03.280
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
ततः काले बहुतिथे व्यतिक्रान्ते कदाचन। प्राप्तः स कालो मर्तव्यं यत्र सत्यवता नृप ॥०३-२८०-१॥
Afterwards, when many lunar days had passed in the course of time, the moment came when Satyavatā was fated to die, O king. (03-280-1)
गणयन्त्याश्च सावित्र्या दिवसे दिवसे गते। तद्वाक्यं नारदेनोक्तं वर्तते हृदि नित्यशः ॥०३-२८०-२॥
And as Sāvitrī counts the passing of each day, that speech spoken by Nārada constantly remains in her heart. (03-280-2)
चतुर्थेऽहनि मर्तव्यमिति सञ्चिन्त्य भामिनी। व्रतं त्रिरात्रमुद्दिश्य दिवारात्रं स्थिताभवत् ॥०३-२८०-३॥
The lady, having contemplated, "I must die on the fourth day," resolved to undertake a vow for three nights and remained steadfast day and night. (03-280-3)
तं श्रुत्वा नियमं दुःखं वध्वा दुःखान्वितो नृपः। उत्थाय वाक्यं सावित्रीमब्रवीत्परिसान्त्वयन् ॥०३-२८०-४॥
Having heard the painful vow from the bride, the sorrow-stricken king rose up and addressed consoling words to Sāvitrī. (03-280-4)
अतितीव्रोऽयमारम्भस्त्वयारब्धो नृपात्मजे। तिसृणां वसतीनां हि स्थानं परमदुष्करम् ॥०३-२८०-५॥
O princess, you have begun a very intense undertaking. Indeed, it is extremely difficult to find a place for the three dwellings. (03-280-5)
सावित्र्युवाच॥
Savitri said.
न कार्यस्तात सन्तापः पारयिष्याम्यहं व्रतम्। व्यवसायकृतं हीदं व्यवसायश्च कारणम् ॥०३-२८०-६॥
Grief, dear one, is not appropriate; I will fulfill the vow. Indeed, this is accomplished by resolve, and resolve itself is the cause. (03-280-6)
द्युमत्सेन उवाच॥
Dyumatsena said.
व्रतं भिन्धीति वक्तुं त्वां नास्मि शक्तः कथञ्चन। पारयस्वेति वचनं युक्तमस्मद्विधो वदेत् ॥०३-२८०-७॥
I am by no means able to say to you, "Break your vow;" a person like me should appropriately say, "Fulfil it." (03-280-7)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
एवमुक्त्वा द्युमत्सेनो विरराम महामनाः। तिष्ठन्ती चापि सावित्री काष्ठभूतेव लक्ष्यते ॥०३-२८०-८॥
Thus, having spoken, the great-minded Dyumatsena became silent. Sāvitrī, standing there, appeared as if she had become like wood. (03-280-8)
श्वोभूते भर्तृमरणे सावित्र्या भरतर्षभ। दुःखान्वितायास्तिष्ठन्त्याः सा रात्रिर्व्यत्यवर्तत ॥०३-२८०-९॥
O best of the Bharatas, when the next day had come after her husband's death, for Sāvitrī, filled with sorrow and remaining (beside him), that night passed. (03-280-9)
अद्य तद्दिवसं चेति हुत्वा दीप्तं हुताशनम्। युगमात्रोदिते सूर्ये कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकीः क्रियाः ॥०३-२८०-१०॥
On that very day, today, thus having offered oblations into the blazing fire, and when the sun had just risen, having completed the morning rites. (03-280-10)
ततः सर्वान्द्विजान्वृद्धाञ्श्वश्रूं श्वशुरमेव च। अभिवाद्यानुपूर्व्येण प्राञ्जलिर्नियता स्थिता ॥०३-२८०-११॥
Then (she) stood with joined palms, self-controlled, having saluted in proper order all the twice-born, elders, mother-in-law, and father-in-law. (03-280-11)
अवैधव्याशिषस्ते तु सावित्र्यर्थं हिताः शुभाः। ऊचुस्तपस्विनः सर्वे तपोवननिवासिनः ॥०३-२८०-१२॥
But all the ascetics dwelling in the hermitage spoke auspicious and beneficial blessings for Sāvitrī, wishing her freedom from widowhood. (03-280-12)
एवमस्त्विति सावित्री ध्यानयोगपरायणा। मनसा ता गिरः सर्वाः प्रत्यगृह्णात्तपस्विनाम् ॥०३-२८०-१३॥
“Let it be so”—Savitri, devoted to meditation, accepted in her mind all the utterances of the ascetics. (03-280-13)
तं कालं च मुहूर्तं च प्रतीक्षन्ती नृपात्मजा। यथोक्तं नारदवचश्चिन्तयन्ती सुदुःखिता ॥०३-२८०-१४॥
The king's daughter, very distressed, waited for that time and moment, reflecting on Nārada's words as spoken. (03-280-14)
ततस्तु श्वश्रूश्वशुरावूचतुस्तां नृपात्मजाम्। एकान्तस्थमिदं वाक्यं प्रीत्या भरतसत्तम ॥०३-२८०-१५॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, the mother-in-law and father-in-law, with affection, spoke these words to her, the princess, who was alone. (03-280-15)
श्वशुरावूचतुः॥
The two fathers-in-law spoke.
व्रतो यथोपदिष्टोऽयं यथावत्पारितस्त्वया। आहारकालः सम्प्राप्तः क्रियतां यदनन्तरम् ॥०३-२८०-१६॥
This vow, instructed as it was, has been properly completed by you. Mealtime has arrived; let what should come next be done. (03-280-16)
सावित्र्युवाच॥
Sāvitrī said.
