Mahabharata — Volume II (Dutt edition) — Chapter 296
MBh 2 296.1
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः काले बहुतिथे व्यतिक्रान्ते कदाचन। प्राप्तः स कालो मर्तव्यं यत्र स्तयवता नृप॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ kāle bahutithe vyatikrānte kadācana| prāptaḥ sa kālo martavyaṃ yatra stayavatā nṛpa||
Markandeya aid : After the lapse of a long while, O king, the time for Satyavana's death at last arrived.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.2
गणयन्त्याश्च सावित्र्या दिवसे दिवसे गते। यद् वाक्यं नारदेनोक्तं वर्तते हृदि नित्यशः॥
gaṇayantyāśca sāvitryā divase divase gate| yad vākyaṃ nāradenoktaṃ vartate hṛdi nityaśaḥ||
Savitri counted each days it passed away, (for) the words of Narada were always present in her mind.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.3
चतुर्थेऽहनि मर्तव्यमिति संचिन्त्य भाविनी। व्रतः त्रिरात्रमुद्दिश्य दिवारानं स्थिताभवत्॥
caturthe'hani martavyamiti saṃcintya bhāvinī| vrataḥ trirātramuddiśya divārānaṃ sthitābhavat||
Having ascertained (by calculation) that her husband's death would take place on the fourth day (thence), that observant of the Triratra vow, fasted day and night.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.4
तं श्रुत्वा नियमं तस्या भृशं दुःखान्वितो नृपः। उत्थाय वाक्यं सावित्रीमब्रवीत् परिसान्त्वयन्॥
taṃ śrutvā niyamaṃ tasyā bhṛśaṃ duḥkhānvito nṛpaḥ| utthāya vākyaṃ sāvitrīmabravīt parisāntvayan||
Aware of her vow, the king (Dyumatsena) became very sorry and rising up consoled Savitri with these words.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.5
द्युमत्सेन उवाच अतितीव्रोऽयमारम्भस्त्वयाऽऽरब्धो नृपात्मजे। तिसृणां वससीतनां हि स्थानं परमदुश्चरम्॥
dyumatsena uvāca atitīvro'yamārambhastvayā''rabdho nṛpātmaje| tisṛṇāṃ vasasītanāṃ hi sthānaṃ paramaduścaram||
Dyumatsena said : Princess, the vow you have taken is very difficult to observe, for, it is extremely hard to fast continuously for three nights.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.6
सावित्र्युवाच न कार्यस्तात संताप: पारयिष्याम्यहं व्रतम्। व्यवसायकृतं हीदं व्यवसायश्च कारणम्॥
sāvitryuvāca na kāryastāta saṃtāpa: pārayiṣyāmyahaṃ vratam| vyavasāyakṛtaṃ hīdaṃ vyavasāyaśca kāraṇam||
Savitri said: O sire, you need not be sorry. I will be able to complete the vow. I have undertaken this vow with a firm resolve; and determination is the (sole) cause of success (in every undertaking).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.7
धुमत्सेन उवाच व्रतं भिन्धीति वक्तुं त्वां नास्मि शक्तः कथञ्चन। पारयस्येति वचनं युक्तमस्मद्विधो वदेत्॥
dhumatsena uvāca vrataṃ bhindhīti vaktuṃ tvāṃ nāsmi śaktaḥ kathañcana| pārayasyeti vacanaṃ yuktamasmadvidho vadet||
Dyumatsena said : I can, by no means tell you to give up your vow. Men like us should rather encourage you to complete it.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.8
मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवमुक्त्वा धुमत्सेनो विरराम महामनाः। तिष्ठन्ती चैव सावित्री काष्ठभूतेव लक्ष्यते॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca evamuktvā dhumatseno virarāma mahāmanāḥ| tiṣṭhantī caiva sāvitrī kāṣṭhabhūteva lakṣyate||
Markandeya said : Saying this, the high-minded Dyumatsena ceased; and Savitri thus remaining (without food) looked like a wooden doll.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.9
