Maha-bharata Part 15

With her guard and aged courtiers whom her watchful father sent, Mounted on her golden chariot unto sylvan woodlands went.

Then in pleasant woods and jungle wandered she from day to day, Unto _asrams_, hermitages, pious-hearted held her way,

Oft she stayed in holy _tirthas_ washed by sacred limpid streams, Food she gave unto the hungry, wealth beyond their fondest dreams!

Many days and months are over, and it once did so befall, When the king and _rishi_ Narad sat within the royal hall,

From her journeys near and distant and from places known to fame, Fair Savitri with the courtiers to her father's palace came,

Came and saw her royal father, _rishi_ Narad by his seat, Bent her head in salutation, bowed unto their holy feet.

III

The Fated Bridegroom

"Whence comes she," so Narad questioned, "whither was Savitri led, Wherefore to a happy husband hath Savitri not been wed?"

"Nay! to choose her lord and husband," so the virtuous monarch said, "Fair Savitri long hath wandered and in holy _tirthas_ stayed,

Maiden! speak unto the _rishi_, and thy choice and secret tell!"

Then a blush suffused her forehead, soft and slow her accents fell!

"Listen, father! Salwa's monarch was of old a king of might, Righteous-hearted Dyumat-sena, feeble now and void of sight,

Foemen robbed him of his kingdom when in age he lost his sight, And from town and s.p.a.cious empire was the monarch forced to flight,

With his queen and with his infant did the feeble monarch stray, And the jungle was his palace, darksome was his weary way.

Holy vows a.s.sumed the monarch and in penance pa.s.sed his life, In the wild woods nursed his infant and with wild fruits fed his wife,

Years have gone in rigid penance, and that child is now a youth, Him I choose my lord and husband, Satyavan, Soul of Truth!"

Thoughtful was the _rishi_ Narad, doleful were the words he said: "Sad disaster waits Savitri if this royal youth she wed!

Truth-beloving is his father, truthful is the royal dame, Truth and virtue rule his actions, Satyavan is his name,

Steeds he loved in days of boyhood and to paint them was his joy, Hence they called him young Chitraswa, art-beloving gallant boy!

But O pious-hearted monarch! fair Savitri hath in sooth Courted Fate and sad disaster in that n.o.ble gallant youth!"

"Tell me," questioned Aswapati, "for I may not guess thy thought, Wherefore is my daughter's action with a sad disaster fraught?

Is the youth of n.o.ble l.u.s.tre, gifted in the gifts of art, Blest with wisdom, prowess, patience daring, dauntless in his heart?"

"SURYA'S l.u.s.tre in him shineth," so the _rishi_ Narad said, "BRIHASPATI'S wisdom dwelleth in the young Satyavan's head,

Like MAHENDRA in his prowess, and in patience like the Earth, Yet O king! a sad disaster marks the gentle youth from birth!"

"Tell me, _rishi_, then thy reason," so the anxious monarch cried, "Why to youth so great and gifted may this maid be not allied?

Is Satyavan free in bounty, gentle-hearted, full of grace, Duly versed in sacred knowledge, fair in mind and fair in face?"

"Free in gifts like Rantideva," so the holy _rishi_ said, "Versed in lore like monarch Sivi, who all ancient monarchs led,

Like Yayati open-hearted and like CHANDRA in his grace, Like the handsome heavenly ASVINS fair and radiant in his face,

Meek and graced with patient virtue he controls his n.o.ble mind, Modest in his kindly actions, true to friends and ever kind,

And the hermits of the forest praise him for his righteous truth, Nathless, king, thy daughter may not wed this n.o.ble-hearted youth!"

"Tell me, _rishi_," said the monarch, "for thy sense from me is hid, Has this prince some fatal blemish, wherefore is this match forbid?"

"Fatal fault!" exclaimed the _rishi_, "fault that wipeth all his grace, Fault, that human power nor effort, rite nor penance can efface!

Fatal fault or destined sorrow! for it is decreed on high, On this day, a twelve-month later, this ill-fated prince will die!"

Shook the startled king in terror, and in fear and trembling cried: "Unto short-lived, fated bridegroom ne'er my child shall be allied!

Come, Savitri, dear-loved maiden! choose another happier lord, _Rishi_ Narad speaketh wisdom, list unto his holy word!

Every grace and every virtue is effaced by cruel Fate, On this day, a twelve-month later, leaves the prince his mortal state!"

"Father!" answered thus the maiden, soft and sad her accents fell, "I have heard thy honoured mandate, holy Narad counsels well,

_Pardon witless maiden's feelings! but beneath the eye of Heaven, Only once a maiden chooseth, twice her troth may not be given!_

_Long his life or be it narrow, and his virtues great or none, Brave Satyavan is my husband, he my heart and troth hath won!_

_What a maiden's heart hath chosen that a maiden's lips confess, True to him, thy poor Savitri goes into the wilderness!"_

"Monarch!" uttered then the _rishi_, "fixed is she in mind and heart, From her troth the true Savitri never, never will depart!

More than mortal's share of virtue unto Satyavan is given, Let the true maid wed her chosen, leave the rest to gracious Heaven!"

"_Rishi_ and preceptor holy!" so the weeping monarch prayed, "Heaven avert all future evils, and thy mandate is obeyed!"

Narad wished him joy and gladness, blessed the loving youth and maid, Forest hermits on their wedding every fervent blessing laid.

IV

Overtaken by Fate

Twelve-month in the darksome forest by her true and chosen lord, Lived Savitri, served his parents by her thought and deed and word,

Bark of tree supplied her garments draped upon her bosom fair, Or the red cloth as in _asrams_ holy women love to wear,

And the aged queen she tended with a fond and filial pride, Served the old and sightless monarch like a daughter by his side,

And with love and gentle sweetness pleased her husband and her lord, But in secret, night and morning, pondered still on Narad's word!