True Love Transcends Death
Pandavas lost everything after the dice play with Shakuni and were retired to forests as homeless refugees. This period of their life was filled with various interesting and informative incidents and tales. Great sages visited them and narrated inspirational stories of ancient India, to reduce their mental burden. Here is one of the beautiful stories that portrays the glory of love.
Savitri was the only daughter of king Asvapati. When the beautiful girl was old enough for marriage, her father gave her the freedom to choose a husband as per her choice.
In a golden chariot, accompanied by aged counselors and guards appointed by the king, Savitri commenced her journey. She travelled through different regions, visited several palaces and met different princes, but nobody could win her heart.
In ancient India there were forests where aged people and sages lived in the company of animals and birds. No animals were killed there and hence they were not afraid of man. In those days old people, exhausted of life, stayed in the forests in hermitages and spent their remaining life meditating in the pious company of sages. Kings, whenever they pass by these holy hermitages, used to pay respect to the sages.
At that time there was a king called Dyumatsena, who lost his kingdom after defeated by his enemies. This poor king, who is aged and blind, with his queen and his son Satyavan, was staying his rest of life in the hermitage of a forest. Satyavan was a charming and brave young man with great qualities.
Savitri, on her way, came to this holy hermitage and saw Satyavan, who stole her heart in no time. After eliminating the princes of royal palaces and mighty kingdoms, Savitri the daughter of King Aswapati dedicated Satyavan in her heart as her lord.
After returning to the palace, king Aswapati enquired Savitri, “my beloved daughter, have you find anybody whom you would marry?”
“Yes, father”, Savitri said softly.
“Who is he?”
“He is not a prince. Satyavan is his name and he is the son of Dyumatsena. Dyumatsena is a king who lost his kingdom, and living a sannyasin’s life in forest with his wife and son. Satyavan helps and feeds his old parents in the forest. I have accepted him in my heart as my husband.”
The great sage Narada was there at that time and Savitri’s father consulted with Sage Narada regarding the matter. Narada said that it was an unfortunate selection. Narada explained the reason that even though Satyavan was a youth endued with great qualities there was a serious defect that he had a short life and will live only for another twelve months.
Hearing this, the king said to Savitri, “Dear, you know this brave young Satyavan will die in one year and you will become a widow. Think about it my dear daughter, and please abstain from your decision.”
“No, father,” said Savitri, “Satyavan has conquered my heart and I love him so much. There is no other choice before me other than Satyavan. Death can happen to anyone only once; I have settled a decision from my heart for once; I have expressed it in words and now I have to carry out the same into practice. There is no change and I cannot set off from this decision.”
Savitri was firm in her decision and her father agreed for the marriage. Savitri married Satyavan, and she left the palace and started living in the forest with him. Satyavan went to the forest daily to collect faggots, fruits and flowers and Savitri did household duties and served her husband’s parents with full responsibility of a housewife. The thing is that only Savitri knew the exact date when her husband is going to die but she did not disclose the matter to anyone.
As the disastrous day approached nearer, just three days before, Savitri took three-night severe vow with holy fasts and deep prayers and passed sleepless nights keeping great care on her husband. And finally that dreaded day arrived, and she could not leave Satyavan alone for a single moment. With the permission of his parents, Savitri accompanied her husband to the forest for collecting fuel and herbs.
While working, suddenly Satyavan felt tired and he sought Savitri’s help, “Dear, I lose control of my senses; my vision is fading; let me take rest and sleep for a while.”
Savitri knew that the awaited things are going to happen. With trembling mind she said, “Come my dear lord, kindly lay your head upon my lap and take rest”. And he laid his drowsy head on the lap of Savitri, and within few minutes made his last breath and expired.
Embracing him to her and with tears flowing from her eyes, she sat there till the envoys of Death arrived to relieve the soul of Satyavan. But the emissaries of Death could not approach near to that place where Savitri was sitting with the dead body of her husband, because a fire zone was surrounding her. They returned to King Yama, the God of Death, and informed the matter. Then Yama came himself and since he was the God of Death and powerful, he could enter inside the circular area of fire.
Yama approached Savitri and said, “O Daughter, you know death is the fate of every one who is born. Everyone should die at some definite time. Leave the dead body and let me do my duty.”
Savitri had to agree and Yama drew out the vital essence of Satyavan and proceeded in southern direction. After a few yards, he turned back and saw Savitri following him. He said, “Savitri, daughter, as I told already death is the fate of man. You please go back and perform the funeral rites, instead of following me.”
“Respected God, I am not following you,” replied Savitri, “I am just following my love; it is my duty and is the fate of every woman. No divine law can separate a faithful wife from her loving husband.”
“Then daughter Savitri, you do one thing. Ask for any boon except your husband’s life.”
“O the great God of Death, then cure the blindness of my father-in-law and make him healthy and happy.”
“As you wish daughter, your wish is granted.”
Then the King Yama again moved forward with the soul of Satyavan. Again he noticed Savitri following him. He turned back and said, “O wise daughter, please return home instead of following me?”
Savitri said, “Whenever I try to go back, my mind does not leave my husband and subsequently the body also follows. The soul is no more, but that soul is also mine; you have already taken the soul from my possession, and that is why the body trails.”
“I am pleased with your words, daughter. You may ask another boon, except the life of your husband.”
“O the great God of Death, let my father-in-law regain his kingdom and the lost wealth.”
“Well daughter, let it be so as you wish; but please go back; a living being cannot come to the kingdom of Yama.”
After fulfilling Savitri’s second wish, Yama moved ahead. But Savitri, the faithful wife again followed her deceased husband. Seeing her following again, Yama said, “O daughter, I again advise you; please restraint from your decision to follow me.”
“But, God, I have no other option, except to follow my loved one”
“Imagine that your husband has committed severe sins and I am taking him to hell; in that case do you still love him and want to follow him?”
“I am glad to follow him wherever he goes; it does not matter heaven or hell, O Lord of Death.”
“O my child, I am pleased with your words. You may ask me another boon, except the life of your husband.”
“Then, let my father have a hundred sons so that his generation is continued for a long period; this is my third boon, O Lord of Death”
“Let your desire be fulfilled. Your father will have hundred sons who will increase your father’s race. O daughter, please go back and make no more trouble.”
Saying so, Yama moved ahead; but Savitri followed him again. Yama said,”O wise princess, I have fulfilled all your wishes. Now you go back; you have already come a long way.”
Savitri replied, “O Lord, I am not bothered how long I have walked and the longer way I have yet to cover. You are the Lord of justice. Confidence of all living beings is increased by the goodness of heart. That is why everyone depends on a righteous person who ensures equal law among all beings.”
Yama was delighted to hear her words, and said, “Savitri, O wise lady, I appreciate your wisdom and your wise words. You may ask for another boon.”
For this Savitri said, “For me and Satyavan, begotten by both of us, let there be hundred sons, strong and competent who would perpetuate the race of my father-in-law.”
The God of Death said with a smile, “My dear daughter, I am highly delighted with your intelligent words and I have to fulfill your desire. Here is the soul of your husband. He will come back to life and you will have hundred children, who would perpetuate the race. Return home with your husband. A woman could never love like you and you are the proof that even the God of Death is powerless against the power of real love.”
This is the story of Savitri, the representative of Indian womanhood and symbol of true love. Savitri exemplified the greatness of love and proved that true love cannot be conquered even by death.
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