श्वोभूते भर्तृमरणे सावित्र्या भरतर्षभ। दुःखान्वितायास्तिष्ठन्त्याः सा रात्रिर्व्यत्यवर्तत॥
śvobhūte bhartṛmaraṇe sāvitryā bharatarṣabha| duḥkhānvitāyāstiṣṭhantyāḥ sā rātrirvyatyavartata||
O best of the Bharatas, thinking that her husband would die tomorrow, Savitri, stricken with grief and observing fasts, passed the night in great sorrow.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.10
अद्य तद् दिवसं चेति हुत्वा दीप्तं हुताशनम्। युगमात्रोदिते सूर्ये कृत्वा पौर्वाहिणकी: क्रियाः॥
adya tad divasaṃ ceti hutvā dīptaṃ hutāśanam| yugamātrodite sūrye kṛtvā paurvāhiṇakī: kriyāḥ||
Then, when the sun rose a couple of hands (on the horizon), Savitri performed her morning devotions and offered oblation to the blazing fire.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.11
ततः सर्वान् द्विजान् वृद्धान् श्व श्वशुरमेव च। अभिवाद्यानुपूर्येण प्राञ्जलिर्नियता स्थिता॥
tataḥ sarvān dvijān vṛddhān śva śvaśurameva ca| abhivādyānupūryeṇa prāñjalirniyatā sthitā||
She then bowed down to all the aged Brahmanas, her father-in-law and mother-inlaw, one after the other and stood humbly before them with joined hands.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.12
अवैधव्याशिषस्ते तु सावित्र्यर्थं हिताः शुभाः। ऊचुस्तपस्विनः सर्वे तपोवननिवासिनः॥
avaidhavyāśiṣaste tu sāvitryarthaṃ hitāḥ śubhāḥ| ūcustapasvinaḥ sarve tapovananivāsinaḥ||
And all the ascetics living in the hermitage pronounced, for the welfare of Savitri, the benediction that she might never be a widow.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.13
एवमस्त्विति सावित्री ध्यानयोगपरायणा। मनसा ता गिरः सर्वा प्रत्यगृह्णात् तपस्विनाम्॥
evamastviti sāvitrī dhyānayogaparāyaṇā| manasā tā giraḥ sarvā pratyagṛhṇāt tapasvinām||
Savitri, who was buried in contemplation, saying in her mind “be it so" bowed down to the words of the ascetics,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.14
तं कालं तं मुहूर्तं च प्रतीक्षन्ती नृपात्मजा। यथोक्तं नारदवचश्चिन्तयन्ती सुदुःखिता॥
taṃ kālaṃ taṃ muhūrtaṃ ca pratīkṣantī nṛpātmajā| yathoktaṃ nāradavacaścintayantī suduḥkhitā||
And with a heavy heart, the princess, pondering on the words of Narada (anxiously) awaited the hour and the moment of her husband's death).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.15
ततस्तु श्वश्रूश्वशुरावूचतुस्तां नृपात्मजाम्। एकान्तमास्थितां वाक्यं प्रीत्या भरतसत्तम॥
tatastu śvaśrūśvaśurāvūcatustāṃ nṛpātmajām| ekāntamāsthitāṃ vākyaṃ prītyā bharatasattama||
Then, O best of the Bharatas, her father-in-law and mother-in-law gladly told the king's daughter who was seated alone, these words.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.16
श्वशुरावूचतुः व्रतं यथोपदिष्टं तु तथा तत् पारितं त्वया। आहारकालः सम्प्राप्तः क्रियतां यदनन्तरम्॥
śvaśurāvūcatuḥ vrataṃ yathopadiṣṭaṃ tu tathā tat pāritaṃ tvayā| āhārakālaḥ samprāptaḥ kriyatāṃ yadanantaram||
The Father-in-law said : You have performed the vow as directed. It is now the time to eat. Do what you think proper.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.17
सावित्र्युवाच अस्तं गते मयाऽऽदित्ये भोक्तव्यं कृतकामया। एष मे हृदि संकल्प: समयश्च कृतो मया॥
sāvitryuvāca astaṃ gate mayā''ditye bhoktavyaṃ kṛtakāmayā| eṣa me hṛdi saṃkalpa: samayaśca kṛto mayā||
