03.280
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
tataḥ kāle bahutithe vyatikrānte kadācana। prāptaḥ sa kālo martavyaṃ yatra satyavatā nṛpa ॥03-280-1॥
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)
gaṇayantyāś ca sāvitryā divase divase gate। tad-vākyaṃ nāradena uktaṃ vartate hṛdi nityaśaḥ॥03-280-2॥
And as Sāvitrī counts the passing of each day, that speech spoken by Nārada constantly remains in her heart. (03-280-2)
caturthe'ahani martavyam iti sañcintya bhāminī। vrataṃ trirātram uddiśya divārātraṃ sthitā'bhavat ॥03-280-3॥
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)
taṃ śrutvā niyamaṃ duḥkhaṃ vadhvā duḥkhānvito nṛpaḥ। utthāya vākyaṃ sāvitryam abravīt parisāntvayan ॥03-280-4॥
Having heard the painful vow from the bride, the sorrow-stricken king rose up and addressed consoling words to Sāvitrī. (03-280-4)
atitīvro'yamārambhas tvayārabdhaḥ nṛpātmaje. tisṛṇāṃ vasatīnāṃ hi sthānaṃ paramaduṣkaram॥03-280-5॥
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)
sāvitry uvāca॥
Savitri said.
na kāryastāta santāpaḥ pārayiṣyāmyahaṁ vratam। vyavasāyakṛtaṁ hīdaṁ vyavasāyaśca kāraṇam ॥03-280-6॥
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)
dyumatsena uvāca॥
Dyumatsena said.
vrataṃ bhindhīti vaktuṃ tvāṃ nāsmi śaktaḥ kathañcana। pārayasveti vacanaṃ yuktamasmad-vidho vadet ॥03-280-7॥
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)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
evam-uktvā dyumatseno virarāma mahāmanāḥ। tiṣṭhantī cāpi sāvitri kāṣṭhabhūteva lakṣyate ॥03-280-8॥
Thus, having spoken, the great-minded Dyumatsena became silent. Sāvitrī, standing there, appeared as if she had become like wood. (03-280-8)
śvobhūte bhartṛmaraṇe sāvitryā bharatarṣabha। duḥkhānvitāyāstiṣṭhantyāḥ sā rātrirvyatyavartata ॥03-280-9॥
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)
adya taddivasaṁ ceti hutvā dīptaṁ hutāśanam। yugamātroditē sūryē kṛtvā paurvāhṇikīḥ kriyāḥ ॥03-280-10॥
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)
tataḥ sarvān dvijān vṛddhāñ śvaśrūṃ śvaśuram eva ca। abhivādyān upūrvyēṇa prāñjalir niyatā sthitā॥03-280-11॥
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)
avaidhavyāśiṣas te tu sāvitryarthaṃ hitāḥ śubhāḥ। ūcus tapasvinaḥ sarve tapovananivāsinaḥ ॥03-280-12॥
But all the ascetics dwelling in the hermitage spoke auspicious and beneficial blessings for Sāvitrī, wishing her freedom from widowhood. (03-280-12)
evam astv iti sāvitrī dhyānayogaparāyaṇā। manasā tā giraḥ sarvāḥ pratyagṛhṇāt tapasvinām ॥03-280-13॥
“Let it be so”—Savitri, devoted to meditation, accepted in her mind all the utterances of the ascetics. (03-280-13)
taṃ kālaṃ ca muhūrtaṃ ca pratīkṣantī nṛpātmajā। yathoktaṃ nāradavacaścintayantī suduḥkhitā ॥03-280-14॥
The king's daughter, very distressed, waited for that time and moment, reflecting on Nārada's words as spoken. (03-280-14)
tatastu śvaśrūśvaśurāvūcatustāṃ nṛpātmajām। ekāntastham idaṃ vākyaṃ prītyā bharatasattama ॥03-280-15॥
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)
śvaśurāvūcatuḥ॥
The two fathers-in-law spoke.
