Vyāsa (attributed) · Complete work
Chapter 5 (Mahābhārata 3.297)
Chapter 5 (Mahābhārata 3.297) of 8. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
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297.1 मार्कण्डेय उवाच।ततः काले बहुतिथे व्यतिक्रान्ते कदाचन।प्राप्तः स कालो मर्व्यं यत्रसत्यवता नृप ।।
297.2 गणयन्त्याश्च सावित्र्या दिवसदिवसे गते।यद्वाक्यं नारदेनोक्तं वर्तते हृदि नित्यशः ।।
297.3 चतुर्थेऽहनि मर्तव्यमिति संचिन्त्य भामिनी।व्रतं त्रिरात्रमुद्दिश्य दिवारात्रं स्थिताऽभवत् ।।
297.4 `त्रयोदश्यां चोपवासं प्रतिपत्सु च पारणम्।आयुष्यं वर्धते भर्तुर्व्रतेनानि भारत' ।।
297.5 तं श्रुत्वा रकनियमं तस्या भृशं दुःखान्वितो नृपः।उत्थाय वाक्यं सावित्रीमब्रवीत्परिसान्त्वयन् ।।
297.6 अतितीव्रोऽयमारम्भस्त्वयाऽऽरब्धो नृपात्मजे।तिसृणां वसतीनां हि स्तानं परमदुश्चरम् ।।
297.7 सावित्र्युवाच।न कार्यस्तात संतापः पारयिष्याम्यहं व्रतम्।व्यसंसायकृतं हीदं व्यवसायश्च कारणम् ।।
297.8 द्युमत्सेन उवाच।व्रतं भिन्धीति वक्तुं त्वां नास्मि शक्तः कथंचन।पारयस्वेति वचनं युक्तमस्मद्विधो वदेत् ।।
297.9 मार्कण्डेय उवाच।एवमुक्त्वा द्युमत्सेनो विरराम महामनाः।तिष्ठन्ती चैव सावित्री काण्ठभूतेव लक्ष्यते ।।
297.10 श्वोभूते भर्तृमरणे सावित्र्या भरतर्षभ।दुःखान्वितायास्तिष्ठन्त्याः सा रात्रिर्व्यत्यवर्तत ।।
297.11 अद्य तद्दिवसं चेति हुत्वा दीप्तं हुताशनम्।युगमात्रोदिते सूर्येकृत्वा पौर्वाङ्णिकीः क्रियाः ।।
297.12 `व्रतं समाप्यसावित्री स्नात्वा शुद्धा यशस्विनी'।ततः सर्वान्द्विजान्वृद्धाञ्श्वश्रूं श्वशुरमेव च।अभिवाद्यानुपूर्व्येण प्राञ्जलिर्नियता स्थिता ।।
297.13 अवैधव्याशिषस्ते तु सावित्र्यर्थं हिताः शुभाः।ऊचुस्तपस्विनः सर्वे तपोवननिवासिनः ।।
297.14 एवमस्त्विति सावित्री ध्यानयोगपरायणा।मनसा ता गिरः सर्वाः प्रत्यगृह्णात्तपस्विनी ।।
297.15 तं कालं तं मुहूर्तं च प्रतीक्षन्ती नृपात्मजा।यथोक्तं नारदवचश्चिन्तयन्ती सुदुःखिता ।।
297.16 ततस्तु श्वश्रूश्वशुरावूचतुस्तां नृपात्मजाम्।एकान्तमास्थितां वाक्यं प्रीत्या भरतसत्तम ।।
297.17 व्रतं यथोपदिष्टं तु तथा तत्पारितं त्वया।आहारकालः संप्राप्तः क्रियतां यदनन्तरम् ।।
297.18 सावित्र्युवाच।अस्तं गते मयाऽऽदित्ये भोक्तव्यं कृतकामया।एष मे हृदि संकल्पः समयश्च कृतो मया ।।
297.19 मार्कण्डेय उवाच।एवं संभाषमाणायाः सावित्र्या भोजनं प्रति।स्कन्धे परशुमादाय सत्यवान्प्रस्थितो वनम् ।।
297.20 सावित्री त्वाह भर्तारं नैकस्त्वं गन्तुमर्हसि।सह त्वया गमिष्यामि न हित्वां हातुमुत्सहे ।।
297.21 सत्यवानुवाच।वनं न गतपूर्वं ते दुःख पन्थाश्च भामिनि।व्रतोपवासक्षामा च कथं पद्भ्यां गमिष्यसि ।।
297.22 सावित्र्युवाच।उपवासान्न मे ग्लानिर्नास्ति चापि परिश्रमः।गमने च कृतोत्साहां प्रतिषेद्धुं न माऽर्हसि ।।
297.23 सत्यवानुवाच।यदि ते गमनोत्साहः करिष्यामि तव प्रयम्।मम त्वामन्त्रय गुरून्न मां दोषः स्पृशेदयम् ।।
297.24 मार्कण्डेय उवाच।साऽभिवाद्याब्रवीच्छ्वश्रूं श्वशुरं च महाव्रता।अयं गच्छति मे भर्ता फलाहारो महावनम् ।।
297.25 इच्छेयमभ्यनुज्ञाता आर्यया श्वशुरेण ह।अनेन सह निर्गन्तुं न मेऽद्य विरहः क्षमः ।।
297.26 गुर्वग्निहोत्रार्तकृतेप्रस्थितश्च सुतस्तव।न निवार्यो निवार्यः स्यादन्यथा प्रस्थितो वनम् ।।
297.27 संवत्सरः किंचिदूनो न निष्क्रान्ताऽहमाश्रमात्।वनं कुसुमितं द्रष्टुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे ।।
297.28 द्युमत्सेन उवाच।यदा प्रभृति सावित्री पित्रा दत्ता स्नाषु मम।नानयाऽभ्यर्थनायुक्तमुक्तपूर्वं स्मराम्यहम् ।।
297.29 तदेषा लभतां कामं यथाभिलषितं वधूः।अप्रमादश्च कर्तव्यः पुत्रि सत्यवतः पथि ।।
297.30 मार्कण्डेय उवाच।उभाभ्यामभ्यनुज्ञाता सा जगाम यशस्विनी।सहभर्त्रा हसन्तीव हृदयेन विदूयता ।।
297.31 सा वनानि विचित्राणि रमणीयानि सर्वशः।मयूरगणजुष्टानि ददर्श विपुलेक्षणा ।।
297.32 नदीः पुण्यवहाश्चैव पुष्पितांश्च नगोत्तमान्।सत्यवानाह पश्येति सावित्रीं मधूरं वचः ।।
