DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0105
YAMA, THE KING OF THE DEAD 47
her husband with her sweet speeches, her skill at work,
her subdued and even temper, and especially her love.
She lived the life of the ascetics and practised every
austerity. But she never forgot the dread prophecy of
Narada the sage; his sorrowful words were always present
in her secret heart, and she counted the days as they went
past.
At length the time drew nigh when Satyavan must
cast off his mortal body. When he had but four days to
live, Savitri took the Tritatra vow of three nights of
sleepless penance and fast.
Said the blind Dyumatsena: " My heart is grieved
for thee, O my daughter, because the vow is exceedingly
hard."
Savitri said: " Be not sorrowful, saintly father, I
must observe my vow without fail."
Said Dyumatsena: " It is not meet that one like me
should say, 'Break thy vow,' rather should I counsel,
'Observe thy vow."'
Then Savitri began to fast, and she grew pale and was
much wasted by reason of her rigid penance. Three
days passed away, and then, believing that her husband
would die on the morrow, Savitri spent a night of bitter
anguish through all the dark and lonely hours.
The sun rose at length on the fateful morning, and
she said to herself, " To-day is the day" Her face was
bloodless but brave; she prayed in silence and with
fervour and offered oblations at the morning fire; then
she stood before her father-in-law and her mother-in-law
in reverent silence with joined hands, concentrating her
senses. All the hermits of the forest blessed her and
said: " Mayest thou never suffer widowhood."
Said Savitri in her secret heart: "So be it."
Dyumatsena spoke to her then, saying: " Now that
her husband with her sweet speeches, her skill at work,
her subdued and even temper, and especially her love.
She lived the life of the ascetics and practised every
austerity. But she never forgot the dread prophecy of
Narada the sage; his sorrowful words were always present
in her secret heart, and she counted the days as they went
past.
At length the time drew nigh when Satyavan must
cast off his mortal body. When he had but four days to
live, Savitri took the Tritatra vow of three nights of
sleepless penance and fast.
Said the blind Dyumatsena: " My heart is grieved
for thee, O my daughter, because the vow is exceedingly
hard."
Savitri said: " Be not sorrowful, saintly father, I
must observe my vow without fail."
Said Dyumatsena: " It is not meet that one like me
should say, 'Break thy vow,' rather should I counsel,
'Observe thy vow."'
Then Savitri began to fast, and she grew pale and was
much wasted by reason of her rigid penance. Three
days passed away, and then, believing that her husband
would die on the morrow, Savitri spent a night of bitter
anguish through all the dark and lonely hours.
The sun rose at length on the fateful morning, and
she said to herself, " To-day is the day" Her face was
bloodless but brave; she prayed in silence and with
fervour and offered oblations at the morning fire; then
she stood before her father-in-law and her mother-in-law
in reverent silence with joined hands, concentrating her
senses. All the hermits of the forest blessed her and
said: " Mayest thou never suffer widowhood."
Said Savitri in her secret heart: "So be it."
Dyumatsena spoke to her then, saying: " Now that