vrato yathopadiṣṭo'yaṃ yathāvat pārītaḥ tvayā। āhāra-kālaḥ samprāptaḥ kriyatāṃ yad anantaram ॥03-280-16॥
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)
sāvitry uvāca॥
Sāvitrī said.
astaṃ gate mayāditye bhoktavyaṃ kṛtakāmayā। eṣa me hṛdi saṅkalpaḥ samayaś ca kṛto mayā ॥03-280-17॥
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)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
evaṃ sambhāṣamāṇāyāḥ sāvitryā bhojanaṃ prati. skandhe paraśum ādāya satyavān prasthito vanam ॥03-280-18॥
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)
sāvitrī tvāha bhartāraṃ naikas tvaṃ gantum arhasi। saha tvayāgamiṣyāmi na hi tvāṃ hātum utsahe॥03-280-19॥
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)
satyavān uvāca॥
Satyavan said.
vanaṃ na gatapūrvaṃ te duḥkhaḥ panthāś ca bhāmini। vratopavāsakṣāmā ca kathaṃ padbhyāṃ gamiṣyasi॥03-280-20॥
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)
sāvitryuvāca॥
Sāvitrī said.
upavāsānna me glānir nāsti cāpi pariśramaḥ। gamane ca kṛtotsāhāṃ pratiṣeddhuṃ na mārhasi ॥03-280-21॥
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)
satyavān uvāca॥
Satyavan said.
yadi te gamanotsāhaḥ kariṣyāmi tava priyam। mama tvāmantraya gurūn na māṃ doṣaḥ spṛśed ayam॥03-280-22॥
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)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said;
sābhigamyābravīcchvaśrūṁ śvaśuraṁ ca mahāvratā। ayaṁ gacchati me bhartā phalāhāro mahāvanam ॥03-280-23॥
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)
iccheyam abhyanujñātum āryayā śvaśureṇa ca। anena saha nirgantuṃ na hi me viraḥ kṣamaḥ॥03-280-24॥
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)
gurvagnihotrārthakṛte prasthitaś ca sutas tava। na nivāryo nivāryaḥ syād anyathā prasthito vanam॥03-280-25॥
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)
saṁvatsaraḥ kiñcid ūno na niṣkrāntāham āśramāt। vanaṁ kusumitaṁ draṣṭuṁ paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me॥03-280-26॥
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)
dyumatsena uvāca॥
Dyumatsena spoke.
yataḥ prabhṛti sāvitrī pitrā dattā snuṣā mama। nānayābhyarthanāyuktamuktapūrvaṃ smarāmyaham ॥03-280-27॥
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)
tadeṣā labhatāṃ kāmaṃ yathābhilaṣitaṃ vadhūḥ। apramādaś ca kartavyaḥ putri satyavataḥ pathi ॥03-280-28॥
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)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said;
ubhābhyām abhyanujñātā sā jagāma yaśasvinī। saha bhartrā hasantīva hṛdayena vidūyatā॥03-280-29॥
Granted leave by both, the renowned lady departed with her husband, as if smiling, though her heart was torn. (03-280-29)
sā vanāni vicitrāṇi ramaṇīyāni sarvaśaḥ। mayūrava-ghuṣṭāni dadarśa vipulekṣaṇā ॥03-280-30॥
The large-eyed one saw the forests everywhere, variegated and beautiful, echoing with the cries of peacocks. (03-280-30)
nadīḥ puṇyavahāścaiva puṣpitāṃśca nagottamān। satyavānāha paśyeti sāvitrīṃ madhurākṣaram ॥03-280-31॥
Satyavan, with sweet words, said to Sāvitrī, "See the rivers that carry merit and the best of flowered mountains." (03-280-31)
nirīkṣamāṇā bhartāraṃ sarvāvasthamaninditā। mṛtameva hi taṃ mene kāle munivacaḥ smaran ॥03-280-32॥
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)
anuvartatī tu bhartāraṃ jagāma mṛdugāminī। dvidheva hṛdayaṃ kṛtvā taṃ ca kālamavekṣatī ॥03-280-33॥
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)