297.33 नीरीक्षमाणा भर्तारं सर्वावस्थमनिन्दिता।मृतमेव हिं मेने काले मुनिवचः स्मरन् ।।
297.34 अनुव्रजन्ती भर्तारं जगाम मृदुगामिनी।द्विधेव हृदयं कृत्वा तं च कालमवेक्षती ।।
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the Sanskrit, passage for passage, covering the whole Savitri episode of the Mahabharata (Book 3, chapters 293–300 of the vulgate), 321 verses.
297.1 Markandeya said:After a long time had passed, at last the hour arrivedwhen Satyavan was to die, king.
297.2 As Savitri counted off each passing day,Narada's words remained always in her heart.
297.3 “He must die on the fourth day,” the radiant woman thought;she undertook a three-night vow and stood fasting day and night.
297.4 “Fast on the thirteenth, break the fast on the first;by this vow a husband's life is lengthened, descendant of Bharata.”
297.5 Hearing of her severe observance, the king was deeply distressed;he rose and spoke to Savitri to comfort her.
297.6 “This undertaking of yours is far too severe, princess;to stand through three nights is exceedingly hard.”
297.7 Savitri said:“Do not be distressed, father. I shall complete the vow;I made it with resolve, and resolve is its foundation.”
297.8 Dyumatsena said:“I cannot possibly tell you to break your vow;a man like me can only say, ‘May you complete it.’”
297.9 Markandeya said:Having said this, noble Dyumatsena fell silent;Savitri stood there looking like a wooden post.
297.10 On the eve of her husband's death, bull of the Bharatas,the night passed over Savitri as she stood in anguish.
297.11 “This is the day,” she thought, and offered into the blazing fire;when the sun had risen a yoke's height, she performed the morning rites.
297.12 “Having completed her vow, illustrious Savitri bathed and purified herself.”Then, bowing in turn to all the elder brahmins, her mother-in-law and father-in-law,she stood with folded hands, composed.
297.13 All the ascetics who dwelt in the grovespoke auspicious blessings for Savitri that she might never be widowed.
297.14 “May it be so,” said Savitri within her heart,the ascetic woman absorbed in meditation, accepting every word.
297.15 The princess waited for that hour, that moment,in deep anguish, pondering Narada's prophecy.
297.16 Then her mother-in-law and father-in-law spoke lovinglyto the princess as she stood apart, best of the Bharatas.
297.17 “You have completed the vow as it was prescribed;the time for food has come. Do what follows.”
297.18 Savitri said:“When the sun has set I shall eat, once my wish has been fulfilled;this is the resolve in my heart, the pledge I have made.”
297.19 Markandeya said:As Savitri was speaking of her meal,Satyavan put an ax on his shoulder and set out for the forest.
297.20 Savitri said to her husband, “You must not go alone;I shall go with you. I cannot bear to leave you.”
297.21 Satyavan said:“You have never been in the forest, beautiful one, and the path is hard;weakened by fasting, how will you make the journey on foot?”
297.22 Savitri said:“The fast has not weakened me, nor am I weary.My heart is set on going; do not forbid me.”
297.23 Satyavan said:“If you wish to go, I shall do as you wish;but ask my parents' leave, so that I incur no fault.”
297.24 Markandeya said:The woman of mighty vows bowed to her elders and told them:“My husband is going to the great forest to gather fruit.
