their way with the help of the moonlight.

In the morning, they had a visitor. It was a messenger from the erstwhile palace of Dyumatsena.

“Greetings to you Rajan!” said he as he dismounted from his horse. “I bring good news. The enemy who drove you out has been killed by your minister and your army. All the people want you back as our king. Please get ready right away. A chariot is coming to fetch you!”

On repeated enquiries from everyone around as to what had happened, Sāvitri then explained everything right fro Rishi Nārada’s warning to her getting boons from the Deity of Death to Satyavān coming to life!

And all ended well with King Dyumatsena regaining his position and wealth and Sāvitri and Satyavān living a wonderful life with a hundred sons.