अस्तं गते मयादित्ये भोक्तव्यं कृतकामया। एष मे हृदि सङ्कल्पः समयश्च कृतो मया ॥०३-२८०-१७॥
I have resolved in my heart and pledged that after the sun has set, food should be eaten only by one whose desire is fulfilled. (03-280-17)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
एवं सम्भाषमाणायाः सावित्र्या भोजनं प्रति। स्कन्धे परशुमादाय सत्यवान्प्रस्थितो वनम् ॥०३-२८०-१८॥
Thus, while Sāvitrī was thus speaking towards the meal, Satyavān, having taken an axe on his shoulder, set out to the forest. (03-280-18)
सावित्री त्वाह भर्तारं नैकस्त्वं गन्तुमर्हसि। सह त्वयागमिष्यामि न हि त्वां हातुमुत्सहे ॥०३-२८०-१९॥
Sāvitrī said to her husband: "You should not go alone; I will go with you, for indeed I am not able to abandon you." (03-280-19)
सत्यवानुवाच॥
Satyavan said.
वनं न गतपूर्वं ते दुःखः पन्थाश्च भामिनि। व्रतोपवासक्षामा च कथं पद्भ्यां गमिष्यसि ॥०३-२८०-२०॥
O beautiful one, you have not gone to the forest before; the paths are painful, and you are emaciated by vows and fasting—how will you go on foot? (03-280-20)
सावित्र्युवाच॥
Sāvitrī said.
उपवासान्न मे ग्लानिर्नास्ति चापि परिश्रमः। गमने च कृतोत्साहां प्रतिषेद्धुं न मार्हसि ॥०३-२८०-२१॥
Because of fasting, I do not have fatigue or exhaustion; and as I am eager to go, you should not prevent me. (03-280-21)
सत्यवानुवाच॥
Satyavan said.
यदि ते गमनोत्साहः करिष्यामि तव प्रियम्। मम त्वामन्त्रय गुरून्न मां दोषः स्पृशेदयम् ॥०३-२८०-२२॥
If, for your sake, I carry out the desire to depart and do what pleases you, may this fault not touch me for not informing my elders. (03-280-22)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said;
साभिगम्याब्रवीच्छ्वश्रूं श्वशुरं च महाव्रता। अयं गच्छति मे भर्ता फलाहारो महावनम् ॥०३-२८०-२३॥
She, having approached, said to her mother-in-law and father-in-law—being a great observer of vows—'This husband of mine, who lives on fruits, is going to the great forest.' (03-280-23)
इच्छेयमभ्यनुज्ञातुमार्यया श्वशुरेण च। अनेन सह निर्गन्तुं न हि मे विरहः क्षमः ॥०३-२८०-२४॥
I wish to be allowed by the noble lady and by my father-in-law to leave together with him, for I cannot endure separation. (03-280-24)
गुर्वग्निहोत्रार्थकृते प्रस्थितश्च सुतस्तव। न निवार्यो निवार्यः स्यादन्यथा प्रस्थितो वनम् ॥०३-२८०-२५॥
Your son has departed for the sake of service to the guru and agnihotra, and he should not be restrained; if otherwise, having gone to the forest, he would become blameworthy. (03-280-25)
संवत्सरः किञ्चिदूनो न निष्क्रान्ताहमाश्रमात्। वनं कुसुमितं द्रष्टुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥०३-२८०-२६॥
It is a little less than a year since I have not left the āśrama. I have a great curiosity to see the blooming forest. (03-280-26)
द्युमत्सेन उवाच॥
Dyumatsena spoke.
यतः प्रभृति सावित्री पित्रा दत्ता स्नुषा मम। नानयाभ्यर्थनायुक्तमुक्तपूर्वं स्मराम्यहम् ॥०३-२८०-२७॥
Since the time when Savitri was given to me as a daughter-in-law by her father, I do not remember her ever having spoken previously with any entreaty. (03-280-27)
तदेषा लभतां कामं यथाभिलषितं वधूः। अप्रमादश्च कर्तव्यः पुत्रि सत्यवतः पथि ॥०३-२८०-२८॥
Therefore, let this bride obtain what she desires as she wishes. And, O daughter, vigilance must be observed on the path of the truthful. (03-280-28)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markandeya said;
उभाभ्यामभ्यनुज्ञाता सा जगाम यशस्विनी। सह भर्त्रा हसन्तीव हृदयेन विदूयता ॥०३-२८०-२९॥
Granted leave by both, the renowned lady departed with her husband, as if smiling, though her heart was torn. (03-280-29)
सा वनानि विचित्राणि रमणीयानि सर्वशः। मयूररवघुष्टानि ददर्श विपुलेक्षणा ॥०३-२८०-३०॥
The large-eyed one saw the forests everywhere, variegated and beautiful, echoing with the cries of peacocks. (03-280-30)
नदीः पुण्यवहाश्चैव पुष्पितांश्च नगोत्तमान्। सत्यवानाह पश्येति सावित्रीं मधुराक्षरम् ॥०३-२८०-३१॥
Satyavan, with sweet words, said to Sāvitrī, "See the rivers that carry merit and the best of flowered mountains." (03-280-31)
निरीक्षमाणा भर्तारं सर्वावस्थमनिन्दिता। मृतमेव हि तं मेने काले मुनिवचः स्मरन् ॥०३-२८०-३२॥
As she looked upon her husband in every condition, the blameless woman indeed thought him dead, recalling the words of the sage at that time. (03-280-32)
अनुवर्तती तु भर्तारं जगाम मृदुगामिनी। द्विधेव हृदयं कृत्वा तं च कालमवेक्षती ॥०३-२८०-३३॥
But she of gentle gait followed her husband, having as if divided her heart in two, looking at both him and the time. (03-280-33)