297.25 I wish, with your leave, noble mother and father,to go out with him. Today I cannot bear to be apart.
297.26 Your son is going to fulfill his duty toward his elders and the sacred fire;he must not be stopped. Stop him if he goes into the forest for some other reason.
297.27 For almost a year I have not gone beyond the hermitage;I long to see the forest in bloom.”
297.28 Dyumatsena said:“Since Savitri's father gave her to me as a daughter-in-law,I cannot recall her ever making a request.
297.29 So let her have what she desires;but be careful on Satyavan's path, daughter.”
297.30 Markandeya said:With leave from them both, the illustrious woman went with her husband,smiling, it seemed, while her heart was torn with pain.
297.31 The wide-eyed woman saw the forests,richly varied and lovely everywhere, alive with peacocks.
297.32 Satyavan said gently to Savitri, “Look at the rivers bearing sacred waters,and the great trees in blossom.”
297.33 But the blameless woman watched her husband at every step,and, remembering the sage's words, thought of him as already dead.
297.34 The soft-stepping woman followed her husband,her heart divided between him and the approaching hour.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the Sanskrit, covering the whole Savitri episode of the Mahabharata (Book 3, chapters 293–300 of the vulgate), 321 verses.
297.1 Markandeya said:“After much time had passed, king,the day on which Satyavan would die arrived.
297.2 Savitri had been counting each passing day.What Narada had said always stayed in her heart.
297.3 Thinking that he would die on the fourth day,she began a three-night vow, standing without rest day and night.
297.4 ‘Fasting on the thirteenth day and breaking the fast on the first day,one increases one's husband's life by this vow, descendant of Bharata.’
297.5 When the king heard of her difficult observance, he was deeply upset.He stood up and spoke to Savitri, trying to comfort her.
297.6 ‘Princess, what you have begun is far too hard.To keep standing through three nights is extremely difficult.’
297.7 Savitri said:‘Father, don't worry. I will complete my vow.I made a firm decision, and determination is what makes it possible.’
297.8 Dyumatsena said:‘I could never tell you to break your vow.Someone like me should say, “Finish it.”’
297.9 Markandeya said:“After saying this, generous Dyumatsena fell silent.Savitri remained standing, looking like a wooden post.
297.10 With her husband's death due the next day, best of the Bharatas,the distressed Savitri spent the night standing.
297.11 ‘Today is the day,’ she thought. She made an offering in the blazing firewhen the sun had risen the height of a yoke, and completed her morning rites.
297.12 ‘Famous Savitri completed her vow and bathed to become clean.’Then she bowed to all the elderly priests and to her husband's mother and father,in order, and stood respectfully before them with joined hands.
297.13 All the disciplined people who lived in the forest retreatkindly blessed Savitri, wishing that she would never lose her husband.
297.14 Savitri, intent on meditation and disciplined practice,accepted all these blessings silently in her mind, thinking, ‘May it be so.’
297.15 The princess waited for the appointed moment,full of sorrow as she remembered Narada's words.
297.16 Then her father-in-law and mother-in-law spoke affectionatelyto the princess, who was standing apart, best of the Bharatas.
297.17 ‘You have completed your vow as prescribed.The time to eat has come. Do what follows.’
297.18 Savitri said:‘I will eat when the sun sets and my wish has been fulfilled.That is my settled intention and the promise I have made.’
297.19 Markandeya said:“While Savitri was talking about eating,Satyavan took his ax on his shoulder and set out for the forest.
297.20 Savitri said to her husband, ‘You must not go alone.I will go with you; I cannot bear to be apart from you.’
297.21 Satyavan said:‘You have never been in the forest, dear one, and the path is hard.You are weak from fasting. How will you walk there?’
297.22 Savitri said:‘The fast has not made me weak, and I am not tired.I am determined to go. Please don't stop me.’
297.23 Satyavan said:‘If you are eager to go, I will do as you wish.But ask my parents for permission so I won't be at fault.’
297.24 Markandeya said:“She bowed and spoke to her husband's mother and father:‘My husband is going into the great forest to gather food and fruit.
297.25 I would like you both to allow meto go out with him. I cannot bear to be apart from him today.
297.26 Your son is leaving to meet his parents' needs and tend the sacrificial fire;he cannot be stopped. You could stop him if he were going for some other reason.
297.27 I have not left this retreat for almost a year.I very much want to see the forest in flower.’
297.28 Dyumatsena said:‘Ever since her father gave Savitri to me as a daughter-in-law,I cannot remember her asking for anything.
297.29 Let her have what she wants.Daughter, be careful on the path with Satyavan.’
297.30 Markandeya said:“With their permission, the respected Savitri went with her husband,smiling outwardly while her heart was breaking.
297.31 The wide-eyed woman saw forests of many kinds,beautiful everywhere and filled with peacocks.
297.32 Satyavan kindly said to Savitri, ‘Look at the streams of pure waterand the fine trees in flower.’
297.33 But she watched her husband at every step.Remembering the sage's words, she already thought of him as dead.
297.34 Walking gently, she followed her husband,her mind divided between watching him and watching for the appointed time.”