Savitri and Satyavan
It tells the story of Princess Savitri, who, through her intelligence and devotion, overcomes a divine prophecy foretelling her husband Satyavan’s early death.
This episode is a significant literary and religious text in Hindu tradition, emphasizing themes of destiny, free will, and pativrata dharma (wifely duty).
[1][2][3] The Mahabharata, a vast work of over 100,000 double verses, contains numerous side episodes, some of which are nested within one another, in addition to the main story, which narrates the battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas, two related princely families.
[5][4] The childless king of the Madra Kingdom, Ashvapati, engaged in penance for eighteen years and offered a hundred thousand oblations to propitiate Savitri, a consort of Brahma.
Narada opined that Savitri had made a bad choice: although he was intelligent, righteous, generous, and handsome, Satyavan was destined to die one year from that day.
Immediately after the wedding, Savitri discarded her jewellery and adopted the bark and red garment attire of a hermit, and lived in perfect obedience and respect to her new parents-in-law and husband.
Her father-in-law worried that she had taken on too harsh a regimen, but Savitri replied that she has taken an oath to perform these austerities, to which Dyumatsena offered his support.
The day of her husband's predicted demise, Savitri offered oblations to the fire and obeisance to the Brahmanas, completing her vow.
Impressed at each homily, Yama praised both the content and diction of her words and offered to grant her any boon of her choice, except the life of Satyavan.
Even after receiving these favors, Savitri refuses to turn back and continues to walk alongside Yama, discussing morality and righteousness.
Savitri recounts her encounter with Yama and the boons granted—her father-in-law’s sight and kingdom, a hundred sons for her father, and the same for herself and Satyavan.
[10][11] In Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, married women observe Savitri Vrata on the Amavasya (new moon) day in the month of Jyestha every year.
On this day, married women and young girls wear yellow robes and pray to Hindu goddesses for long lives for their husbands.
Girls start this practice at a very young age; they wear a yellow robe on this day from the time they are a year old so they will find a good husband in future.
[12] In England, Gustav Holst composed a chamber opera in one act in 1916, his Opus 25, named Savitri based on this story.
[20][21] Savitri - EK Prem Kahani, an Indian television series which aired on Life OK in 2013 is a modern adaptation of the story.