Savitri said : Having observed the desired vow I appointed the time when the sun would go down for my meals. (Even now) this is the determination of my heart.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.18
मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवं सम्भाषणाणायाः सावित्र्या भोजनं प्रति। स्कन्धे परशुमादाय सत्यवान् प्रस्थितो वनम्॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca evaṃ sambhāṣaṇāṇāyāḥ sāvitryā bhojanaṃ prati| skandhe paraśumādāya satyavān prasthito vanam||
Markandeya said : When Savitri was saying this about her meals. Satyavana, taking his hatchet on his shoulders, left for the woods.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.19
सावित्री त्वाह भर्तारं नैकस्त्वं गन्तुमर्हसि। सह त्वया गमिष्यामि न हि त्वां हातुमुत्सहे॥
sāvitrī tvāha bhartāraṃ naikastvaṃ gantumarhasi| saha tvayā gamiṣyāmi na hi tvāṃ hātumutsahe||
(Thereupon) Savitri said to her husband "you should not go alone. I will go with you. I do not feel inclined to be separated from you.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.20
सत्यावानुवाच वनं न गतपूर्वं ते दुःखः पन्थाश्च भाविनि। व्रोतपवासक्षामा च कथं पद्भ्यां गमिष्यसि॥
satyāvānuvāca vanaṃ na gatapūrvaṃ te duḥkhaḥ panthāśca bhāvini| vrotapavāsakṣāmā ca kathaṃ padbhyāṃ gamiṣyasi||
Satyavana said: Dearest, you have never visited the woods before. The path is very rugged (Moreover), lean and weak as you have been by the observance of fasts and vow how will you be able to walk?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.21
सावित्र्युवाच उपवासान्न मे ग्लानिर्नास्ति चापि परिश्रमः। गमने च कृतोत्साहां प्रतिषेढुं न मार्हसि।॥
sāvitryuvāca upavāsānna me glānirnāsti cāpi pariśramaḥ| gamane ca kṛtotsāhāṃ pratiṣeḍhuṃ na mārhasi|||
Savitri said : Neither do I feel exhaustion nor lassitude on account of the fast. (Moreover) I am very eager to go. Do not (therefore) prevent me.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.22
सत्यवानुवाच यदि ते गमनोत्साहः करिष्यामि तव प्रियम्। मम त्वामन्त्रय गुरून् न मां दोषः स्पृशेदयम्॥
satyavānuvāca yadi te gamanotsāhaḥ kariṣyāmi tava priyam| mama tvāmantraya gurūn na māṃ doṣaḥ spṛśedayam||
Satyavana said: Since you are so eager to go, I will fulfill your desire. (But) take leave of my parents (first) so that no blame can be attached to me.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.23
मार्कण्डेय उवाच साभिवाद्याब्रवीच्छ्वधू श्वशुरं च महाव्रता। अयं गच्छति मे भर्ता फलाहारो महावनम्॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca sābhivādyābravīcchvadhū śvaśuraṃ ca mahāvratā| ayaṃ gacchati me bhartā phalāhāro mahāvanam||
Markandeya said : (Then) bowing down to her mother-in-law and father-in-law, she of great vows said (to them) "my husband is going to the great forest for gathering fruits.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.24
इच्छेयमभ्यनुज्ञाता आर्यया श्वशुरेण ह। अनेन सह निर्गन्तुं न मेऽद्य विरहः क्षमः॥
iccheyamabhyanujñātā āryayā śvaśureṇa ha| anena saha nirgantuṃ na me'dya virahaḥ kṣamaḥ||
It is my desire that your worshipful self and my father-in-law will (kindly) permit me to accompany him. I cannot bear to be separated (from him) this day.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.25
गुर्वग्निहोत्रार्थकृते प्रस्थितश्च सुतस्तव। न निवार्यो निवार्यः स्यादन्यथा प्रस्थितो वनम्॥
gurvagnihotrārthakṛte prasthitaśca sutastava| na nivāryo nivāryaḥ syādanyathā prasthito vanam||
As your son is going to the forest for the sacrificial fire and for his superiors, you ought not to prevent him. Had it been for any other (business) he should have been prevented.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.26
संवत्सरः किंचिदूनो न निष्क्रान्ताहमाश्रमात्। वनं कुसुमितं द्रष्टुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे॥
saṃvatsaraḥ kiṃcidūno na niṣkrāntāhamāśramāt| vanaṃ kusumitaṃ draṣṭuṃ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me||
I have not walked out for a little less than a year. Great indeed is my desire to witness the woods.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.27
द्युमत्सेन उवाच यतः प्रभृति सावित्री पित्रा दत्ता स्नुषा मम। नानयाभ्यर्थनायुक्तमुक्तपूर्वं स्मराम्यहम्॥
dyumatsena uvāca yataḥ prabhṛti sāvitrī pitrā dattā snuṣā mama| nānayābhyarthanāyuktamuktapūrvaṃ smarāmyaham||
Dyumatsena said : From the very time that Savitri was made my daughter-in-law by her father, I do not remember her to have ever made any request to me.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.28
तदेषा लभतां कामं यथाभिलषितं वधूः। अप्रमादश्च कर्तव्यः पुत्रि सत्यवतः पथि॥
tadeṣā labhatāṃ kāmaṃ yathābhilaṣitaṃ vadhūḥ| apramādaśca kartavyaḥ putri satyavataḥ pathi||
So, let what my daughter-in-law desires be fulfilled. Daughter, act in such a manner that Satyavana does not neglect his business on the way.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.29
मार्कण्डेय उवाच उभाब्यामभ्यनुज्ञाता सा जगाम यशस्विनी। सह भ; हसन्तीव हृदयेन विदूयता॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ubhābyāmabhyanujñātā sā jagāma yaśasvinī| saha bha; hasantīva hṛdayena vidūyatā||
Thus permitted by both, the renowned (Savitri) with a smiling (countenance) though with a sorrowful heart accompanied her husband (to the woods).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.30
सा वनानि विचित्राणि रमणीयानि सर्वशः। मयूरगणजुष्टानि ददर्श विपुलेक्षणा॥३
sā vanāni vicitrāṇi ramaṇīyāni sarvaśaḥ| mayūragaṇajuṣṭāni dadarśa vipulekṣaṇā||3
And that large-eyed lady beheld, on all sides romantic and charming forests frequented by swarms of peacocks.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.31
नदीः पुण्यवहाश्चैव पुष्पितांश्च नगोत्तमान्। सत्यवानाह पश्येति सावित्री मधुरं वचः॥
nadīḥ puṇyavahāścaiva puṣpitāṃśca nagottamān| satyavānāha paśyeti sāvitrī madhuraṃ vacaḥ||
And Satyavana said these sweet words to Savitri "behold these streams of sacred waters and these excellent blossoming trees.”
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.32
निरीक्षमाणा भर्तारं स्रवावस्थमनिन्दिता। मृतमेव हि भर्तारं काले मुनिवचः स्मरन्॥
nirīkṣamāṇā bhartāraṃ sravāvasthamaninditā| mṛtameva hi bhartāraṃ kāle munivacaḥ smaran||
That blameless girl, however, began to watch all the movements of her husband; but remembering what the sage (Narada) had said, she considered him as already dead.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 296.33
अनुव्रजन्ती भर्तारं जगाम मृदुगामिनी। द्विधेष हृदयं कृत्वा तं च कालमवेक्षती॥
anuvrajantī bhartāraṃ jagāma mṛdugāminī| dvidheṣa hṛdayaṃ kṛtvā taṃ ca kālamavekṣatī||
With her heart divided into two parts, she (with one of these) replying to her husband and (with the other) awaiting the (fatal) hour, followed him slowly.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)